What Is The Main Purpose Of A Jockey Pump?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,

A jockey pump, also know as a pressure maintenance pump,

maintains the pressure in the fire sprinkler system to avoid non-emergency starting of the

main fire pump. This keeps the main fire pump from short cycling, which shortens its life span.

Is jockey pump always running?

The jockey pump though

needs to run continuously

because there are small leaks in the system and because there are intermittent demands for high water rates throughout the day that require the big pumps.

How often should a jockey pump run?

The jockey pump starts

every 30 minutes or so

when the pressure drops from 200 PSI to 150 PSI.

What is the difference between booster pump and jockey pump?

A jockey pump is a small pump which maintains the pressure in a system without the aid of any other pump. It saves starting the main pump. A booster pump

raises the pressure that the main pump cannot reach in order

for the fluid to be able to enter the ‘high’ pressure system.

What is the jockey pump pressure?

Jockey pumps are normally sized for 1% flow and a

10 to 20 PSI higher pressure

of the main fire pump.

Does a jockey pump need to be on emergency power?

Also, please confirm the

Jockey pump does not require backup power

.

Why does my fire pump keep running?

When there’s a fire, sprinkler heads are going to activate and spray water. This loss of water in the sprinkler system causes the pressure to drop.

When the pressure drops

, the main fire pump turns on.

How do you pick a jockey pump?

A rule of thumb for sizing jockey pump supplying underground piping is to use

1% of the fire pump rated capacity

. For example: A fire pump with rated capacity of 1500 gpm. Then the jockey pump flow rate is 1500 gpm * 1% = 15 gpm.

How do you check a Jockey pump?

Verify start and stop settings on the pressure maintenance pump (jockey pump) by

dropping

the pressure in the jockey pump sensing line. After completing all inspection procedures, start the pump by slowly dropping the pressure in the controller sensing line. The pump should be run a minimum of 30 minutes.

What does a fire pump controller do?

The devices within a fire pump controller panel perform such functions as receiving signals from alarm devices, such as pressure operated switches, sprinkler alarm valves or remote fire alarm equipment;

activating motor control devices to provide electric power to motors driving fire pumps and monitoring the fire pump

What is the required pressure for fire hydrant?

Hydrant mains should be tested with the pump delivering at its maximum pressure with all the hydrants outlet closed and thereafter, with at least three adjacent hydrants opened to see that the hydrant yield the minimum output of 1 125 litres per minute at a minimum pressure of

5.25 kgf/cm

2

or higher

, if needed.

Does a fire pump need to be on a generator?


An onsite generator must provide the secondary source of power for the fire pump

. The service to the fire pump will need to meet the requirements as defined by NFPA 70: National Electrical Code (NEC) 695.3(B)(2) for service from an individual source and onsite standby generator.

What is jockey pump and fire pump?

A jockey pump is

a multistage centrifugal pump connected to a fire sprinkler system

and is intended to maintain pressure in a fire protection piping system to an artificially high level so that the operation of a single fire sprinkler will cause a pressure drop which will be sensed by the fire pump automatic controller …

Does a fire pump require a generator?

Chapter 6 of NFPA 20 requires that the

fire pump be powered by a reliable power source

or by two or more independent sources.

Does a fire pump controller require a neutral?

The Utility Xfmr. also feeds the Fire Pump Controller (3 Pole ATS) for normal power. The generator supplies an emergency feed to the F.P Controller (3P-ATS), apparently they do not make 4 Pole Fire Pump Controller ATS’s since the F.P. motors are 3 Phase 480 volt and

a neutral is not needed.

What triggers fire pump?

The fire pump starts

when the pressure in the fire sprinkler system drops below a threshold

. The sprinkler system pressure drops significantly when one or more fire sprinklers are exposed to heat above their design temperature, and opens, releasing water.

How do you adjust the pressure on a jockey pump?

1) The jockey pump stop point should

equal the pump churn pressure plus the minimum static supply pressure

. 2) The jockey pump start point should be at least 10 psi (0.68 bar) less than the jockey pump stop point. 3) The fire pump start point should be 5 psi (0.34 bar) less than the jockey pump start point.

