FIRE PUMP

CONTENTS PAGE NUMBER

Introduction AAF 1.5 – 2
Various Types Of Pumps AAF 1.5 – 2
Different Types Of Pumps AAF 1.5 – 2 to AAF 1.5 – 6
Centrifugal Pump Construction AAF 1.5 – 6 to AAF 1.5 – 7
‘Cavitations’ And Its Associated Features AAF 1.5 – 7
Priming Systems AAF 1.5 – 7 to AAF 1.5 – 10
Centrifugal Pump Gauges AAF 1.5 – 10 to AAF 1.5 – 11
Pumps Inspection And Tests AAF 1.5 – 11 to AAF 1.5 – 13
Pump Faults And Rectification AAF 1.5 – 13 to AAF 1.5 – 14

LEARNING OUTCOME 5
Operate Fire Pump

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
5.1 State The Various Types Of Pumps
5.2 Describe The Different Types Of Pumps
5.3 Explain The Principles Of Centrifugal Pumps
5.4 Define The Centrifugal Pump Construction
5.5 Define ‘Cavitations’ And Its Associated Features
5.6 Describe The Various Types Of Priming Systems
5.7 State Two Types Of Centrifugal Pump Gauges
5.8 Conduct Pumps Inspection And Tests
5.9 Detect The Pump Faults And Rectification

AAF 1.5 - 1
REFERENCES
a. Fire Service Manual – Volume 1 Fire Service Technology, Equipment and Media
(Hydraulics, Pumps and Water Supplies)
b. Manual of Firemanship, Part 2: Appliances (Her Majesty’s Stationery Officer).

INTRODUCTION

Essentially, a pump is a machine, driven by an external power, for imparting energy

to fluids. Power may be provided by the operator, as in hand pumps and hand operated
primers, or by coupling the pump to a suitable engine or motor. This Topic is principally
concerned with the latter, although it deals with the general principles of all types.

The Fire Service has come to rely mainly on centrifugal pumps and these, together
with the primers necessary to get them to work from open water, are described in detail.
The first part of the Topic looks at the principles of operation of all the types of pump which
may be used by brigades and those progresses to a more detailed examination of centrifugal
pumps, both vehicle mounted and portable.

VARIOUS TYPES OF PUMPS

a. Non-Centrifugal Pumps
b. Centrifugal Pumps

DIFFERENT TYPES OF PUMPS

Principles Non-Centrifugal Pumps. Non-centrifugal pumps used by the Fire Service are
based on one of two operating principles. There are:

a. Positive Displacement Pumps. These usually have a reciprocating piston

which makes an air and liquid-tight seal with the cylinder in which it moves. The
principle of operation of the pump is shown in Figure 5.1.

Figure 5.1 The principle of the reciprocating pump.

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 On the upward stroke of the piston a reduced pressure is created in the
cylinder causing the inlet valve (A) to open and the outlet valve (B) to close, so that
air or water is drawn into the cylinder through the inlet valve. On the downward
stroke the inlet valve closes and the contents of the cylinder are forced, under
positive pressure, through the outlet valve.
Application of the reciprocating pump principle, though with a more efficient
valve arrangement, may be found in the stirrup pump (described fully in the current
Book 3 of the manual of Firemanship: Hand pumps, extinguisher and foam
equipment) and in certain fire pump primers which will be described later in this
Topic.

b. Ejector pumps. There are several varieties of ejector pump in use in the Fire
Service. This section refers to those used for pumping water. The exhaust gas
ejector primer, which works on a similar principle. The principle of operation of an
ejector pump, which is referred to Figure 2 and 3.

Figure 2 The operating

principle of the ejector
pump.

Figure 3 Diagram of a
typical suspended type
ejector pump.

Water under pressure from another pump (the propellant) emerges in jet form
from a small internal nozzle and enters the delivery tube via an opening known as the
throat. The narrowest part of the throat is slightly larger than the orifice of the nozzle
and is separated from it by a gap which is open to the surrounding fluid. As the jet
passes the gap and rapidly expands, the consequent fall in pressure at the throat
causes surrounding water at atmospheric pressure to join the stream.

