Pumping Apparatus Driver Operator (1st Edition)-All ...
Pumping Apparatus Driver Operator (1st Edition)
Chapter 1 - The Driver Operator
Test Review
▪ Driver operators must possess a number of cognitive and physical skills.
▪ Ability to read is required for reading maps, reviewing manufacturer's operating instructions, studying prefire plans, reviewing printed dispatch orders, and reading/working on MDTs.
▪ Writing skills are important for completing maintenance reports, equipment repair requests, and fire reports.
▪ Mathematic skills are important for hydraulics calculations and numerous other situations.
▪ Some math skills required of drivers include adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing fractions and whole numbers, and determining square roots.
▪ Physical requirements of drivers include connecting to hydrants, laying out and adjusting supply lines by hand, and deploying portable water tanks.
▪ A driver's mechanical ability aids in understanding operation and maintenance of the apparatus, but are NOT required by standards.
▪ Drivers should have basic supervisory skills in the absence of the company officer.
▪ On most career departments, drivers are most often promoted from the rank of firefighter.
▪ Driver promotion is frequently based on required time of service, written/performance tests, or a combination of both.
▪ Chief officers of volunteer departments commonly promote drivers based on on ability.
▪ Some volunteer departments allow lateral entry into drivers positions based on previous truck driving experience.
▪ Effective driver training programs consist of classroom (theoretical) instruction, practical training (hands on), and testing.
▪ Drivers are regulated by state laws, city ordinances, and SOPs.
▪ Most driving regulations pertain to dry, clear roads.
▪ Drivers are subject to criminal and civil prosecution for being involved in collisions while breaking driving laws.
▪ The federal DOT establishes basic requirements for for licensing drivers in the US.
▪ Some departments require a CDL to drive apparatus.
Pumping Apparatus Driver Operator (1st Edition)
Chapter 2 - Types of Apparatus Equipped with a Fire Pump
Test Review
▪ The main purpose of fire department pumpers is to provide adequate pressure for fire streams.
▪ Types of equipment found on pumpers include ground ladders, SCBA, rescue/extrication tools, forcible entry equipment, salvage equipment, portable water tanks, and medical equipment.
▪ Rescue pumpers are apparatus which provide rescue functions in addition to pumping functions and tend to have larger compartments than standard pumpers.
▪ Most industrial foam pumpers are primarily used to produce large quantities of foam solution to attack Class B fires and spills.
▪ Foam pumpers may be equipped with around-the-pump, direct injection, or balanced pressure foam proportioning systems.
▪ Industrial foam pumpers usually use some type of balanced pressure foam proportioning system due to its reliability of foam proportioning at large flows.
▪ Foam proportioning systems may have capabilities that exceed the capacity of the pumper itself.
▪ Pumpers are mounted on either a commercial or custom truck chassis.
▪ Class B foam systems on pumpers allow small-scale attacks on flammable/combustible liquid fires and spills.
▪ Class A foam systems on municipal pumpers may be high-energy (requires a sizable compressor) or low-energy types.
▪ Elevated water devices use either articulating booms or telescoping pipes.
▪ Minipumpers are described as small, quick-attack pumpers that are most often mounted on 1 ton chassis with custom bodies.
▪ Midipumpers are well suited for small grass or dumpster fires.
▪ The main differences between a midipumper and minipumper is size, pump capacity, and amount of equipment carried.
▪ Mobile water supply apparatus, also known as tankers or tenders, are used to transport water beyond a water system.
▪ Water tank size for tankers/tenders is based on terrain, bridge weight limits, monetary constraints (purchase price), and size of other tankers/tenders in the area.
▪ Design properties of tankers/tenders is based on adequate tank capacity, filling rate, dump time, suspension/steering, along with properly sized chassis, tank mounting, tank baffling, sufficient braking ability, and ability to drop water from both sides of the apparatus.
▪ Mobile water supply apparatus may either be used as reservoirs (nurse tanker/tender) or with water shuttle operations.
▪ A nurse tender operations consists of a tender attached to an attack pumper with a short section of hose.
▪ Wildland apparatus are usually built on 1 ton or larger chassis and most have all wheel drive.
▪ Vehicles with pump-and-roll capabilities use a separate motor or PTO to power the pump.
▪ Wildland vehicles typically carry 1 1/2" attack lines, forestry hose, and/or booster hose.
▪ ARFF vehicles are categorized as major firefighting, rapid intervention, or combines agent vehicles.
▪ Fire boats are used for ice/water rescues, firefighting, and relaying water to land-based apparatus.
▪ Fire boats are best suited for supplementing land based operations by use of large master stream devices.
▪ Some fire boats may be propelled by water jets or may be amphibious, although most heav-duty boats are powered by marine-type diesel engines.
▪ Aerial apparatus equipped with a fire pump are capable of supplying their own elevated master stream.
▪ Quints (5 functions) are apparatus consisting of an aerial device, ground ladders, a fire pump, a water tank, and fire hose.
▪ Rescue vehicles equipped with fire pumps commonly have the fire pump and water tank in the same compartment.
▪ Ambulances equipped with fire pumps must be built on larger chassis that the normal 1 ton chassis.
▪ Advantages of inverters include fuel efficiency and low or non-existent noise levels, while disadvantages are small capacities and limited mobility.
▪ Inverters are most commonly used to power vehicle-mounted flood lights.
▪ Generators are the most commonly used power source for emergency services.
▪ Vehicles-mounted generators usually provide power for portable tools and apparatus floodlights.
▪ Rescue vehicles commonly have larger generators than pumpers.
▪ The main function of fixed lights is to provide overall illumination of the scene.
▪ Some fixed lighting systems consist of a bank of lights on electrically, hydraulically, or pneumatically operated booms.
▪ Junction boxes may be used when multiple electrical connections are needed and are commonly equipped with a small light on top to aid finding it in the dark.
▪ The most commonly used extrication tools are hydraulically-powered.
▪ Apparatus typing, used in the NIIMS system, categorizes pumpers and other vehicles by their capabilities.
Pumping Apparatus Driver Operator (1st Edition)
Chapter 3 - Intro to Apparatus Inspection & Maintenance
Test Review
Many of the items in this chapter have been left out of notes because they are just plain common sense.
▪ Maintenance mean keeping apparatus in a state of readiness or usefulness.
▪ Repair means to restore or replace that which has become inoperable.
▪ Repair function are almost always carried out by qualified mechanics.
▪ Maintenance SOPs should contain who performs repairs, where repairs are made, how problems are reported, and how items are documented.
▪ Apparatus should be inspected on a weekly or biweekly basis as a minimum.
▪ The most common cleaning of an apparatus is washing the exterior.
▪ Apparatus should not be washed with extremely hot water or while the surface of the apparatus is hot.
▪ Gasoline or solvents should never be used to remove grease or tar from painted surfaces.
▪ Dry towels or rags should not be used to clean windows as they may allow grit to scratch the glass.
▪ Metal objects should not be used to remove deposits from glass.
▪ Cleaners that are toxic/flammable, such as acetone, lacquer thinner, enamel reducer, nail polish remover, laundry soap, bleach, gasoline, naptha, or carbon tetrachloride, should never be used to clean the interior of apparatus.
▪ The circle (walk-around) method of inspection consists of starting at the driver's door and working around the apparatus in a clockwise direction.
▪ Gasoline and diesel engines should not be allowed to run in unvented areas.
▪ Diesel exhaust is known to emit benzene derivatives which have been shown to be carcinogenic in lab tests.
▪ Tires should be checked for proper inflation, valve stem condition, and tire condition (tread depth, cuts, & wear).
▪ A systematic inspection consist of (in order): Left/Right side front, front, Left/Right side rear, rear, in cab, and engine compartment.
▪ The first portion of an apparatus inspection should be the right and left side front.
▪ Front bumpers commonly contain equipment such as pump intakes/discharges, winches, and hydraulic rescue tool systems that should be inspected for proper operations.
▪ Left and right rear side inspections should cover everything from the back of the cab to the tailboard.
▪ The in-cab inspection should occur after the outside inspection.
▪ A speedometer that shows above zero after starting the engine likely means that it is defective or the engine is in pump gear.
▪ Load sequencers turn various lights on at specified times so that start-up electrical load for devices does not occur at the same time.
▪ Load monitors keep track of electrical loads that may overload the electrical system.
▪ Load shedding is when a load monitor shuts down less important electrical items to prevent overload of the electrical system.
▪ Free play, in regards to clutches, is the distance the pedal must be pushed before the throw-out bearing actually contacts the clutch release fingers.
▪ Insufficient free play of clutch pedals will cause the clutch will slip, overheat, and wear out sooner than normal.
▪ Excessive free play of clutch pedals will cause the clutch to not release completely, resulting in gears clashing, harsh shifting, and damage to gear teeth.
▪ On apparatus with air brakes, the parking brake control is most commonly a push-pull switch.
▪ Transmission fluid and power steering fluid are the only fluids that may require the engine to be running during inspection.
▪ Coolant level is best inspected when the engine is cool.
▪ Some air intake systems have an air filter restriction gauge that tells when to change the filter.
▪ Plain water may be used for windshield wiper fluid, however, freezing is an issue during cold weather.
▪ Most modern batteries are sealed type and require no internal inspection.
▪ Corrosion around battery cables can be removed by mixing baking soda (a base) with water and pouring on the connections to neutralize the corrosive (acidic) buildup.
▪ The SAE number for engine oil only indicates the viscosity.
▪ Some essential characteristics of oil are corrosion protection, foaming, sludging, and carbon accumulation.
▪ Lubrication fill connections are similar in appearance to valve stems of tires.
▪ Batteries produce explosive hydrogen gas when charging.
