Ruhrpumpen’s Fire Campus
NFPA 20, Standard for the Installation of Stationary Fire Pumps for Fire Protection, establishes the minimum requirements for the selection, installation, and performance of fire pump systems. When electric motors are used to drive fire pumps, NFPA 20 places strict emphasis on reliability, electrical safety, and continuity of operation during fire conditions. While NFPA 20 does not define motor voltage classes such as “medium voltage” or “high voltage,” it references voltage thresholds and defers many electrical installation requirements to NFPA 70 (NEC).
NFPA 20 permits electric motors as prime movers for fire pumps provided they are specifically listed and approved for fire pump service. The standard requires that electric motor–driven fire pumps be supplied by a reliable power source and that the electrical system be designed to minimize the possibility of interruption during a fire event. The voltage rating of the motor directly influences how the electrical supply and protection systems are designed and installed.
In practice, medium-voltage fire pump motors typically operate above 1,000 V AC and are used where pump horsepower requirements exceed the practical limits of low-voltage motors. NFPA 20 allows the use of medium-voltage motors provided the entire electrical system—including controllers, feeders, disconnecting means, and overcurrent protection—is suitable for the voltage and arranged to ensure reliable starting and operation.
NFPA 20 requires that fire pump controllers be listed for the voltage and horsepower of the motor. For medium-voltage systems, this often results in the use of reduced-voltage or across-the-line medium-voltage controllers specifically designed and listed for fire pump duty.
NFPA 20 recognizes that electric fire pump motors may be supplied from systems exceeding 1,000 V AC, but it does not provide detailed electrical installation rules for these voltages. Instead, NFPA 20 explicitly relies on NFPA 70 (NEC) for conductor sizing, insulation requirements, grounding, clearances, and disconnecting means for over-1,000-volt systems.
The intent of NFPA 20 is that high-voltage fire pump installations achieve the same or higher level of reliability as low-voltage systems, while maintaining adequate protection against fire, electrical faults, and mechanical failure.
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FireWatch: World Updates
On December 15, 2025, a large industrial fire broke out in southern Tucson, Arizona, prompting a significant emergency response. The incident occurred at an industrial property near East Canada Street and South Canada Place, where firefighters encountered active flames burning through materials and structures stored in the facility’s outdoor yard. Due to the intensity of the fire and the potential risk of spread, multiple fire agencies were dispatched to the scene.
Crews from Rural Metro Fire Department, supported by Santa Rita Fire District and Drexel Heights Fire District, worked for several hours to contain the blaze. Their efforts successfully prevented the fire from spreading to the main building, limiting damage to exterior areas only. Authorities confirmed that no injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
This incident highlights the critical importance of fire protection systems in industrial facilities, particularly fire pumps. Fires that originate in outdoor storage areas often involve high fire loads and can escalate rapidly if adequate water pressure and flow are not immediately available. Fire pumps play a vital role by ensuring a reliable and sufficient water supply to sprinklers, hydrants, and hose systems, especially when municipal water pressure is inadequate.
Had the fire reached the main structure, the presence—or absence—of a properly designed and functioning fire pump system could have been decisive in controlling the fire during its early stages and minimizing structural damage. Events like the Tucson fire reinforce the need for fire pumps to be correctly sized, routinely tested, and well maintained in accordance with standards such as NFPA 20 and NFPA 25.
Overall, the Tucson incident demonstrates that effective control of industrial fires depends not only on the rapid response of fire departments, but also on the internal fire protection infrastructure. Fire pumps are a key component in buying critical time, limiting fire spread, and protecting both lives and industrial assets.
Ruhrpumpen's Spotlight
ETL-Listed fire protection system, designed in accordance with NFPA 20, integrating an electric main fire pump, a diesel main fire pump, and a jockey pump. The HSC 8×14×21E BB1-type main fire pumps are UL Listed and FM Approved, featuring a ductile iron casing, 316 stainless steel impeller, 316 stainless steel casing wear ring, and an AISI 4140 steel shaft, ensuring high mechanical reliability.
150-lb RF suction and discharge flanges, threaded drains and vents, UL/FM-listed instrumentation, and automatic air release valves are provided, fully complying with NFPA 20 requirements.
