When it comes to taking care of your building, inspections and service for your fire protection systems may be the last thing on your mind. When you have a lot of other things to do, it can be easy to forget that your fire pump needs to be checked and serviced. But your fire pump needs to be checked regularly to make sure it will work correctly if there is a fire.
What is a Fire Pump?
A fire pump is an important part of your system to protect against fire. Fire sprinklers need water to flow through the pipes so that the water can get to the fire and put it out. The water pressure has to be high enough for water to flow. Fire pumps force water out at a high pressure so that your sprinkler system can fight a fire well. Most of the time, the fire pump is hooked up to a water supply and is run by electricity, diesel, or steam.
Fire Pump Inspections & Service
Depending on what kind of fire pump you have, you may need to check it once a week, once a month, or once a year. NFPA 25 says that fire pumps need to be inspected and tested, and you should get the help of a fire protection professional to make sure that your fire pump is working at its best.
- Weekly:- Your fire pump should be checked once a week by looking at its parts, such as the valves, gauge readings, fuel and oil levels, electrical systems, ventilation, and heating. The pump is checked visually once a week to make sure it looks like it is working right and hasn’t been damaged.
- Monthly:- As part of the monthly checks, the pump is often tested when there is no flow. During a no-flow test, the pump is turned on to make sure it works without pumping any water through it.
- Annual:- A flow test is part of the annual inspection and testing of a fire pump. This test makes sure the pump is working as it should.
Fire Pump Repairs
If you notice problems with your fire pump or think it needs to be fixed, you should call a professional in fire protection as soon as possible. Fixing any problems with your system is important to make sure the pump is ready to go in case of a fire.