▪ When using a battery charger, attach the red (positive) cable first to the red (positive) battery post, then attach the black (negative) cable to the black (negative) post. Reverse procedure to take off.
▪ Items that should be inspected daily include pump gear operation, auxiliary fuel tanks (full), gauges/valves on pump panel, pump and booster lines drained (in freezing weather), water/foam tank levels, underside of rig for leaks, auxiliary winterization systems (if present), turrets (if present), and auxiliary fire suppression systems (extinguishers).
▪ Items/actions for weekly inspections should include flushing the pump, intake strainers, pump gear box, changeover valve (for 2/3 stage pumps), pump primer, packing glands, flowmeters, pump pressure control devices, and foam systems.
▪ When flushing a pump, it should be done while pump is out of gear.
Pumping Apparatus Driver Operator (1st Edition)
Chapter 4 - Operating Emergency Vehicles
Test Review
No notes are taken from steps or the practical driving exercises that appear in this chapter. Practical driving exercises are best studied by use of the pictures in the chapter and copyrights prohibit them to be displayed on FireNotes.
▪ The major causes of fire apparatus collisions include improper backing, reckless driving by the public, excessive speed of apparatus, lack of apparatus driving skill, and poor apparatus design/maintenance.
▪ Backing accidents are the most common cause of apparatus damage.
▪ Reckless driving by the public consists of failure to obey traffic regulations, failure to yield to emergency vehicles, excessive speed, unpredictable behavior (panic upon seeing apparatus), and inattentiveness.
▪ Air brake systems take longer to activate and stop a vehicle than hydraulic/mechanical brake systems.
▪ Factors that contribute to collision that involve driver error include overconfidence, inability to recognize dangerous situations, false sense of security (because of good driving record), not understanding apparatus capabilities, and lack of knowledge on operation of apparatus controls.
▪ Homebuilt water tenders (tankers) have a high incidence of serious collisions.
▪ Statutes regarding emergency response may exempt apparatus in areas such as speed limit, direction of travel, direction of turns, and parking.
▪ The multi-position, rotary battery switch is most common on modern fire apparatus.
▪ Starter switches may be in the form of a key, toggle switch, or push-button.
▪ Never attempt to start an apparatus moving while it is in a high or drive gear (manual transmission).
▪ On sharp curves or when turning corners, shift standard transmissions into a lower gear before entering the curve or intersection.
▪ Engine rotation faster than rated rpm can cause valves to hit pistons, increased oil consumption, damage requiring overhaul, and injector plug seizures.
▪ When accelerator pedals are partially depressed on an automatic transmission, the engine will upshift at lower engine speeds.
▪ Lugging occurs when the throttle application is greater than necessary for given conditions.
▪ Engine rpm should not be allowed to drop below peak torque speed if lugging occurs.
▪ Automatic transmission downshift automatically to prevent lugging, while manual transmissions must be downshifted manually.
▪ Momentary lugging when ascending steep grades is unavoidable but can be minimized by using lower gears.
▪ Engine brakes and retarders are applied when the accelerator pedal is released.
▪ On manual transmission, the clutch should not be disengaged until the last few feet of travel when braking.
▪ Shutting down an engine after a full load without a cooling off period will cause an immediate increase in engine temperature due to lack of coolant circulation which can damage heads, exhaust manifolds, and turbochargers.
▪ NFPA 1500, in regards to use of seatbelts, provides exemptions for providing patient care in the back of an ambulance, loading hose on apparatus while moving, and when performing training for personnel learning to drive the tiller portion of tractor-drawn aerial apparatus.
▪ All apparatus must be equipped with an alarm system that activates when the apparatus is backing.
▪ Defensive driving skills include anticipating other driver's actions, estimating visual lead time, knowing braking/reaction times, knowing evasive tactics, and a knowledge of weight transfer.
▪ Intersections are the most likely place for a collision involving an emergency vehicle.
▪ Fire apparatus must come to a complete stop at stop signs and lights at all times.
▪ Visual lead time is the scanning ahead of the road, in proportion with the speed being driven, to assure that appropriate actions can be taken if needed to avoid a collision.
▪ Visual lead time interacts directly with reaction time and stopping distances.
▪ Total stopping distance is the sum of driver reaction distance plus vehicle braking distance.
▪ Reaction distance is the distance the apparatus travels while the driver perceives the need to stop and transfer the foot to the brake.
▪ Braking distance is the distance the apparatus travels from the time the brake is applied until the apparatus is at a complete stop.
▪ The most common causes of skids (driving to fast, weight shifts, anticipating obstacles, improper brake use, improper tire maintenance) involve driver error.
▪ Interaxle differential locks are a type of auxiliary braking system found on tandem axle apparatus which allow for a difference in speed between the two rear axles, while providing pulling power from each axle to maintain better traction for each axle.
▪ Interaxle differential locks should be in the unlocked position during normal operating conditions.
▪ Automatic traction control (ATC) helps improve traction on slippery roads by reducing drive wheel overspin and does not require the driver to activate ATC with a switch.
▪ Bridge surfaces, Northern slopes of hills, shaded spots, and areas where snow is blowing across the road are the first places to become slick in freezing weather.
▪ Civilian drivers respond better to warning devices that change pitch often.
▪ White lights on apparatus can be readily distinguished during the day, therefore, headlights should be on when responding.
▪ High beam headlights should not be used while responding as they will tend to drown out other warning lights.
▪ Large quantities of warning lights in conjunction with scene lighting can overpower the effectiveness of reflective trim on PPE, causing personnel to become less visible at night.
▪ Opticom™ systems are a common system of controlling traffic signals by use of emitters (special strobe lights) on apparatus that activate sensors mounted on traffic lights which cause all lights to be red expect for the approaching apparatus.
▪ Written tests for drivers may contain state/local driving regulations, departmental regulations, hydraulic calculations, operational pumping questions, and SOPs.
Pumping Apparatus Driver Operator (1st Edition)
Chapter 5 - Positioning Apparatus
Test Review
▪ Apparatus are positioned according to their purpose and overall strategic objectives.
▪ With "nothing showing", first-in pumpers should park near the main entrance.
▪ Factors that affect apparatus positioning include SOPs, rescue situations, water supply, method of attack, exposures, wind direction, terrain, and relocation potential.
▪ Rescue is always the first tactical priority at any fire incident.
▪ The apparatus itself can become an exposure if parked to close to a scene.
▪ Supplying hoses downhill places less wear on the fire pump than pumping uphill.
▪ Apparatus should be positioned uphill from the incident except for wildland fires when apparatus should be placed downhill due to wildland fires burning uphill faster.
▪ Apparatus should be positioned uphill and upwind from HazMat incidents.
▪ Apparatus should not be positioned in the collapse zone which is a distance of at least the height of the building.
▪ Ornamental stars are an indicator that a building is in a deteriorating state of condition.
▪ Apparatus not able to be repositioned away from falling debris zones should be protected with salvage covers or tarps.
▪ Pumpers should be positioned so that aerial apparatus have the most optimum operating position.
▪ Pumpers should be positioned as close as possible to FDC connections unless the spot is needed by an aerial apparatus.
▪ Drafting pumpers may serve as source pumpers for relay or water shuttle operations or may supply fireground apparatus directly.
▪ Bridges, boat ramps, and large docks make for the best drafting locations.
▪ When placing suction hose directly into a static source, the hard suction hose and strainer should be connected to the pumper before driving the pumper into the final drafting position.
▪ Floats such as a spare tire or plastic bucket can be used to hold the strainer of hard suction hose at the appropriate depth.
▪ Dry hydrants are pre-installed hydrants that consist of a suction connection on land and a length of pipe equipped with a strainer that extends into the water supply source.
▪ Most hard suction hose is not designed to be used under positive pressure situations.
▪ The preferred hose type for fire hydrant connections is LDH intake hose (also called soft-sleeve or soft suction).
▪ The side intake of a pumper should be stopped a few feet short of a fire hydrant to allow intake hose to slightly curve when connected.
▪ Pumpers with front or rear intakes should stop with the intak a few feet short and past the hydrant to allow the intake hose to curve.
▪ Removing kinks in hose is the easiest way to ensure maximum possible flow.
▪ Large diameter intakes are also called steamer connections.
▪ Dual pumping consists of 2 pumpers connected to the same hydrant.
▪ Care must be taken when tandem pumping not to exceed the hose's annual test pressure.
▪ The most common functions for wildland apparatus are to provide fire attack and structure protection (usually the highest priority).
▪ Wildland apparatus assigned to protect a structure should be positioned on the leeward side of the structure.
▪ When driving wildland vehicles in reduced visibility, a spotter may need to walk ahead of the apparatus to detect obstacles.
▪ Widland vehicles should always be parked facing the exit direction.
▪ Apparatus used for mobile attacks should have attack hoselines as short as possible.
▪ A small amount of water should be reserved for protection of wildland apparatus and crews.
▪ Engines used in wildland attacks should draw back to the flanks of the fire rather than attempt a frontal attack.
▪ Apparatus used in wildland attacks should not be allowed to drive into unburned fuels that are higher than the bumper or running board without a spotter.
▪ Rescue/squad apparatus that respond to fire scenes are commonly used for extra manpower or to perform truck company functions.
▪ Ideally, command vehicles should be positioned at the corner of a building so that two sides may be viewed.
▪ Commonly used command post markers include pennants, flags, traffic cones, signs, banners, or flashing green lights.
▪ Cascade systems are large breathing air cylinders connected together in banks and are used to refill smaller cylinders.
▪ Breathing air compressors are engine-driven appliances that take in atmospheric air, purify it, and compress it and are used to refill SCBA cylinders.
▪ Breathing air compressors have filter sensors (interlocks) that prevent using atmospheric air that is contaminated, therefore, apparatus with these appliances should be positioned upwind of a fire.
