Fire pumps are vital devices of a building’s fire defense system, particularly in high-rise buildings. In buildings with levels from four hundred to five hundred feet and higher, fire pumps are vital in the distribution of water throughout sprinkler systems in which water pressure from water mains and fire-fighting gear is unable to reach.
Even in low rise buildings, a fire pump is crucial to controlling a fire. Firefighting, being what it is, is a risky job, but without a well-through-out and expertly installed system and pump, it gets even more threatening, and business property and lives are put at even greater jeopardy.
How Does a Fire Pump Work?
A fire pump is an essential component of a fire sprinkler system, as it offers high-pressure water access to the fire sprinkler system, escalating the rate of flow of the water.
To find out the way a fire pump works, it’s valuable to find out what one is. A fire pump is aside from just a pump – which is an essential component of the system, but the entire system comprises of the motor and also the controller. As a component of a fire sprinkler system, a fire pump acquires water from some type of water source, water tank, pond, etc.; and gets powered by diesel fuel or electricity. The high-pressure provided by the pump forces water through the sprinkler system and hose riser.
Types of Fire Pumps
Common kinds of fire pumps comprise of the horizontal split case, vertical in-line vertical split case, and vertical turbine.
The most typical kind of fire pump is a horizontal split case kind. This kind of pump is most cost-effective for high flow operations and are readily accessible for maintenance or repairs. Their longevity and size accessibility make them all the more favorable.
Vertical in-line pumps are a single-stage centrifugal pump designed, as the name suggests, for vertical installations. Having suction and delivery in line with one another, this pump offers a smoother flow of water completely through the system and is ideal for small spaces. design does necessitate the pump to be removed for any repairs and/ or maintenance.
Fire pumps, which are vertical split case ones, are nearly the same as horizontal split case fire pumps apart from that they take up less space because of their vertical design, which also protects the pump from possible flood damage.
The vertical turbine is a centrifugal pump type pump intended for fire pump applications in which the water source is located underground. This fire pump comes in differing kinds like oil-lubricated enclosed-line-shafted and water-lubricated open-line-shafted pumps. Both kinds are designed for installation in lakes, drilled wells, open swamps, streams, and other subterranean sources.
Selecting which pump is suitable for any given facility should be gone over with the design engineer, a fire safety specialist, and your Local regulatory agency.
Installation and Maintenance of Fire Pumps
As with the decision on what pump and system to use, the installation and care of any fire protection system should be addressed by fire safety professionals. There are a lot of considerations according to the International Building Code (IBC) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), which are updated occasionally.
Though weekly inspections may be carried out by trained employees on-site, monthly, yearly, and additionally inspections and maintenance should be carried out by qualified technicians comprising of certified and factory-trained technicians, technicians certified by a national authorized fire protection organization, or technicians that are licensed, registered, or certified by a state or local authorities.
Fire Pumps in Your Building
A fire pump is vital fire and life-safety equipment in a lot of buildings. There are a multitude of requirements and factors to be considered before the installation of any device. The building owner, engineer, builder, district fire marshal, and the fire safety specialist should all engage in discussions concerning the fire pump and system to guarantee a well-thought out and accommodating final installation.
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