Chapter 11 Operating Fire Pumps

Question 1

The process of making the fire pump operational may also be called:

Answer 1

putting the pump into gear.

Question 2

The process for making the fire pump operational begins:

Answer 2

after the apparatus has been properly positioned and the parking brake has been set.

Question 3

On the majority of apparatus, the procedure for making the pump operational takes place:

Answer 3

before the driver/operator exits the cab.

Question 4

Except when the apparatus is used for pump-and-roll operations, what is the next step after the driver/operator exits the cab?

Answer 4

Chock the apparatus wheels.

Question 5

When does IFSTA recommend that the apparatus wheels be chocked?

Answer 5

Every time the apparatus is stopped with the engine running and the driver/operator exits the cab

Question 6

What are the two basic pressurized water supply sources used to supply a fire pump?

Answer 6

A hydrant and a supply hose from another fire pump

Question 7

Negative pump pressure is also called:

Answer 7

a vacuum.

Question 8

When operating at negative pump pressure, as the volume from the fire pump increases, the incoming pressure from the supply source may:

Answer 8

drop.

Question 9

Which of the following is a danger of operating at negative pressure from a fire hydrant?

Answer 9

A. Increases the possibility of damage to the source pumper due to cavitation*
B. May make it necessary to make a later transition to a static supply source
C. Can cause water to enter the pump with too much pressure from the source
D. Can cause supply hose to collapse, resulting in interruption of water supply

Question 10

Which of the following is a danger of operating at negative pressure from another pumper?

Answer 10

Can cause supply hose to collapse, resulting in interruption of water supply

Question 11

The best hydrants are located:

Answer 11

on large water mains that are interconnected in a grid pattern.

Question 12

The worst hydrants typically are those located:

Answer 12

on dead-end mains.

Question 13

Which of the following commonly become clogged with sediment and encrustation, further reducing their capacity?

Answer 13

A. Dead-end mains
B. Open-ended mains
C. Single mains that supply small amounts of water*
D. Large water mains that are interconnected in a grid pattern

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT a way in which reliability of hydrants can be found?

Answer 14

A. Fire departments should have access to water department records.
B. Apparatus may be equipped with map books with hydrant information and locations.
C. Fire hydrants may be color coded to indicate the flow that can be expected from them.
D. A pumper should be hooked up as quickly as possible to test the flow rate of each hydrant.*

Question 15

Once a hydrant has been selected, the pumper should be hooked to it as quickly as possible, using either:

Answer 15

a forward or a reverse lay.

Question 16

One possible problem with a forward lay depends on:

Answer 16

the distance from the hydrant to the fire and the length of the hose carried on the engine.

Question 17

Many departments that prefer forward lays use a(n):

Answer 17

four-way hydrant valve.

Question 18

On dry-barrel hydrants, it is recommended that ___ be attached to the unused hydrant discharges.

Answer 18

gate valves

Question 19

When using 2½- or 3-inch (65 mm or 77 mm) hoselines to supply the pumper directly off hydrant pressure, it is recommended that the lines be no longer than:

Answer 19

300 feet (90 m).

Question 20

A reverse lay is used so that ___ can be made before laying a supply line.

Answer 20

size-up

Question 21

If threaded couplings are used, hose beds set up for reverse lays should be loaded so that the first coupling to come off is:

Answer 21

male.

Question 22

The reverse lay has become a standard method for setting up a ___ operation when using smaller diameter hose as a supply line.

Answer 22

relay pumping

Question 23

A disadvantage of the reverse lay is that:

Answer 23

essential fire fighting equipment must be removed and placed at the fire location before the pumper can proceed to the water source.

Question 24

Do not engage the pump drive system ___ if there will be an extended period of time where water is introduced into the pump.

Answer 24

before leaving the cab

Question 25

If operating a two-stage pump, set the ___ valve to the proper position before increasing the throttle to build discharge pressure.

Answer 25

transfer

Question 26

Open discharge valves:

Answer 26

slowly.

Question 27

In most cases, the static water supply will be located:

Answer 27

at a lower level than the fire pump.

Question 28

In order to pump from a lower level, ___ must be created by evacuating some of the air inside the fire pump.

Answer 28

a partial vacuum

Question 29

To force water into the pump, ___ is needed between the fire pump and the body of water to be used.

Answer 29

hard intake hose

Question 30

The amount of friction loss in the intake hose depends upon the:

Answer 30

diameter and length of the hose.

Question 31

The total pressure available to overcome all these pressure losses is limited to the atmospheric pressure at sea level (___ psi [kPa]).

Answer 31

14.7 psi (100 kPa)

Question 32

Atmospheric pressure decreases ___ psi (kPa) for each 1,000 feet (305 m) of elevation gain.

Answer 32

0.5 psi (3.5 kPa)

Question 33

Because the same amount of atmospheric pressure must overcome elevation pressure as well as friction loss, increasing the height of the lift also decreases:

Answer 33

total pump capacity.

Question 34

While the pump is moving water, the vacuum reading on the ___ provides an indication of the remaining pump capacity.

Answer 34

master intake gauge

Question 35

The maximum amount of vacuum that most pumps develop is approximately ___ inches (mm) of mercury.