The electric drive consists of a 350 HP motor @ 1800 rpm, 4160 V, 60 Hz, three-phase, with a 1.15 service factor, Class F insulation, and Class B temperature rise. The assembly is coupled through a flexible coupling with OSHA-compliant guard and is supplied with a UL/FM-listed NEMA 4X fire pump controller, tropicalized and suitable for corrosive environments.
The diesel system incorporates a Clarke engine rated 376 HP @ 1760 rpm (Tier 3), equipped with a freshwater cooling system, residential-grade exhaust with muffler, 12 VDC electrical system, batteries, UL-listed driveshaft with guard, and a structural base. Fuel supply is provided by a UL-142 double-wall diesel tank, 250 gallons, with emergency venting and leak detection.
The vertical multistage jockey pump, designed to maintain system pressure, delivers 20 GPM @ 160 psi and is equipped with a mechanical seal, 1.5 HP TEFC electric motor, UL-Listed control panel with NEMA 4X enclosure, and dedicated instrumentation, ensuring controlled starts and overall system stability.
When every second counts, reliability isn’t optional—it’s engineered. Our 2000 GPM @ 150 psig pre‑engineered fire pump system delivers uncompromising performance through ETL‑listed integration, premium UL/FM‑approved components, and full NFPA 20 compliance.
With robust electric and diesel configurations, advanced control systems, and precision‑built pumping technology, this solution ensures your facility stays protected under the most demanding conditions. When you choose our fire protection systems, you’re not just meeting industry standards—you’re exceeding them with confidence, efficiency, and long-term peace of mind.
Protect what matters. Choose engineering that never compromises.
Are you looking for Fire Pumps and Systems to cover your pumping needs? Let Ruhrpumpen help solve your pumping demands.
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Ruhrpumpen’s Fire Campus
NFPA 20 Section 4.10.1 establishes a fundamental design rule that a centrifugal fire pump must be selected so that the largest single system demand does not exceed 150 percent of the pump’s rated flow. This sizing limitation exists because fire pumps are certified and tested to operate safely up to 150 percent of their rated capacity, but not beyond it. By ensuring that no connected sprinkler, monitor, hydrant, or deluge system requires more water than the pump can deliver at this upper performance limit, designers avoid conditions that would otherwise overload the pump, starve critical fire protection systems, or cause pump overheating, cavitation, or mechanical instability. For example, if the greatest fire demand is 3,000 gpm, the selected pump must be rated at least 2,000 gpm so that its 150 percent rating matches or exceeds that demand.
UL 448, the performance standard for centrifugal fire pumps, directly supports this NFPA requirement by requiring pumps to demonstrate stable, safe operation at 150 percent of their rated flow. During UL certification testing, pumps must provide at least 65 percent of rated pressure at 150 percent of rated flow while avoiding excessive vibration, overheating, or mechanical failure. Additional overload testing ensures the pump shaft, bearings, casing, and driver remain within acceptable temperature and stress limits. UL also requires stability and run-duration tests at 150 percent flow so that the pump can sustain operation at this point long enough to meet the functional needs of a fire event. These requirements confirm that pumps can safely operate at the exact limit NFPA uses as a design constraint.
FM Approval Standard 1311 contains similar performance and endurance requirements. FM requires pumps to deliver both rated flow and 150 percent of rated flow while maintaining a minimum of 65 percent of rated pressure. Pumps must also pass run testing at shutoff, 100 percent, and 150 percent capacities without overheating, exhibiting mechanical distress, or showing signs of hydraulic instability. FM adds long-duration endurance tests to verify the pump can sustain overload conditions without bearing degradation, seal failure, or fatigue cracking. These provisions reinforce the NFPA design rule by proving that approved pumps can reliably operate at the upper end of their certified performance envelope.
Together, NFPA 20, UL 448, and FM 1311 form a consistent framework: NFPA 20 dictates that system designers must limit the maximum required flow to no more than 150 percent of the pump’s rated capacity, while UL 448 and FM 1311 validate that fire pumps are physically capable of safely delivering this performance.
