Fire Suppression system in NYC: Operating Principles of Fire Pumps

 

There are different fire protection pumps that can be used in a variety of situations. Continue reading to learn more about different types of fire pump systems.

When planning your fire suppression system in NYC, you will need to consider fire pumps that are designed to boost water pressure for the system. They are an essential part of a fire sprinkler system and helps it meet water pressure needs during the event of a fire. Read on to learn everything you need to know about fire protection pumps.

Fire Pumps in NYC

Fire protection pumps are centrifugal pumps used for pumping fire-fighting water. They are designed for both transportable and stationary applications – making them suitable for a variety of applications in taller buildings, smaller piping, restaurants, hotels, etc.

When choosing a fire pump for your application, please note that an incorrect pump can result in inadequate pressure or flow. As a result, this may cause several problems, such as:

• Fire protection systems not functioning properly
• Too much pressure, which can cause components to burst
• Irregular spray patterns from sprinklers

Operating Principles of Fire Protection Pumps

To size and select the correct pump, it is important to have an understanding of the different operating principles, types, and applications of fire pumps. There are two main principles of fire pump operations:

Centrifugal Pump

Centrifugal is the principle of a spinning action, which helps the pump to generate centrifugal forces. Water starts off in the center of an impeller and is thrown to the outer parts of the impeller. This action is quite similar to a spinning ride at a carnival. The faster the spinning action, the more force is applied to the outward direction.

Positive Displacement

Positive displacement is the principle of capturing a certain amount of water in a single revolution. This is done by using a mechanical process to displace the water. To give you an idea, just think of an air compressor with pistons to compress the air. As the outside motor spins, pistons are forced up, and they build up pressure.

Each of these two operating principles has its pros and cons. For instance, centrifugal pumps are better at higher flow rates. Positive displacement provides constant flow at a range of pressures, but typically has low flow rates. Positive displacement is great for pump fluids that are not necessarily water. Some popular applications of centrifugal pumps are low- and high-rise buildings.

Types of Fire Protection Pumps to Consider

Jockey Pump

This is a small pump connected to a fire protection system and maintains pressure in the sprinklers. It helps you ensure that if there is a pressure drop, a jockey pump would be activated to overcome it.

Hydrant Pump

Fire hydrant pumps are high-pressure pumps that are designed to boost the firefighting capacity of your building by increasing the water pressure in the hydrant service.

Sprinkler Pump

Sprinkler system pumps consist of both fire-fighting main pumps and jockey pumps that jointly ensure sufficient water pressure to the sprinkler system in case of a fire.

Diesel Standby Pump

As an alternate source in the absence of an electrical power supply, diesel standby pumps have been used to supply an adequate amount of water pressure to fire protection systems.

Multi-Stage Multi Outlet Pump

Multi Stage Multi Outlet Pumps (MSMO) offer several benefits. It only needs a fewer number of pumps, is energy saving, and is significantly space-saving. These pumps are available to satisfy large specifications for automatic fire protection in high-rise and multiple-story buildings.

So, this is everything you need to know about fire pumps before you begin your installation. If you want to know about fire pumps and sensing line details, feel free to contact us.

New York City Fire Pumps: A Crucial Fire Safety Components

 

When determining your fire safety system, there are many components to consider, such as New York City fire pumps. Here’s everything you need to know about these fire safety components.

If you look at New York City fire pumps, you will find that they are life-safety equipment with an array of requirements and elements you need to look into before installation. This includes the building structure, local fire codes, fire room, and fire protection provider. Let’s take a look at fire pumps in detail!

What do New York City Fire Pumps do?

Fire pumps are an essential component responsible for supplying adequate water pressure to fire protection or sprinkler systems. They help the system in controlling a fire before it becomes worse, saving lives, assets, and properties from destruction.

These pumps are most commonly found in industrial facilities, housing complexes, power plants, schools, hospitals, airports, and commercial buildings. Below are the two main types of NY City fire pumps:

• Positive Displacement

A positive displacement pump is rare and can be used to produce water pressure by capturing a specific volume of water per pump revolution. Then it pushes the water out through the discharge line. As a result, this creates high pressures, but has limited flow volume compared to centrifugal pumps.

• Centrifugal Pumps

On the other hand, centrifugal pumps are the most commonly used NY City fire pumps. With these pumps, water pressure is developed primarily by the action of centrifugal force (spinning). When water enters the suction, it passes to the center of the impeller. The rotation takes place, which drives the water pressure. These pumps are great in handling large volumes of water while providing high-pressure boosts.

There is also another type of fire pump called a jockey pump, which is a small pump attached to the fire protection system. It continually switches on to maintain the right amount of water pressure in the distribution system. The pressure is somewhere around 7 Kg/cm2 or 100 psi.

In case there is a small leakage somewhere in the system, the jockey pump will automatically switch on to compensate for it. Make sure your jockey pump has a backup and is controlled by pressure sensors. These sensors will detect the drop in the pressure and switch the fire pumps on. The only way to switch off the pump is manually. There is an international code created to avoid the pump switching off due to any malfunction in the control system.

About Aurora Fire Pumps New York City

Whether a new building, small office, or water mist application, Aurora is a leading supplier of fire pump systems used in a variety of applications throughout the world. They are internationally known for their high-quality manufacturing and performance that outlast competitors.

The company offers everything from fire suppression pumps and split-case pumps to vertical turbines and in-line pumps. Their commitment to excellence goes beyond the product line, incorporating the latest technologies in fire pump manufacturing. In short, you can rely on Aurora to provide you with all of your water pressure solutions.

