{"id":7914,"date":"2020-06-08T15:22:00","date_gmt":"2020-06-08T13:22:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.idro-elettrica.it\/esperto-risponde\/flexible-couplings-for-fire-pumps-what-is-permitted\/"},"modified":"2026-07-01T09:46:14","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T07:46:14","slug":"flexible-couplings-for-fire-pumps-what-is-permitted","status":"publish","type":"esperto-risponde","link":"https:\/\/www.idro-elettrica.it\/en\/esperto-risponde\/flexible-couplings-for-fire-pumps-what-is-permitted\/","title":{"rendered":"Flexible Couplings for Fire Pumps: What Is Permitted"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Flexible couplings for fire pumps<\/em>: If you need to connect fire pumps to piping, the question \u201cWhich couplings are permitted?\u201d is key to ensuring compliance with the rules referenced in the text.*<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this response, we\u2019ll provide a practical overview: which joints are <strong>permitted<\/strong>, which are <strong>prohibited<\/strong>, and what guidelines should be followed to make the right choice<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2>Table of Contents<\/h2><nav><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#qual-e-la-domanda-e-perche-e-ricorrente\">What is the question (and why does it come up so often)?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#il-riferimento-normativo-richiamato-nel-testo-come-leggerlo\">The regulatory reference cited in the text (how to interpret it)<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#giunti-flessibili-pompe-antincendio-cosa-e-consentito\">Flexible couplings for fire pumps: what is permitted<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#cosa-non-e-concesso-giunti-in-gomma\">What is NOT allowed: rubber joints<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#requisito-di-pressione-\u2265-40-bar-cosa-significa-operativamente\">Pressure requirement: \u2265 40 bar (what this means in practice)<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#come-usare-questa-indicazione-in-pratica-check-veloce\">How to Use This Guidance in Practice (Quick Check)<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#conclusione\">Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<h2 id=\"qual-e-la-domanda-e-perche-e-ricorrente\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is the question (and why does it come up so often)?<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The question is very specific: <strong>What types of flexible couplings can be used to connect fire pumps<\/strong>?<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When it comes to connecting <strong>fire pumps to piping<\/strong>, the key is not just \u201cfinding a component,\u201d but choosing a solution that <strong>meets the requirements specified<\/strong> in the references cited in the text.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"il-riferimento-normativo-richiamato-nel-testo-come-leggerlo\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">The regulatory reference cited in the text (how to interpret it)<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The text indicates a direct link between two references:<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>UNI\/TR 11438:2016<\/strong>, Section <strong>6.1.2<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>UNI EN 12845<\/strong>, Section <strong>17.1.4<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In practice, the guideline is: The flexible couplings that may be used to connect fire pumps to piping are those that <strong>meet the requirements<\/strong> of <strong>UNI EN 12845 17.1.4<\/strong>, as specified in section <strong>6.1.2<\/strong> of <strong>UNI\/TR 11438:2016<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is the key piece of information that guides the selection process.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"giunti-flessibili-pompe-antincendio-cosa-e-consentito\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Flexible couplings for fire pumps: what is permitted<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to the text, <strong>only<\/strong> the following are <strong>permitted<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>steel couplings<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>capable of withstanding pressures of \u2265 40 bar<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Therefore, if the goal is to select flexible couplings for fire pumps, the specified \u201cminimum criteria\u201d are twofold: <strong>material (steel)<\/strong> and <strong>pressure resistance (\u2265 40 bar)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"cosa-non-e-concesso-giunti-in-gomma\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is NOT allowed: rubber joints<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The text is also explicit regarding the prohibition:<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Rubber couplings are prohibited<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No interpretation is needed here: according to the \u201cPermitted by the Rules \/ NOT Permitted by the Rules\u201d logic, <strong>rubber joints<\/strong> fall under <strong>the \u201cNOT permitted\u201d category<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you are considering alternatives or \u201cequivalent\u201d components, this point will help you avoid, right from the start, a choice that is not in line with what is described here.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"requisito-di-pressione-&#x2265;-40-bar-cosa-significa-operativamente\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pressure requirement: \u2265 40 bar (what this means in practice)<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The text specifies that approved couplings must withstand <strong>pressures<\/strong> of <strong>\u2265 40 bar<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In practical terms, this means there is a clear requirement when selecting a component: the flexible coupling must be <strong>certified\/qualified<\/strong> for that pressure threshold, in addition to being made of <strong>steel<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the context of this article, this requirement is an integral part of the answer to the initial question: it is not enough for it to \u201cbe flexible\u201d; it must also comply with the specified requirements (material + pressure).<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"come-usare-questa-indicazione-in-pratica-check-veloce\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Use This Guidance in Practice (Quick Check)<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you need to quickly check whether the criterion stated in the text is met, you can use this mini-checklist:<\/p>\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Is the component you are considering a <strong>flexible coupling<\/strong> designed to <strong>connect fire pumps to piping<\/strong>?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Is the joint <strong>made of steel<\/strong>?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Can<\/strong> the joint <strong>withstand pressures of \u2265 40 bar<\/strong>?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Is the joint <strong>made of rubber<\/strong>? (If yes: <strong>not allowed<\/strong> according to the text) <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This sequence does not replace a thorough review of the project documentation, but it accurately summarizes the points stated.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"conclusione\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For connecting fire pumps to piping, the <strong>flexible fire pump couplings<\/strong> specified as acceptable are those that comply with the requirements listed below: <strong>Rubber couplings are prohibited<\/strong>; <strong>only steel couplings<\/strong> with a <strong>pressure<\/strong> resistance <strong>of \u2265 40 bar<\/strong> <strong>are permitted<\/strong>, in accordance with <strong>UNI\/TR 11438:2016 (6.1.2)<\/strong> and <strong>UNI EN 12845 (17.1.4)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Flexible couplings for fire pumps: Which ones are permitted for connecting fire pumps to piping? In this response, we refer to UNI\/TR 11438:2016 and UNI EN 12845 17.1.4: rubber couplings are prohibited; only steel couplings rated at \u2265 40 bar are permitted. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":7917,"parent":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_angie_page":false,"footnotes":"","_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"tags":[551,661,552,659,660,662,549,570],"class_list":["post-7914","esperto-risponde","type-esperto-risponde","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-engineering-insights","tag-fire-protection-components","tag-fire-pumps","tag-flexible-joints","tag-pipe-connections","tag-regulatory-compliance","tag-uni-en-12845","tag-uni-tr-11438"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.idro-elettrica.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/esperto-risponde\/7914","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.idro-elettrica.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/esperto-risponde"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.idro-elettrica.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/esperto-risponde"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.idro-elettrica.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/esperto-risponde\/7914\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.idro-elettrica.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7917"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.idro-elettrica.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7914"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.idro-elettrica.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7914"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}