The fire pump is the heart of your sprinkler system. It is the sole component responsible for supplying the water pressure needed when a sprinkler head demands it. Because municipal water pressure varies from location to location, fire pumps are customized for each specific site. Your fire pump is, by far, the most expensive component in your fire sprinkler system. These are some of the reasons why it’s important to have an experienced and knowledgeable technician maintain and service your fire pump.
At Piper Fire Protection, we’ve installed, maintained, and repaired Florida’s fire pumps for the past 30 years. In fact, we have specialized employees dedicated to working on fire pumps only. The cost and importance of your fire pump demands this level of expertise.
Other fire pump services we provide include:
Initial water flow analysis
New pump installation
Grunfos jockey pump
Annual flow tests
Annual/Semiannual diesel service
How do fire pumps work?
Fire pumps are powered by an electric motor or diesel engine. If the local building code requires power independent of the local electric power grid, a pump using an electric motor may utilize what’s called a transfer switch that directs power over to an emergency generator in the event of a power failure.
The fire pump starts when the pressure in the fire sprinkler system drops below a threshold. The sprinkler system pressure drops significantly when one or more fire sprinklers are activated or alternatively when other firefighting connections are opened, causing a pressure drop.
Types of pumps used for fire service include: horizontal split case, vertical split case, vertical inline, vertical turbine, and end suction.
A jockey pump is a small pump connected to a fire sprinkler system in parallel with the fire pump. It maintains pressure in a fire protection piping system to an artificially high level so that the operation of a single fire sprinkler will cause an appreciable pressure drop which will be easily sensed by the fire pump automatic controller, causing the fire pump to start. The jockey pump is essentially a portion of the fire pump’s control system.
Fire pump installations and retrofits are governed by the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA)NFPA 20 Standard for the Installation of Stationary Fire Pumps for Fire Protection.
An integral part of any fire sprinkler system in Tampa Bay, a fire pump provides water pressure and flow. Without a well-designed, well-maintained fire pump, even the most sophisticated sprinkler system is rendered useless, unable to draw the necessary quantities needed to contain a blaze. At A Total Solution, Inc. (ATS), we understand life safety and asset protection, with total commitment to quality for your inspection, installation, and service of both fire pumps and fire sprinkler systems.
ATS is a full service fire sprinkler and low voltage contractor. We have dedicated inspectors who are certified to inspect fire pumps, fire sprinkler, fire hydrant, and fire alarm systems. Our fire pump inspectors comply with the code requirements of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 25, NFPA 72, state requirements, and city and county local ordinances. Upon completion of an inspection, ATS will provide your staff with a detailed inspection report. Our electronic inspection record systems gives us the capability to know when future inspections are due; we will call to schedule the inspection to insure your system is within guidelines.
ATS installs quality fire pumps such as Fairbanks, Peerless, Aurora, Morse, and Armstrong. Our trained technicians and staff have the capability to design build, create detailed shop drawings, and generate comprehensive submittals, specifications, and complete permit packages. Our designers are a product of the University of South Florida’s highly esteemed engineering program and are NICET certified. All of our installations and repairs comply with the NFPA 20, NFPA 70, NFPA 72, and city and county requirements.
ATS utilizes the latest technology to 24-hour monitor your fire pump. We are not your typical “One Call Does it All” fire protection company. We have the capability to service and central station monitor 79% of all life safety and security brands.
Without proper maintenance, a fire pump may not have sufficient water pressure to meet the hydraulic design for a particular building. Therefore, proper repairs are imperative. ATS is equipped and ready to service your fire pump, whether powered by diesel or electrical motor. We service vertical turbines, split case, vertical inline, and end line systems. Our repairs include complete trouble-shooting and replacement of malfunctioning fire pump components such as pressure switches, gauges, motor repairs, jockey pumps, and fire pump controllers. We also repack and rebuild fire pumps. All of our repairs comply with NFPA 20, county, and city requirements.
24 hours a day, 365 days a year, ATS’s fire sprinkler technicians are equipped and ready to service your fire pump. ATS’s employees are NICET, FASA/BASA, and factory certified to handle most fire pump trouble and alarm conditions.
Measurement and Analysis of pump operating parameters.
As per our experience of conducting energy audit, we are confident that over and above the exercise would be beneficial in terms of REAL SAVINGS in your present Electricity Bill also. Which you will agree should be of prime importance.