Fire Pumps and How To Safely Use Them
Whether a building is used for residential occupation or for office work, it is crucial that there is a reliable fire protection system in place to protect people, belongings, property, and much more from the hazards of fires. One of the most important elements of a standard fire protection system is the system of fire pumps, those of which are pipes that specifically provide a supply of water for fixed-place suppression systems like sprinklers, standpipes, foam systems, and more. As fire pumps are paramount for properly combating flames, they must be certified and well-maintained.
While OSHA standards are required for countless buildings to ensure their safety, fire pumps and their related equipment are often held to much higher standards, such as UL certification. UL certification is performed by Underwriter Laboratories (UL), one of the oldest safety certification companies that focuses on products, facilities, processes, and more. With UL certification, fire pumps can be expected to optimally perform during emergencies to uphold safety.
During activation and use, fire pumps are known to produce an immense amount of heat. If personnel or individuals come into contact with the exposed surfaces of heated pumps, they can face the risk of burns and other forms of danger. Even if physical contact is not made, the heat building up in the pumps will naturally begin to dissipate into the surrounding air, increasing the temperature of an ambient space. This can easily lead to an uncomfortable work environment for workers, that of which can cause exhaustion or heat stroke if conditions are not properly managed or treated. Coupled with the chance of causing damage to equipment, building infrastructure, and products, proper heat mitigation should always be a concern of building personnel.
One of the easiest ways to keep spaces cool and personnel safe from the harmful effects of fire pump heat is to utilize insulation. The most common type of insulation for fire pumps is an insulation blanket or cover, and these can be procured in sizes that snugly fit assemblies to fully cover them. With an insulation blanket, heat is trapped inside the pipe with a high degree of reliability. This will make pipes much safer to touch, as well as mitigate the amount of heat that escapes into the ambient air situated in a space. While insulation blankets are indeed useful, one must be diligent when shopping for such products as the insulation blankets themselves will need to meet certain safety standards to effectively perform their duties.
As fire pumps will degrade over time with use and standard aging, they should be tested weekly and monthly for automatic starting and seamless operations. If system suction, pressure, or other characteristics begin to falter, one may need to conduct an inspection to see if there is a part or assembly that requires maintenance or replacement. If you find yourself in need of spare parts for a fire pump repair or are simply looking for solutions for proper heat management, there is no better source for all your purchasing needs than NSN Unlimited.
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