A fire fighting water pump is part of an application’s water supply and powered by electric, diesel or steam. They activate when the pressure in a fire sprinkler system falls beneath a certain level and provide water flow at a high pressure to the sprinkler systems risers and hose standpipes.
When choosing a fire fighting water pump, you need to make sure that it’s the right size for your job. It’s important to know what PSI and GPM are, as these will impact how quickly you can get the water to where it needs to be. PSI is the pressure per square inch, and GPM is how many gallons of water are being delivered each minute.
You also need to consider the nozzle size that will be used and any additional equipment such as an air compressor or hydrant controller. The more water that can be delivered to the scene, the quicker you can stop the spread of the fire.
There are now smart pumps that can tell you what is happening inside the system, providing vital information to users. This can help them to understand whether the system is operating at full demand, if there are any potential issues, and if they are following the NFPA 20 standard.
Having this information can help to prevent damage to the pump, nozzles or hoses and also reduce operational times. Ultimately this can save lives and protect property when seconds count onboard ships, in road tunnels and underground public transport.