▪ EMS vehicles that respond to fire scenes are usually paramedic/quick response units (non-transport) or ambulances (transport).
▪ EMS vehicles and personnel should be positioned at the rehabilitation area when not needed at the actual scene.
▪ Front wheels of apparatus should be turned away from firefighters working highway incidents.
▪ On HazMat incidents, the wind speed and direction should be obtained while en route to the scene.
▪ The hot zone of a HazMat incident (also called exclusion, restricted, or red zone) is an area surrounding the incident that has been contaminated by the released material.
▪ The warm zone of a HazMat incident (also called contamination-reduction, limited-access, or yellow zone) is an area abutting the hot zone and extending to the cold zone.
▪ The warm zone of a HazMat incident can be entered by personnel without the use of "special" protective clothing.
▪ Decontamination at a HazMat incident takes place in a corridor within the warm zone.
▪ The cold zone (also called support or green zone) encompasses the warm zone and is used to carry out all of the support functions of the incident.
▪ Personal protective clothing is not required in the cold zone of a HazMat incident.
▪ The cold zone of a HazMat incident contains the command post, staging area, and triage/treatment area for the incident.
▪ When responding to bomb threats or terrorist incidents, apparatus should not stage at the same location.
▪ If it is not possible to confirm that railroad traffic has been halted and attack lines need to cross railroad tracks, hose must be routed underneath rails or over the top of the area using an aerial ladder.
▪ Apparatus responding to medical incidents should leave the best location for patient loading open for ambulances.
Pumping Apparatus Driver Operator (1st Edition)
Chapter 6 - What is Water & Where Does it Come From?
Test Review
NOTICE: Be sure to check out the "By the Numbers" section as this chapter contains many important numbers.
▪ Modern extinguishing agents include dry chemical, dry powders, foam concentrates, and halogenated hydrocarbons.
▪ Water cannot be seen in vapor form and can only be seen as it condenses.
▪ Water is considered incompressible.
▪ Water extinguishes fire primarily by cooling but may also be used to smother a fire by excluding oxygen.
▪ Water used as an extinguishing agent is affected by the Law of Specific Heat and The Law of Latent Heat of Vaporization.
▪ Specific heat is a measure of the heat absorbing capacity of a substance.
▪ Latent Heat of Vaporization is the quantity of heat absorbed by a substance when it changes from a liquid to a vapor (boiling point).
▪ The rate heat is released from an object depends on physical form, surface area, and air/oxygen supply.
▪ Water absorbs heat at a speed proportional to its surface area (finer droplets-faster absorption).
▪ Steam expansion is rapid and careful use of ventilation must be used to prevent steam or fire from rolling back on attack crews.
▪ Water can be used to smother liquids (by floating on top) such as carbon disulfide which is heavier than water but may not work on materials that are water soluble such as alcohol.
▪ Viscosity is the tendency of a liquid to possess internal resistance to flow (water=low, oil=high).
▪ The higher the viscosity of a combustible liquid, the longer an emulsion produced by water on top of the liquid will last (the emulsion suppresses vapors).
▪ Water has a relatively high surface tension which causes it to not soak into dense materials readily.
▪ Water allows radiant heat to pass through it because of its properties of low opacity and reflectivity.
▪ Pressure is defined as force per unit area and may be expressed in pounds per square foot (psf) or pounds per square inch (psi).
▪ Force is a simple measure of weight, usually expressed in pounds and is directly related to the force of gravity.
▪ The speed at which a fluid travels (velocity) through hose or pipe is developed by the pressure placed upon the fluid.
▪ Fluid pressure is perpendicular to any surface on which it acts.
▪ Fluid pressure at a point in a fluid is the same intensity in all directions.
▪ Pressure that is transmitted to a confined fluid from without is transmitted equally in all directions.
▪ The pressure of a liquid in an open vessel is proportionate to its depth and density.
▪ The pressure of a liquid on the bottom of a vessel is independent of the shape of the vessel.
▪ Atmospheric pressure is greatest at low altitudes and least at higher altitudes.
▪ The weight of the atmosphere is commonly measured by comparing it to the weight of a column of mercury.
▪ PSIG means pounds per square inch "gauge" (reading minus 14.7 psi), while PSIA means pounds per square inch "absolute" (actual atmospheric pressure).
▪ Head refers to the height of a water supply above the discharge orifice.
▪ Static (at rest) pressure is stored potential energy available to force water through pipe, fittings, fire hose, and adapters.
▪ Normal operating pressure is pressure found in a water distribution system during normal consumption demands.
▪ Residual (remainder) pressure is the part of the total available pressure not used to overcome friction loss or gravity while forcing water though pipes, fire hose, fittings, and adapters.
▪ Flow pressure is the forward velocity at a discharge opening while water is flowing (commonly measured with a pitot tube).
▪ Elevation refers to the level above or below the center line of the fire pump.
▪ Altitude is the position of an object above or below sea level.
▪ Pressure loss or gain caused by nozzles being above or below the level of the pump is referred to as elevation pressure.
▪ Friction loss is the part of total pressure lost while forcing water through pipes, hose, fittings, and adapters.
▪ Coefficient of friction refers to the roughness of a hose or pipe lining.
▪ Friction loss varies indirectly with the length of the hose or pipe.
▪ Friction loss varies approximately with the square of the increase in velocity of the flow on like hose sizes.
▪ Friction loss varies inversely as the fifth power of the diameter of the hose, for the same discharge.
▪ Friction loss is approximately the same, regardless of pressure on the water, for a given flow velocity (same amount of water flowing.
▪ The smaller the hose, the greater the velocity needed to deliver the same volume.
▪ Critical velocity is when the practical limit of a streams velocity has been reached and agitation occurs which creates considerable friction loss.
▪ Suddenly stopping water moving in a hose results in an energy surge in the opposite direction that can damage hose, appliances, pipes, and pumps, and is called water hammer.
▪ Water systems consist of a water source, means of moving water, water processing/treatment, and a distribution system including storage.
▪ Primary water supplies are obtained from surface water (rivers, lakes) and/or ground water (springs, wells).
▪ The amount of water a community needs is determined by an engineering estimate.
▪ Methods of moving water include direct pumping (pumps provide pressure), gravity systems (gravity provides pressure), or both (used by most communities).
▪ Water may be treated by coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, or the addition of chemicals, bacteria, or other organisms.
▪ Fluoride or oxygen may be added to water during the treatment process.
▪ When hydrants are supplied from more than 1 direction, pressure loss in the distribution system is less.
▪ Primary feeders are large pipes (mains) with relatively widespread spacing that convey large quantities of water to various points of a local distribution system.
▪ Secondary feeders are a network of intermediate-sized pipes that reinforce the distribution grid within the various loops of a primary feeder system and aid in the concentration of the required fire flow at any point.
▪ Distributors are grid arrangements of smaller mains serving individual fire hydrants and blocks of consumers.
▪ Valves should be located at frequent intervals within a distribution system to stop flow at specified points and should all be operated at least once yearly.
▪ Water system valves are either indicating (visually shows if valve is open) or non-indicating (no visual confirmation if valve is open) types.
▪ Common indicating valves include Post Indicator Valves (PIV) which consists of a hollow metal post that is attached to the valve housing and contains the words OPEN and SHUT, and the Outside Screw & Yoke (OS&Y) valve which contains a yoke that when out, shows the valve is open and when the yoke is in, it is closed.
▪ OS&Y valves are commonly used on sprinkler systems.
▪ PIV valves are commonly used in private water supply systems.
▪ Non-indicating valves are typically buried or installed in manholes and are the most common type of valves used in public water distribution systems.
▪ Control valves in water distribution systems are either gate valves or butterfly valves.
▪ Non-rising stem gate valves and non-indicating butterfly valves require a special valve key to operate.
▪ Underground water pipe is generally made of cast iron, ductile iron, asbestos cement, steel, plastic, or concrete.
▪ Private water supply systems commonly receive their water from municipal systems.
▪ In many cases, a private source of water used for fire protection is non-potable (not for drinking).
▪ Private water supply systems maintain separate piping for fire protection and for domestic/industrial services.
Pumping Apparatus Driver Operator (1st Edition)
Chapter 7 - Fire Hose Nozzles & Flow Rates
Test Review
▪ A fire stream is defined as a stream of water or other extinguishing agent after it leaves the nozzle until it reaches the point of application.
▪ Fire streams are affected by gravity, velocity, wind, and friction with air.
▪ The basic types of fire streams are solid, fog, and broken.
▪ Fog nozzles cannot produce a solid stream, instead it is called a straight stream.
▪ A solid stream is a fire stream produced by a fixed orifice, smoothbore nozzle.
▪ Fire streams must hit the seat of a fire to be effective.
▪ A fog stream's periphery is the line bounding a rounded surface or the outward boundary of an object from its internal regions.
▪ Deflection, in relation to fog streams, is a turning or state of being turned, a turning from a straight line or given course, or a bending/deviation.
▪ Impinge means to strike or dash about or against, to come together with force, or to clash with a sharp object.
▪ Periphery-deflected fog streams are produced by deflecting water from the periphery of an inside circular stem of a periphery-deflected fog nozzle.
▪ Impinging stream nozzles usually produce a wide angle fog pattern.
▪ The reach of a fog stream is directly dependent on the width of the stream, the size of water droplets, and the amount of water flowing.
▪ Constant flow nozzles flow the same amount of water, and at the same discharge pressure, on all stream patterns.
▪ Manually adjustable nozzles allow the volume of water being discharged to be controlled at the nozzle.
▪ Rotary control and ball-valve "mystery" nozzles are examples of automatic nozzles (constant-pressure).
