Fire pumps are a critical and essential component of water-based fire protection systems. Their proper operation is vital to the success of the system. Although fire pumps affect the hydraulic characteristics of fire protection systems by generating the necessary water flow and pressure, personnel responsible for designing, installing, or approving their installations must also be knowledgeable in electrical and power transfer concepts.
The Technical Committee on Fire Pumps was organized in 1899 to establish a uniform set of guidelines to facilitate the proper and effective installation of fire pumps. This effort prompted the creation of NFPA 20, Standard for the Installation of Centrifugal Fire Pumps. Over the years, changes in the design, construction, and function of buildings and other process facilities necessitated advances in fire protection concepts. This, in turn, demanded more varied arrangements of fire pump installations that can deliver greater flow and pressures, and has resulted in numerous revisions to NFPA 20.