Practical Test to Evaluate Capability of Pump Operators
departments
The Volunteers Corner
One of the comforts of taking a line into a challenging fire situation is knowing that you have a first-rate operator back at the pump. One way or another—formally or informally—we test fire fighters before we trust them with operating a pump.
Let’s look at a practical pump operation exam that ideally should be given only to those who have passed a written examination that has tested their knowledge of foreground hydraulics. Naturally, you aren’t going to assign anyone to drive a pumper without first evaluating his ability, so a driving test should be given to those who pass the practical pump operation exam.
Preferably, the practical pump exam should be given at draft. If no drafting spot is available, then the test can be done at a hydrant. However, if a pump operator has no difficulties handling a pumper at draft, then working off a hydrant should be child’s play for him.
Starting the test: If you have the time, have each applicant drive the pumper a couple of hundred feet or so and position the apparatus for drafting. With the help of one or two others, the applicant will hook up two lengths of hard suction hose and tie off the strainer rope after the hose is properly positioned in the water. This takes enough time to make it desirable to leave the pumper at the drafting spot with the suction hose is position throughout the testing of half a dozen or more men. At the end of each test, you just have to make certain that suction has been lost.
With the pumper ready for drafting, each applicant should be asked to explain the function of each gage and control at the pump operator’s position. Let the applicant locate each control and gage. Don’t point to a control and ask what it is. I have seen men hunt desperately—and sometimes unsuccessfully—for a control mentioned to them.
The next step is to ask the applicant to prime the pump, which of course involves putting the pump in gear. If the test is given at a hydrant, then all you can do is ask the applicant to operate the priming pump and explain how he would know when he obtained a prime.
For convenience in giving the practical exam, I like to have a deluge set positioned where it can throw water into a river, pond, field, parking lot or other place without causing a problem. Two 2 ½-inch lines of four lengths each make a workable layout for the deluge set.
Solving a problem: When you ask the applicant to prime the pump—or work from a hydrant—tell him he is to supply a single 2 1/2-inch line of whatever length with whatever size tip you wish. You can specify that the line will be operating on the ground floor or the fourth or fifth floor. After he opens the hose gate for one of the lines to the deluge set and water flows out the gun, check to see if the operator has the pump working at the proper pressure. It doesn’t matter, as far as the test is concerned, what the nozzle pressure is at the deluge set. You are interested in the way the applicant primes the pump and solves the problem of attaining the correct pressure for servicing the defined single line.
If the apparatus has a two-stage pump, ask the applicant to operate the transfer valve and explain its function.
Ask the operator to provide the correct pressure for servicing two lines exactly the same as the first line you specified. You can also ask him what the department’s standard engine pressures are for preconnected 1 ½ and 2 ½-inch lines.
Master streams: Now you turn to problems of supplying master streams. Ask the applicant to establish the correct pump pressure for a deluge gun with a 1 ½-inch tip with two 2 ½-inch (or 3-inch) lines, each 300 feet long. You can devise all kinds of problems involving deluge sets, but you should keep them within the limits of your department’s operating procedures. Sometimes it is well to advise the operator that you are concerned only with the gage pressures and not with the quality of the stream flowing from the deluge gun.
In the same way, you can ask the pump operator to establish engine pressures, with water flowing, for ladder pipe and elevating platform turret gun problems you define. Again, keep the problems pertinent to the department’s operations. If the department does not have an elevating platform—or a ladder truck—don’t put one in the test questions.
While pumping for master stream devices, the applicant should be asked to operate the pressure control device—relief valve or pressure governor—on the pumper. Check for sureness of operation and ask the applicant how the device controls pressures. Then ask him to increase the engind pressure and also to decrease engine pressure.
Now that water has been flowing in two lines, ask the operator to supply these lines at different specified pressures if the pumper has individual gages for each hose gate. If the pumper has only a single pressure gage, ask the applicant how he would provide less pressure for one of the lines.
Even though the areas are covered in the written exam, you may wish to have the operator establish proper pressures for sprinkler system and standpipe problems.
Finally, ask the applicant to shut down the pump and prepare the apparatus for return to quarters. If you are leaving the pumper and suction line in position at draft, open a hose gate, close it and then rev up the pump to make certain suction has been lost.