▪ Handline nozzles may be solid, broken, or fog stream type.
▪ A master stream is defined as a stream that is too large to be controlled without mechanical aid.
▪ The basic categories of master streams are monitors, turret pipes, deluge sets, and elevated master streams.
▪ The basic types of monitors are fixed, combination, and portable.
▪ Turret pipes, also called deck guns or deck pipes, are mounted on apparatus and are supplied by permanently mounted piping that is directly connected to the fire pump.
▪ Deluge sets consist of a shot length of LDH with a large nozzle or playpipe supported at the discharge end by a tripod.
▪ The angle of the stream from a deluge set cannot be changed while discharging water.
▪ Movement of elevated master streams is limited to vertical up and down movements.
▪ Broken stream nozzles include cellar, water curtain, piercing, and chimney nozzles.
▪ Cellar nozzles, also called distributors, are often used on basements fires by lowering the nozzles through holes cut in a floor.
▪ Water curtain nozzles produce a fan-shaped stream which acts as a water curtain between the fire and combustible material.
▪ Water curtain nozzles only protect against convected heat, not radiated heat (unless water curtain is applied directly to the exposure's surface).
▪ Piercing nozzles are used to apply water to areas that are inaccessible to other nozzles and may be used with AFFF.
▪ The discharge end of piercing nozzles is usually case-hardened steel and may be used to drive through concrete, walls, and partitions.
▪ Chimney nozzles are designed to be placed on the end of a booster line and is made of a solid piece of brass or steel with numerous, very small impinging holes.
▪ Chimney nozzles should be lowered into chimneys and pulled out quickly.
▪ Newton's Third Law of Motion, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction, applies to nozzle reaction on the firefighter.
Pumping Apparatus Driver Operator (1st Edition)
Chapter 8 - Theoretical Pressure Calculations
Test Review
NOTICE: No notes are taken from steps, examples, equations, or metric pages 165-190.
▪ Calculation of friction loss must take into account the length and diameter of hose.
▪ Elevation pressure is knows as the pressure loss or gain as a result of changes in elevation of the nozzle in relation to the pump.
▪ Total pressure loss is the combination of friction loss and elevation loss.
▪ Total pump discharge pressure is the combination of friction loss, elevation loss, and nozzle pressure.
▪ Friction loss can be determined by actual tests (most accurate) or by calculations.
▪ The only truly accurate way of measuring friction loss is to measure the pressure at both ends of a hose and subtract the difference.
▪ When a department determines friction loss in their own hose, the hose used for testing should be hose that is in service, not hose that has never been used.
▪ The amount of friction loss in a hose can be affected by differences in construction, fabrics, liners, couplings, and wear.
▪ Items for testing friction loss in hose include pitot tube or flowmeter, two inline gauges, hose, smoothbore nozzle (if using pitot tube) or any type of nozzle (if using a flowmeter).
▪ Flowmeters provide a direct reading of the volume of water exiting a discharge.
▪ Pitot tubes are used to measure the velocity pressure of a stream of water.
▪ Hose layouts include single hoselines, multiple hoselines, wyed or manifold hoselines, and siamese hoselines, and are considered either "simple" or "complex" layouts.
▪ Simple hose layouts include single lines (most common), multiple lines, equal length wyed lines, and equal length siamesed lines.
▪ With multiple hoselines of equal length, friction loss only has to be calculated for one line.
▪ To reduce friction loss, two or more parallel lines may be laid and connected to a siamese at a point near the fire.
▪ Complex hose layouts include standpipe operations and multiple, wyed, manifold, or master stream hoselines of unequal length.
▪ Hard piping such as that used in standpipes has minimal friction loss.
▪ The total pressure loss in a hose layout using unequal length or diameter hoses is based on the hoseline with the highest friction loss, not the combination of all lines.
▪ When a pumper is supplying lines with different nozzle pressures, pressure pumped should be for the highest pressure needed with other lines gated down to their required pressures.
▪ Almost all fire pumps in use today are centrifugal type.
▪ Net pump discharge pressure when taking water from a hydrant, it is the difference between the intake pressure and the discharge pressure. When drafting, it is the sum of the intake pressure and the discharge pressure.
Pumping Apparatus Driver Operator (1st Edition)
Chapter 9 - Fireground Hydraulic Calculations
Test Review
NOTICE: No notes are taken from methods or equations.
▪ Flowmeters provide a reading in gpm.
▪ Flowmeters are either paddlewheel (newer) or spring probe (older) type.
▪ Spring probe flowmeters have a stainless steel probe that senses water movement by the amount the probe is bent by the water discharging.
▪ Central flowmeters on some apparatus allow readings for flow through particular discharge(s), total flow through the pump, and total flow through all discharges for a specified duration.
▪ Spring probe flowmeters only have one moving part and are relatively maintenance free.
▪ Flowmeters can be used as diagnostic tools to identify kinked lines, partially closed valves, and similar problems that impeded flow.
▪ If there is a sudden reduction in nozzle pressure, but no reduction in the flowmeter reading, it can be assumed that the hose has burst.
▪ When using a flowmeter during relay pumping operations, the throttle can be increased until the flowmeter no longer increases, which sets the pumper at the correct discharge pressure.
▪ Flowmeters can be used during standpipe operations by calculating the maximum rated flows of all nozzles in use and using the flowmeter to deliver that figure.
▪ Types of hydraulic calculators include manual, mechanical, and electronic.
▪ Pump charts may be used to determine required flow for predetermined hose layouts.
Pumping Apparatus Driver Operator (1st Edition)
Chapter 10 - Fire Pump Theory
Test Review
NOTICE: Some notes have not been included because the pictures are much easier to understand than text. It is suggested that this chapter's pictures be thoroughly reviewed.
Much of the information presented in this chapter does not apply to drivers in some cities, only to apparatus mechanics.
▪ The first fire service pumps were hand operated, followed by rotary pumps, both known as positive displacement pumps.
▪ Centrifugal pumps use the force of water entering the pump to provide pump discharge pressure.
▪ Positive displacement pumps can pump air, centrifugal pumps cannot.
▪ Positive displacement pumps (primers) found on today's apparatus are used to get water into the centrifugal pump during drafting operations and to rid air from centrifugal pumps.
▪ The types of positive displacement pumps are rotary and piston.
▪ Piston positive displacement pumps work by creating a higher pressure inside the pump as the piston is driven forward which causes air to escape through discharge lines.
▪ When a piston of a positive displacement pump move backward, air is drawn in from the discharge line, creating a partial vacuum, which causes water in the line to be lifted (drafted).
▪ Double-acting piston pumps receive and discharge water on each stroke of the piston, while single-acting pistons pumps only flows water only on the return stroke (not useful for fire flow).
▪ Piston pumps are no longer used as high-capacity pumps but may be found in use as high-pressure pumps on apparatus such as wildland vehicles.
▪ Rotary Pumps (the simplest of all fire pumps) that are in use today are either rotary vane or rotary gear and are mainly used as small capacity booster pumps or priming pumps.
▪ Rotary gear pumps consist of two gears that rotate in a tightly meshed pattern inside a water tight case (usually cast iron).
▪ Rotary gear pumps with only one drive gear usually have the gear made of steel with inserts of bronze to withstand the torque produced.
▪ The distance between the rotor and housing of a rotary vane pump is much greater at the intake than at the discharge.
▪ Rotary vane pumps are much more efficient at pumping air than standard rotary gear pumps.
▪ Centrifugal pumps are defined as non-positive displacement pumps because they do not pump a definite amount of water with each revolution.
▪ Centrifugal pumps create velocity by "throwing" the water from the center of the disk (with the impellers) toward the outward edges of the disk (against the casing).
▪ The larger the eye of a centrifugal pump impeller, the greater the flow capacity.
▪ The factors that affect the discharge pressure of a centrifugal pump are the amount of water discharged, speed of the impeller, and pressure of water entering the pump.
▪ The greater the volume of water being flowed from a discharge, the lower the discharge pressure from the pump.
▪ The increase in pressure developed by a centrifugal pump is approximately equal to the square of the change in impeller speed. (i.e.-impeller speed doubled=4 times more pressure)
▪ Centrifugal pumps cannot pump air and must be used in conjunction with an external primer pump to remove air from the pump.
▪ Double suction impellers take water in from both side of the impeller eye which cancels lateral thrust and with the addition of discharges that remove water from the pump in opposite directions, radial thrust is also cancelled producing a "hydraulically balanced pump".
▪ Two-stage centrifugals pumps can be set to volume (parallel) operation where each of the impellers take water from the source and deliver it to the discharge or they can be set to pressure (series) operation where the first impeller takes in the water and partially pressurizes it and the second impeller provides an additional increase in pressure before discharging it.
▪ The process of switching a pump from volume to pressure position is sometimes termed changeover.
▪ Switching from volume to pressure operation will result in an immediate doubling of discharge pressure.
▪ Newer transfer vales on two stage pumps can be activated by electricity, air pressure vacuum from engine intake manifold (gasoline engines only), or by water pressure.
▪ If clapper (check) valves on two stage pumps stick open or become clogged by debris, the pump may not operate properly in the pressure (series) position.
▪ Clapper valves on two stage pumps can be checked by removing the strainers from all big intake openings, sticking a rod or similar item into the intake, and checking for free movement of the valve.
▪ Pump casings contain replaceable wear or clearance rings to maintain the desired spacing between the impeller hub and casing.
▪ Pump temperature can be checked (for overheating) by placing a hand on the direct pump intake pipe of the pump.
▪ Packing rings are used at the point where the shaft passes through a pump casing to prevent air leaks.
▪ Lantern (spacer) rings are used to cool and lubricate the heat and friction produced by shafts and the packing of packing rings.
