Can NFPA 20 systems use storage tanks or cisterns as water supply?

Can NFPA 20 systems use storage tanks or cisterns as water supply?

• A. Yes, if designed, protected, and tested to meet the pump’s water supply requirements.
• B. No, storage tanks are never permitted.
• C. Yes, but only if the tank is connected to municipal supply.
• D. Yes, storage tanks are preferred and require no testing.

Answer: (A)

The test is about whether on-site water sources like storage tanks or cisterns can serve as the fire pump’s supply. NFPA 20 allows these sources as long as they are capable of meeting the pump’s needs. The key idea is that the water supply must be able to deliver the required flow (GPM) and pressure to the pump under anticipated conditions. A storage tank or cistern must be properly designed with enough capacity to meet the demand, protected from damage and contamination (and, in cold climates, protected from freezing), and regularly tested to verify that it can sustain the necessary flow and pressure when the pump operates. When these conditions are met, using a storage tank or cistern is acceptable and reliable. Not every system uses municipal water, and a standalone tank does not require a municipal connection. However, tanks are not universally preferred nor exempt from testing; testing is still required to prove that the water supply will perform as needed.

The test is about whether on-site water sources like storage tanks or cisterns can serve as the fire pump’s supply. NFPA 20 allows these sources as long as they are capable of meeting the pump’s needs. The key idea is that the water supply must be able to deliver the required flow (GPM) and pressure to the pump under anticipated conditions. A storage tank or cistern must be properly designed with enough capacity to meet the demand, protected from damage and contamination (and, in cold climates, protected from freezing), and regularly tested to verify that it can sustain the necessary flow and pressure when the pump operates. When these conditions are met, using a storage tank or cistern is acceptable and reliable.

Not every system uses municipal water, and a standalone tank does not require a municipal connection. However, tanks are not universally preferred nor exempt from testing; testing is still required to prove that the water supply will perform as needed.