I have tested many fire pumps all by my lonesome before, I prefer a helper but in a pinch have done it alone. He should have been modulating with the OS&Y or BV and not with those straight gates, they do walk and are not supposed to be used for anything but full open or full closed, imho. So he's also pressurizing the normally empty test header line and fittings too? Big boo-boo. I'm not sure about UL having a category for "fire pump testing devices" but I use Hosemonsters (you guys gotta get those pitot-less FM approved nozzles, they're fantastic!) and/or digital flowmeters. My hosemonsters have a remote reading assembly with 25', 50' and 100' tender lines that allow me to read the pitot pressures away from the water at the test header, on the gate of the truck or right in the Fire Pump Room. So yes, a pump can be tested by one person. If the area is closed off and no danger to pedestrians, easy for one sole. I rarely use 2 helpers unless it's a real big one. I did a 2500 GPM at the local IKEA this morning with just myself and my large baby brother, no problem. 6 lines and monsters, remote reader and radios. Took 45 minutes and that included 3 auto and 3 manual starts and stops of both pumps, transfer switch test and emergency starts on both normal and emergency. I easily could have done it myself too.
I've got 7 more to do this week, a couple I'm doing myself. There are still some shops in my area doing the old playpipe thing (I use them rarely) whether under planks under the truck wheels or those playpipe trailers but you gotta check out hosemonsters and with the new 2" nozzles, you can cut out at least one line on most pump tests. I cringe when I see others just blowing water down the drain for an hour, fooling with hose gates on playpipes with the header and hose subject to full pump discharge pressure. 3 flow points take 20 minutes if you know what you are doing. BTW-I've got 2 of those hydrant testers, I doubt their accuracy. Tom Duross Go Red Sox! The other day, I ran across an FMG Inspector at a Big Box Store. He was testing fire pumps. To measure flow, he used 2 Pollard Hydrant Diffusers with built in Pitot Gauges and screwed them onto the Pump test header. He then walks back and forth as he opens the valve, checks readings, etc. Now, I found this interesting because we've always used 2 fitters to test pumps...and this guy just fly's around the country with these diffusers. Way to save labor? I called Pollard water, and the individual I spoke with said the hydrant Diffusers are listed for Fire Hydrant Flow Testing, and did not believe they were listed or approved for Fire Pump Flow Testing. I also know the valves on the test header can sometimes "walk" when you are doing the test, and by the time you walked from the valve to the diffuser, the valve may have moved a little. Does anyone else test Fire Pumps in this manner? The FMG guy also did not use the NEC Face shield, gloves and rubber mat...which I have been told is required per OSHA and NEC. I'd really like to know how the more experienced contractors are conducting these tests Forest Cherokee Fire _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field)
