This book describes fixed firewater pump installations for industrial facilities from the viewpoint of the end users, fire protection engineers, loss prevention professionals and those just entering a career in which decisions about fire pump installations must be made. Therefore much background information is given for the necessary requirements and usefulness of a firewater pump and the services that interface with it.

It is assumed that the reader is to some extent generally knowledgeable with hydraulics for pumps and pumping systems therefore this book is not concerned with those detailed design aspects. Many excellent reference books are available which provide adequate guidance in the design of firewater installations to calculate water flow, pressure and other hydraulic features and concerns associated with fire pump installations.

This book’s primarily objective is the provision of practical information and basic background design principles on the application of fixed pumps for fire fighting purposes at industrial facilities, both for onshore and offshore facilities. Where specific details are necessary and pertinent to the discussion they are provided, otherwise, these can be found from the applicable fire codes and engineering practices to be applied to the facility. Experience from the installation of fire pumps in the petroleum and chemical industries, historical data, manufacturers specification sheets and regulatory code requirements have been drawn upon for the preparation of the information in this book.

All fire water pump installation should meet the requirements of local ordinances and applicable fire codes for the facility. This book does not intend to replace or supplement the legal requirements of those documents and the required responsibility to meet them rest with the owner of the facility.