Chapter 9: Fire Department Pumper Testing Flashcards
Tests conducted before the department accepts the truck is referred to as:
Pre-service tests
Pre-service tests can be grouped into these 3 categories:
- Manufacturer’s test
- Pump certification tests
- Acceptance tests
Who typically will perform pre-service tests?
- The manufacturer
2. The Underwriters Laboratories (UL)
As a minimum, the manufacturer is required to perform what tests according to NFPA 1901?
- Road test
2. Hydrostatic test
When performing the road test, the test weights must be placed where?
Anywhere the real weight would be located
During a road test, the apparatus must accelerate to ___ mph from a standing start within ____ seconds:
35 mph
25 seconds
During a road test, the truck must achieve a minimum of ____ mph unless it is designed as a wildland truck to not be driven on public roads:
50 mph
During road tests, the truck must come to a full stop from ___ mph within ____ feet:
20 mph
35 feet
Which specifications are better to use, Performance-based or Engineering-based?
Performance-based
The hydrostatic test ensures the pump and pump piping can withstand:
Normal operating pressures
NFPA 1901 requires the pump to be hydrostatically tested at ____ psi for ____ minutes:
250 psi
3 minutes
During a hydrostatic test, the discharges should be:
Opened and capped
The results of pump certification tests must be:
Stamped into a plate and attached to the truck’s pump panel
NFPA 1901 requires the following 6 pump certification test:
- Pump testing
- Pump engine overload test
- Pressure control system test
- Priming device test
- Vacuum test
- Water-tank-to-pump flow test
The pumping engine overload test may be omitted for trucks equipped with a fire pump having a rated capacity less than ____ gpm:
750 gpm
Pump certification tests must be carried out from what type of water source?
Static water source
The static water supply used for pump certification testing must be at least ___ feet deep, and the strainer must be submerged at least ___ feet below the surface of the water. The surface of the water may be no more than ____ feet below the centerline of the pump intake, and ____ feet of hard intake hose should be used for drafting during testing:
4 feet
2 feet
10 feet
20 feet
Requirements for the environmental conditions under which the tests must be conducted include:
- Air temp between 0 and 110 degrees F
- Water temp between 35 and 90 degrees F
- Barometric pressure of at least 29 inches of mercury, corrected to sea level
Of the 3 environmental conditions, which one will have the greatest effect on the pump test outcome?
Barometric pressure
Each 1 inch drop in barometric pressure reduces a pumper’s maximum possible lift by about:
1 foot
A pump’s ability to lift water from a static source decreases about ___ feet for every ____ foot of increase in elevation:
1 foot
1,000 feet
On average, gasoline engines operate about ____ percent less efficient for every _____ feet of increase in elevation:
3.5 percent
1,000 feet
For trucks equipped with a fire pump rating at 750 gpm, or greater, the entire pumping test takes ____ hours to complete:
3 hours
During a pumping test on a 750 gpm or higher rated pump, the truck should continuously pump its rated volume capacity at ___ psi net pump discharge pressure for ____ hours:
150 psi
2 hours
During a pumping test on a 750 gpm or higher rated pump, the truck should continuously pump 70 percent of its rated volume capacity at ___ psi net pump discharge pressure for ____ hours:
200 psi
1/2 hour
During a pumping test on a 750 gpm or higher rated pump, the truck should continuously pump 50 percent of its rated volume capacity at ___ psi net pump discharge pressure for ____ hours:
250 psi
1/2 hour
During the pump test on a 750 gpm or higher rated pump, what data should be recorded?
- Volume
- Discharge pressure
- Intake pressure
- Engine rpms
During the pump test on a 750 gpm or higher rated pump, how often should data be recorded?
