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) |