Figure 3 shows, in diagrammatic form, a typical example of an ejector pump

which may be suspended above the water line and propelled by water supplied via a
standard instantaneous coupling.

Ejector pumps are light and easy to handle, and can be used in situations
where it is undesirable to use conventional pumps, e.g. due to hazardous fumes.
Furthermore, their operation is unaffected by an oxygen-deficient atmosphere which
would cause an internal combustion driven pump to stall. Once set up they require
little or no attention except the removal of debris that may have collected in the
suction strainer. The primary pump supplying the water to the ejector pump can be
placed in a convenient and safe position e.g. away from smoke and other hazards.
The quantity of water lifted by an ejector pump will vary according to:

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 (1) The height of ejector above the water level.
(2) The height of the discharge point above or below the ejector.

If the discharge point is above the ejector, the output will be reduced
appreciably, and it is therefore important to keep the discharge outlet as low as
possible. The actual amount of water pumped out is normally the difference between
the input and the total discharge. It is possible for the water being pumped out by
ejector pump to be recirculated via the primary pump, thereby providing the
necessary propellant for the ejector pump. The surplus water may then be
discharged by other primary pump deliveries.

Another type of ejector pump is the submersible type, examples of which are shown
in Figures 4, which may used for pumping out water from depths greater than the
maximum suction lift. The pump may rest on its base, which is the suction inlet and
is fitted with a low-level type of strainer. The body of the pump has an inlet for water
from the primary pump, and a discharge outlet. The example shown in diagrammatic
form in Figure 4 has a two-stage ejector nozzle incorporated.

Figure 4 A submersible type two-stage ejector pump in

diagrammatic form.

Principles of Centrifugal Pumps. Centrifugal pumps are the most widely used for
firefighting. They are enable to pump gases (and therefore have to be primed), have no
valves, pistons or plungers and do not work by displacement. Instead they make use of
centrifugal force (i.e. the force which a rotating body experiences tending to make it fly away
from the axis of rotation) in much the same way as a spin dryer uses centrifugal force to
remove water from wet clothes.

A centrifugal pump consists essentially of a spinning circular metal casting with radial
vanes, called the impeller (Figure 5), enclosed in a casing. Water at the centre of the
impeller is thrown outwards by centrifugal force as the impeller rotates and discharged at the
periphery thereby causing a partial vacuum to be created at the centre. This causes more
water to be forced into the impeller from
the supply source so that flow from the
centre of the impeller to its periphery is
continuous.

AAF 1.5 - 4
 Figure 5 The construction of a typical impeller.

1. The action of the impeller in thrusting water outwards naturally creates considerable
turbulence and friction and, as these factors cause some of the power used to drive the
pump to be wasted and so reduce pump efficiency, it is important to minimise their effect.
This is achieved by careful design of the casing, and possibly by the introduction of a system
of guide vanes called a diffuser, to ensure that flow is, as near as possible, streamlined.
Figure 5.8 shows simplified diagrams of a centrifugal pump with and without guide vanes.
As water moves away from the centre of the impeller, and travels on its way to the outlet of
cross-section of the path along which it passes increases, thereby causing the velocity and
kinetic energy of the water to decrease but with a consequent increase in pressure. With
many pumps a further increase in cross-sectional area of the channel occurs in a snail
shaped part of the casing called the volute.

2. Where higher performance in the way of increased pressures and larger outputs is
required, use of two impellers is made and such pumps are termed two-staged pumps. A
two-stage pump is, in effect, two single-stage pumps coupled together, but sharing a
common housing. Water thrown off one impeller enters the second impeller and is thrown
off at twice the energy at which it entered the second impeller and thrown off at twice the
energy at which it entered the pump inlet. Special passages guide the water to the delivery
section and this is called the ‘diffuser’. The effect of the diffuser is much the same as the
volute in a single-stage pump.

3. Where very high performance is required, or drive speed is mechanically limited,

pumps with a greater number of stages are often employed, the energy increased at each
stage. This is the multi-stage pump, in which each impeller is of similar construction, the
pressure given by each stage can be calculated by dividing the delivery pressure by the
number of stages.

