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Home » NFPA 20 standard for air & hydraulic starting systems

NFPA 20 standard for air & hydraulic starting systems

The NFPA 20 standard is an American set of guidelines determined by the National Fire Protection Association that rules on the installation of stationary pumps for fire protection.

There are regulations that relate to the design of air and hydraulic starter motors.

Air and hydraulic starter motors are two of the staple ranges from IPU’s Engine Starting division, so the guidelines will be of interest to IPU and its customers.

For a simple overview of how the NFPA 20 standard affects the use of air & hydraulic starting systems, order your free guide here.

The 2019 edition of the NFPA 20 standard is the most recent edition. The preceding edition was published in 2016.

Across both starter motor types, the main change in the 2019 standard was the addition of a few rules on the use of primary and secondary cranking systems. They stipulate that engines fitted with multiple starting systems must use these definitions in order to differentiate between two separate cranking system types.

The following tables present the new regulations that have been included in the 2019 NFPA 20 standard, for both starter motor types. They relate largely to the cranking cycles for both the primary and secondary cranking systems.

 

Hydraulic Starting (Primary Cranking System)

2016 2019
Power source Unspecified Two equal-sized accumulators (11.2.7.3.11.1)
No. cranking cycles No fewer than 6

(11.2.7.3.5.6)

No fewer than 12

(11.2.7.3.11)

No. seconds per cycle No less than 15

(11.2.7.3.5.6)

No less than 15

(11.2.7.3.11)

Cranking method (cycles 1-6) 1-3 automatic from the signalling source; 4-6 not specified

(11.2.7.3.5.7)

Automatic from the signalling source, alternating between the accumulators

(11.2.7.3.11.2)

Cranking method (cycles 7-12) Unspecified Manually activated from engine or controller, with each button push initiating a 15-second crank

(11.2.7.3.11.3)

Automatic recharge system Electric powered

(11.2.7.3.5.2)

Electrically or air-powered

(11.2.7.3.6)

Engine-powered recharge Mandatory

(11.2.7.3.5.4)

Mandatory

(11.2.7.3.8)

Manual recharge Mandatory

(11.2.7.3.5.5)

Mandatory (recharge, purge & bleed)

(11.2.7.3.9)

Hydraulic Starting (Secondary Cranking System)

2016 2019
Power source Unspecified Unspecified
No. cranking cycles No fewer than 6

(11.2.7.3.5.6)

No fewer than 6

(11.2.7.3.12)

No. seconds per cycle No less than 15

(11.2.7.3.5.6)

No less than 15

(11.2.7.3.12)

Cranking method (cycles 1-3) Automatic from the signalling source

(11.2.7.3.5.7)

Automatic from the signalling source

(11.2.7.3.12.1)

Cranking method (cycles 4-6) Unspecified Manually activated from engine or controller, with each button push initiating a 15-second crank

(11.2.7.3.12.2)

Automatic recharge system Electric powered

(11.2.7.3.5.2)

Electrically or air-powered

(11.2.7.3.6)

Engine-powered recharge Mandatory

(11.2.7.3.5.4)

Mandatory

(11.2.7.3.8)

Manual recharge Mandatory

(11.2.7.3.5.5)

Mandatory (recharge, purge & bleed)

(11.2.7.3.9)

Air Starting (Primary Cranking System)

2016 2019
Power source Unspecified Two separate, equally-sized air supply containers (A and B)

(11.2.7.4.4.3)

Total cranking time 180 seconds

(11.2.7.4.4.1)

180 seconds

(11.2.7.4.4.2)

No. cranking cycles Unspecified 2
Duration of first cranking cycle Unspecified 90 seconds (continuous cranking)

(11.2.7.4.4.4)

Cranking method (first attempt) Unspecified Automatic from the signalling source, pulling from container A

(11.2.7.4.4.4)

Cranking method (second attempt) Unspecified Manually activated from engine or controller, pulling from container B and only cranking while the button is held in

(11.2.7.4.4.5)

Recharge system Independent of fire pump engine

(11.2.7.4.4.2)

Independent of fire pump engine

(11.2.7.4.4.9)

Air Starting (Secondary Cranking System)

2016 2019
Power source Unspecified Unspecified
Total cranking time 180 seconds

(11.2.7.4.4.1)

90 seconds

(11.2.7.4.4.6)

No. cranking cycles Unspecified 2
Duration of first cranking cycle Unspecified 45 seconds (continuous cranking)

(11.2.7.4.4.7)

Cranking method (first attempt) Unspecified Automatic from the signalling source

(11.2.7.4.4.7)

Cranking method (second attempt) Unspecified Manually activated from engine or controller, only cranking while the button is held in

(11.2.7.4.4.7)

Recharge system Independent of fire pump engine

(11.2.7.4.4.2)

Independent of fire pump engine

(11.2.7.4.4.9)

 

 

Get your free handbook

  • IPU’s Quick Guide to NFPA 20

    Request this guide to understand the NFPA 20 guidelines that apply to engine starting systems.

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Downloads(no ID req'd)

  • IPU Hydraulic Starting Systems
  • IPU Air Starting Systems
  • IPU Spring Starter Motors

Case Studies

  • ATP Cheviot
  • Sakhalin Island Air Start 1
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