NYC Fire Pump Testing: What You Should Know

January 4th, 2022

If you live in a building where water pressure is a major issue, consider installing New York Fire Pumps to support your fire protection system. These pumps are an important component of fire sprinkler systems, helping them maintain the necessary water pressure during a fire emergency. However, sprinklers won’t function effectively if your fire pump isn’t working properly. That’s why testing your fire pump is crucial!

In this post, you are going to learn everything about fire pump testing. We will help you understand the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) rules for annually testing your fire pump. Let’s begin!

Testing of a New York Fire Pump

Fire pumps are one of the most expensive components of a sprinkler system. Failing to maintain and test them can significantly minimize the effectiveness of your fire protection system. Testing is also important when it comes to checking for deterioration. Fire pumps usually have electric or diesel engines. Though the complex nature of diesel fire pumps demands some additional testing, for the most part, all fire pumps require the same kind of testing.

Since fire pump testing is a complex task, it should be performed by qualified professionals. It is suggested by NFPA 25 to maintain complete written reports of all test results. These reports must include:

• The raw data required for a comprehensive evaluation of your fire pump performance, including suction and discharge pressure.
• Calculation of the fire protection system demand, which should be furnished by the owner.
• The issues or deficiencies should be noted during the testing and analysis.
• The performance data and the available pump discharge curves.
• Time delay intervals related to the pump’s starting and stopping.
• A brief comparison with previous test results.

Annual Fire Pump Flow Testing

The annual flow testing is conducted to test a fire pump’s full capabilities. It is arguably the most critical test, performed once a year to measure flow and pressure. The test makes sure the New York Fire Pump is ready to respond to a fire accident. It also uncovers any problems related to the pump, such as closed valves, clogged pipes, obstructions, etc.

To learn more about NY Fire Pump testing, contact us.