▪ Auxiliary engine-driver pumps are powered by gasoline or diesel engines independent of the engine used to drive the vehicle and are commonly found on ARFF, wildland, and mobile water supply apparatus, and on trailer-mounted and portable applications.
▪ Auxiliary engine-driven pumps are ideal for pump-and-roll operations.
▪ PTO-driven fire pumps are typically found on initial attack, wildland, and mobile water supply apparatus.
▪ Pump gear cases on PTO-driven pumps must be mounted in a location that allows for minimal angulation of the drive shaft.
▪ PTO-driven pumps permit pump-and-roll operations, however, when the clutch is disengaged on the vehicle such as when changing gears during driving, the pump is stopped momentarily until the clutch re-engages. Pressure can also be affected by engine speed.
▪ Front-mount pumps use a step-up gear ratio so that the impeller turns faster than the engine.
▪ Front-mount pumps are move susceptible to freezing than body-mounted pumps.
▪ Front-mount pumps can be used for pump operations much in the same manner as PTO-driven pumps with the same drawbacks regarding engine speed and clutches.
▪ Power is supplied to midship transfer drive pumps through a transfer case located in the drive line between the transmission and rear axle.
▪ Midship transfer drive pumps cannot be used for pump-and-roll operations.
▪ Apparatus with rear-mounted pumps typically have more compartment space for tools and equipment.
▪ Rear-mount pumps may be power either by split-shaft transmissions (like midship pumps) or by PTO (allows for pump-and-roll).
▪ Components of piping systems include intakes, discharges, pump drains, and valves, and are most commonly constructed of cast iron, brass, stainless steel, and/or galvanized steel.
▪ The majority of all fires are initially fought with water from onboard tanks.
▪ Mobile water supply apparatus have multiple tank-to-pump lines (piping).
▪ Because of a check valve, tank-to-pump lines cannot be used to fill onboard apparatus tanks.
▪ Primary intake piping normally tapers to a square shaped pipe as it enters the pump which helps eliminate water entering the pump in a vortex (possibly containing air).
▪ Most discharges are equipped with a locking ball valve.
▪ Tank fill lines can be used to circulate water through the pump when no lines are flowing.
▪ The most common type of valve in apparatus piping is the ball-type valve which permits full flow with minimal friction loss.
▪ Push-pull valve handles use a sliding gear tooth rack that engages a sector gear attached to the valve stem and allows precise pressures to be set.
▪ Gate or butterfly valves are most commonly used on large diameter intakes and discharges and are operated by a handwheel (gate valves) or by a 1/4 turn handle (butterfly valves).
▪ Hydraulic, pneumatic, or electric actuators are commonly used as remote-operated dump controls for water tenders/tankers.
▪ Drain valves are usually found on the line side of control valves and are used to relieve pressure on hoselines after valves have been closed.
▪ Bleeder valves are used to expel air out of an intake line prior to entering the pump.
▪ Drains must be located at the lowest points of both the pump and piping systems.
▪ Booster lines usually require the line to be unwound and drained manually instead of using a drain valve if freezing may occur.
▪ Pressure relief valves may be used on the discharge and intake side of the pump.
▪ Discharge relief valves are actuated by an adjustable spring-loaded pilot valve (most common) to release excess pressure.
▪ Intake relief valves are used to reduce pump damage when sudden surges of pressure such as those caused by water hammer occur.
▪ Most intake screw-on pressure relief valves have the option of manually stopping the the flow of water completely.
▪ Mechanical or electronic pressure governors found on centrifugal pumps regulate the output of the engine to match pump discharge pressure.
▪ Electronic pressure governors use a pressure sensing element connected to the discharge manifold and are so quick and accurate that they virtually eliminate the need for a pressure relief valve to be installed on the pump.
▪ A disadvantage of a mechanical pressure governor is that a closed discharge line can reduce the rpm of the power plant, causing pressures in all attached lines flowing to be temporarily lowered.
▪ Primers are categorized as either positive displacement (most common), exhaust, or vacuum type.
▪ Rotary vane primers require operation at a higher rpm than rotary gear pumps and can be powered by the pump transfer gear case or by an electric motor (most common).
▪ Oil/fluid used in primers seals gaps between gears and the case (when worn down), fills any irregularities in the housing caused by contaminated water, and keeps metal parts from corroding from non-use.
▪ Oil/fluid reservoirs for primers are mounted higher than the pump to provide oil during operation (by drafting), but not during non-operation periods.
▪ Exhaust primers, found on older apparatus and portable pumps, use the venturi principle to create a vacuum which requires high engine rpm and is not very efficient.
▪ Vacuum primers (simplest form of primer) were common on older, gasoline-powered apparatus and are considered extremely dangerous to operate, however, lower engine rpm was advantageous.
▪ As a minimum, gauges/indicators/valves that a pump panel must contain include master pump intake pressure, master pump discharge pressure, weatherproof tachometer, pumping engine coolant temperature, pumping engine oil pressure, voltmeter, pump pressure controls, pumping engine throttle, primer control, tank-to-pump valve, tank fill valve, and water tank level indicator.
▪ Master intake and discharge gauges are used to determine water pressure entering and leaving the pump.
▪ Master intake gauges, sometimes called compound or vacuum gauges must measure positive and negative pressure (for drafting operations).
▪ Master intake gauges can also give an indication of the residual pressure when the pump is operating from a pressurized water source.
▪ Tachometers measure engine speed in revolutions per minute (rpm).
▪ Pumping engine coolant temperature gauges show the temperature of the coolant in the engine that powers the pump.
▪ If an engine operates to cool, it is not efficient. If it operates to hot, it may cause damage to mechanical parts.
▪ Pumping engine oil pressure indicators do not show oil level, only the pressure of the oil.
▪ Pumps can overheat when run for prolonged periods with no water flowing.
▪ Voltmeters give a relative indication of battery condition and alternator output by measuring the drop in voltage.
▪ Pump discharge gauges measure the pressure being applied to the line attached to the discharge.
▪ If the nozzle of a line is shut down, the pressure discharge gauge should read the same as the master discharge pressure gauge.
▪ Primer controls are typically of the push button, toggle switch, or pull lever type.
▪ Marine and immersion type auxiliary cooling devices are found on older apparatus and are used to control the temperature of the apparatus engine during pumping operations.
▪ Marine type auxiliary coolers operate by passing hot coolant through tubes running next to pump tubes (with cooler water) which conduct heat away from the hot coolant.
▪ If an engine cooling system fails and crews are in place using fire streams, an additional fire stream should be used to cool the engine until crews can be evacuated.
Pumping Apparatus Driver Operator (1st Edition)
Chapter 11 - Operating Fire Pumps
Test Review
NOTICE: No notes have been taken from "steps" or methods in this chapter or from the charts on pages 273-294.
Many of the items in this chapter are best learned by hands-on training.
▪ Midship transfer driven pumps require that both the pump and truck transmission be in gear for operation.
▪ Auxiliary engine driven pumps are always in gear when the engine is running.
▪ The transfer valve on multistage pumps should be set to series (pressure) operation when pumping with tank water only because maximum flow is limited by the size of the pump piping.
▪ If attack lines are not ready to be charged when the pump pressure is set, the tank fill valve may be partially opened to circulate water (preventing overheating).
▪ When switching from tank water to an external source, bleed air from the line prior to opening the intake valve to prevent loss of prime.
▪ When operating near zero (0) residual pressure, close attention must be paid to the master intake pressure gauge.
▪ The best hydrants to use are located on large mains and are fed from several directions at the same time.
▪ Water mains interconnected into a grid and have a high amount of circulation tend to have low amounts of sedimentation and deterioration.
▪ A forward lay consists of laying a line from hydrant to the fire scene.
▪ When the pump pressure from a pumper assisting a hose lay through a four way hydrant valve exceeds the pressure of the hydrant flow, a clapper valve closes to allow the greater pressure through the hose lay without interrupting flow.
▪ A reverse lay consist of laying fire equipment, nozzles, wyes, and all equipment needed for fire attack at the scene, then laying the supply line back to the hydrant.
▪ On pumpers with threaded hose couplings, set up for a reverse lay, the male coupling should be positioned to come off the bed first.
▪ The standard method of setting up relay pumping operations when using medium diameter hose is to start the lay at the fire scene and work back toward the water source (reverse lay).
▪ The reverse lay is the most direct way to supplement hydrant pressure and perform drafting operations.
▪ When reverse laying a hose, it is not necessary to use a four way hydrant valve.
▪ If the pump intake is not equipped with a shutoff valve, the tank-to-pump valve must be closed before opening the hydrant.
▪ Dry barrel hydrants only partially opened will cause water to exit the drain valve and erode the ground supporting the hydrant and will also diminish flow from the hydrant.
▪ A static pressure must be noted to be able to determined how many additional lines can be added.
▪ Pumps should not be put into gear if there will be no water running though them for a period of time before they are needed.
▪ During periods when no water is flowing, use an open booster line tied to a stationary object to allow water to circulate, open a drain valve, partially open the tank fill valve, or use a bypass or circulator valve, to preventing the pump from overheating.
▪ Static pressure is the reading on the master intake gauge when a pumper is connect to a hydrant (or pressurized source) and no water is being discharged.
▪ Residual pressure is the reading on the master intake gauge after discharge lines are flowing.
▪ The last turn of the operating nut on a dry barrel hydrant opens the drain valve holes in the base of the hydrant.
▪ Friction loss in hard suction hose is dependent on the diameter of the hose.
▪ Cavitation of a pump occurs when water is being discharged from the pump faster than it can be supplied with water.
▪ As the pressure (when drafting) drops below atmospheric pressure, the boiling point of water becomes lower and can result in cavitation of the pump due to vapor created by boiling water.
