Fire Pump Inspection Checklist: Weekly Run to Annual Flow Test

Weekly fire pump inspection

The weekly check is a walk-through of the pump house or room. It catches a pump that is off, a tripped controller or a dead battery before you need it. A fire protection company summary of NFPA 25 lists a weekly visual inspection of the pump house, pump system and electrical system for both diesel and electric pumps.

• Check the pump room is heated, ventilated, dry and clear of storage.
• Look at the controller: power-on light and transfer switch lights show normal.
• Read suction and discharge pressure gauges and write them down.
• Check pump packing, leaks and the area around the pump for water.
• Diesel pump: check fuel, oil and coolant levels and read battery voltage and charge current.
• Check that valves on the suction and discharge sides are open and sealed.

Churn runs and the annual flow test

The no-flow or churn run starts the pump and lets it run without discharging water. Summaries of NFPA 25 give at least 30 minutes for diesel engines at rated speed and at least 10 minutes for electric motors. Diesel pumps run weekly. A 2014-edition summary says electric pumps may run monthly except in certain conditions, so your edition and your fire marshal decide.

Once a year the pump is flowed at three points: no flow, rated capacity and 150 percent of rated capacity. The contractor records suction and discharge pressure, speed, voltage and amperage and compares them with earlier tests.

• Run the pump at no flow for the full time and watch for overheating, noise or leaks.
• Diesel pump: run at least 30 minutes; electric pump: at least 10 minutes.
• Record start pressure, run pressure, voltage or engine speed and run time.
• Book the annual flow test with a qualified contractor and tell your monitoring company.
• Compare annual results with the prior test and the pump's nameplate curve.
• Test pressure relief and circulation relief valves with the pump test.

Maintenance between tests

Pump maintenance is mostly keeping the room, power and fuel ready. Replace batteries on the manufacturer’s schedule, keep the diesel tank full, and fix any deficiency found in a run right away. If the pump is out of service it is an impairment: tag it, notify the fire department and your insurer, and plan interim protection.

• Keep the diesel fuel tank at the level the manufacturer or contractor specifies.
• Replace batteries and check charger operation on schedule.
• Lubricate and adjust packing as the manufacturer requires.
• Fix deficiencies found during a run before the next scheduled run.
• Report any impairment to the fire department, insurer and monitoring company.

Run logs and test reports

Write each weekly or monthly run in a log: date, run time, pressures, readings and who ran it. File the annual flow test report with the curve compared to earlier tests. Retention follows your edition and fire marshal. Keep the longer period if sources conflict.

• Keep the weekly run log with pressures, readings and initials.
• Keep each annual flow test report and compare to the last one.
• Keep controller and battery service records.
• Record impairments with start and end times and who was notified.
• Keep the pump's nameplate data and test curve with the log.