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?
Contact us for a free consultation!
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