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Home My WebLink About303.001 - Apparatus Pump Test Effective Date: October 2007 Robert J. Garcia, Engineer Current Revision Date: 05/27/2025 Section 303.001 Next Revision (1) Date: 05/27/2027 Page 1 of 6 Fresno City Fire Department 300 Training and Equipment Manual SECTION 303.001 APPARATUS PUMP TEST PURPOSE To inform members of the acceptance/annual pumper service test. APPLICATION A pumper service test is performed upon acceptance of new apparatus equipped with a pump, annually, and after repair to the drive train or pump. OPERATIONAL POLICY All Fresno Fire Department (FFD or Department) pumping apparatus will be tested annually, or after repair to the drive train or pump, by order of the Fire Chief. All front- line and reserve pumping apparatus will be pump tested annually to NFPA 1901, Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus. Department pumpers will be tested by the Department Repair and Maintenance Section. OPERATIONAL GUIDELINE This section intentionally left blank. PROCESS Pump Test Procedures Layout: 1. Lay out two (2) 2-1/2-inch hose lines into monitor for pumpers up to 1,250 gpm capacity. (One of the lines connected to restricting valve at the pump panel.) Effective Date: October 2007 Robert J. Garcia, Engineer Current Revision Date: 05/27/2025 Section 303.001 Next Revision (1) Date: 05/27/2027 Page 2 of 6 2. Lay out three (3) 2-1/2-inch hose lines into monitor for 1,500 gpm pumpers. (One of the lines connected to the restricting valve at the pump panel.) Selection of Nozzles: 1. The size of the nozzle used is usually chosen to give the desired discharge nozzle pressure between 60 and 70 psi. (The stream is easier to handle at this pressure and the pitot gauge is more accurate.) Install Gauges: 1. Correct gauges are to be installed on the pumper on both the suction and discharge sides of the pump. 2. Install pitot tube and pressure gauge on the monitor, in the center of the stream, one-half the diameter of the tip away from the nozzle tip. Hard Suction: 1. Twenty feet of six-inch hard suction connected to the suction side of the pump. Additional Items: 1. Revolution counter and stopwatch are necessary to determine engine/pump rpm. Engine Preparation: 1. Check the engine oil level. 2. Check priming pump oil level. 3. Check the radiator water level. 4. The engine temperature should be at the proper operating level. 5. Close all outlets, drains, etc. Effective Date: October 2007 Robert J. Garcia, Engineer Current Revision Date: 05/27/2025 Section 303.001 Next Revision (1) Date: 05/27/2027 Page 3 of 6 Vacuum Test: 1. Open the pump drain to remove all water from the pump; then close securely. 2. Close all discharge outlets, drains, etc. 3. Connect and cap hard suction. 4. Engage priming pump and develop 22 inches of Mercury (Hg) vacuum on the corrected gauge on the suction side of the pump. 5. Disengage priming device, shut down the engine, and permit the setup to stand for five minutes without further operation of the priming device. If the vacuum does not drop more than ten inches of Mercury (Hg) during the five- minute period, the apparatus has passed the test. Pump Test: 1. Check the water level in the drafting pit. 2. The maximum lift should be ten feet from the top of the water to the center line of the pump suction inlet. 3. Water should be clean and free of debris. Any debris caught on the suction strainer will materially affect the efficiency of the pumper. 4. Remove suction cap and place the strainer on the end of the suction hose. Secure the suction by tying a double half-hitch near the end toward the strainer with the rope. Tie the rope in such a manner that no loose ends can collect around the strainer. 5. Lower the hard suction into the pit. The strainer should be at least two (2) feet below the water level and 12 inches from the bottom of the pit. 6. Tie the rope to a stationary object (cross member of the drafting pit or the front bumper of the pumper). A salvage cover should be used under the hard suction at the point of contact to prevent chafing. Effective Date: October 2007 Robert J. Garcia, Engineer Current Revision Date: 05/27/2025 Section 303.001 Next Revision (1) Date: 05/27/2027 Page 4 of 6 Prime Pump: 1. Close all discharge valves, drain valves, and the tank valve. Ensure all connections are tight. 