Research And Insight

Free release fire pump

Free release fire pumps are standard pumps used as fire pumps. These standard pumps are not made for fire pump application, which can cause poor functionality in a sprinkler-pump application due to risk of clogging and instabilities in system pressure.

Standard Pumps (DIN or ISO) are used for many different applications, but not as fire pumps for sprinkler systems. This is due to the material specification, design and performance, that do not meet the requirements for a fire pump and standard pumps should therefore never be used as fire sprinkler pumps.

Grundfos supplies standard pumps as free release fire pumps for water supply for industrial and commercial fire protection.

Following differences typically describe the differences between a Standard pump and a ‘Listed’/’according to’ fire pump:

Specification
Listed fire pump
Standard pump
Reason
Internal pump parts
Non corrosive
Cast iron
Clogging
Pump curve fluctuation
Stable
Unstable
Pressure
Max permissible flow
At NPSH = 5 mtr*
Dep. of NPSH
Cavitation
Driver sizing
At NPSH= 16 mtr**   Overloading
Certification
ID at nameplate
No certificate
Identification


*Depends on the Fire Pump Standard – but typically between 4,5 to 5,5 mtr.           

** Depends on the fire pump standard – but typically at NPSH=16 mtr. or at max point on power curve

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