FireWatch: World Updates
The Ichthys LNG onshore facility, operated by Inpex, is located at Bladin Point near Darwin in the Northern Territory of Australia and is regulated by the Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority (NT EPA) under an Environment Protection Licence issued in accordance with the Waste Management and Pollution Control Act. In recent months, the facility has faced heightened scrutiny after Inpex admitted in October 2025 to errors in its calculation and reporting of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene. Following this disclosure, the NT EPA launched an immediate investigation, and additional concerns surfaced as workers reported exposure to toxic chemicals, oil spills, and inadequate management responses. Despite these issues, the Northern Territory’s Chief Health Officer has stated that current monitoring shows no evidence of increased health risks to the community.
On 10 November 2025 at approximately 3:10 PM, a fire broke out inside the Tank 2 dehydration bed at the Bladin Point Ichthys facility. This area of the process plant, which forms part of the gas-processing train, contains hydrocarbon gases, molecular sieve dehydration media, high operating temperatures, and high-pressure systems. Any fire or thermal runaway in such a unit is considered a high-hazard scenario requiring high-capacity fixed firewater protection, including dedicated fire water ring mains and both diesel and electric fire-water pumps capable of delivering large volumes of water. According to Inpex, the incident was managed in accordance with established emergency response protocols and was quickly extinguished. The rapid control of the fire strongly suggests that the fire-water system—including its pumps—operated effectively, delivering sufficient pressure and flow for deluge cooling or fire-monitor operation.
No injuries were reported, and both Inpex and regulators stated that the fire caused no environmental damage. NT WorkSafe was notified of the event, and the NT EPA began assessing whether any environmental harm may have occurred. Inpex publicly reiterated its commitment to cooperate fully with all regulatory authorities. As part of such investigations, regulators typically evaluate the performance of critical emergency systems, including fire-water pumps, reviewing maintenance records, pressure-test logs, system reliability, and whether the pumps delivered adequate flow rates to the affected zone.
At facilities such as Ichthys LNG, emergency response protocols depend heavily on the proper operation of fire-water pumps. These pumps must start automatically when header pressure drops, remain operable during total power loss through diesel-driven units, and provide N+1 redundancy so that protection remains available even if a pump fails. Given the speed at which the Tank 2 fire was extinguished, it is likely that the pumps auto-started as designed, maintained stable system pressure without cavitation or trip events, and provided the necessary flow to suppress the fire and prevent its escalation to adjacent equipment.
Several underlying issues contextualize the incident. An internal review at Inpex showed that emissions reported for the 2023–24 financial year were significantly lower than recalculated values: total VOCs were originally reported as 1,618.83 tonnes compared to a recalculated 3,562.3 tonnes; benzene was reported at 4.12 tonnes versus a recalculated 556.9 tonnes; and toluene was reported at 5.05 tonnes compared to a recalculated 569.8 tonnes. Inpex stated that these discrepancies were unintentional and that emissions from previous years were being reviewed, further noting that ongoing air-quality monitoring continued to show emission levels within government guidelines. Worker safety concerns have also emerged, with employees reporting chemical exposure, oil-related burns, and a culture of disregarding environmental or safety alarms. Some workers claimed that critical pollution-control equipment, such as acid gas incinerators, had been offline at times.
Compounding these concerns, a significant oil spill occurred in October 2025, during which approximately 36,000 litres of heating-medium oil leaked at the facility. Some of this oil entered stormwater drains and nearby mangrove areas, although testing reportedly did not detect contamination beyond the site’s boundaries. In terms of community health, the NT Chief Health Officer maintains that even with revised emissions data, no increased risk has been identified through existing monitoring programs. The NT EPA continues to work with health authorities to evaluate long-term risks associated with the facility’s operations.
From a technical and regulatory perspective, fire-water pumps at LNG facilities such as Ichthys must comply with recognized design standards, including NFPA 20 (Installation of Stationary Pumps for Fire Protection) and AS 2941 (Fixed Fire Protection Installations). These standards require at least two pumps—typically one electric and one diesel—automatic start on demand, continued operability during plant shutdowns, and routine weekly or monthly testing. A fire in a dehydration unit, such as the one experienced at Tank 2, is precisely the type of event these standards are intended to address. The rapid containment of the incident reinforces the likelihood that the fire-water pumps and associated fire-protection systems functioned as required, supplying the water necessary for deluge cooling, fire suppression, and preventing escalation to adjacent process units.