▪ Cavitation can be noticed as a popping or sputtering sound coming from nozzles or in severe cases, the pump will sound like gravel is circulating within the pump.
▪ The best indication of cavitation is when pressure gauges do not respond to increases in throttle.
▪ Drafting location availability factors such as amount of water, type of water, and accessibility to the water.
▪ To prevent a whirlpool from forming (and air entering the strainer) when drafting, a beach ball, capped plastic bottle, or wooden board can be placed above the strainer.
▪ Use of oceanic water as a static supply source should take into consideration tidal movement.
▪ Low level strainers are commonly used when drafting from portable tanks.
▪ Pumping salt water can cause deterioration and corrosion to the pump if not flushed after use.
▪ Sulfur water is common in the vicinity of coal mines and should be thoroughly flushed from pumps after use.
▪ The most common type of contamination and possibly most damaging, found when drafting is dirty or sandy water.
▪ Considerations when drafting include stability of ground, time of year (weather), convenience of connecting hoselines, and safety of the operator.
▪ Hard suction hose must be connected so that couplings are air tight.
▪ If the bottom of a static water source slopes steeply from the edge, a roof ladder can be used for the hard suction hose to rest on, keeping the strainer off the bottom.
▪ When drafting with a two stage pump, the transfer valve should be set to the volume (parallel) position.
▪ Vacuum readings on compound gauges is the vacuum measured from the surface of the water to the eye of the impeller.
▪ Open drains and valves are the most common source of leaks when drafting.
▪ Circulator and intake relief valves can also cause air leaks during drafting operations.
▪ After checking for air leaks during drafting, other causes for failure include insufficient fluid in priming reservoir, engine speed (rpm) to low, lift is too high, or a high point in the hard suction hose is creating an air pocket.
▪ After successfully priming the pump during drafting, the throttle should be increased before opening any discharges.
▪ Methods normally used to keep a pump cool, such as opening a booster line, when water is not flowing during drafting operations, may decrease the chances of vacuum being lost.
▪ Problems that may occur during drafting include air leaks on the intake side of the pump (most common), whirlpools allowing air to enter the pump, and air leakage due to defective packing in the pump.
▪ A gradual increase in vacuum readings during drafting, with no change in flow rate, may indicate that a blockage of the strainer is developing.
▪ When shutting down a draft, decrease the engine to idle speed, take pump out of gear, allow pump to drain, and operate primer briefly to allow oil from the reservoir to lubricate the parts of the primer.
▪ Water supplies for sprinkler systems are only designed to support a fraction of the total number of sprinklers in the system.
▪ Pre-incident planning for fire department connections (FDC) should include the location of the FDC, the nearest hydrant or water supply source, and special pump pressure requirements.
▪ A check valve on FDCs prevent water from flowing back from the sprinkler system into the FDC.
▪ Interior attack crews should determine if supplementing the FDC is necessary.
▪ Multistage pumps used to supplement FDCs should be operated in the volume (parallel) position.
▪ Access to control valves should be made in sprinklered buildings to ensure that control valves are open and fire pumps, if present, should also be checked for operation (usually contained in the same room as control valves).
▪ Pre-installed standpipe or "house" lines are commonly unlined, single-jacket hose that has not been tested or removed since it was installed and should not be used by fire personnel.
▪ Wet-pipe standpipe systems contain water under pressure and are ready to use as soon as line is attached, while dry standpipe systems must be supplied with water from a pumper at the FDC before use.
▪ Wet-pipe standpipe systems should also be supplied at the FDC by a pumper.
▪ Pump discharge pressure for FDC connections depends on friction loss in the standpipe, hose lay from pumper to FDC, and hose on the fire floor, and on the nozzle pressure of the hose on the fire floor, and elevation pressure.
▪ If a FDC swivel becomes frozen, a double male with a double female adapter can be used to make the connection.
Pumping Apparatus Driver Operator (1st Edition)
Chapter 12 - Static Water Supply Sources
Test Review
NOTICE: No notes have been taken from "steps", methods, or equations in this chapter.
▪ When drafting, the elevation difference between the surface of the water and the center of the pump is known as lift.
▪ A total vacuum is impossible to create with fire department equipment, only a partial vacuum is attainable.
▪ The height of possible lift during drafting is not affected by the angle of the intake hose.
▪ Theoretical lift decreases as the altitude of drafting operations increases.
▪ Maximum lift in regards to drafting is the maximum height to which any amount of water may be raised through a hard intake hose to the pump and varies depending on atmospheric pressure and condition of the pump and primer.
▪ Dependable lift is the height a column of water may be lifted in sufficient quantity to provide a reliable fire flow.
▪ Net pump discharge pressure (NPDP) takes into account all factors that contribute to the amount of work that a pump must overcome to produce a fire stream and when drafting, NPDP is more than the pressure shown on the discharge gauge.
▪ Natural static water supply sources include lakes, ponds, streams, rivers, and oceans.
▪ Common problems with static water supply use include inability to reach water with a pumper, wet/soft ground, depth of water, silt/debris, and freezing weather.
▪ Inability to reach water can be remedied by using boat launches, constructing gravel drives, dry hydrants, by clearing brush to allow access, or by using portable pumps.
▪ A ladder and salvage cover can be used to dam a stream that has inadequate depth for drafting.
▪ Silt and debris can clog strainers, sieze or damage fire pumps, and clog fire stream nozzles.
▪ When using a single ladder to keep the strainer off the bottom, the hard suction hose can be put in between the second and third rung to keep it off the bottom.
▪ The preferable method for avoiding silt and debris in drafting operations is use of a dry hydrant.
▪ To keep drafting sources from freezing barrels filled with antifreeze can be floated on the waters surface prior to freezing or wooden plugs or plastic garbage cans can be stabilized to keep a hole open for drafting.
▪ Tools that may be used to cut ice for drafting operations include axes, chain saws, and power augers.
▪ If ice being breached for drafting operations has a depth of more than chest deep or if it is not known if water below the ice is less than waist deep, a personal flotation device (PFD) should be worn.
▪ Man-made static water supply sources include cisterns, private water storage tanks, ground reservoirs, swimming pools, and agricultural irrigation systems.
▪ Cisterns are underground water storage receptacles and can be found in areas without hydrant systems.
▪ Cisterns can sometimes be found beneath apparatus bay floors for use in filling apparatus during harsh winter weather.
▪ Cisterns may be covered by a manhole cover or have a dry hydrant attached to the supply.
▪ Private water storage tanks are found on residential, industrial, and agricultural properties and may be at ground level or elevated.
▪ Ground reservoirs are most commonly found on commercial or industrial properties and at municipal water treatment facilities and typically contain millions of gallons of water.
▪ Swimming pools that are secured from access by pumpers may be used by utilizing floating strainers or stationary portable pumps.
▪ Larger indoor and outdoor pools may be equipped with a dry hydrant for drafting purposes, however, indoor pool connections may resemble FDCs and should be clearly marked.
▪ Irrigation water is generally transported through open canals or piped systems.
Pumping Apparatus Driver Operator (1st Edition)
Chapter 13 - Relay Pumping Operations
Test Review
NOTICE: No notes have been taken from "steps" or examples in this chapter or from the charts on pages 324-327.
▪ A relay operation uses a pumper at the water supply source to pump water under pressure through one or more hoselines to the next pumper in line.
▪ Any type of apparatus (pumper tanker, aerial, etc.) with an adequate pump may be placed in the "middle" relay pumping positions in a relay operation.
▪ The source pumper (supply pumper) in a relay operation is the pumper connected to the water supply at the beginning of the relay.
▪ A relay pumper (in-line pumper) is one placed in the relay that receives water from another pumper, pressurizes it, and sends it to the next pumper in the relay.
▪ Attack pumpers in a relay operation are located at the fire scene and are supplied by the pumpers in the relay.
▪ Hose tenders may or may not be equipped with fire pumps.
▪ Both medium and large diameter hose may be used for relay operations.
▪ Intake pressure relief valves (also called relay relief valves) are used in relay operations to reduce the possibility of damage created by water hammer.
▪ Intake pressure relief devices are either an integral part of the pump or an add-on device screwed on to the pump intake connection.
▪ Relays dependent on later-arriving mutual aid companies can set up an initial relay with greater spacing and in-line relay valves so later arriving pumpers may be placed in the relay.
▪ Relay operations are basically based on the amount of water needed at the fire scene and the distance from the scene to the water source.
▪ To increase the amount of flow in a relay an increase in hose size, number of hoses, pump discharge pressure of the relay pumpers, or number of pumpers must be made.
▪ An increase of the number of pumpers in a relay does not necessarily mean that the volume of water flowing through the relay will be increased.
▪ The pressure pumped in a relay is limited to the pressure at which hose is annually tested.
▪ Elevation pressure is not affected by the amount of water being moved, only by the topography over which the hose passes.
▪ Basic designs for relay pumping operations include maximum distance relays and constant pressure relays.
▪ Maximum distance relays involve flowing a predetermined volume of water for the maximum distance that it can be pumped through a particular hose lay.
▪ Constant pressure relays provide a consistent flow at the fire scene by establishing the maximum flow available from a particular relay setup by using a constant pressure in the system.
▪ Constant pressure in a relay can be maintained by having the attack pumper keep an open discharge or secured waste line to handle excess beyond the flow being used by attack lines.
▪ Constant pressure relays are advantageous because drivers know exactly what pressure to pump, calculations on the fire scene are minimal, and radio traffic is reduced.
▪ Cavitation can be recognized when increasing the throttle does not increase the discharge pressure.
▪ Relay pumping operations always begin with the source pumper.
▪ Maximum capacity of a relay is determined by the capacity of the smallest pump and smallest hoseline in the relay.
