The ABCs of Diesel Pump For Fire Fighting
Even though bushfire season is almost over, knowing how messed up today’s climate is all over the world, you can’t be certain – more so because some regions in our country are prone to bushfires year-round. If you’ve ever seen a bushfire then you probably understand how serious it is, and how damaging it can be to both human lives and properties.
There’s no better preparation for such a raging nature situation than by investing in a diesel pump for fire fighting, especially if you live in a more rural area. Not only is it useful for tackling fires, but also when dealing with agriculture, say irrigation, and washing machinery. These are simply few of the many reasons to own a fire fighting pump. When looking for the right fire fighting pump, there are a few features to consider.
Why Diesel?
There are numerous reasons why diesel pump for firefighting is the superior choice. First, it’s much safer than petrol pumps and other mains-powered electric pumps. Also, it’s more fuel efficient which means it generally performs for longer periods of time.
Pressure
Whatever the purpose you need the pump for, the amount of pressure which it pumps out water with is very important. For fire fighting, equipment wash down and irrigation you’ll need above 100 PSI. As a point of reference, normal garden hoses dispense water at about 30-50 PSI. Take a close look at the specs and look for the “maximum head” the diesel pump for firefighting has. The “maximum head” is usually listed in metres. When you multiply the “head” number with 1.42, you get the amount of PSI the pump can produce.
Maximum Head
Maximum head refers to the maximum height the pump is able to pump water to. If you purchase a pump with 60 metres of max head, the flow rate will be 0 at 60 metres. So you should consider the difference in height between the place where you’re pumping water and the pump itself.
Flow Rate
The flow rate represents the distance – the sheer volume of water and the distance of the water that needs to be moved. Somewhere between 200 to 1000 litres per minute is enough for residential use, although you generally want to aim more towards 1000. Have in mind, as the height (max head) increases, flow rate decreases so if you want more pumping pressure, maximum head should be higher than the pumping height you need.
Starting
It’s important that your pump starts quickly and easily. Most often, you can choose between electric, recoil or both. A reliable ignition system can offer less maintenance and easy starting. Go for a pump produced by a quality brand like Thornado, Honda or Yamaha, to ensure you’re getting your money’s worth.