The incident presents several broader implications and risks. From a regulatory standpoint, the fire adds to the growing pressure on Inpex amid previous environmental issues such as the oil spill and emissions under-reporting. Reputational risk is also significant, as worker complaints and ongoing investigations could damage the company’s standing locally and among broader stakeholders. Health and environmental concerns, particularly the dramatic under-reporting of benzene—a known carcinogen—raise long-term risk considerations even if immediate exposure appears low. Operationally, a fire in a dehydration unit may indicate potential deficiencies in maintenance or process safety, suggesting systemic vulnerabilities that could pose future threats to safety, reliability, and business continuity.
Ruhrpumpen's Spotlight
The supplied fire pump system integrates both horizontal and vertical equipment into a single, comprehensive solution designed to deliver reliable performance in critical industrial applications and high-corrosion marine environments. The main horizontal pumps are model ZW 6×5×12 (F), a BB1-type split-case unit certified UL Listed and FM Approved, offering 1500 GPM and 150 psi operating pressure. They feature a casing made of A216 WCB carbon steel, an A351 CF8M stainless steel impeller, and wear rings in Super Duplex A890 Gr. 1B, ensuring mechanical strength and long-term durability. Each pump is powered by a Clarke JU4H-UF34 diesel engine rated at 115 HP at 3000 RPM, equipped with FM-approved radiator cooling, NFPA 20 alarm and control systems, and redundant batteries for maximum availability.
Complementing these units, the system includes vertical turbine pumps model 20C-600, VS1 type, fully manufactured in Duplex stainless steel to withstand seawater and corrosive conditions. These pumps feature two hydraulic stages, 20-inch bowls, 12-inch flanged column with a total length of 10.58 feet, and Duplex shafts lubricated by product. They are driven by Clarke DS0H-UFAA68 diesel engines rated at 587 HP at 1760 RPM, equipped with FM-approved marine cooling loops, 316 stainless steel silencers and spark arrestors, tropicalized control systems, and 24-V NiCd battery banks. The package also includes reinforced marine gearheads, corrosion-protected drive shafts, and Super Duplex accessories that ensure reliable performance even under harsh marine exposure.
The scope also includes a vertical auxiliary pump model 6A-6 with six stages, entirely built in Duplex, featuring a 4-inch flanged column, a 1-inch shaft, and a 4” 150# RF spool piece. This pump is powered by a 20 HP, 3600 RPM, VHS TEFC IP56 electric motor with Class H insulation, suitable for continuous duty in demanding environments. To maintain system pressure, a multistage jockey pump model WDM/VSE 10-10-100 is included, delivering 62 GPM at 142 psi and driven by a 10 HP, 440-V motor. It is complemented by a UL/FM Cla-Val 55L pressure relief valve to ensure stable operation across the network.
All equipment is controlled by advanced UL/FM-certified controllers. The main pumps are equipped with Tornatech GPD controllers housed in NEMA 4X stainless steel enclosures, featuring NiCd battery chargers, full NFPA 20 alarm packages, Modbus remote monitoring capability, and protection features tailored for marine environments. The jockey pump is managed by a Tornatech JPLT controller with a ViZiTouch interface and protections against phase failure, overload, and unsuccessful starts. The system also includes double-wall UL-142 diesel tanks, certified leak sensors, 316 stainless steel flame arresters, Super Duplex Cla-Val valves and strainers, and Rosemount 2051G instrumentation built with corrosion-resistant alloys. All pumps are supplied on common bases coated with C5-M marine-grade protective paint for maximum durability in severe environments.
The result is an integrated fire pump solution that combines flow, pressure, hydraulic efficiency, and superior corrosion resistance, supported by mission-critical diesel engines and certified controllers. This system provides a robust and reliable platform designed to ensure operational continuity in industrial facilities where fire protection is a strategic priority.
Are you looking for Fire Pumps and Systems to cover your pumping needs? Let Ruhrpumpen help solve your pumping demands.
Contact us now by clicking here.