Answer 35

22 inches (560 mm)

Question 36

What happens when an attempt is made to increase the discharge from the pump beyond the point of maximum vacuum on the intake?

Answer 36

Cavitation results

Question 37

The most important factor in the choice of the draft site is the ___ of water available.

Answer 37

amount

Question 38

In order for a pumper to approach its rated capacity using a traditional strainer, there should be a minimum of ___ of water above the strainer.

Answer 38

2 feet (0.6 m)

Question 39

It is also desirable to have ___ of water all around the strainer.

Answer 39

2 feet (0.6 m)

Question 40

If there is not an adequate amount of water above the strainer, the rapid movement of the water into the intake strainer creates:

Answer 40

a whirlpool.

Question 41

The best solution in drafting from a swiftly moving shallow stream is a ___ strainer.

Answer 41

floating

Question 42

Low-level strainers are designed to sit directly on the bottom of the tank or pool and are capable of allowing water to be drafted down to a depth of about:

Answer 42

2 inches (50 mm).

Question 43

Water that is below ___ or above ___ may adversely impact the pump’s ability to reach capacity.

Answer 43

35ºF (2ºC); 90ºF (32ºC)

Question 44

Pumping ___ water can be harmful to the pump.

Answer 44

nonpotable (untreated)

Question 45

The most common type of contamination, and possibly the most damaging, is ___ water.

Answer 45

dirty or sandy

Question 46

All fire pumps meeting NFPA and UL requirements are rated to pump their capacity at ___ of lift.

Answer 46

10 feet (3 m)

Question 47

Once the desired drafting position has been chosen, the driver/operator should move the apparatus:

Answer 47

toward the drafting site.

Question 48

If the apparatus is not able to park directly at the drafting location:

Answer 48

firefighters will have to carry the hose and strainer and put them into the desired position.

Question 49

Before connecting sections of hard intake hose, check the ___ to make sure that they are in place and that no dirt or gravel has accumulated inside the ___.

Answer 49

gaskets; coupling

Question 50

If a barrel strainer is used, the rope that was tied to it can be used to suspend the strainer above the bottom by tying it to:

Answer 50

A. a tree.
B. the pumper.
C. another fixed object.
D. all of the above.*

Question 51

If a barrel strainer is used and the bottom slopes away from the edge, it may be possible to put a ___ in the water and rest the intake hose on it.

Answer 51

roof ladder

Question 52

Priming the pump starts:

Answer 52

the draft operation.

Question 53

If operating a two-stage pump, the transfer valve should be in the ___ position during priming.

Answer 53

parallel

Question 54

Before priming, make sure that all drains and valves are:

Answer 54

closed.

Question 55

Most priming pumps are intended to work best when the engine is set between:

Answer 55

1,000 and 1,200 rpm.

Question 56

The vacuum reading on the master intake gauge should read ___ inches (mm) for each ___ feet (m) of lift.

Answer 56

1 inch (25 mm); 1 foot (0.3 m)

Question 57

The entire priming action typically requires ___ seconds from start to finish.

Answer 57

10 to 15

Question 58

When using no more than 20 feet (6 m) of hard intake hose lifting a maximum of 10 vertical feet (3 m), the priming process should not take more than:

Answer 58

30 seconds.

Question 59

After the pump has been primed, the pressure needs to be between:

Answer 59

50 and 100 psi (350 kPa and 700 kPa).

Question 60

The water supply for sprinkler systems is designed to supply ___ of the total number of sprinklers on the system.

Answer 60

only a fraction

Question 61

Sprinklered FDCs consist of a ___ or one large diameter sexless connection that is connected to a clappered inlet.

Answer 61

siamese with at least two 2½-inch (65 mm) female connections

Question 62

If there is any indication of an actual fire, a minimum of ___ should be connected to the FDC.

Answer 62

Two 2½-inch (65 mm) hoselines

Question 63

It is a general rule of thumb that one ___ gpm (L/min) rated pumper should supply the FDC for every ___ sprinklers that are estimated to be flowing.

Answer 63

1,000 gpm (4 000 L/min); 50

Question 64

If recommended discharge pressure is not on the FDC plate or in the pre-incident planning information, the general rule of thumb is to discharge ___ into the FDC.

Answer 64

150 psi (1 050 kPa)

Question 65

For what type of structure are standpipes commonly used to speed fire attack?

Answer 65

Multistory or single-story buildings with large floor areas

Question 66

Generally, what lines should be used to support standpipe systems?

Answer 66

Fire department attack lines

Question 67

How are dry pipe systems supplied with water?

Answer 67

A pumper that attaches to a standpipe FDC outside the building

Question 68

Add approximately ___ psi (kPa) to the desired nozzle pressure for each floor above the standpipe connection that will have operating fire streams.

Answer 68

5 psi (35 kPa)

Question 69

When a standpipe system is known to be equipped with pressure-reducing valves, the elevation pressure used must be based on:

Answer 69

the total height of the standpipe.

Question 70

What must be done if vandals or curious individuals open hose valves in dry standpipes and leave them in an open position?

Answer 70

A firefighter must be sent up or down the stairwell to close the valves.