A fire water pump is a crucial component of many water-based fire protection systems. These pumps increase the flow of water pressure for fire suppression, allowing you to fight larger fires with less water. However, it is important to understand that they can only work with the available flow of water that comes from your hydrant and fire hoses. There is no magic device inside the pump creating additional water flow. This means that it is important to have the right size water pump based on your facility’s requirements and the location of the firewater tank(s).
When choosing the right water firefighting pump, there are two acronyms to be aware of – PSI and GPM. PSI relates to the pressure of the water coming out of the pump and GPM relates to the amount of water that it is capable of moving over time (or in other words – how much it can spray per minute).
It is important to have the right size water pump in place, as you will want to ensure that you are able to get enough water from your tanks to reach the fire. The best way to know what kind of PSI you need is by looking at the performance curve on the factory-certified test report. The pump’s power curve should peak at the rated flow, and it should not be continuing to rise above this point – or you could be wasting energy and the motor may not be properly sized for your application.