What type of pump is jockey pump?

There are two types of pumps available for jockey pump applications. The preferable design is a

centrifugal pump

. The other type is a positive displacement regenerative turbine pump.

How do you start a fire pump?

Close the main control valve to the system. Perform manual start of the fire pump by

pressing the start button on the fire pump controller

. Verify there is sufficient flow from the 3/4” casing relief valve on the fire pump. Verify there the fire pump packing gland is properly adjusted.

Why is it called a jockey pump?

On a fire protection system requiring a fire pump, there is a small pump that maintains pressure above the pressure settings of the larger fire pump. Hence the name “jockey pump.” The purpose of a jockey pump is

to maintain pressure in a fire protection piping system so the larger fire pump does not need to run

.

How often does a fire pump need to be tested?

According to NFPA 25, fire pumps must be tested on

both a monthly and annual basis

to ensure that they will perform as designed. These two different tests are referred to as a monthly “churn” test and an annual flow test.

What are the types of fire pumps?

Common types of fire pumps used for fire service include:

horizontal split case, vertical split case, vertical inline, vertical turbine, and end suction

.

Why is churn pressure important?

The fire pump must provide enough pressure to pump water when firefighters respond to an emergency. … The churn pressure is measured. This is a

measure of the pressure the pump delivers when it is running without water flowing through it

.

What is a jockey pump controller?

A jockey pump is a

small pump connected to a fire sprinkler system to maintain pressure in the sprinkler pipes

. This is to ensure that if a fire-sprinkler is activated, there will be a pressure drop, which will be sensed by the fire pumps automatic controller, which will cause the fire pump to start.

What are fire pump valves used to control?

Pump control valves are automatic control valves used

to minimize surges associated with the starting and stopping of pumps

. Opening and closing speed controls are adjustable. They can be configured with backpressure, rate-of-flow, or pressure reducing features.

What is a fire pump motor?

A fire pump is

any type of purpose-driven pump used within a fire protection system

. It can be driven by diesel engines, electric motors or even steam and is used to provide increases in water pressure to meet the design requirements of a fire protection system. Fire pumps do not create a water supply.

What is the full form of NFPA?


National Fire Protection Association

(NFPA)

Does a fire pump need a dedicated room?


You only need a door that opens directly to the outside

if you have a fire pump in that room. NFPA states: Except as provided in 4.13. … 1.1, fire pump rooms not directly accessible from the outside shall be accessible through an enclosed passageway from an enclosed stairway or exterior exit.

How do you size a fire jockey pump?

“The pump manufacturer, Armstrong pumps, recommends, as a rule of thumb, to size the jockey for

about 1 % of the rated flow of the main fire water pump

. Also they recommend that jockey to be sized with 10 psi (0.7 bar) higher pressure than the system design pressure of the firewater ring.”

What are commonly used fire fighting foams?

  • Synthetic firefighting foams: Fluorine-Free Foams (F3, also known as FFF): creating a foam blanket full of bubbles. Fluorinated foams: Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) and Alcohol-Resistant Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AR-AFFF also called AFFF-ARC)
  • Protein-base foams: Protein foam.

What is hydrant valve?

Hydrant Valves

The main use of the pump is to pull the water from the reservoir and supply the same pressure to the hydrant points enabling firefighters to extinguish the fire effectively. In order to connect and operate fire fighting equipment from a hydrant valve, the pressure rating must be 100 psi (7 kg/cm2).

What is a booster pump for water?

A booster pump

increases low water pressure and flow

. It provides the extra boost needed to bring your water pressure to the desired level. A water booster pump provides pressure to move water from a storage tank or throughout a whole house or commercial facility.

Diane Mitchell
Author
Diane Mitchell
Diane Mitchell is an animal lover and trainer with over 15 years of experience working with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and horses. She has worked with leading animal welfare organizations. Diane is passionate about promoting responsible pet ownership and educating pet owners on the best practices for training and caring for their furry friends.