4. Modern airfield fire appliances employ the centrifugal pump and most of them are
fitted with single-stage pumps because of the high speed engines invariably used to operate
them.

AAF 1.5 - 5
The pressure and quantity of water produced by a pump is governed by:

a. The speed of impeller. The faster the impeller rotates, the greater will be
the quantity and also pressure of water. But the speed at which the impeller can be
run is limited, or cavitations will occur.

b. The size if the impeller. The larger the size of the impeller, the greater will
be the quantity and also pressure of water.

c. The number of impeller. Two impellers in a pump will only double the
pressure output the quantity of water produced remains the same as what produced
by the first impeller.

Two-stage centrifugal pumps. A two-stage pump is, in effect two effects two single-stage
pumps coupled together. If two identical single-stage pumps running at the same speed,
were got to work with the first one discharging through a short length of hose into the suction
inlet of the second, then neglecting friction loses, the water would be discharge from the
second pump at twice the pressure at which it entered the inlet of the pump. This is exactly
what happens in a two-stage pump except that the two impellers are coupled on the one
rotating shaft and the guide vanes for diffuser are extended to guide the water at a steadily
decreasing velocity the periphery of the first impeller to the inlet of the second.

CENTREFUGAL PUMP CONSTRUCTION

A centrifugal pump has no valves, pistons or plungers, and does not work by
displacement. It makes use instead of the natural facility of centrifugal force. This is the
force developed in a rotating body and one which moves outwards and therefore away from
the centre of rotation. The pump consists of:

a. An impeller, which receives water at its centre and discharges it at its edge.
b. Volute, a casting that forms the pump casing.
c. Drive shaft.
d. Guide vanes.

The impeller is a circular metal casing mounted on, and keyed rigidly to, a driven
shaft. In practice, the impeller is a single machined metal casting in the form of two circular
plates joined by a series of curved vanes which lie fairly close to each other. One plate has
a large hole at its centre through which water enters, and is then directed through the
passages between the vanes; to the edge of the impeller (this edge is called the periphery).

The impeller is housed in a pump casing which incorporates the volute. This is a
passage of increasing size that receives at its narrow end, water from the impeller periphery
and directs it at the wide end to the pump deliveries.

The drive shaft is constructed from steel and is protected at the point of its entry into
the pump casing by being enclosed in a gland. This gland, which has special packing, is
adjustable and its purpose is to prevent the entry of air into the pump casing and at the same
time provide means of lubrication to the pump shaft. This is often accomplished by adjusting
the gland to allow water to weep through. This is generally adjusted to about 30 drops per
minute, at a pump working pressure of 100 lb/psi (7 bars). Other gland systems incorporate
the use of special oil or grease for lubrication and this may be applied manually at
recommended intervals, or automatically through a ‘feeding’ device.

AAF 1.5 - 6
 A more efficient method is to make use of fixed vanes in the casing adapted to guide
the water along its correct path. A ring of vanes is sometimes referred to as a guide ring or
diffuser. It is quite common to have guide vanes to reduce turbulence at the periphery of an
impeller in a volute casing so that the conversion of kinetic energy to pressure energy is
started by the guide vanes and completed by the volute. Alternatively, the guide vanes my
be designed to do the whole task of reducing the velocity to the desired level, in which case
the pump casing may have a constant cross sectional are where if surrounds the guide ring.

CAVITATION IN FIRE PUMPS

Cavitations can occur in any type, size, or design of pump. The rotary gear and
piston type pumps can be damaged much more rapidly than centrifugal pumps. However,
centrifugal pumps can and will sustain damage created from prolonged cavitations.

Cavitations in fire pumps would best be described as: a formation of a vacuum

around the centre of a pump impeller caused by discharging more water than can
adequately enter the pump. A more common description of pump cavitations is known as
‘running away from the water’.

The damage created within the pump is caused as the water enters the heated
vacuum at the centre of the impeller. This rapidly heated water changes into water vapour
and is in the form of bubbles. As these bubbles flow from the centre of the impeller to the
outer edge, there is a rapid, instantaneous change from vacuum to a substantial pressure.
Within this change, the water vapour bubbles rapidly condense, leaving an in their place.
Water rushes in to fill these openings and in doing so this action created a severe internal
shock. This shock forces water against the walls and impellers of the pump and, if
continued, severe damage can be caused.