Every 15 minutes
The pump testing process for trucks equipped with fire pump rated below 750 gpm are the same except for:
The time intervals
During a pumping test on a pump rated less than 750 gpm, the truck should continuously pump its rated volume capacity at ___ psi net pump discharge pressure for ____ minutes:
150 psi
30 minutes
During a pumping test on a pump rated less than 750 gpm, the truck should continuously pump 70% of its rated volume capacity at ___ psi net pump discharge pressure for ____ minutes:
200 psi
10 minutes
During a pumping test on a pump rated less than 750 gpm, the truck should continuously pump 50% of its rated volume capacity at ___ psi net pump discharge pressure for ____ minutes:
250 psi
10 minutes
The pumping engine overload test is only performed on trucks equipped with fire pumps whose rated capacity is ____ gpm or greater:
750 gpm
NFPA 1901 requires the pumping engine overload test to be performed immediately following the:
2 hour portion of the pumping test
During the pumping engine overload test, the truck is required to pump _____ % of its rated capacity at a pressure of ____ psi net pump discharge pressure for at least ____ minutes:
100%
165 psi
10 minutes
During the pumping engine overload test on a 750 gpm or higher rated pump, what data should be recorded?
- Volume
- Discharge pressure
- Intake pressure
- Engine rpms
During the pumping engine overload test on a 750 gpm or higher rated pump, how often is the data recorded?
At least 3 times during the test period
The priming device test checks the pump’s ability to:
Evacuate water from the pump, pipping, and intake hose so that it may draw water from a static water supply source
During a priming device test, pumps with a capacity of 1,250 gpm or less, the time required to achieve a prime should not exceed how long:
30 seconds
During a priming device test, pumps with a capacity of 1,500 gpm or more, the time required to achieve a prime should not exceed how long:
45 seconds
During a priming device test, an additional ___ seconds is allowed to achieve prime if the pump is equipped with a ____ inch or larger auxiliary intake that has a piping volume in excess of _____ cubic feet:
15 seconds
4 inch
1 cubic foot
During a priming device test, the pump must obtain a maximum vacuum of at least ____ inches of mercury. The only exception to that rule is if the test is being conducted at an elevation greater than _____ feet. In that case, the maximum vacuum can be reduced by ___ inches of mercury for every ______ feet above the 2,000 feet elevation:
22 inches of mercury
2,000 feet
1 inch of mercury
1,000 feet
The vacuum test is performed to ensure:
There are no air leaks in the pump, piping, or intake hoses when preparing to draft
What are considered the bane (devil) of drafting?
Air leaks
NFPA 1901 states that the tank-to-pump piping should be sized so that pumpers with a capacity of 500 gpm or less can flow ____ gpm from their booster tank, and pumps with a capacity of more than 500 gpm flow ____ gpm from their booster tank:
250 gpm
500 gpm
What tests are not required or outlined by the NFPA or any other standard?
Acceptance tests
Who must be present during acceptance tests?
- Manufacturer
- Purchaser
- The testing agency (if any)
At a minimum, acceptance tests should include:
Another pumping test
NFPA 1911 requires a pumper to be service tested at least once per year and anytime:
It has undergone extensive pump or power train repairs
What service test does NFPA 1911 require to be performed?
- Engine speed check
- Vacuum test
- Pumping test
- Pressure control test
- Gauge and flowmeter test
- Tank-to-pump flow rate test
What is the minimum sized hose that may be used for pumper service testing?
2 1/2 inches
If the mark you made around the hose at the coupling moves more than _____ inch from the coupling, stop the test and replace the hose:
3/8-inch
How do you determine the net pump discharge pressure when connected to a pressurized water source?
The total intake pressure minus the water source pressure
The gauge that is used in service testing to measure intake pressure should have a range of ____ inches of mercury to ____ inches for a vacuum gauge or ___ inches of mercury vacuum to ____ psi for compound gauges:
30 inches
zero inches
30 inches
150 psi
The gauge that is used in service testing to measure discharge pressure should be capable of a range from _____ to _____ psi:
0 to 400 psi
The pitot tube that is used in service testing should be rated from ____ to ____ psi:
0 to 160 psi
During service testing, solid stream nozzles should be used instead of fog nozzles unless:
Flowmeters are used to measure the flow
What may be used instead of the pitot tube in service testing to determine the flow out of the nozzles?