Wrapping Up

To select the best pump along with pump drawings and specifications, contact us at Callaghan Pump. We offer an array of Aurora Fire Pumps in New York City that are ideal for various industrial applications. This will help you save valuable time in the selection and evaluation of the best fire pump for your space.

Get started today!

Booster Pump System: Location and Installation Requirements

When planning the installation and location of your booster pump system, you will need to make a number of important considerations. Let’s learn about them in depth.

When it comes to a water booster or HVAC pump, no one really wants to find out that a design error is the source of insufficient water pressure in a building. Imagine if tenants on the top floor of a building can’t rinse the shampoo out of their hair. Someone has to be accountable for that.

That’s precisely why Callaghan Pump has come up with a simple road map for properly installing and locating a booster pump system. This is the guide to your peace of mind!

HVAC Pump Location and Installation Requirements

This part of booster pumps requires proper planning. Otherwise, you may create a lot of frustration. Here are some simple things to do when installing an HVAC pump for long-lasting commercial pump service.

• Properly Position the Pump

It is always important to consult the Installation and Operation Manual (IOM) to ensure whether the pump can be installed to discharge up or down, left or right. This will also help you determine the position of the motor shaft. While some booster pumps can be oriented in many different ways, others cannot.

If your booster pump has a bearing assembly, have the pipe support the pump. Be sure to support it from underneath the bearing assembly if you think that additional support is required. Otherwise, this may cause misalignment of the pump coupler, resulting in premature pump failure.

• Locate the Pump for Easy Service

A larger booster pump system should be installed for ease of service and removal of the pump motor. This simply means that there must be sufficient room around and above the pump to remove the motor, seals, impeller, and bushings.

You can install a pump motor hoist beam for larger inline pumps that typically might be 10 HP or greater. This would help move the heavy motor for servicing. Also, avoid installing a larger pump that can't be serviced from the floor. Otherwise, repairs and maintenance will be very difficult because motors can weigh hundreds of pounds.

• Provide Ample Support for Larger Pumps

You will need to take extra care when installing water booster pumps in seismic applications that are geographical areas with high instances of seismic activities. Since most booster pumps have a high center of gravity compared to base-mounted pumps, this may increase the risk of an overturning moment.

This refers to the point at which a specific rotational force causes an object to overturn. Thus, additional piping and equipment supports are required in seismic applications.

• Don’t Skip Accessories

There are some basic pump accessories that will ensure the care and longevity of the water booster pump. For example, flex connectors compensate for minor pipe misalignment and reduce pipe vibrations. Suction diffusers are required when an elbow is needed near the suction. They help stabilize the turbulence and swirling action created by the 90° turn.

A triple-duty valve is installed on the discharge side of the booster for balance, backflow prevention, and isolation. You can also install a single pressure gauge and connect it to both the pump suction and discharge for convenient pressure readings. Make sure that there is a compound gauge on open condenser water applications.

Summing Up

So, this is everything you need to know about booster pump system location and installation. And if you need more information, we are here to help! We at Callaghan Pump will provide you with the right information and sewage pump services to get started.

Jockey Pump Pressure: What to do if a Fire Sprinklers System is Leaking

Experiencing low water pressure due to leaks in your pressure sensing line in fire pumps? These details will help you diagnose and fix the issue before it gets worse.

Whether it’s a sprinkler or pressure sensing line in fire pumps, if your fire protection system is leaking, make sure there is no active fire triggering the system to discharge. Once you know that there is no fire hazard in your facility, get in touch with a professional to diagnose the leak as soon as possible. Here are some basic details that will help you get an idea of the problem.

Why Do Pump Leaks Occur?

There are fire sprinkler systems and pumps that are often prone to corrosion, damage, and freezing temperatures. Take corrosion for instance - it can cause rust and create holes in piping or sprinkler heads. This may occur in both dry as well as wet pipes. The main cause of corrosion is exposure to oxygen. It may also be due to microbiologically influenced corrosion, which is an aggressive type of corrosion caused by bacteria.

Problems like freezing pipes are common in wet pipes. They are less common in dry pipes as they do not hold a constant water supply. Another reason why leaks occur is damaged sprinklers. This may happen because of forklifts, ladders, equipment, etc. Equipment failure is another common problem in sprinkler systems that can occur due to manufacturing or installation errors.

Routine wear and tear is also common in pipes if not regularly maintained. Other common malfunctions that can cause fire sprinkler systems to leak involve O-ring seals and water contaminants.

What to Do if You See a Leak

As soon as you discover a leak in your sprinkler or pressure sensing line in fire pumps, figure out why it is leaking and whether it’s important to evacuate the building. This is because water can cause electrical components to short-circuit or ignite, resulting in a fire in your facility. If you see a large amount of water pouring out of your system, turn off the main water supply to avoid water damage. Even if it is only dripping water, it’s best to check your pressure gauges against manufacturer recommendations to know whether there may be other leaks in the piping circuit.

Once you have investigated the source of the leak, call a fire suppression professional. Share the details about the leak and be ready to make essential repairs. If the leak is due to corroded or burst pipes, you will need to replace either a portion or all of the piping system. If the leak is due to external physical damage, the affected component should be repaired/replaced.

How to Prevent Future Leaks

One of the easiest ways to prevent future leaks in your fire pump and sprinkler system is to hire a fire protection professional that you can trust. He or she will work with you to ensure your sprinkler system is regularly maintained according to the NFPA 25, carrying out inspections and tests. Proper maintenance and jockey pump selection will also help you prevent any future leaks from occurring. In addition to that, consider installing high-quality fire pumps and jockey pump capacity.

To learn more about fire pump and jockey pump pressure, reach out to us today!