Fire pumps are crucial elements of any fire protection system.
Fire pumps are crucial elements of any fire protection system. They supply sprinkler systems with an adequate amount of water pressure to help contain and extinguish any fires in your building. However, they need to be inspected and tested as regularly as other fire protection systems. Here’s a look at what you should know.
Every Week
Before arranging any inspections or tests, you need to know the power source of your fire pump. Diesel and electric-powered pumps must both be inspected every week by your fire protection partner. The pump and the pump room where the pump is kept must be well-inspected. If the fire pump runs on a diesel engine, then this engine must be inspected every week as well.
Requirements
During the inspection, the pump room temperature is evaluated. If it’s too cold, say below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, then the pumps may be in danger of freezing. However, it cannot be too hot in the room, either. If there is no engine heater, the room temperature should be set at 70 degrees Fahrenheit. It may be necessary to install an engine jacket water heater to ensure the correct operating temperature.
For diesel-engine driven systems, no-flow testing needs to be done every week. However, to get the most accurate results, the engine has to be run at the correct speed for at least half an hour first. This means that all of the system’s components have time to warm up.
Every Year
At some point every year, the fire pumps in your building must be inspected to evaluate their overall performance. This involves a flow test, which determines how well the water flows through the pump system. The performance of the pumps can then be tracked to see how it changes on a year-by-year basis. A fire pump system that was installed in 2009 might perform differently than one that was installed at the beginning of 2019. Other measurements recorded during annual performance tests include suction pressure, discharge pressure, RPM, and volt and amp readings.
Fire Protection Services from Fireline
Whether you need smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, or an automatic sprinkler system installed at your commercial property, Fireline has you covered. We have been protecting people and properties from fire damage since 1947—and our experience shows in our excellent work! We are known for our wonderful customer service, our expertise, and our reliability. For more information on how we can help your residential or commercial property, visit us online or give us a call at (800) 553-3405. We are located in Baltimore, MD, with a second office in Leesburg, VA. For more fire safety tips, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+.