Flowmeters
What protective gear should personnel wear at a minimum when performing service tests?
Helmet and hearing protection
What is the first test to be performed when doing service testing?
Engine speed test
During service testing, The engine speed test should be checked under what load condition?
No-load condition
During vacuum testing, what will happen if the test gauge is mistakenly connected to the discharge test port?
It will be irreparably damaged
When performing the vacuum test for service testing, run the priming device until the test gauge shows ____ inches of mercury:
22 inches of mercury
When performing the vacuum test for service testing, after running the priming device to develop the desired pressure, shut off the engine and listen for air leaks. No more than ____ inches of vacuum should be lost in ___ minutes:
10 inches of vacuum
5 minutes
When setting the strainer in the static water source for service testing, it should be at least ___ feet below the water surface and have at least ____ feet of water surrounding the sides and bottom of the strainer:
2 feet
2 feet
What is the primary difference between the pump certification test and the pump test when service testing?
The duration of the steps
When performing the pump test on an engine with a 2-stage pump, what position should the transfer valve be in when the net discharge pressure is 150 psi?
In the parallel (volume) position
When performing the pump test on an engine with a 2-stage pump, what position should the transfer valve be in when the net discharge pressure is 200 psi?
In either the parallel (volume) or series (pressure) position
When performing the pump test on an engine with a 2-stage pump, what position should the transfer valve be in when the net discharge pressure is 250 psi?
In the series (pressure) position
When adjusting and readjusting the nozzles and engine speed to get the net discharge pressure of 150 psi during pump testing, the engine speed should not exceed ___ % of its peak:
80%
When performing a pump test, the flow should be checked at the:
Nozzle
How long should the capacity test during the pump test (service testing) be conducted at 150 psi?
20 minutes
How long should the capacity test during the pump test (service testing) be conducted at 200 psi?
10 minutes
How long should the capacity test during the pump test (service testing) be conducted at 250 psi?
10 minutes
When performing a pump test (service testing) how often during the test should the data be logged?
Every 5 minutes
When using a pitot gauge, the distance between the blade and the end of the nozzle should be about:
1/2 the diameter of the nozzle
The pressure controls test follows a ____-part sequence:
3 part
When closing discharge valves during the pressure control test, close the valves in no less than ___ seconds and no more than _____ seconds:
3 seconds
10 seconds
The pump discharge gauge should rise no more than ___ psi during all parts of the pressure control test:
30 psi
Explain the steps of the 1st part of the pressure control testing:
- Set net discharge pressure to 150 psi
- Set pressure control device to maintain 150 psi
- Close each of the flowing valves one at a time until all are closed
- Observe the discharge gauge. It should not rise more than 30 psi
Explain the steps of the 2nd part of the pressure control testing:
- Set net discharge pressure to 150 psi
- Reduce engine throttle until net discharge pressure drops to 90 psi
- Set the pressure control device to 90 psi
- Close each of the discharge valves one at a time
- Observe the discharge gauge. It should not rise more than 30 psi
Explain the steps of the 3rd part of the pressure control testing:
- Set net discharge pressure to 250 psi
- Set pressure control device to 250 psi
- Close each discharge valve one at a time
- Observe the discharge gauge. It should rise no more than 30 psi
When performing discharge pressure gauge tests on individual discharges, how many psi off can they be before replacement?
10 psi
What pressures should be used to check individual discharge pressure gauges for accuracy?
150 psi
200 psi
250 psi
How do you test a flowmeter’s accuracy on a discharge?
Flow to a solid stream nozzle and use a pitot gauge
When testing a flowmeter’s accuracy, the reading between the pitot gauge and the flowmeter should not differ by more than ___ % before considering recalibration of the flowmeter:
10 %
What apparatus must perform a tank-to-pump test?
Any apparatus with a tank, regardless of size
When performing a tank-to-pump flow test, the minimum flow rate should be discharged continuously until the tank has been ____ % emptied:
80%
After performing the various tests, the pump should be repaired or given a lower rating when it tests less than ___ % of its rating when new:
90 %