2. Operate the priming pump until a steady flow of water is produced. 3. Disengage the priming pump. Slowly open the discharge outlet. 4. Priming pumps should operate at about 1,250 rpm. 5. The pump pressure should be 55 to 60 pounds before opening the discharge outlet. 6. Priming the pump from draft is an integral portion of a pump test. The pump is required to take suction in no more than 30 seconds for a 1250 gpm rated capacity pump. Pumps of 1,500 gpm or larger capacity are required to take suction in not over 45 seconds. INFORMATION The Department requires: 1. On each pumper demonstrate the ability to maintain a vacuum equal to 22 inches of Mercury (Hg) in the pump and suction hose with a loss not to exceed 10 inches Hg in at least 5 minutes. 2. On each pumper demonstrate the ability to take suction from draft with a lift of 10 feet through 20 feet of suction hose within 30 seconds for pumpers up to 1,250 gpm capacity, and 45 seconds for pumpers of 1,500 gpm or larger. 3. Satisfactory operation of the pressure-control device during the capacity test at 150 psi and 90 psi and during the 50 percent test, at 250 psi. 4. The apparatus is given a short overload test by attempting to discharge rated capacity at 165 psi net pump pressure. This test is conducted for the purpose of determining the amount of excess power, if any, available. 5. Tank to pump flow rate test, flow capacity of available water from the tank to the pump meeting the NFPA minimum standard of 500 gpm. Effective Date: October 2007 Robert J. Garcia, Engineer Current Revision Date: 05/27/2025 Section 303.001 Next Revision (1) Date: 05/27/2027 Page 5 of 6 6. The auxiliary pump internal relief valve (if equipped) will be tested to ensure it is operating at 250 psi. FFD Shop Pump Test Chart 500 gpm Rated Pump Using 20’ of 4” Suction Hose Test Flow Pump Press GPM Hose Layout Tip Size Pitot Actual Flow 100% 150 500 1 each, 2-1/2” x 50’ 1-1/2” 58 508 70% 200 350 1 each, 2-1/2” x 50’ 1-1/8” 88 351 50% 250 250 1 each, 2-12” x 50’ 1-1/8” 46 254 1000 gpm Rated Pump Using 20’ of 5” Suction Hose Test Flow Pump Press GPM Hose Layout Tip Size Pitot Actual Flow 100% 150 1000 3 each, 2-1/2” x 50’ 2” 72 1008 70% 200 700 2 each, 2-1/2” x 50’ 1-3/4” 60 704 50% 250 500 1 each, 2-12” x 50’ 1-1/2” 58 508 1250 gpm Rated Pump Using 20’ of 6” Suction Hose Test Flow Pump Press GPM Hose Layout Tip Size Pitot Actual Flow 100% 150 1250 3 each, 2-1/2” x 50’ 2-1/4” 70 1251 70% 200 875 1 each, 2-1/2” x 50’ 2” 56 882 50% 250 625 1 each, 2-12” x 50’ 1-3/4” 48 633 1500 gpm Rated Pump Using 20’ of 6” Suction Hose Test Flow Pump Press GPM Hose Layout Tip Size Pitot Actual Flow 100% 150 1500 4 each, 2-1/2” x 50’ 2-1/4” 100 1506 70% 200 1050 3 each, 2-1/2” x 50’ 2” 78 1050 50% 250 750 2 each, 2-12” x 50’ 1-3/4” 68 750 Effective Date: October 2007 Robert J. Garcia, Engineer Current Revision Date: 05/27/2025 Section 303.001 Next Revision (1) Date: 05/27/2027 Page 6 of 6 1750 gpm Rated Pump Using Two Master Streams and Dual 20’ Long 6” Suction Hoses Test Flow Pump Press GPM Hose Layout Tip Size Pitot Actual Flow 100% 150 1750 4 each, 2-1/2” x 50’ (2) 2” 55 1760 70% 200 1250 4 each, 2-1/2” x 50’ (2) 1-3/4” 48 1260 50% 250 875 3 each, 2-12” x 50’ (1) 2” 54 873 2000 gpm Rated Pump Using Dual 20’ Long 6” Suction Hoses Test Flow Pump Press GPM Hose Layout Tip Size Pitot Actual Flow 100% 150 2000 4 each, 2-1/2” x 50’ 2-1/2” 120 2035 70% 200 1400 4 each, 2-1/2” x 50’ 2-1/4” 88 1412 50% 250 1000 4 each, 2-12” x 50’ 2” 72 1008 2000 gpm Rated Pump Using Two Master Streams and Dual 20’ Long 6” Suction Hoses Test Flow Pump Press GPM Hose Layout Tip Size Pitot Actual Flow 100% 150 2000 4 each, 2-1/2” x 50’ (2) 2” 71 2002 70% 200 1400 4 each, 2-1/2” x 50’ (2) 1-3/4” 60 1408 50% 250 1000 4 each, 2-12” x 50’ (2) 1-1/2” 56 1001 DEFINITIONS This section intentionally left blank. CROSS-REFERENCES NFPA 1901, Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus Section 16.13, Required Testing Section 18.3.2, Tank-to-Pump Flow Rate