Introduction to Fire Pumps

$ 29.00

Continuing Education Units (CEU): 0.10

Expected Duration: 1 Hour

This self-paced online course covers the fundamentals of effective fire pump system design and installation. A properly designed and maintained fire pump is an important part of a water supply for a facility. Building owners rely on fire pumps to protect buildings, business continuance, and a company's good standing in society.

Upon completion you should be able to:

  • Explain the difference in water supplies
  • List and explain the two broad categories of pumps: centrifugal and positive displacement
  • Define key terms, including horizontal split case, in-line pump, and vertical turbine
  • Explain pump capacities and components
  • List and explain types of fire pump controllers, including engine driven and electric
  • Explain inspection, testing and maintenance requirements

Who Will Benefit

Anyone whose job involves designing, reviewing, evaluating or installing fire protection systems, including: designers, installers, engineers, electrical contractors, technicians, project managers, fire marshals, and architects

Course Summary

  • This course outlines, very generally, some of the major points in a fire pump installation. It points out major components of the pump installation - the pump itself, the driver, and the controller.
  • Pumps can be manual or automatic, but most are installed to operate automatically. The design and installation requirements are contained in NFPA 20, and the requirements for the ongoing care for the pump assembly are contained in NFPA 25.
  • Typically, drivers for a pump are either electric motors or diesel engines. Steam turbine drives may be used, but gasoline and liquefied petroleum drivers are not allowed. Pumps can be centrifugal or positive displacement, but the positive displacement pump is used in specific applications, such as special suppression systems, where higher pressure is desired.
  • Most pumps in use today are centrifugal. The most common is the horizontal split case. All fire pumps must have a positive head pressure, derived from the water supply; pumps that take suction under lift conditions are no longer allowed by NFPA 20.