A fire water pump is an essential tool for firefighting. It boosts the pressure (measured in psi) of a water source when the available pressure is not sufficient to meet a system’s flow requirements. The right design, installation, and acceptance testing ensures that a fire water pump works properly when needed.
There are several different fire pumps that can be used, and the correct one needs to be selected based on the type of firefighting needed and the terrain where the fire is located. The pump also must be sized to meet the rated flow and nozzle pressure of each appliance.
Another factor to consider is friction loss. This happens every time water flows through hoses, and is something that the pump operator must account for in order to provide the nozzleman with the proper amount of water to extinguish the fire.
Lastly, elevation needs to be taken into account. This is because gravity creates pressure that must be considered when pulling hoselines both up and down in elevation. This is particularly important when the hoselines are being moved across sloped terrain.
Finally, marine growth on the pump and its components and intakes should be considered. This could delay performance and potentially lead to pump failure. There are several methods for dealing with this including screens, construction of the firewater pump with materials that resist or prevent marine growth, and biocide injection. These should be discussed with a qualified fire protection engineer.