Fire fighting pumps boost pressure to hydrants, standpipes and sprinkler systems in buildings and facilities. They are critical fire safety equipment and must be installed, inspected and maintained according to NFPA standards.
When selecting a fire pump look for a robust, metal build and a quality engine from the likes of Honda or Briggs in petrol or Cromtech or Water Master in diesel. The engine will determine how hard the pump can work and the maximum head / pressure it will achieve.
Types
Gasoline Fire Fighting Pumps are versatile units that can be used in critical and everyday applications. Designed to be portable and easy to start, petrol fire pumps are ideal for bushfire defence, fire fighting, fire hydrant maintenance, tank, truck, equipment wash down, AG/Sprinkler irrigation and more.
When choosing a fire fighting pump consider the water flow and pressure requirements you need for your application. Check the maximum head specification of each model; this is how high the water can be pumped up to. The higher the maximum head, the more powerful the pump.
Also consider whether you need your fire pump to be mobile. Some models have trolley kits attached or convenient handles for easy maneuverability. Some also feature a recoil or electric starter for easy starting.
If you require a backup fire pump in case of an electrical power failure then a diesel engine driven model may be required for your application. These fire pumps can be powered by an electric motor or a diesel engine and are suitable for properties where the electricity supply is unreliable or insufficient capacity.
When considering the type of fire fighting pump you require for your property, speak to a specialist fire safety engineer and your local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). They will be able to advise you on all the factors that need to be taken into consideration when selecting a suitable fire pump for your property.
Applications
A fire pump has the ability to supply high-pressure water. This water is used to connect and run fire hoses, or move a large volume of water up an incline. Each fire pump has a Maximum Head specification; this is the height to which the water can be pumped. It is important to consider this when selecting a fire pump.
The water can also be used to extinguish a fire. For example, if you have ever noticed a canopy gasoline station with nozzles in the corner of their outdoor fueling area, this is an automatic suppression system that deploys a dry-chemical agent when thermal detectors sense a fire in the canopy. The ATTENDANT II system uses sodium bicarbonate, which combines with an acidic ingredient to release carbon dioxide as it heats up. This smothers the fire and keeps it from spreading, and it is available through a select network of authorized Pyro-Chem distributors.
Many firefighters and emergency services personnel use petrol fire fighting pumps in critical situations or for everyday water transfer tasks like cleaning a flooded basement, bushfire defence or flood-fighting. These pumps are mobile, with metal fuel tanks installed on the engine or frame depending on model.
Most fire pumps are driven by electric motors, but diesel engines are sometimes used as well. They can be especially useful where the electrical power to the pump may be interrupted or have insufficient capacity.
Safety
While these fire fighting pumps are critical life safety equipment in many buildings, they can be complex to install. The building owner, architect, engineer, fire marshal, and the installation team should all be involved in planning for the pump and system to ensure that it is installed properly.
It is also important that the fire pump and water supply are protected from possible interruption through damage by explosion, fire, flood, earthquake, vermin, windstorm, freezing, and vandalism. NFPA 20 requires that a bypass be installed in the water line to the pump so that the water can still flow into the building if the fire pump is damaged. The water supply should be capable of serving the demand of the fire standpipe system without the pump, and the pump should be capable of starting automatically in the event that the main water supply is shut off due to a fire or other reasons.
Consumers can reduce refueling risks by following safe refueling procedures. When refueling portable gasoline containers, keep the nozzle in contact with the rim of the container and remain facing away from the vehicle to prevent a possible fire caused by static electricity. Before touching the nozzle, touch something metal with your bare hand such as the car door to discharge static electricity on your body.
Maintenance
As important as it is to select the right fire fighting pump for a building, even more crucial is to ensure that the system will start and function during a real emergency. This is why a program of inspection, testing and maintenance should be in place. The exact details of the inspection, testing and maintenance requirements should be discussed with a fire safety professional.
Many different opinions exist about how often to test a fire pump and how long the tests should run. Some experts recommend weekly fire pump tests for diesel and electric pumps and monthly for water-based systems. All tests should be performed at rated speed, and if the system is an automatic starter, the engine must be run for 30 minutes every month (without allowing water to flow).
A bypass connection is required on both the suction side of the fire pump and the discharge side for routine tests. A bypass valve is generally a Venturi flowmeter located between two normally closed butterfly valves. The valves must be installed at manufacturer-specified minimum distances from each other.
It is also recommended that a pressure-reducing valve be installed in the piping downstream of the fire pump to limit the pressure distributed through the Fire Department Connection (FDC). When these high pressures are applied upstream of the pump, they can cause excessive pump churn and may result in damage to the pump.