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IS 15301:2003 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for installation and maintenance of fire fighting pumps - code of practice. This code of practice provides guidelines for the proper installation and maintenance of fire fighting pump systems, including centrifugal, vertical turbine, and jockey pumps. It covers requirements for pump selection, drivers (electric motors and diesel engines), controllers, and piping arrangements. The standard also details procedures for acceptance testing and outlines periodic maintenance schedules to ensure system reliability.
Installation and Maintenance of Fire Fighting Pumps - Code of Practice
Quick Reference — Top IS 15301:2003 Values
Key parameters for pump selection, installation clearances, pressure switch settings, performance testing criteria, and maintenance schedules.
✓ Verified 2026-04-27
Reference
Value
Clause
Min. Head at Topmost Hydrant— Equivalent to ~35.7 m head of water.
0.35 N/mm²
Cl. 4.2.1
Standby Pump Capacity— A standby pump of the same type, capacity, and head is required.
100% of duty pump capacity
Cl. 4.2.3
Jockey Pump Auto Start Pressure
0.05 N/mm² below system static pressure
Cl. 4.5.1
Main Pump Auto Start Pressure
0.1 N/mm² below jockey pump start pressure
Cl. 4.5.1
Standby Pump Auto Start Pressure
0.05 N/mm² below main pump start pressure
Cl. 4.5.1
Pump Shut-off Head (Centrifugal)— Measured at zero flow during performance test.
≤ 120% of rated head
Cl. 10.2.1 (a)
Pump Overload Test Flow— Acceptance criteria for pump performance.
150% of rated flow
Cl. 10.2.1 (c)
Min. Head at Overload Flow— Pump must achieve this head when delivering 150% of rated flow.
≥ 65% of rated head
Cl. 10.2.1 (c)
Pump Driver Power— Driver must handle the entire range of the pump's characteristic curve.
Not overloaded at any point
Cl. 4.4
Pump Room Min. Clearance— Minimum clear space around and between pump sets.
1.0 m
Cl. 5.1.3
Pump Room Min. Headroom— Minimum clear height from floor to ceiling/soffit.
2.75 m
Cl. 5.1.3
Suction Pipe Max. Water Velocity— To prevent cavitation and excessive friction loss.
2.0 m/s
Cl. 5.4.1
Delivery Pipe Max. Water Velocity
3.0 m/s
Cl. 5.4.1
Min. Priming Tank Capacity— For pumps requiring manual or automatic priming.
3 × Volume of suction pipe
Cl. 5.5.1
Vortex Plate Min. Clearance— Minimum height from bottom of suction tank.
150 mm
Cl. 5.3.3
Diesel Fuel Tank Capacity (Sprinkler)— Duration varies by system type (e.g., 2 hours for hydrant systems).
3 hours of full load operation
Cl. 6.2.1
Diesel Engine Batteries— For redundancy in starting the engine.
2 independent sets
Cl. 6.2.2
Casing Hydrostatic Test Pressure— Test at 1.5x max working pressure or 2x duty pressure, whichever is higher.
≥ 1.0 N/mm²
Cl. 10.1
Weekly Test Run (Diesel Pump)— Electric pumps require a 10-minute weekly test run.
20 minutes
Cl. 11.2.2 (a)
Foundation Bolt Min. Projection— Projection above the top of the foundation block for grouting.
25 mm
Cl. 5.2.2
⚠ Verify against the latest BIS/IRC publication and project specifications. Amendment Slips may modify values.
BIM-relevant code. See the BIM Hub for ISO 19650, IFC, and LOD/LOIN frameworks used alongside it.
Practical Notes
! Suction piping design is the most critical aspect; ensure correct sizing, routing, and submergence to prevent cavitation and air entrainment, which are common causes of pump failure.
! Pay close attention to the pressure settings for the jockey pump and main pumps. Incorrect settings can cause frequent cycling (short-cycling) or a failure to start under fire conditions.
! For diesel-driven pumps, weekly test runs and diligent battery/fuel maintenance are non-negotiable for ensuring reliability during a power outage.
Standard for the Installation of Stationary Pumps for Fire Protection
Comprehensive standard covering the selection, installation, testing, and maintenance of fire pump sets.
BS EN 12845:2015+A1:2019BSI (UK) / CEN (Europe)
HighCurrent
Fixed firefighting systems - Automatic sprinkler systems - Design, installation and maintenance
Covers entire sprinkler systems, with dedicated clauses on water supplies and pumps mirroring IS 15301's scope.
