Temporary Fire Protection FAQ

Temporary fire protection pump systems are often used in many situations, including:

• Commercial buildings, from high-rises to offices to hospitals
• Industrial facilities, including off-shore platforms
• Shipyards and marine repair facilities
• Fuel-loading terminals
• Lumberyards and sawmills
• Historic structures, such as tourist attractions 

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There are a number of situations in which a temporary fire protection pump system would be necessary, including:

• An emergency due to failure
• As backup during scheduled maintenance of the permanent fire protection system
• During construction, if the permanent fire protection system is not yet operational or available
• At temporary use facilities, such as those hosting sporting events and festivals
• On naval and entertainment ships when docked or not operating

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There is really no standard definition for temporary installation. “Temporary” means as long the system is needed to back up the permanent NFPA 20 stationary fire pump. A typical range is a few days to six months or even a year, depending on the situation for which it’s needed. As with any life protection system, the local authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) should be contacted for approval, especially if a temporary fire pump is expected to be used for longer durations.

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A Xylem Rental Solutions temporary fire protection pump system typically consists of a Godwin Diesel Dri-Prime HL Series pump. The system includes the engine and the pump as one unit mounted to a trailer or skid base. All hoses and fittings are included, as is a jockey pump and Xylem’s proprietary PrimeGuard 2 Controller with Field Smart Technology (FST).

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The Godwin PrimeGuard 2 Controller is a fully programmable microprocessor engine control system allowing for inputs from level, pressure or flow transducers or standard floats. Using any of these systems, a Godwin Dri-Prime pump can start and stop automatically with no operator intervention required.

With Godwin's remote monitoring and control offering, Field Smart Technology (FST), engine and pump data is collected in one-minute intervals through cellular signal or satellite connection. This data, as well as the ability to start and stop the pump, is available on a private website accessible anywhere, which allows for better use of labor and resources.

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Currently, there are no NFPA 20 or UL or FM written standards for temporary fire protection. Xylem temporary fire protection systems strive to meet NPFA 20 requirement for stationary fire protection as closely and as reasonably possible with the type of equipment required. Xylem has been providing temporary fire pumps with AHJ approval for more than 40 years.

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While there is no standard for a temporary installation and the NFPA 25 code does not cover temporary fire pumps, a weekly test is still recommended to circulate the fuel, oil and coolant within the system. The Xylem PrimeGuard 2 Controller features automatic on and off to run the diesel engine to ensure battery life.

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The PrimeGuard 2 Controller with Field Smart Technology (FST) allows output alarms for protection during the duration of the temporary system’s operation via a cell phone or email.

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Alerts via phone or email are available with the PrimeGuard 2 Controller and Field Smart Technology (FST). The panel can be locked out without a code if tampering is suspected. Critically silenced enclosures have locking doors.

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Larger installations are about 5 to 6 feet wide by about 8 to 10 feet long. Hoses and valves require additional space, depending on how the site is arranged and where the water source is located.

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The system is typically affixed to skids or a trailer. Larger suction and discharge hoses are supported to ensure there is no strain on the skid itself or that the pump is not acting as pipe support, which could put stress on the shaft and bearings.

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For connecting the discharge into the system, the fire department connection is ideal. If the supply is coming from a hydrant through a pump to the FDC, the connection can be made through the hose header. If the permanent fire pump is out of service and there is access to the fire pump, it can be connected directly to the piping system.

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Xylem Rental Solutions will conduct hydraulic calculations based on the physical conditions of the site to ensure the pump capacity meets demand and account for pressure losses through the hoses over the distance. If shutoff is an issue, a pressure control valve will reduce the shutoff pressure. If there is a long suction run, a standard calculation will resolve the friction resistance between the pressure control valve and the pump suction to determine the appropriate psi that is required to overcome friction resistance to the pump and not exceed the limitations of the mechanical seal.

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Generally, water is coming from the municipal water source or from natural sources, so there’s not a lot of surge in the suction as much as in the discharge. If the system is pumping up a hill or into a high-rise building, there could be a surge coming back at shut-off. In those cases, there is a check valve, and that’s where there would be a pressure relief valve. As far as a regular surge anticipating valve, it’s not typical unless it’s already on the system.

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No. Rigid piping, such as that used in a copper sensing line, is not practical in a temporary system that often is moved around during an installation.

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Yes, backflow preventers are installed at the fire hydrant and are important if connecting to a municipal water source to avoid contamination.

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The Xylem PrimeGuard 2 Controller is mounted with the pump and the engine as one unit; it has a NEMA 4 outdoor rated enclosure that protects the unit if it’s located outside.

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Pressure boosting beyond the limits of the pump’s mechanical seal becomes a safety issue, however, there are other equipment options within the Xylem portfolio that could be used in this situation. The  Xylem Godwin series of pumps can produce discharge pressures so that series pumping is not needed.

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Applications in which the discharge pressure exceeds what the Godwin HL Series pumps can produce is extremely rare, but in those cases, there are alternative Xylem products and designs that can address higher pressures.

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Diesel fuel is used with a Final Tier 4 engine, which meets all current EPA emissions regulations. A natural gas-powered engine can be a cost-effective option for longer-term projects.

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Fire systems typically run for 30 minutes a week during the recommended pump test. In the event the system is running for a longer period, the integral fuel tanks on Godwin HL Series pumps are sized to provide fuel for 14 hours under extreme operating conditions (high flow, high head). Medium flow and head, which is where most systems are designed, allow for longer run times based on lower fuel consumption and should be calculated for each application. With Field Smart Technology (FST), level sensors in the fuel tank will send a notification when the fuel level is low. In situations in which longer fuel runs are necessary, portable 500-gallon fuel containers can be plumbed into the diesel engine. Xylem Rental Solutions can assist in contracting with a third party for refueling services, if requested.

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A Xylem Rental Solutions system starts at the water supply (water tank, hydrant, etc.) and ends at the fixed piping tie-in point to the fire water distribution inside the building. Heat tracing during cold weather from the water supply to the building is commonly used, but once the temporary system is connected to the water system it is part of the permanent installation.

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If the unit includes a critically silenced enclosure, heat tracing from an available nearby AC supply can be used to control the temperature. The volute and the suction/discharge lines with the heat tracing are wrapped to maintain temperature levels above freezing.

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A block heater on the engine keeps the diesel fuel at an appropriate temperature in cold weather.

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Xylem Rental Solutions operates on a by-the-day/week/month cost, and include startup, on-site commissioning and the equipment rental rate.

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With over 3,000 HL pumps in the Xylem Rental Services fleet in 40 metropolitan locations across the United States, pumps are readily available and often installed the same day as requested. Service and sales staff are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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There are vertical pumps in the Xylem rental fleet, but they generally require a longer lead time of a day or two in order to allow for fabrication. Vertical pumps are usually customized, from a number of stages that are required as well as overall length. Typically, vertical pumps are part of a planned maintenance setup versus emergencies. Although NFPA 20 restricts above-ground fire pumps from being used in a lift application, there is no such restriction on temporary installations. In many temporary fire protection applications, Xylem self-priming pumps are used to lift water from natural sources.

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To find a Xylem Rental Solutions facility, go to the locator page: https://www.xylem.com/en-us/support/find-a-location/

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Yes, the Xylem Rental Solutions fleet of equipment and experts is global. The Americas fleet includes the United States, Canada and Central and South America. There are also Xylem Rental Solutions counterparts in Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific.

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