The Importance of Fire Pump Testing Services and the Types of Pumps Available
At Getz Fire Equipment Company, we have years of experience handling fire and safety concerns for our customers. Our services are provided in many areas of fire safety, including making sure fire pumps operate correctly. Through our high-quality fire pump testing and inspection services, we are able to ensure that you have the water supply you need when you truly need it for fire protection purposes.
The Need for a Fire Pump
When the local water system supply does not provide adequate water pressure to power a sprinkler system, it is necessary to install a fire pump. High elevations bring about pressure loss, such as in high-rise buildings, and stronger water pressure can often be needed in large volumes for buildings such as storage warehouses. Pumps are also used when water sources are located in a ground level tank.
The Operation of a Fire Pump
Pumps can be powered by electric motor, diesel engine or in less frequent cases a steam turbine. If a building code requires the fire pump to have a separate power source, an electric pump can be linked to a transfer switch so that an emergency generator can be used to power the pump.
Pumps can be powered by electric motor, diesel engine or in less frequent cases a steam turbine. If a building code requires the fire pump to have a separate power source, an electric pump can be linked to a transfer switch so that an emergency generator can be used to power the pump.
Types of Fire Pumps Available
Pumps are supposed to turn on when the pressure in a fire sprinkler system drops below a specified level. Drops in pressure can occur when one or more sprinklers are exposed to elevated heat that surpasses their design criteria, which results in the release of water. The opening of other connections related to firefighting can also result in a pressure drop. It is important that fire pump testing examine these and other various issues that relate to the effective operation of a fire pump system.
The various types of pumps available for use in the fire protection industry include:
- Vertical turbine and vertical in-line
- Horizontal and vertical split case
- Jockey pump
- End section
At Getz Fire Equipment Company, we follow the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) 25 Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems when we provide our services to clients in the state of Illinois.
Contact our team today to find out more about how we can serve your fire pump testing and inspection needs.