Is a diesel fire pump still needed in such a situation?
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Gentlemen, I am a safety manager at a pulp and paper manufacturing plant. Our facility has dual power supplies, and all of the fire pumps are electric; there are no diesel fire pumps. Such a facility poses a high risk of fire, especially considering the large amounts of materials such as paper, wood stored in the material yards, and straw – all amounting to tens of thousands of tons. In such a situation, is it okay to not have a diesel fire pump?
Personally, I think it’s possible. My company is in a similar situation: there are two power circuits and 3 fire pumps, with no diesel pumps installed. The fire safety inspections were also passed. Of course, the two power circuits must be reliable, and the amount of water stored for firefighting purposes should be greater than the actual amount needed. The fire pumps should be maintained regularly and operated individually to maintain pressure in the fire protection systems (using pressure stabilizing pumps).
The regulations only recommend using a diesel pump as a backup pump; it is not mandatory. If possible, it is still better to install a diesel pump