Some of the conditions which can tend to produce cavitations are inadequate hydrant
supply, drafting with an excessive lift, too small or too long a suction hose, a blocked or
inadequate suction, or attempting to pump abnormally warm water. Many times a number of
these conditions will be combined to produce cavitations.

One of the most accurate and reliable ways to determine when a pump is at the
cavitations point is: “AN INCREASE IN ENGINE R.P.M. WITHOUT A CORRESPONDING
INCREASE IN DISCHARGE PRESSURE”. This can be best noted by observing the
tachometer and the pump discharge gauge while slowly opening the throttle. Another
indication is the pump casing, such as, the discharge outlets become hot to the touch. In
addition, many times a sound such as pebbles being thrown against the wall of the pump
casing can be heard. When operating from a hydrant, the supply hose will collapse from the
vacuum, thus indicating that the pump is in or approaching cavitations.

The best method used to avoid cavitations is: do not raise the engine and pump
speed beyond that point where the pump discharge pressure will cease to rise.

PRIMING SYSTEMS

For a pump to lift water from an open source and discharge it at fire fighting
pressures, the air contained within its casing and attendant suction hose must first be
removed, in order to create an internal pressure differential, thus enabling the pressure of
the atmosphere to force the water up the suction hose and into them pump. As the water is
pumped out so the atmosphere’s pressure leads to its immediate replacement and the

AAF 1.5 - 7
sequence of pump operation is established. Obviously there must exist limitations and these
are found in the pressure of the atmosphere and in the amount of work it can do. The
pressure exerted at sea level by the atmosphere is about 14.7 lb/psi (1 bar) and so the
height that water can be lifted by this force is limited in practice to between 24 ft (7.3 m) and
2.6 ft (8.0) depending on the size of the pump involved.

Pumps of the positive displacement type exhaust air from a pump casing without
additional assistance.

The act of replacing air within a pump and so establishing lift from an open water
supply is known as priming. Centrifugal pumps do not possess close fitting parts and
therefore require additional assistance to remove air and this is called a priming system.

There are various types of priming systems employed in connection with the
operation of centrifugal pumps:-

a. Exhaust Gas Ejector Priming System

A type once in common use with trailer pumps and consist basically of:

(1) A clapper valve, lever operated, positioned in the main exhaust

manifold where, when operated, divers the major volume of exhaust gases to
waste through a secondary outlet, within which is contained an ejector in the
form of a venture. The velocity of the exhaust gases passing through the
venture is greatly increased and the pressure at this point falls below that of
the atmosphere.

(2) An air line controlled by a valve leads from the suction side of the
pump casing to the secondary exhaust. During priming air travels from the
pump along this line and is ejected with the exhaust gases, and eventually the
pump becomes primed, the air valve is then closed and the clapper valve
returned to its normal position.

(3) The time taken to prime with this system depends on the efficiency of
the system, the height of the pump above water level, atmospheric conditions
and the skill of the pump operator. Maximum time, however, should not
exceed 45 seconds. For efficient operation, full engine revolutions are
necessary during the act of priming.

b. Rotary Priming System

A system whereby means of a small positive type pump air is extracted from
the casing by the displacement principle. Such a system consists basically
of:

(1) A rotor set eccentrically in a casing. The rotor is fitted with a number
of freely moving blades carried in slots, which move radially outwards when
the rotor is operated. The blades move out under the influence of centrifugal
force and establish contact with the inner wall of the rotor casing. The blades
extend and withdraw as the distance between these eccentrically positioned
rotor and casing increases and decreases. Air being trapped between the
blades is thus expelled.

(2) An air line connects the suction side of the pump to the rotor casing
inlet. Expelled air is fed to atmosphere from the outlet of the rotor casing

AAF 1.5 - 8
 through a waste pipe. When water attempts to build up pressure in the rotor
casing, to avoid damage occurring to the blades, which are usually made of
fiber, a ball valve is fitted which closes the inlet to the primer as soon as
sufficient water enters the pump to establish a ‘primed’ condition.

