Alert Summary

FM Approvals has determined that fire pump sets produced by Reddy-Buffaloes Pump Inc. include the use of all-elastomeric power couplings. Any FM Approved pump sets that are in service with the usage of an all-elastomeric power coupling should be considered non-FM Approved. It should be noted that there is nothing inherently wrong with the pump. The issue is with the coupling between the pump and the driver.

Company Identity

Reddy-Buffaloes

Name

Reddy-Buffaloes Pump Inc

Address

#1 Dixie Drive

Baxley, GA 31515

Contact information

Tel – (912) 367 6345
Fax – (912) 367 5024

info@rbpump.com

Product Identity

All Reddy-Buffaloes fire pumps

FM Approval Status

Withdrawn from the Approval Guide on November 18, 2014

Hazard Involved

Couplings relying on all-elastomeric materials to transmit power from driver to pump can fail catastrophically and unpredictably. Heating experienced by the coupling can cause degradation of the plasticizers used in the coupling resulting in embrittlement of the material. Failure of the power coupling results in total impairment of the fire pump. The use of all-elastomeric couplings was prohibited in all FM Approvals standards in 2009. Couplings that do not rely solely on all-elastomeric materials (i.e., rely on metallic components spanning the gap between driver and pump shafts) as a means for power transmission are acceptable and meet the requirements of the FM Approval.