▪ Once the pump discharge pressure on a relay pumper has reached the desired pressure with water being discharged, no further adjustment should be necessary.
▪ Relief valves should never be set higher than the safe operating pressure of hose being used.
▪ A dedicated radio channel should be provided, if available, for relay operations.
▪ Relays should be shut down starting with the attack pumper and working back toward the source pumper.
Pumping Apparatus Driver Operator (1st Edition)
Chapter 14 - Water Shuttle Operations
Test Review
NOTICE: No notes have been taken from "steps" or equations in this chapter.
▪ A water shuttle involves tenders (tankers) which deliver a load of water to the scene, go back to the filling site, fill up, and return to the scene to unload again, and again.
▪ Relay pumping and water shuttle are the primary means of providing water to remote emergency scenes.
▪ Relay pumping operations require fewer apparatus and is more efficient than a water shuttle.
▪ The choice between water shuttle and relay pumping is based on tradition and types of equipment available.
▪ The major components of a water shuttle are the fill site, the shuttle route, and the dump site.
▪ The primary types of apparatus needed for a water shuttle are pumpers and tenders (tankers).
▪ The fill site for a water shuttle contains the water source and the fill site pumper(s).
▪ The second pumper needed with a water shuttle is located at or near the scene (called the dump site) and is used to draft water from portable tanks that tenders (tankers) drop their load into.
▪ Pumpers used in a water shuttle operation must have hard suction hose for drafting from portable tanks and static water sources.
▪ Jurisdictions that perform frequent water shuttles may use special light-duty trucks equipped with large-volume, auxiliary-powered, irrigation or trash pumps, in place of the fill site pumper.
▪ Elliptical tenders are solely designed for shuttling water.
▪ Tenders strictly used for water shuttle do not require a fire pump if equipped with a suitable gravity dump system.
▪ Pumper tenders (tankers) have the primary function of a pumper, but have a large water tank.
▪ Tender (tanker) pumpers have the primary function to haul water, but are also equipped with a large fire pump.
▪ Some jurisdictions use old petroleum tankers, milk trucks, vacuum trucks, or military vehicles to construct tenders (tankers).
▪ Direct tank discharges provide the fastest way to unload water from a tender (tanker).
▪ Use of LDH to fill tenders may have little if no advantanges over using smaller lines because LDH is heavier and harder to handle.
▪ The primary types on dumps on tenders (tanker) are gravity dumps and jet-assisted dumps.
▪ Gravity dumps rely on gravity to empty the tank water and may be manually or remotely operated.
▪ Jet-assisted dumps (jet dumps) consist of a small diameter discharge line inserted into the piping of the large tank discharge on the tender (tanker) that uses the venturi principle to speed dumping operations, however, they require the use of a fire pump.
▪ Tender (tanker) water tanks must have tank vents to prevent over-pressurization (and possibly failure) of the tank during quick-fill operations.
▪ Crucial decisions for a water shuttle include location of dump/fill sites and the route of travel between dump/fill sites.
▪ The location of the dump site may need to be at some point back from the incident and water may be drafted by the dump site pumper and relayed to the attack pumper.
▪ Parking lots near the fire scene make excellent dump sites.
▪ The closest fill site location for a water shuttle operation may not always be the best.
▪ When maneuvering is required at a fill site, it is best to provide a means of adjusting prior to filling tanks.
▪ A circular route of travel for water shuttle routes is optimum.
▪ Safety issues associated with water shuttle routes of travel include narrow roads, long driveways, blind curves/intersections, winding roads, steep grades, and inclement weather.
▪ Water shuttles using the IMS system should have a water supply group or sector to handle the operation and a water supply group/sector supervisor to oversee operations who reports to the operations section chief.
▪ IMS terminology for water supply operations include "water supply" for water supply officer, "fill site", and "dump site".
▪ With multiple water supply operations, each should have a water supply officer, a separate radio frequency (if available), and designations such as East shuttle and West shuttle.
▪ A pumper is recommended to fill tenders at the fill site whether a hydrant or static supply is used.
▪ The pump panel of the fill site pumper should be positioned so that the driver can view both the source and the fill operation.
▪ A traffic cone should be set up to denote the stopping point for incoming water shuttle tenders at the fill site.
▪ If gate valves are not available for the fill lines used to fill water shuttle tenders, hose clamps may be used.
▪ LDH hose clamps are usually screw-down design.
▪ Portable fill pipes are usually made of PVC or other lightweight material.
▪ Filling a tender (tanker) through the top fill opening with a portable fill device or open hose butt is not recommended due to hoseline reaction.
▪ "Make and Break" personnel are those who are assigned to handle to connection/disconnection of fill lines from incoming water shuttle tenders.
▪ Tenders should fill their tanks at the end of operations before returning to quarters, unless the source is from a static water supply source (due to dirt/silt).
▪ Water shuttle dump site operations include the use of direct pumping, nurse tender, or portable water tank.
▪ In direct pumping operations, pumper/tenders supply the attack pumper through a supply hose (similar to a relay, but without an external water source).
▪ Disadvantages of direct pumping operations is that pumper/tenders must leave to refill which interrupts the flow of water to the attack pumper.
▪ Nurse tender operations require a tender to stay with the attack apparatus to supply it directly while water shuttle tenders continue to fill the nurse tender throughout the operation.
▪ Use of portable water tanks at the dump site is the most efficient way of operating a water shuttle.
▪ Advantages to using portable water tanks at the dump site for water shuttle operations is that shuttle tenders do not require a pump if adequate direct-tank discharge valves are present.
▪ Water can be unloaded from tenders by pumping, using a dump valve, or by pumping and dumping.
▪ Tenders should not unload water by pumping if a dump valve is available.
▪ The most efficient way for tenders to unload water is through gravity or jet-assisted dump valves.
▪ Use of pumping and a dump valve to unload water from a tender does not typically save time as opposed to using the dump valve only.
▪ The most common type of portable water tank is the folding type.
▪ Dump site pumpers should have a low-level strainer to draft water from portable tanks.
▪ The simplest method of connecting two portable tanks is to connect the drain valves of each tank together which keeps the same amount of water in each tank, however, the practice is discouraged by authorities on water shuttles.
▪ The most efficient way to move water from one portable tank to another is by using a jet-siphon.
▪ The diamond-shape arrangement is preferred for multiple portable tank operations.
▪ Dump site pumpers should fill their tanks prior to disbanding the dump site operation at the end of the incident.
▪ A "gpm" figure is often assigned to tenders based on the amount of water can be delivered with consideration of fill, dump, and shuttle times.
Pumping Apparatus Driver Operator (1st Edition)
Chapter 15 - Foam Equipment & Systems
Test Review
NOTICE: No notes have been taken from "steps" in this chapter.
▪ Chemical foams are those produced as a result of the reaction between two chemicals and are considered obsolete.
▪ Mechanical foams are those which must be proportioned (mixed with water) and aerated (mixed with air) before use.
▪ Foam concentrate is raw foam liquid as it rests in a storage container before introduction of air and water.
▪ Foam proportioners are devices that introduce foam concentrate into the water stream to make foam solution.
▪ Foam solution is the mixture of foam concentrate and water before the introduction of air.
▪ Foam (finished foam) is the result of foam concentrate being mixed with water and air introduced into the solution.
▪ Class B fuels are divided into hydrocarbons and polar solvents.
▪ Hydrocarbons such as crude/fuel oil, benzene, gasoline, naptha, jet fuel, and kerosene are petroleum products and have characteristics that make them float on water.
▪ Polar solvents such as alcohol, acetone, lacquer thinner, ketones, and esters are flammable liquids and have characteristics that make them miscible (able to mix) with water.
▪ Class B foams designed "solely" for hydrocarbon fires will NOT extinguish a polar solvent fire regardless of concentration used.
▪ Foam extinguishes and/or prevents fire by creating a barrier between the fuel and the fire (separating), by lowering the temperature of the fuel and adjacent surfaces (cooling), and by preventing the release of flammable vapors with a foam blanket (suppressing/smothering).
▪ Proportioning is the mixing of water with foam concentrate to form a foam solution.
▪ The percentage at which Class A foams are used may be adjusted to fit the situation (higher %=thick foam, lower %=thin, deeper penetrating foam).
▪ Foam is proportioned by induction, injection, batch mixing, or premixing.
▪ Induction of foam is accomplished by pressure energy passing through a restricted orifice to "educt" foam into the stream.
▪ The injection method of proportioning foam involves using an external pump or head pressure to force foam concentrate into a stream of water at a specified ratio.
▪ Batch mixing is the simplest method of mixing foam concentrate with water and is accomplished by adding foam concentrate directly into a tank of water.
▪ Batch mixing is commonly used with Class A foams but should be used only as a last resort for Class B foams.
▪ The premixing method of proportioning foam involves premeasuring portions of foam concentrate and water into a container and is commonly used for portable/wheeled extinguishers, skid-mounted agent units, and vehicle-mounted tank systems.
▪ Premixed foam solutions are commonly discharged from tanks with a compressed inert gas or air and are limited to a one-time application.
▪ Foam concentrate may be stored in pails, barrels, and in apparatus tanks.
▪ Alcohol resistant foam concentrate, and most other foams, must be stored in air tight containers to prevent a skin from forming on top of the liquid.
▪ Foam concentrate stored in barrels is typically transferred to smaller pails as needed.
▪ Class A foam is effective for fires in structures, wildlands, coal mines, tire storage, and other similar deep-seated fuels.
▪ Class A foam is made of special hydrocarbon surfactants which reduce the surface tensio of the water allowing better penetration in the fuel.
▪ Class A foams may be used with fog nozzles, aerating nozzles, high/medium expansion devices, and almost any nozzle, including solid stream nozzles when CAFS systems are used.
