How to Choose an NYC Fire Pump: A Simple Guide

July 27th, 2022

It goes without saying that New York City Fire Pumps are an important component when it comes to supplying adequate water pressure to fire sprinkler systems. They are installed in order to control fire and save property from destruction. These pumps are usually found in industrial facilities, high-rise buildings, schools, restaurants, and hospitals. Here’s everything you want to know about NYC Fire Pumps.

How Do You Choose the Right NYC Fire Pumps?

When there are so many options, it may become overwhelming to choose the right fire pump for your building. Which one is better, a petrol or diesel-powered fire pump? If you’re not sure, don’t worry! This simple guide will help you understand everything about pump selection.

An NYC Fire Pump should be housed in a pump room closer to the fire tank. The important thing is that the pump should be located just below the bottom of the fire tank, so that the water in the tank can easily flow into the pump by gravity. Also, there must be a backup pump in case the main pump fails. It can be a diesel-powered pump.

In addition to that, there is also another pump called a jockey pump, which is a small pump attached to the fire protection system. It continually switches on to maintain adequate pressure in the distribution system – normally around 7 Kg/cm2 or 100 PSI. Also, fire pumps are controlled by pressure sensors and alarms. When you open a hydrant or a sprinkler comes into action, the pressure may drop. These sensors will detect the drop and switch the fire pumps on. Let’s understand how to test your NYC Fire Pump.

1. Weekly Test
   
   Your equipment may sit in the ‘off’ position. This means that pump-related problems are invisible when your pumps and controllers are not running and are sitting in a mechanical room. By simply running your pump as part of a weekly test, you can diagnose and fix many potentially serious problems before they get worse. Since most fire pumps are either electric or diesel-driven, the type and frequency of testing vary depending on what you have. 

   For instance, we recommend running your equipment at least once a week for at least ten minutes if you have an electric fire pump. In the case of diesel fire pumps, 30 minutes per week would be enough for visual inspection. Here, you don’t have to measure water during the weekly test. All you need to do is witness the equipment running. Some may argue that NFPA 25 suggests monthly testing in some circumstances, but we recommend a weekly test because of the importance of the equipment.

    

2. Annual Test
   
   The fire pump flow test is a must according to NFPA 25. It should be carried out once a year to measure the water flow and pressure of your New York City Fire Pump. The test is conducted by connecting hoses to the discharge test header. Run these hoses to a safe location so that the water flow causes no damage. Then take pressure readings as the pump runs through various stages.Record the results and plot them on a graph to compare them to the factory specifications and the readings from previous years. If you see any significant reduction in the pump’s performance, then you need to examine your pump to make the necessary repairs.

   So, that was the guide. If you need more help regarding New York City Fire Pumps, just get in touch with us.