Case Study: Tommaso Casini Middle School

Requirement
The Municipality of Valsamoggia needed to restore the existing pumping unit serving the school's fire-fighting network, adapting it to the standard and making the necessary improvements for routine maintenance.
The school is classified as type 2 school (Ministerial Decree 26/8/1992), with type 1 risk according to the UNI10779 standard, contemporary presence from 301 to 500 people.

Pre-existing situation
The fire-fighting system was powered by a pumping unit built in accordance with UNI9490, installed under the ground floor in a basement room. The room adjacent to the water supply storage was accessible only through a sea ladder, placed below a blind metal roof. The pump unit was powered by a 30,000-litre tank, continuously replenished, in case of operation, by the municipal water network, thus guaranteeing the school's hydrant network an autonomy of 1 hour.

Idroelettrica’s Proposal

The difficulties encountered over the years for carrying out maintenance and the progressive deterioration of the equipment installed in the basement room, have recommended the choice of a FIREBOX type pump room to be installed above ground, easily accessible to the maintenance workers and for periodic visits provided for by the standard.

The water supply storage was obtained using the existing one consisting of underground concrete tanks.

The box has been connected to the existing distribution network that develops on the ground floor and then branches out into vertical columns to feed NASPI UNI25 present on the various floors. The system is independent of any drinking water supply network.

The sizing criteria adopted were derived from the rules of best
practice.

The Result
Thanks to the choices made, and to the synergy between the technical offices of the Municipality of Valsamoggia and Idroelettrica S.p.A., it was possible to recover part of the pre-existing system with considerable cost containment, adapting it to the new standard, thus making the pumping station serving the school complex safe and compliant with current legislation.