{"id":8041,"date":"2021-10-01T16:46:00","date_gmt":"2021-10-01T14:46:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.idro-elettrica.it\/esperto-risponde\/improving-the-availability-of-fire-suppression-systems-a-practical-guide\/"},"modified":"2026-07-01T09:46:45","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T07:46:45","slug":"improving-the-availability-of-fire-suppression-systems-a-practical-guide","status":"publish","type":"esperto-risponde","link":"https:\/\/www.idro-elettrica.it\/en\/esperto-risponde\/improving-the-availability-of-fire-suppression-systems-a-practical-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Improving the Availability of Fire Suppression Systems: A Practical Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;<em>Higher availability of fire suppression systems<\/em> &#8221; is a phrase that very concretely conveys the idea of service continuity and system reliability. The question is: Are there solutions that already offer this as part of their standard product line? <\/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=\"#cosa-significa-disponibilita-superiore-nel-contesto-antincendio\">What does \u201chigher availability\u201d mean in the context of fire protection?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#la-risposta-si-esistono-sistemi-con-disponibilita-superiore-in-gamma\">The answer: Yes, there are systems with higher availability in this range.<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#esempio-firebox-composizione-del-gruppo-antincendio\">FIREBOX Example: Composition of the Pump-set<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#ridondanza-meccanica-continuita-anche-in-caso-di-guasto-di-una-pompa\">Mechanical redundancy: continuity even in the event of a pump failure<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#ridondanza-energetica-continuita-in-assenza-di-tensione-elettrica\">Power Redundancy: Continuity in the Absence of Electrical Power<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#disponibilita-superiore-sistemi-antincendio-e-manutenzione-il-richiamo-alla-uni-en-12845-2020\">Improved Availability of Fire Protection Systems and Maintenance: Reference to UNI EN 12845:2020<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#collegamento-con-la-definizione-r-t-o-dm-18-10-2019-perche-e-coerente\">Link to the definition of R.T.O. (Ministerial Decree of October 18, 2019): why it is consistent<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#conclusione\">Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<h2 id=\"cosa-significa-disponibilita-superiore-nel-contesto-antincendio\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What does \u201chigher availability\u201d mean in the context of fire safety?<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the field of fire prevention, \u201chigher availability\u201d refers to a system that has a higher level of availability than the minimum required by the applicable standards for that system or facility. In other words, it refers to a system designed to minimize the impact of failures or downtime while maintaining the ability to properly power the system. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This concept is referenced in the revision of the Technical Regulations (R.T.O.) of the Code (Ministerial Decree of October 18, 2019), which introduces, as part of the update to the definitions in Chapter G.1.14\u2014Active Protection\u2014the definition of \u201cHigh-Availability System or Facility.\u201d<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"la-risposta-si-esistono-sistemi-con-disponibilita-superiore-in-gamma\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">The answer: Yes, there are systems with higher availability in this range.<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The product line includes several systems that deliver higher availability. The key idea is not to \u201cadd complexity,\u201d but to create a configuration in which the system maintains its expected performance even in presence of a failure of one of the main components or a power supply. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One practical example cited is that of specific FIREBOX fire suppression units, identified by the following codes:<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>BXNVAEM0H0400C4U2S<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>BXNVAEM0H0850C4U2S<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These examples help illustrate <em>how<\/em> superior availability is achieved, in functional terms.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"esempio-firebox-composizione-del-gruppo-antincendio\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">FIREBOX Example: Composition of the Pump-set<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the fire suppression FIREBOX units listed, each system contains a pump-set consisting of:<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>No. 1 main electric fire pump<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>1 main fire pump<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The key factor, in terms of availability, is that <strong>each main pump is capable of delivering the design Q\/H values on its own<\/strong>. Therefore, this is not a case of \u201cpartial backup,\u201d but rather two main pumps that, taken individually, are certified as capable of meeting the design requirements. <\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"ridondanza-meccanica-continuita-anche-in-caso-di-guasto-di-una-pompa\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Mechanical redundancy: continuity even in the event of a pump failure<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this configuration, we refer to <strong>mechanical redundancy<\/strong> because the potential failure of one of the two main pumps <strong>does not affect the performance of the other<\/strong>. The operational consequence, as described in the example, is simple and important: the other main pump, on its own, is capable of properly supplying the system. