NYC Fire Pump: The Pursuit of Testing and Inspection

Imagine a fire breaks out and your fire pump doesn’t work. That’s one reason why NYC Fire Pumps should be inspected and tested weekly in accordance with the NFPA 25 Standard. The standard seeks to cover wear-and-tear issues of fire protection systems and ensure the pump assembly is in operating condition.

Weekly Inspection and Testing of NYC Fire Pumps

Fire pumps are an essential part of the water supply for fire sprinklers. They are either powered by electric, diesel, or steam and are typically installed in places where the city water pressure isn’t enough for the requirements of a fire sprinkler system.

They boost and regulate the water pressure to all standpipe lines, risers, valves, fire hoses, etc. They may include drivers, controllers, and jockey pumps along with any standard fire pump system accessories you might want to have. Keep in mind that if you don’t inspect and maintain them to NFPA standards, then your system won’t function properly when you need it the most.

The weekly NYC Fire Pump test is carried out to make sure that the system is ready to operate and will provide continuous delivery of required water pressure. While inspection is a visual observation, testing is a physical observation that exercises the pump without flowing water.

According to the NYC Fire Code, you need to maintain records of weekly inspections and tests for a minimum of three years. Also, weekly fire pump tests should be performed by contractors who hold a legitimate license or certificate. Here are some other tests to carry out:

·         Monthly Testing

Monthly testing generally involves a non-flow fire pump test, often known as a churn test. It is mostly a visual inspection carried out to track the water pressure gauge over the course of ten minutes and inspect pipelines, nuts, and glands for anything unusual. If it requires a small fix, such as adjusting a loose nut, this can be done on-site.

·         Annual Testing

Once a year, it is essential to do fire pump flow testing, which involves discharging water into a safe location and then tracking the water and voltage. This test will help you confirm whether a sprinkler system is working properly. If it’s not working as expected, this means that repairs may be necessary.

·         Other Tests

Since most modern NYC Fire Pumps are run by electric motors, they only require monthly and annual testing. However, those running by diesel engines must be tested weekly. Also, consider testing the amount of anti-freeze in your wet pipe sprinkler system. If you notice that proportions are too low, then your pipelines are at risk of freezing and bursting.

NYC Fire Pump Room Requirements

Your NYC Fire Pump should be located in a separate room from all other areas of the building. In other than high-rise structures, it should be separated by 1-hour fire barriers, 1-hour horizontal assemblies, or both. Separation isn’t necessary for a fire pump, other than an automatic standpipe fire pump.

This is because such pumps are located in a mechanical equipment room enclosed by 2-hour fire barriers, 2-hour horizontal assemblies, or both. Also, the temperature of the pump room must be suitable, which means you should maintain the temperature of your pump room or pump house at above 40°F (5°C). Need more help?

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