What piping material is acceptable for the suction and discharge piping pressure maintenance pumps?

According to NFPA 20, the suction and discharge piping for a pressure maintenance (jockey) pump must be of the same material as the main fire pump's suction and discharge piping. The standard's table of acceptable materials for fire pump piping explicitly lists both "Seamless Copper Tube" and "Steel Pipe, Black and Hot-Dipped Zinc-Coated (Galvanized)." While steel is more common for the larger main pump piping, both materials are permitted by the standard for this service. Therefore, both copper tube and steel piping are acceptable materials for pressure maintenance pump piping, provided the material matches that of the main fire pump.

C. Listed CPVC piping: Listed CPVC piping is not an approved material for fire pump suction or discharge piping as specified in NFPA 20.

D. HDPE piping: HDPE piping is not an approved material for aboveground fire pump suction or discharge piping according to NFPA 20.

1. NFPA 20, Standard for the Installation of Stationary Pumps for Fire Protection (2022 Edition). Section 4.30.4.3 states: "The suction and discharge piping for the pressure maintenance pump shall be of the same material as the fire pump suction and discharge piping."

2. NFPA 20, Standard for the Installation of Stationary Pumps for Fire Protection (2022 Edition). Section 4.16.1.1 and Section 4.17.1 refer to Table 4.16.1.1 for acceptable materials for fire pump suction and discharge piping.

3. NFPA 20, Standard for the Installation of Stationary Pumps for Fire Protection (2022 Edition). Table 4.16.1.1, "Pipe and Tube Materials and Dimensions," lists "Steel Pipe, Black and Hot-Dipped Zinc-Coated (Galvanized)" (referencing ASTM A53/A53M, A795/A795M) and "Seamless Copper Tube" (referencing ASTM B75, B88) as acceptable materials. The table does not list CPVC or HDPE for this application.