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is one of the most direct ways to link the concept of \u201chigher availability\u201d to a functionally measurable fact: the required performance (design Q\/H) remains achievable even when a pump is unavailable.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"ridondanza-energetica-continuita-in-assenza-di-tensione-elettrica\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Power Redundancy: Continuity in the Event of a Power Outage<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition to mechanical redundancy, this example illustrates <strong>redundancy in terms of power sources<\/strong>. Specifically: <\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>In the event of a power outage<\/strong>, the <strong>motor pump<\/strong> is still capable of operating;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>and thus ensure that <strong>the system is properly powered<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This point rounds out the argument: it not only protects against the possibility of a \u201cmachine\u201d failure, but also against an external condition (loss of power) that could compromise pressurization if there were only a single power source.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"disponibilita-superiore-sistemi-antincendio-e-manutenzione-il-richiamo-alla-uni-en-12845-2020\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Improved Availability of Fire Protection Systems and Maintenance: Reference to UNI EN 12845:2020<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For higher availability to be sustained over time, it is also dependent on proper operation. In fact, the example specifies that these pressurization systems ensure continuous and reliable operation <strong>if properly maintained<\/strong>, citing <strong>the requirements of Chapter 20 of UNI EN 12845:2020<\/strong> as an application reference. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Consistent with the above, availability is therefore not merely a \u201cconfiguration characteristic,\u201d but rather the Result that also depends on maintaining the system in service as required.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"collegamento-con-la-definizione-r-t-o-dm-18-10-2019-perche-e-coerente\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Link to the definition of R.T.O. (Ministerial Decree of October 18, 2019): why it is consistent<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The configuration described (dual main pumps, with two effectively separate power sources) is presented as a solution that:<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>meets the client requirements for <strong>continuous and reliable operation<\/strong> specified in <strong>UNI EN 12845:2020<\/strong>;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>and, given the level of availability that can be achieved relative to the minimum, <strong>it establishes a system with a higher level of availability<\/strong>, as specified by <strong>the R.T.O.<\/strong> in the revised Code (Ministerial Decree of October 18, 2019).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The key is the logical alignment between the definition (\u201cavailability level higher than the minimum\u201d) and the solution (mechanical and power redundancies, with continued operation).<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"conclusione\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In summary: Yes, the product line includes examples of <strong>fire suppression systems with higher availability<\/strong>, achieved through a pump-set that includes <strong>a main electric pump<\/strong> and <strong>a main motor-driven pump<\/strong>, each capable of individually delivering the <strong>design Q\/H<\/strong> values, and with operational management in accordance with <strong>Chapter 20 of UNI EN 12845:2020<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>To ensure higher availability of fire suppression systems, it is necessary to design the pressurization system with effective redundancies. Let\u2019s look at an example involving two main pumps (an electric pump and a motor-driven pump) and the relevant regulatory requirements cited. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":8043,"parent":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_angie_page":false,"footnotes":"","_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"tags":[572,834,836,838,833,840,835,837,839,549],"class_list":["post-8041","esperto-risponde","type-esperto-risponde","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-electric-fire-pump","tag-fire-protection-systems-2","tag-fire-pump","tag-fire-suppression-pressurization","tag-greater-availability","tag-ministerial-decree-of-october-18-2019","tag-pump-sets","tag-redundancy","tag-rto-fire-prevention-code","tag-uni-en-12845"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.idro-elettrica.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/esperto-risponde\/8041","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\/8041\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.idro-elettrica.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8043"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.idro-elettrica.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8041"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.idro-elettrica.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8041"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}