(3) Such a priming system is efficient if in good mechanical order but is

susceptible to wear and tear of moving parts which leads to loss of air
tightness and therefore inefficient and lengthy priming.

c. Water Ring Priming System

There are several versions of this type of system, many of them are automatic
in operation and pumps fitted with them are often referred to as self-priming.
To avoid confusion, only one such system is referred to here and that is the
system installed on Bedford Water Tenders and Thornycroft Major Foam
Tenders.

(1) The water ring primer consists of a vane, hollow centered impeller set
in an elliptical housing. Within the hollow centre is a stationary boss which
projects from the casing cover. This boss has four parts in its periphery which
communicate with the primer’s inlet and outlet connections. When the
impeller rotates, the water in the housing is compelled through the action of
centrifugal force to move outward and follow the contour of the housing thus
forming an elliptically shaped vortex, and as it rotates from the smaller
diameter of the ellipse towards the larger diameter, it moves radially outward
between the impeller vanes. After it passes the larger diameter and rotates
towards the smaller diameter, it moves radially inward. As the water moves
radially outwards from the vanes air is drawn into the impeller through ports in
its centre, which communicate both with the inlet ports in the central
stationary boss and the pump suction line. As the water moves inward, this
air is forced through the impeller ports into the outlet port in the central boss.
Since the impeller is located centrally in the elliptical housing, there are two
pumping actions in each revolution.

(2) The primer is driven by means of frictional contact established

between a metal driving wheel and fiber wheel positioned on the primer drive
shaft and the pump drive shaft. The water ring impeller is thus operated
causing a reduction of pressure within the main pump casing. The primer is
side-hinged and spring loaded. It rests therefore with its drive wheel in
contact with the pump drive wheel. When, following priming action a pressure
of 20 lb/psi (1.3 bars) is attained within the pump, a plunger is forced upwards
through the pump casing and impinging on the underside of the primer
housing, forces it upwards and out of frictional drive engagement.

(3) This type of water primer has a large air exhausting capacity and
gives rapid priming and, of course, is automatic in operation.

d. Reciprocating Priming System

There are several designs of reciprocating priming systems which basically

consist of a small force pump driven from the drive shaft of the main pump.
The following is a description of the type fitted to the Thornycroft TFA Series
of Foam Tenders:

AAF 1.5 - 9
 (1) This installation consists of a pair of horizontally opposed force pumps
(piston) which are driven from the main drive shaft, though a crank shaft and
engagement is made by means of a cone clutch operated by a small gear
leger. The force pump consists of a cylinder within which a piston moves up
and down. As the piston nears the bottom of its stroke, a port which
communicates with the pump casing is uncovered thus allowing the cylinder
to fill with air, which on the upstroke is discharged to waste through a spring
loaded outlet valve. This valve is of large diameter which allows for the
discharge of water which immediately follows the exhaustion of air from the
pump casing and suction hose.

(2) Reciprocating pumps arranged in pairs give more rapid priming. They
are simple to operate and being positive in action are extremely efficient,
moreover they operate at a low rate of engine revolutions.

CENTRIFUGAL PUMP GAUGES

All centrifugal pumps are provided with two gauges. These indicate to the operator
the physical conditions of water entering the pump, within the pump and when leaving the
pump. There are two gauges, the compound gauge and the pressure gauge.

a. Compound Gauge

(1) A compound gauge is an instrument giving a vacuum or a pressure

indication on the same dial. The vacuum scale is usually marked in red,
reading anti-clockwise from the zero mark, whilst the pressure scale is
marked in black and reads clockwise from the zero mark. The compound
gauge is connected to the pump inlet and indicates the conditions prevailing
on the suction side of the pump. The vacuum gauge is calibrated in 30
divisions each representing 1 inch (2.5 cm) of mercury. It must be denoted
that the readings on the vacuum scale indicate the whole of the work done by
the atmosphere (i.e. suction lift, friction loss, etc). There are two types of
compound gauge, one known as the Bourdon tube type and the other as a
Diaphragm type.

