fire water supply systems
Water, the oldest extinguishing agent |
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Water is the essential extinguishing agent of the installed fire extinguishing systems – save for a few special exceptions. Water, as an extinguishing agent, must always be available with a pressure and in a volume adjusted to the actual system. In order to ensure the satisfaction of these requirements, fire water supply systems need to be established, which shall be adjusted to the requirements of the specific facilities to be protected. The fire water supply systems essentially determine the reliability factor of the fire safety equipment set up. Tűzőr Ltd. offers an optimum solution for each task in the full range of fire water supply, and has the widest ranging references. |
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COMPLEX services |
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| In the field of fire water supply, Tűzőr Ltd. offers complex services to its clients. The full scope of services is undertaken, starting from the design of the concept, through coordination with the authorities, planning, licensing and implementation, until commissioning, always considering the Customer's requirements. |
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Implementing the periodical inspection and the planned preventive maintenance the operation of the equipment is continuously monitored and the ready-to-operate status is ensured at all times. We have several references with respect to fire water supply systems planned and implemented according to the Hungarian specifications and other standards, e.g. VdS, Factory Mutual, EN and NFPA. Following the survey of site conditions we define the optimum system technology, in view of operational safety, efficiency and costs. |
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Supply of the fire water of necessary volume is the essential task
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In close to 95 % of the cases fire water reservoir under the ground or tank above the ground shall be constructed for the storage of the sufficient volume of fire water. The volume of fire water is partly determined by the compulsory water volume specified and partly by the water volume calculated by the operational parameters of the installed extinguishing system unless the Authority specifies other conditions. In addition to the size of the fire water reservoir to be constructed, the factors which define the design are as follows:
- terrain conditions, local endowments
- buyer's requirements
- specifications of insurance companies
- costs
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Full range of fire water pumps |
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| The fire water pumps or pump units are offered in the design according to the table below, without size limitation. The grouping partly takes into account the satisfaction of the requirements and partly the type of the tank / reservoir built anew or already existing, for the storage of fire water. |
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NFPA 20 |
VdS |
Over-ground fire water storage tank
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Horizontal shaft in-line pumps
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Horizontal end suction pump
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UNDERGROUND FIRE WATER STORAGE TANK |
Vertical pumps
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Plunger pumps
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Naturally, in addition to the above, several other conditions also define the type and layout of the fire water pump selected.
By way of example, the plunger pumps driven by the 750 kVA diesel aggregates can be mentioned, which have rated capacities of 1,000 m 3 /h at 90 mlc.
As much as 94% of the fire water supply systems established during the last 10 years, also meeting the Hungarian and international specifications were designed and implemented by Tűzőr Ltd., under which we can represent that our Company has a market leading role. |
Operation, signal communication |
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The fire water supply systems can also be drived with automatic and manual operation.
The automatic operation is implemented with a pump unit starting automatically, when the pressure drops due to water off-take from the system. In order to adjust to the slight pressure change – which in most of the cases takes place due to the change of temperature – Jockey-pump is installed, which can adjust to this slow and slight change, however, its output is not sufficient to operate a sprinkler head.
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SPECIAL SOLUTIONS – Diver TECHNOLOGY |
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Among the regular problems of fire water supply the most typical difficulties include:
- sediment, sludge, algae and other pollutants produced in the fire water tanks significantly influence the reliable operation of the installed extinguishing equipment
- in certain cases, complex installation works need to be carried out in the existing, operating fire-water reservoir
For the easy solution of both problems Tűzőr Ltd. offers the currently available solutions with the highest technical and safety standard, with several references. |
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Fire water supply system with diver technology = Tűzőr Ltd. |
REGULATION, STANDARDS, FIRE SAFETY |
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| The domestic regulation devotes a chapter to this subject also embracing several sub-areas in the regulations related to the sprinkler systems, primarily in the field of the fire water pumps. Surveying the international systems of regulations outside the borders of Hungary it is observed that the fire water supply systems are the basis of significant extinguishing systems specified by the various international and national regulations. |
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Perhaps the American NFPA system of standards is the most significant, which ensures the integration of experience in the regulatory system through continuous updates, and devoting separate chapters to each element of the fire water supply. |
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In Europe continues to have a key role the VdS, however, its function will be increasingly substituted by the European Union regulations.
The EU system of regulations, i.e. “EURONORM” is being developed now, however, the joint regulatory system to be established in the member countries will soon be introduced.
Therefore, joining the European Union may mean a change in the Hungarian scene, which may lead to the reconsideration and further extension according to structure and contents of the single Decree No. 2/2002 (I.23.) BM, which applies currently to installed extinguishing equipment. In addition to the full satisfaction of the Hungarian regulations, Tűzőr Ltd. implements its systems according to the international regulations, also considering the requirements of the Buyer.
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What and for how much? |
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The question presents itself: in case of the Hungarian fire safety installations, which standard should be observed in addition to the Hungarian regulation. The answer is clear, if the investment is constructed under the supervision of some insurance company. However, the response is not so clear when there is no implementation specification regulated by the insurance company.
Analysing the fire safety equipment from the aspect of the Investors, cost is a remarkable criterion. Let us analyse the cost proportions in case of fire water pump systems meeting the VdS, NFPA 20 and other regulations and what is the return of the individual systems like.
In case of the systems taken into account, the costs of the logical units listed in the table, defined in proportional points, lead to the cost proportions of implementing the different variations. However, the implementation cost will not provide a clear and exclusive decision-making information. During the decision, the safety provided by the system type (or its opposite components, the risk value factor) must be considered, together with the premium discount provided by the insurance companies in case of a given system type. Therefore, the three factors which influence the actual investment cost can be calculated from the products of the ANNUAL VALUE and the risk value factor, yielding the Risk, the Operational cost and the saving of insurance premium. The ANNUAL COST INDEX formulated from these amounts provide information about the actual costs.
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Underground tank |
Over-ground tank |
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VdS |
NFPA 20 |
VdS |
NFPA 20 |
Other design |
Tank |
15 |
17 |
18 |
20 |
15 |
Pump |
11 |
18 |
13 |
14 |
10 |
Fittings |
5 |
6 |
5 |
6 |
4 |
Automatic system |
3,5 |
4 |
3,5 |
4 |
2 |
Implementation cost |
34,5 |
45 |
39,5 |
44 |
31 |
Safety value factor |
95 % |
95 % |
95 % |
95 % |
20 % |
VALUE (5 years) |
6,9 |
9 |
7,9 |
8,8 |
6,2 |
Risk value factor |
5 % |
5 % |
5 % |
5 % |
80 % |
VALUE x
risk value factor |
0,34 |
0,45 |
0,39 |
0,44 |
4,96 |
Insurance premium saving |
4 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
0 |
Operating cost |
4 |
4,5 |
3,5 |
4 |
2 |
ANNUAL COST INDEX |
0,34 |
-0,05 |
-0,11 |
-0,56 |
6,96 |
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Fire water storage capacity of the data being the basis of the table: 800m3, volumetric flow of the extinguishing water required: 450 m3/hour.
Safety value factor:
0 % - still acceptable safety
100 % – perfect safety
Risk = 100 % – Safety value factor |
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