New York City Fire Pumps are perhaps the most critical part of
fire protection. They are installed at a site where the available public water
pressure is not enough to meet fire protection needs. Most fire pumps are driven
by either electric motors or diesel. However, some older ones have gasoline or even
steam engines.
Fire pumps
come in all shapes and sizes and are usually connected to a private water
supply, such as a storage tank, reservoir, lake, or river. Some of them are
vertical shaft turbine-type pumps, whereas others are horizontal pumps. Keep in
mind that fire pump failure could spell disaster. Therefore, basic testing is a
must to minimize the potential risks.
That being
said, let’s dive deeper into this article and understand the testing needed to
ensure that your New York City Fire Pump
will perform as expected during a fire accident.
·
Water Flow Testing
Fire pumps
of all types require to be fully flow-tested at least annually. You need to
measure them against the pump characteristic curves of churn, rated point, and maximum
output. Since pump performance can gradually deteriorate over time, it can
affect the overall performance of your fire protection system. With annual flow
tests, you can pinpoint these problems before they get worse.
If you want
to carry out a flow test for New York
City Fire Pumps, it’s a good idea to hire professionals for the job. They have
the right expertise and training to perform such tests.
·
Acceptance Testing
When you
have a newly installed New York City
Fire Pump, you will need to perform a special fire pump acceptance test.
According to NFPA 20, acceptance tests are important for new installations. The
"three-point test" is a basic minimum flow test requirement, but we
would recommend as many as five test points for an acceptance test.
The pump should
be tested by measuring the voltage and electrical current under different flow
conditions. NFPA 20 requires the use of voltmeters and ammeters to conduct
these tests safely.
·
Full Unit Inspection
New York City Fire Pumps should be inspected at least weekly
to check the general condition of the pump, driver, and controller. The inspection
includes visually examining the bearings, stuffing boxes, water supply suction,
strainers, power off alarms, etc. Diesel fire pump inspections include things
like batteries, oil levels, cooling systems, belts, and hoses.
·
Regular Testing
Lastly,
there are some fire pumps that require regular testing. This could be done by
either automatic start (preferably) or by manual start (occasionally). Regular
testing is a start-up and run test, which is quite similar to starting your car
on a frigid morning. You can run a 30-minute test for diesel pumps and a 10-15
minute test for electric fire pumps under normal running conditions.
Closing Thoughts
These are
some of the main fire pump tests to keep your New York City Fire Pump running smoothly for years. As mentioned above,
these tests should be carried out on a regular, monthly, and yearly basis to
ensure that the pump will protect the property, assets, and people in the event
of a fire. Have any fire pump requirements?
Book your New York City Fire Pump today.
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