OPERATING FROM DRAFTOPERATING FROM DRAFT

Paulding County Paulding County

FireFire

First ConsiderationsFirst Considerations

Selecting a siteSelecting a site Stability of the groundStability of the ground Safety of the operatorSafety of the operator Amount of water availableAmount of water available Type of waterType of water Accessibility of waterAccessibility of water Always know locations of water Always know locations of water

sourcessources

Clearance and Depth Clearance and Depth

24 inches over and around strainer24 inches over and around strainer Insures maximum capacity can be Insures maximum capacity can be

reachedreached Creation of whirlpool effect Creation of whirlpool effect Allows air into pumpAllows air into pump

WaterWater

Any kind of water can be usedAny kind of water can be used Salt Water and Non-potable water can Salt Water and Non-potable water can

cause corrosioncause corrosion Dirty Water – Can cause strainer clogDirty Water – Can cause strainer clog Worst type to be used: Dirty or SandyWorst type to be used: Dirty or Sandy Causes the impeller to wear fasterCauses the impeller to wear faster Causes abrasive action to the internal Causes abrasive action to the internal

components of the pumpcomponents of the pump

Con’tCon’t

Reduction in the pump capacityReduction in the pump capacity Bad water affects pump packingBad water affects pump packing Leaks in turn lead to problems with Leaks in turn lead to problems with

airtight pumpairtight pump Which also affects pump capacityWhich also affects pump capacity Inability to pull vacuumInability to pull vacuum

Atmosheric PressureAtmosheric Pressure

When operating from draftWhen operating from draft Always maintain water in the booster tank Always maintain water in the booster tank Drafting is accomplished by evacuating Drafting is accomplished by evacuating

air from the pump and allowing air from the pump and allowing atmospheric pressure to push water inatmospheric pressure to push water in

Atmospheric pressure = 14.7 psiAtmospheric pressure = 14.7 psi 14.7 psi has to overcome elevation 14.7 psi has to overcome elevation

pressure and friction loss in the suction pressure and friction loss in the suction hose. hose.

ContCont

The higher the lift, the greater The higher the lift, the greater the elevation pressure, the less the elevation pressure, the less friction loss that can be friction loss that can be overcome, the more the overcome, the more the capacity of the pump is capacity of the pump is decreaseddecreased

Class A PumpersClass A Pumpers

All Class A Pumpers are rated to pump All Class A Pumpers are rated to pump their capacities at 10 feet of lift, if the lift is their capacities at 10 feet of lift, if the lift is lower the capacity is increased, and vice lower the capacity is increased, and vice versaversa

A pumper in good condition can lift water A pumper in good condition can lift water approximately 23 to 24 feet approximately 23 to 24 feet

For effective operation the maximum lift is For effective operation the maximum lift is about 20 feet and the amount of water that about 20 feet and the amount of water that can be supplied is approximately 60%can be supplied is approximately 60%

Connecting and DraftingConnecting and Drafting

Do not place the unit in pump until Do not place the unit in pump until you can be assured that all you can be assured that all connections are madeconnections are made

Make sure that all the gaskets are Make sure that all the gaskets are in placein place

Make sure there is no sand or grit Make sure there is no sand or grit inside the couplings inside the couplings

If available, use a floating strainerIf available, use a floating strainer

ContCont

Make sure that all connections are made Make sure that all connections are made airtight airtight

If necessary, do this with a rubber malletIf necessary, do this with a rubber mallet It is usually easier to connect the fittings It is usually easier to connect the fittings

of the hose and drop the strainer into the of the hose and drop the strainer into the water followed by pulling the unit into water followed by pulling the unit into the desired locationthe desired location

A roof ladder can be used if the slope is A roof ladder can be used if the slope is steepsteep

Priming the PumpPriming the Pump

Before priming, check the followingBefore priming, check the following All drains and valves are closedAll drains and valves are closed All unused openings are capped to All unused openings are capped to

make an airtight sealmake an airtight seal Throttle the pump up to Throttle the pump up to

approximately 1000 rpmsapproximately 1000 rpms

ContCont

After the pump has been made After the pump has been made airtight, slowly activate the primerairtight, slowly activate the primer

Vacuum will read on the compound Vacuum will read on the compound gaugegauge

Vacuum should read approximately Vacuum should read approximately 1 inch of mercury for every 1 foot of 1 inch of mercury for every 1 foot of liftlift

Vacuum is read from the surface of Vacuum is read from the surface of the water to the eye of the impeller the water to the eye of the impeller

ContCont

As the primer operates, vacuum As the primer operates, vacuum increases and water is forced into the increases and water is forced into the hosehose

When the body of the pump fills with When the body of the pump fills with water a steady stream of water will water a steady stream of water will be discharged onto the groundbe discharged onto the ground

Once the pump has been primed, the Once the pump has been primed, the master gauge will register pressuremaster gauge will register pressure

ContCont

The entire priming action should take The entire priming action should take approximately 10 to 15 secondsapproximately 10 to 15 seconds

Priming should never take more than 30 to Priming should never take more than 30 to 45 seconds45 seconds

Most of the E-ones will prime fairly fastMost of the E-ones will prime fairly fast The most common cause of failure is air The most common cause of failure is air

leaksleaks If you cannot pull prime in 30 seconds, shut If you cannot pull prime in 30 seconds, shut

down and reevaluate all of the connections down and reevaluate all of the connections

ContCont

If all attempts at priming have If all attempts at priming have failed and all intakes, failed and all intakes, discharges, openings, and discharges, openings, and valves have been checked; shut valves have been checked; shut down the pump and attempt to down the pump and attempt to contact maintenance. Explore contact maintenance. Explore the possibility of pump failurethe possibility of pump failure

Problems That OccurProblems That Occur

Air Leaks on the intake side of pumpAir Leaks on the intake side of pump Whirlpool allowing air to enter the Whirlpool allowing air to enter the

pumppump Air leakage due to defective pump Air leakage due to defective pump

packingpacking Air leaks on the intake side of the Air leaks on the intake side of the

pump are the most common problemspump are the most common problems

ContCont

The first place to check is the The first place to check is the suction hose and connectionssuction hose and connections

If the water tank is empty, the tank If the water tank is empty, the tank to pump line may be the source of to pump line may be the source of leakageleakage

Again reevaluate all valves, Again reevaluate all valves, openings etc.openings etc.

Intake CloggingIntake Clogging

How do we know the strainer is How do we know the strainer is clogged?clogged?

A sudden increase in vacuum A sudden increase in vacuum pressurepressure

Cure for the problemCure for the problem Drop the engine rpms until the Drop the engine rpms until the

pressure drops, attempt to clear the pressure drops, attempt to clear the blockage and restore the flow.blockage and restore the flow.

Collapse in the liner of hard suctionCollapse in the liner of hard suction

ContCont

The only cure for an internal The only cure for an internal liner collapse on a hard suction liner collapse on a hard suction hose is to shut down the hose is to shut down the operation and replace the hard operation and replace the hard suction hosesuction hose

Shutting Down OperationsShutting Down Operations

When Shutting down operations, When Shutting down operations, slowly throttle down rpms or slowly throttle down rpms or engine speed to an idleengine speed to an idle

Take the pump out of gear and Take the pump out of gear and allow the pump to drainallow the pump to drain

Always operate the primer for a Always operate the primer for a few seconds afterward to allow few seconds afterward to allow lubrication of the primerlubrication of the primer

QuestionsQuestions