Fire Pump Packing Drip Rate

But as the pump and packing start to set in you can expect a couple years of consistent and reliable service.

Fire pump packing drip rate.

The 60 drips per minute is a little more forgiving than the five drips per minute but should still be used as a limit for a maximum drip rate to be allowed. The correct drip rate for a packed pump is 10 120 drips per minute at 150 psi discharge pressure. Break tanks are most commonly used 1 as a means of backflow prevention between the water supply source and the fire pump suction pipe 2 to eliminate fluctuations in the water supply source pressure 3 to provide a stable and relatively constant suction pressure at the fire pump and or 4 to provide water storage to augment a water source that cannot provide the maximum flow rate. Packing adjustment will be more frequent at first.

Packing that is adjusted too loose can allow air to be sucked in through the packing during priming reducing the height that at which the pump can be primed. At the beginning of the pump operation loosen the gland nuts and allow the packing boxes to leak liberally. The 60 drips per minute is a little more forgiving than the 5 drips per minute but should still be used as a limit for a maximum drip rate to be allowed. Overtightening is the most common cause of packing failure.

Every 20 minutes tighten the packing gland nuts one flat at a time until the leakage has been reduced to about 60 drops per minute. Two stage pumps in volume. Chapter 4 fire pumps 89 program for individual systems suction piping shall be fl ushed at a fl ow rate not less than indicated in table 14 1 1 1 a exhibit 4 1 and table 14 1 1 1 b exhibit 4 2 of nfpa 14 2010 or at. Too fast of a drip rate can also be bad.

For most braided pump packing liquid leakage is absolutely necessary to provide lubrication and cooling of the sealing surface and ensure the seal s long life. This process may require two to three hours.