(2) The Bourdon tube type has certain disadvantages, the principle one
being the extremely short vacuum scale which it provides. It will be
appreciated that the Bourdon tube employed must respond to pressures both
above and below the atmospheric, in the first case tending to straighten, and
in the second to increase its curvature. Under vacuum conditions it is
influenced by a pressure which cannot exceed 14.7 lb/psi (1 bar) whereas
when the pump is connected to a pressure supply, it may have to record 10
times that pressure. The tube moves an equal amount for each pound of
pressure or vacuum, with the result that the vacuum scale is necessarily very
short as compared with the pressure scale. Another disadvantage is that the
light tube which must be employed to ensure response to light pressures is
very liable to be badly affected by vibration which may make an accurate
reading impossible.

(3) The responsible element in a diaphragm gauge is a corrugated metal

diaphragm secured at its outer edge only and covering a chamber connected
to the pump suction eye. Under vacuum, this diaphragm bulges into the
chamber and under pressure flexes outwards, the degree of flexion being
transmitted through a suitable linkage to the pointer of the gauge. The

AAF 1.5 - 10
 diaphragm is so mounted that under vacuum the whole of its width is free to
flex, whereas as soon as it moves in the outward direction, it butts against a
stop plate which leaves only a small part of its area around the centre free to
move. Thus a very accurate vacuum reading on a long scale is obtained,
whilst the pressure scale is kept very short as precise accuracy here is of
much less importance. This type of gauge is less easily damaged by high
pressure than the Bourdon tube type and is also less susceptible to vibration.

b. Pressure Gauge. The pressure gauge is usually of the Bourdon tube type and
records the pressure of water before it reaches the delivery valve. The
pressure responsive element consists of a tube, oval in cross-section and
circular in form, one end of which is secured to a mounting block, this end
being open and communicating with a pipe leading to the delivery side of the
pump. The free end is closed and connected through a suitable linkage to a
pointer. When subjected to pressure, this tube tends to straighten out, that is
the free end moves outwards thus moving the pointer. When pressure is
released, the tube returns to its normal position. The linkage to which the free
end of the tube is connected is known as a gauge movement, and consists
usually of a pivoted gear quadrant, one end of which is connected by a link to
the free end of the Bourdon tube, whilst the geared end engages a pinion cut
with teeth to correspond. The spindle of the pinion extends through the dial of
the gauge and carries a hand or pointer.

c. Tachometer/Speed Indicator. To enable the pump operator to know at all

times the conditions under which the motor is operating, a permanently
attached speed indicator or tachometer should be provided. The function of the
tachometer is to register the approximate direct speed in revelations per minute
at which the motor is operating. In some types of pump assemblies, where
power to turn the pump is provided through normal road transmission gears,
suitable markings on the speedometer are substituted for the direct reading
tachometer. These markings indicate the proper equivalent miles per hour
when the pump is operating within the capacity range at the different pressure
requirements. While this method services to give warning and guards against
excessive motor speeds, it has the disadvantage of not giving the direct motor
speed at all times.

INSPECTION AND TESTING OF PUMPS

Weekly Inspection

a. Ensure that pump casing contains water and engage pump;

b. Whilst engine is running, and pump is engaged, check all controls including
priming lever;
c. Check delivery valves for correct seating.

Monthly Inspection/Test. Output test indicates the pump performance. (From an open water
with a lift of approximately 10 feet where possible):

a. Medium Pump (200 – 350 gpm capacity)

One delivery, one length, one inch nozzle

Pressure: 80 psi (minimum)
Duration: 15 minutes

AAF 1.5 - 11
 b. Large Pump (350 – 500 gpm capacity)

Two deliveries, each of one length with 1 inch nozzle (2 nozzles)

Pressure: 80 psi (minimum)

Duration: 15 minutes

c. Ultra Large Pump (500 – 1,500 gpm capacity)

Three deliveries, each of one length, with 1 inch nozzle (3 nozzles)

Pressure: 100 psi (minimum)

Duration: 15 minutes

Vacuum test checks the efficiency of the primer and exposes any leaks in the pump
and suction hose:

a. Using all lengths of suction hoses carried on the appliance;

b. Connect to suction inlet;

c. Fit a blank cap to the last length;

d. Close delivery valves and operate the priming system; (do not prime
continuously for more than 45 seconds)

If the gauge fails to show requisite reading, check connections and valves (if fitted),
header tank, priming system, delivery valves, pump casing filler and drain plugs;

e. Close the priming system when a reading of 24 inches is attained and

disengage pump;

f. Check drop in vacuum reading. If the reading falls to 10 inches or less within
60 seconds, recheck for air leaks.

