Sahm Al-Waqaya Safety Equipment Company

Fire pumps

A fire pump is part of the fire fighting system and is powered by electricity, diesel or marine energy. The pump is connected either to the public groundwater supply network, or to a fixed water source (e.g., tank, drain).

Fire Pumps

Fire pumps are essential components of fire protection systems, pumping water at high pressure to ensure adequate flow to automatic sprinkler systems and fire hose pipes. They are designed and tested to exacting standards by accredited agencies such as UL (Underwriters Laboratories) and FM Global to ensure they meet fire service requirements.

North American fire pump installations follow the National Fire Protection Association’s NFPA 20 standard, which is the primary standard that specifies requirements for the design, installation, and maintenance of fixed fire pumps. The standard covers the engineering and operational aspects that ensure pumps are effective in providing adequate fire protection.

Testing and certification of fire pumps:

  • Fire pumps are tested at multiple levels to ensure they can provide the required flow and pressure in emergency situations.
  • It is listed in the lists of accredited agencies to ensure its efficiency and compliance with global safety standards.

A fire pump starts when the pressure in the fire sprinkler system drops below the threshold. The sprinkler system pressure drops significantly when one or more fire sprinklers are exposed to heat above their design temperature, and opens. Alternately, other fire hose reels or other fire fighting connections are opened. This causes the pressure in the main fire fighting switch to drop.

Fire pumps are needed when the local municipal water system cannot provide sufficient pressure to meet the hydraulic design requirements of the fire sprinkler system. This usually occurs if the building is very tall, as in high-rise buildings, or in systems that require a relatively high longitudinal pressure at the fire sprinkler in order to deliver a large volume of water, as in storage warehouses. Fire pumps are also needed if the water supply for fire protection is provided from a ground-level water storage tank. Types of pumps used in fire service include: horizontal split box, vertical split attic, vertical line, vertical turbine, and end line.