AS 2941-2013Standards Australia (Australia)
HighCurrent
Fixed fire protection installations - Pumpset systems
Specifically addresses the design, installation, and commissioning of fire pump sets, similar to IS 15301.
LPC Rules for Automatic Sprinkler InstallationsFPA / RISCAuthority (UK)
HighCurrent
LPC Rules for Automatic Sprinkler Installations incorporating BS EN 12845
A UK-specific set of rules that builds upon BS EN 12845 with additional requirements for pumps and water supplies.
Key Differences
≠IS 15301 mandates a 100% standby pump (one working, one standby) of the same capacity and type. NFPA 20 allows for more flexible arrangements depending on risk, such as using multiple smaller pumps to meet demand or having a diesel standby for an electric primary, without a strict 1:1 identical pump requirement.
≠NFPA 20 requires fire pump controllers to be specifically 'listed' (e.g., by UL) for fire pump service. IS 15301 specifies the functional requirements of the controller but does not have a mandatory third-party listing/certification regime of the same nature.
≠Regarding the pump performance curve, IS 15301 specifies a shut-off (churn) head not to exceed 120% of the rated head. In contrast, NFPA 20 allows a higher limit, specifying that the churn pressure shall not exceed 140% of the rated head.
≠NFPA 20 provides highly prescriptive and detailed requirements for the construction of the pump room, including specific formulas for calculating ventilation rates based on engine horsepower and room temperature. IS 15301's requirements for pump house construction and ventilation are more general in nature.
Key Similarities
≈Both IS 15301 and its international counterparts (like NFPA 20) mandate the provision of a pressure maintenance (jockey) pump to compensate for minor system leaks and prevent the frequent starting of the main fire pump(s).
≈Both standards define a similar required performance characteristic for centrifugal pumps: at 150% of rated flow, the head produced must not be less than 65% of the head at the rated flow.
≈A core principle in both IS 15301 and other international standards is the emphasis on regular, scheduled testing and maintenance. Both outline weekly, monthly, and annual checks to ensure the pump set's constant readiness and reliability.
≈Both Indian and international standards recognize the same primary components for a fire pump set: the pump, a driver (electric motor or diesel engine), a controller, suction/discharge piping, and associated valves and accessories, forming the basis for the installation.
Parameter Comparison
Parameter
IS Value
International
Source
Pump Shut-off (Churn) Head
Shall not exceed 120% of rated head.
Shall not exceed 140% of rated head.
NFPA 20-2022
Head at 150% Rated Flow
Not less than 65% of rated head.
Not less than 65% of rated head.
NFPA 20-2022
Standby Pump Configuration
100% standby pump (same type and capacity) is mandatory.
Flexible based on risk; no mandatory 100% identical standby. Can be multiple pumps or different driver types.
NFPA 20-2022
Weekly Test Duration (Diesel)
At least 20 minutes.
Minimum of 30 minutes.
NFPA 20-2022
Weekly Test Duration (Electric)
At least 10 minutes.
Minimum of 10 minutes.
NFPA 20-2022
Controller Approval
Functional requirements specified; no mandatory third-party listing.
Must be 'Listed' for fire pump service (e.g., UL 218).
NFPA 20-2022
Vortex Plate Requirement
Required in suction tanks to prevent vortex formation.
An anti-vortex plate is required on the suction inlet in a storage tank.
NFPA 20-2022
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use
Key Values7
Quick Reference Values
Maximum pump shut-off head140% of rated head
Minimum pump head at 150% rated flow65% of rated head
Maximum flow velocity in suction pipe2.4 m/s
Minimum diesel engine test run duration (weekly)30 minutes
Minimum fuel tank capacity for diesel driverSufficient for 8 hours of continuous operation
Jockey pump start pressure0.7 kg/cm² below system static pressure
What are the performance requirements for a fire pump?+
The pump must deliver at least 150% of its rated flow at no less than 65% of its rated head, with a shut-off (zero flow) head not exceeding 140% of the rated head (Clause 5.1.2).
How often should a diesel fire pump be test-run?+
Weekly, for a minimum of 30 minutes, to ensure it will start and run smoothly when needed (Clause 10.2.1, Table 1).
What is the purpose of a jockey pump?+
A jockey (or pressure maintenance) pump is a small pump used to maintain pressure in the fire sprinkler system, compensating for minor leaks and preventing the large main fire pump from starting unnecessarily (Clause 5.4).
What is the minimum required capacity for a diesel pump's fuel tank?+
The fuel tank must hold enough fuel for the engine to run continuously at full load for at least 8 hours (Clause 6.3.3.4).