The fire fighting water pump is a vital part of a building’s fire protection system. There are a few different fire pumps available depending on the needs of your building. Each has its own specifications and requirements. There are a few important factors to consider when choosing a fire fighting water pump such as PSI and GPM. PSI stands for pressure per square inch and GPM is a measurement of how many gallons per minute a fire pump can deliver.
The first thing to consider is the amount of pressure your building will need. This will be dictated by local fire codes and the density of your building. The higher the density of your building the more gpm you will need from your fire fighting water pump.
You should also take into account friction loss in the piping system. Friction loss causes a drop in pressure, and it is important to factor this into your calculations. Another important calculation is elevation. Fire fighting water is gravity fed, so it is important to account for this when calculating your gpm and psi needs.
Elevation is especially important if you have a building that sits up on a hill or a sloping property. You should always be sure that you have a good system of piping in place to ensure the nozzleman has the proper water pressure that he or she needs.
Once you have the psi and gpm requirements for your fire pump, you can then begin looking into the different types of fire fighting pumps. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages. For example, the horizontal split case is a popular choice for most systems because it’s easy to work with and requires a water source that’s not connected to the system itself.