ML20205S462
| ML20205S462 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 01/31/1983 |
| From: | Williams C NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| To: | Stevens R NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20205S388 | List: |
| References | |
| FOIA-88-344 NUDOCS 8811110073 | |
| Download: ML20205S462 (2) | |
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JAN 31 1983 l
Mr. R. E. stevens National Fire Protection Association Batterymarch Park '
Quincy, MA 02269
) RE: Clarification of NFPA 20 Annual Fire Pump Testing Requirements t (Formal Interpretation Requested) t Dear Mr. Stevenst The acceptance, operation and maintenance section of NTPA 20 was extensively revised in the 1981 edition. Section 11-2.6.2 of the 1981 Edition states; "the minimum, rated and peak loads of the fire nump shall be determir.ad by controlling the quantity of vecer discharged through approved test devices.
NOTE: 7f available auction e.opplies do not permit the flowing of 150 per-cent of rated pump capacitv, the fire pump shall be operated at maximum allowable discharge to dr.cornine its acceptance."
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Section 11-3.1 states: "Annual test of the fire pump assenhly (pump, driver 1
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( and controller) s.ull be perfossed to determine its ability to continue to
! attain satisfactort performance at peak loads."
4 I Tor clarification, is the correct interpretation of the statements in these j sections want to bet -
i 1. Flow tests should be conducted at a minimum to rated and peak loads?
- 2. By peak loads, it is meant that flow tests should be conducted to 150
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percent of the rated capacity of the pumpf Annual Flow tests should be conducted to 150 percent of the rated cap-seity of fire pumpe?
- 4. The results of annual fire pump test should be compared to the manufa -
turers certified shop ttet characteristic curve and the field acceptance j characteristic curve to determine the pump's ability to conti,nue to l
attain satisfactory perforr.ance at peak loadst i 5. Various other sections of the 1981 edition of NTPA 20 address suction pressures, not discharge pressures, current specifications for electric i motors driving fire pamps, engine speeds and churn tests. Should i
] measurement of these parameters be included in annual fire pump teste? l
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i 8911110073 001013 '
l PDR F01A ll MURPHY 88-344 PDR i
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R. E. Stevens , ~2- p 31383 i
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- 6. Section 11-3.3 of the 1981 edition of NTPA 20 states: "Any signi- l cant reduction in the operating characteristics of the f: a pump '
asseably shall be reported to the rwner and repairs made immediately."
By significant reduction of the operating characteristics of the ;
tire pump assembly, can it be interpreted for example that voltages i exceeding 110 percent of rated voltage rating of the actor under peak conditions constitutes unacceptable test results? Or, the sharacter-1 istic ciarve plotted for the test shows a reduction in pump performance of 5 to 10 percent (Raf. ASME Section 11)?
, 7. In previous editions of NFPA 20 (i.e., Section 12-3.1 of the 1978
- edition) a yearly test was stated as "a yearly test shall be made at 3
full capacity and ovstr to make sure that neither pump nor suction pipe is obetructed." Is the ir.tirpretation of an annual fire pump test in ,
l the 1981 edition the sans '.or all previous editions of- NFPA 207 ,
! I sincerely appreciate your consideration and connents regarding these issues.
If you have any questions regarding this, please contact Mr. C. Rarsey of my i staff at (312) 932-2550. '
1 Sincerely, ;
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Cordell C. Williams, Chief i l Plant Systems Section !
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