▪ As the expansion ratio of a foam increases, the drain time increases as well.
▪ Application rate for foam refers to the amount of foam solution that must be applied to a fire, per minute, per square foot of fire.
▪ Class A foam produced as a wet foam has a high water content (low foam content) and fast drainage time and is used when maximum penetration is needed.
▪ Class A foam produced as a dry foam has a high foam content (low water content) and slow drainage time and is used when the foam is needed to cling to a surface for a prolonged period such as with exposure protection.
▪ Class A foam produced as a medium foam has an equal amount of water and foam concentrate to allow a balance of penetration and clinging ability.
▪ As foam breaks down (also called drain time), it releases water onto the fuel.
▪ Class B foams are used to extinguish fire or suppress vapors for liquids that are flammable or combustible.
▪ AFFF and FFFP Class B foams may be applied using standard fog nozzles.
▪ Air-aspirating foam nozzles may be used with all types of Class B foams.
▪ Protein foams are derived from animal proteins, while synthetic foam is made from a mixture of fluorosurfactants.
▪ Foams stored in cool areas will have a greater longevity than those stored in warm areas.
▪ Foam concentrates from different manufacturers should not be mixed together unless they are Mil-Spec foams or if foams of the same type but from different manufactures will be mixed and used immediately.
▪ Protein-based foams are generally safer for the environment.
▪ Foam expansion is the increase in volume of the foam solution when it is aerated.
▪ The degree of expansion of foam depends on the type of foam used, accurate proportioning, quality of foam concentrate, and method of aspiration.
▪ The rate of application for foam depends on the foam type used, whether the fuel is on fire, the type of fuel involved, and whether the fuel is spilled on in a container (including tank condition).
▪ Unignited spills generally require the minimum application rate for the fuel since radiant heat, open flame, and thermal drafts will not affect the application.
▪ Regular protein foams are derived from protein sources such as hoof, horn, or feather meal and is then hydrolyzed in the presence of lime and converted to protein hydrolysate that is neutralized.
▪ Regular protein foam may have foam stabilizers, corrosion inhibitors, antimicrobial agents, and/or freezing agents added.
▪ Regular protein foam has very good heat stability and resists burnback.
▪ Fluoroprotein foam is derived from protein foam concentrates with fluorochemical surfactants added (similar to AFFF surfactants but at a lower %).
▪ Fluoroprotein foams provide a strong blanket for long-term vapor suppression and may be made alcohol resistant by adding ammonia salts suspended in organic solvents.
▪ FFFP foam has benefits of fast fire knockdown of AFFF foam and the long-lasting heat resistance of fluoroprotein foam.
▪ AFFF is a synthetic foam consisting of fluorochemical and hydrocarbon surfactants combined with high boiling point solvents and water.
▪ The surface tension of fluorochemical surfactants is less than that of hydrocarbons and allows it to spread an aqueous film over the fuel.
▪ AFFF has the ability to "heal" when the seal of the film is broken.
▪ Alcohol-type AFFF forms a membrane instead of a film.
▪ High-expansion foams have a detergent base and low water content which minimizes water damage.
▪ High expansion foams are used in concealed spaces, fire extinguishing systems and Class A fire applications.
▪ Foam proportioners usually act by induction (using venturi principle) or by injection.
▪ Portable foam proportioners include in-line foam eductors, foam nozzle eductors, and self-educting master stream foam nozzles.
▪ In-line eductors use the venturi principle to "draft" foam concentrate into the water stream.
▪ The venturi principle is the creation of a low-pressure are by use of a restricted orifice in a device which creates a suction effect at the low pressure point.
▪ In-line eductors, not nozzles, must control the flow when educting foam.
▪ Foam nozzle eductors use the same principle as in-line eductors, however, the foam concentrate must be present at the nozzle, making it hard to move around.
▪ Types of apparatus-mounted foam proportioning systems inlclude installed in-line eductors, around-the-pump proportioners, bypass-type balanced pressure proportioners, variable-flow variable-rate direct injection systems, variable-flow demand-type balanced pressure proportioners, and batch-mixing.
▪ Installed in-line eductors on apparatus require the same precautions regarding hose length, nozzle/eductor flows, and inlet pressures, as portable in-line eductors.
▪ Around-the-pump proportioners (most common) consist of a small return (bypass) water line connected from the discharge side of the pump back to the intake of the pump.
▪ Older around-the-pump proportioners cannot take advantage of incoming pressure and must usually be gated down to a very low psi.
▪ Bypass-type balanced pressure porportioners are very accurate and are commonly used on ARFF and refinery vehicles.
▪ Bypass-type balanced pressure proportioners allow water to be pumped from a discharge while discharging foam from another.
▪ Variable-flow, variable-rate direct injection systems use hydraulic or electric power to inject foam concentrate which is controlled by monitoring water flow and may be found in high-energy foam systems.
▪ Variable-flow demand-type balanced pressure porportioners consists of a pump (electric or hydraulic) that pumps foam concentrate to an eductor where it is drafted into the stream.
▪ Batch mixing is generally only used with regular AFFF and Class A foam concentrates.
▪ Batch mixing may cause cavitation of the pump at a later time when water tanks are refilled if tanks are not cleaned after foam use.
▪ The first high energy foam systems were termed Water Expansion Systems (WES) and Water Expansion Pumping Systems (WEPS) and used air cylinders for the compressed air.
▪ Compressed Air Foam Systems (CAFS) use a direct-injection foam proportioning system on the discharge side of the pump that is aerated by compressed air which comes from a rotary air compressor on the apparatus.
▪ Advantages of CAFS systems include considerably longer reach than other foam systems, foam produced contains uniformly sized (durable) small air bubbles, foam adheres to surfaces and resists heat longer, hoselines are lighter to handle, and allows effective attack from a greater distance.
▪ Apparatus with CAFS systems may flow water and foam at the same time.
▪ In low-energy foam systems, aeration of foam occurs at the foam nozzle.
▪ Solid bore nozzles may be used with Class A and CAFS foams systems.
▪ Fog nozzles cannot be used with protein or fluoroprotein foams.
▪ Fog nozzles may be used with alcohol-resistant AFFF on hydrocarbon fires but NOT on polar solvent fires (insufficient aspiration).
▪ Air-aspirating foam nozzles may be used with protein, fluoroprotein, and Class A foams.
▪ Air-aspirating foam nozzles consist of a back that is open to airflow and the end of the nozzle contains screens to produce a moderate-expansion foam.
▪ Mechanical blower generators are similar to smoke ejectors and produce a very high-expansion foam with high air content.
▪ Reasons for failure to produce foam include, failure to match eductor and nozzle flow, air leaks at fittings, improper cleaning, partially closed nozzles, too long a hose lay on the discharge side of the eductor, kinked hose, nozzle too far above eductor (elevation pressure), and mixing different types of foam concentrate together (too viscous).
▪ The roll-on method of foam application consists of directing the foam stream near the front edge of the liquid and allowing the foam to "roll" over the liquid.
▪ The bank-down method of foam application consists of "banking" the foam stream off a stationary object down onto the surface of the fuel.
▪ The rain-down method of foam application is used to allow foam to gently "rain" down onto the surface of the fuel.
Pumping Apparatus Driver Operator (1st Edition)
Chapter 16 - Apparatus Testing
Test Review
NOTICE: No notes are taken from "steps" in this chapter.
This page contains only brief notes because most fire department drivers are not involved in testing.
▪ Preservice tests are conducted before an apparatus is placed in service for the first time.
▪ Service tests are conducted on a yearly basis while the apparatus is in service.
▪ Preservice tests include manufacturer's tests, certification tests, and acceptance tests.
▪ Fire department personnel are usually only involved in the acceptance testing portion of manufacturer's tests if any.
▪ Road tests consist of driving the apparatus under specific "real life" conditions with the apparatus loaded as if it were in service.
▪ Hydrostatic manufacturer's tests consist of testing the the ability of the pump and piping to withstand pressures normally encountered on a fire scene.
▪ Pump certification testing consists of a pumping, pumping engine overload, pressure control system, priming device, vacuum, and water tank-to-pump flow tests.
▪ Acceptance tests are used to ensure fire department personnel that the apparatus meets the purchase specifications.
▪ Service tests should be performed once a year or when the apparatus had undergone extensive pump or power train repair.
▪ Service test components include tests for engine speed, vacuum, pumping, pressure control, gauge/flow meters, and tank-to-pump flow rate.
▪ During drafting, net pump discharge pressure should allow for lift and friction loss in the hard intake hose and be added to the discharge gauge reading to determine NPDP.
▪ Flowmeters read flow in gallons per minute (gpm).
▪ Engine speed checks should be done under "no load" conditions.
▪ Vacuum tests are used to check priming devices, the pump, and hard intake hose for leaks.
▪ Pumping tests check the overall condition of the fire pump under normal pumping conditions.
▪ Pressure control tests ensure that pressure control devices maintain a safe level of pressure on the pump when all valves are closed and is performed at a variety of discharge pressures per manufacturer's instructions.
▪ To check discharge pressure gauges and flowmeters, all discharges must be capped.
▪ The foam concentrate displacement and pump dischage volume methods of testing foam systems uses water as a replacement for foam concentrate to check the proportioning system/injection system.
▪ Foam solution refractivity testing is used to test the quality of foam solution after it has been created by a proportioning system and is recommended for protein and fluoroprotein foams.
▪ Foam concentrate levels in foam solutions are measured by refractometers which work by measuring the velocity of light traveling through a medium.
▪ Foam solution conductivity testing is used to check the quality of synthetic-based foams and uses electrical current readings to determine the quality.
▪ Foam solution conductivity test types include direct reading, conductivity comparison, and conductivity calibration curve testing.
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