How does a fire pump work?
The fire pump keeps the pressure of the fire protection system in check. If it drops, the fire pump comes in to increase it. For instance, if one of the sprinklers has been activated to discharge water or there is a leakage, the pressure will drop in the system, and the fire pump will pump more water to increase the pressure.
These pumps can further be classified into the vertical split case, vertical inline, horizontal split case, end suction, and the vertical turbine.
A fire pump is typically connected to the local water supply or any other source such as the roof tank. If the water source is ineffective in supplying higher pressure water as per the need of the sprinkler’s hydraulic requirements, the fire pump can compensate for that. This shows how indispensable this pump in fire protection systems; it is an integral component of many systems.
How to install a fire pump?
As already indicated, a fire pump has to be connected to an external water supply that provides water to the sprinkler system. It acts as the pressure booster that keeps the pressure heightened if it drops. One has to consider many components of a fire pump as well as the varieties of these pumps. New York Engineers can make this installation stress free. We are experts in a myriad of MEP engineering projects.
Like other fire protection components, a fire pump needs to be inspected, monitored and tested for its efficiency. These stages need not be compromised to ensure that the system remains optimal in firefighting actions.
The National Fire Protection Association’s standard 25 serves as the advocate for these aforementioned stages: inspection, maintenance and testing to ensure that the system is still functional to prevent damages. These stages are highlighted below:
Inspection
Inspection involves manually checking the pump to see if there are no discrepancies in it, such as loosened valves, leakages, dry pump bearings, and operating temperatures.
Testing
Testing involves actually testing if the pump still works optimally. The NFPA 25 requires a routine churn test where the pump runs without water flowing in it. Also, you can test the alarm and other trouble signals. The NFPA 20 helps with a checklist wherein you can check related problems.
Maintenance
The fire pump needs to be maintained to lengthen its durability and to prevent any surfacing of problems. A good maintenance can make the difference between an efficient fire pump and a compromised quality that will fail to optimize the pressure accordingly.
All these stages can be performed by a qualified technician in fire protection services. From the installation to the maintenance, a technician will be able to optimize the performance of the pump.