Checking of Suction Hose

a. This test must not be carried out unless there is a good reason to suspect that
suction hose may be defective.

(1) Connect one end of the suction hose to the suction inlet;
(2) Connect the other end to a hydrant, using a suction adaptor.;
(3) Open one delivery valve to permit release of air;
(4) Open the hydrant valve slowly, when water begins to flow from the
pump delivery, close the delivery valve down very carefully;
(5) Observe the compound gauge and adjust the pump delivery valve to
ensure that a positive gauge pressure of not more than 50 psi;

Any leak present in the suction will be indicated by the water flowing from it,
and steps should be taken to rectify it.

AAF 1.5 - 12
 b. When carrying out this test:

(1) The hydrant must not turned on until the pump delivery outlet valve is
open;
(2) the pump delivery outlet valve must be closed slowly.

Deep Lift Test Six Monthly

a. Large/Ultra Large Pump

Subjected to a Deep Lift Test of between 20 and 24 ft.

b. Medium Pump

Between 17 and 20 ft.

Note:

(1) The lift in each case should be measured from the centre of the
suction inlet to the surface of the water.
(2) The time required for priming should not exceed two seconds per foot
of lift.
(3) When working on deep lift the output of the pump will be substantially
below its nominal output.
(4) An officer and whenever possible, a pump maintenance expert should
be present at the test to check the pump performance.

PUMP RUNNING FAULTS

Failure to prime – no vacuum reading

a. Strainer insufficiently submerged.

b. Loose suction joints.
c. Compound gauge control turned off.
d. Pump drain plug loose or missing.
e. Pump filler plug loose or missing.
f. Delivery valve not closed or not seating.
g. Packing gland to pump shaft loose, or defective mechanical seal.
h. Header tank no water or lack of water in water ring primer.
i. Air leaks in suction hose.
j. Air leaks in gauge pipes.
k. Primer clapper valve not seating. (Exhaust Ejector Primer).
l. Primer valve not open.

Failure to prime – high vacuum reading

a. Choked strainer.
b. Faulty suction hose.
c. Blockage in suctions.

AAF 1.5 - 13
 d. Lift too great

Whilst at work – Open water supply – Higher vacuum reading

a. Falling level of static water

b. Increase in water being delivered
c. Partial blockage of strainer

Whilst at work – Open water supply – Decrease vacuum reading

a. Rise in level of water supply

b. Less water being pumped

Increased delivery pressure

a. Blockage in hose may be caused by vehicle parking on, or debris falling

across hose line.
b. Blocked jet, usually caused by a small stone.
c. Adjustable or hand controlled branch in use – closed.
d. Kinks in hose.

Decreased delivery pressure

a. Burst in delivery hose

b. Coupling disconnected
c. Adjustable nozzle in use – opened.

Crackling Jet

a. Strainer insufficiently submerged

b. Slight leak on suction side of pump
(Air is drawn into the pump at atmospheric pressure, is compressed in its
passage to the branch and then re-expands with slight explosive force to its
original pressure).

Whilst at work – Pressure fed supply

Failure of water

a. Failure of supply, fracture of main or burst suction.

b. Choked strainer in pump suction eye.
c. Choked stand pipe head.
d. Over running of supply causing suction hose to collapse, if soft suction in use.
e. Failure at pumping source if relay working.

CONCLUSION

This training session is designed to educate ARFF who are responsible for
understanding the operation and maintenance of fire pump in operating fire pumps properly,
swiftly and safely. The information in this topic aids the operator in meeting the Perform
functions as an Fire Pump Operator.

AAF 1.5 - 14