Formal and Legal Analysis of the Issues Related to the Placing on the Market and using Fire Pumps and Pump Kits

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this article is to present the existing formal and legal conditions related to the placing on the market and using in the national market of pumps and pump kits – both fire pumps and those intended for firefighting water supply systems. The paper also discusses other selected regulations relating to the product group in question. In addition, an issue not arising from the construction regulations, but equally important in terms of ensuring an adequate level of safety in buildings, was raised, i.e. the admittance of control panels for firefighting equipment (in this case pumps), which can form an integral part of the pump kits in question. The results of the analysis can also be applied to other selected products in the area of fire protection and the requirements that these products must meet before they can be placed on the market and put into use. Introduction: Fire water systems are among the most commonly used fire extinguishing systems in buildings. Despite their popularity, quite often investors, designers and users of buildings, as well as the manufacturers of pump kits themselves, have doubts about the requirements for placing these products on the market. The authors’ discussion of the current requirements is intended to consolidate knowledge in this area, clarify the marketing of construction products and resolve possible doubts. Methodology: The publication uses the results of the authors’ own analysis on the basis of the interpretation of the legislation, as well as available normative and literature sources. Conclusions: The analysis shows that fire pumps and pump kits are covered by the obligation to carry out national assessment and verification of constancy of performance in system 1 and to draw up a national declaration of performance as well as to mark the product with a construction mark (before placing it on the market or making it available on the national market). Moreover, from 1 January 2021, the obligation under consideration was extended to pumps for fire water supply systems, and from 1 July 2022 also to pump kits for fire water supply systems. Furthermore, it was pointed out that the sub-assembly acting as the control panel for the firefighting equipment, insofar as it is present in the pump kits in question, is also subject to admittance Keywords: fire pumps, pumps for firefighting water supply systems, “B” construction mark, national technical assessment

Keywords

• fire pumps
• pumps for firefighting water supply systems
• “b” construction mark
• national technical assessment