After you have determined the size of fuel tank you need for a diesel fire pump, what are the general requirements for installation? Assuming that you are under under the International Building/Fire Codes, you would go through the following chain of code references: IFC (2021 edition) 5701.2 Nonapplicability. This chapter shall not apply to liquids as otherwise provided in other laws or regulations or chapters of this code, including: ... (4) Storage and use of fuel oil in tanks and containers connected to oil-burning equipment. Such storage and use shall be in accordance with Section 605. For abandonment of fuel oil tanks, this chapter applies.. IFC (2021 edition) 605.1 General. The design, construction, installation, operation, alteration, repair and maintenance of nonportable gas-fired appliances and systems shall comply with the provisions of this section and the International Fuel Gas Code. The design, construction, installation, operation, alter...
* Note that the 2016 edition of NFPA 20 changed the 4-hour to 10-hours of continuous outage * When do you need backup power for an electric fire pump? The simple answer is when the power is "reliable". Of course the word reliable means a lot of different things to different people. Interestingly, NFPA 20 did not define reliable power until the 2007. Thankfully the committee did agree on the following language: NFPA 20-2010 A.9.3.2 A reliable power source possesses the following characteristics: (1) The source power plant has not experienced any shutdowns longer than 4 continuous hours in the year prior to plan submittal . NFPA 25, Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems, requires special undertakings (i.e., fire watches) when a water-based fire protection system is taken out of service for longer than 4 hours. If the normal source power plant has been intentionally shut down for longer than 4 hour...