Choosing the Fire Fighting Water Pump

The fire fighting water pump is a vital component in any emergency or hazardous situation that demands the immediate use of a fire suppression system. Without the right pump, there are a myriad of problems that can arise from issues with suction ability to discharge pressure – all of which could potentially put lives at risk. This is why it is important to understand what type of fire pump is appropriate for a given situation as well as ensuring that the system is certified and in compliance with local and national regulations.

Choosing the proper fire water pump is much like Goldilocks finding the perfect bowl of porridge or bed – too little and it is not effective, too much and it will be costly to purchase and operate. Specifying the right fire pump for a given application requires an understanding of the key factors in pump selection, as outlined below:

Job Parameters
The first factor in determining the correct fire fighting water pump is to evaluate the available water supply. This can be derived from a municipal water supply, onsite storage, or even a natural body of water. The availability of this raw water will dictate the pump size and other requirements such as maximum gallons per minute (gpm) and psi.

Fire pumps are generally divided into single and two-stage models. The selection of the model depends on the application, with single-stage fire pumps typically favored in applications where high fire flow rates and low pressures are required. Two-stage fire pumps are often used in situations where long hose runs and higher pressures are needed to overcome the resistance of long stretches of small diameter hose.