Margaretta Township

Erie County, Ohio

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Fire Departments are required to test their pumpers annually. The test is run to show any problems with the pumping system on any apparatus with a rated fire pump. The test consists of three parts, a capacity test, 70% capacity test and 50% capacity test. The capacity test is run to deliver the rated capacity of the pump at 150 PSI for 20 minutes., so a 1500 GPM pumper will pump that amount for the 20 minutes. The 70% test pumps seventy percent of the pump capacity for ten minutes, same for the 50% test.
Besides the actual pump test the primer is checked and the time recorded (30 sec. or less to prime the pump), the pressure relief device is checked for operation. The discharged volume (GPM) is adjusted by selecting different size nozzles and pressures, the pump pressure is adjusted by changing engine speed (RPM) or by opening or closing discharge outlets. 
The three settings (RPM, Nozzle pressure and Pump pressure) are adjusted until test standards are met.
Test gauges are used for comparison to the apparatus gauges. The readings for engine & pump RPM, apparatus gauge pressure, Test gauge pressure, Vacuum readings and nozzle pressure are recorded every five minutes. An average for each stage of the test is them figured.
There is also a 10% reserve power test where the pumper must be able to pump capacity at 165 PSI.
Shown above are Engine 121 and Engine 124 during their tests. The pump panel picture shows the test gauges in place. The deluge set picture shows the pitot ( pronounced "pee tow") gauge and test nozzle attached. 

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