By Alan M. Petrillo

Let’s face it: Pump testing is a long, arduous, and thankless job that has to be done on a regular basis.

While many fire departments perform this task on a yearly basis on their own, often using a training facility with a pump test pit or heading to a surface water source, other departments opt to have a mobile pump testing company come to their locations and pump test apparatus in their home stations.

Pump Testing Units

Gary Weis, chief operating officer of Weis Fire & Safety Equipment and inventor of the Draft Commander 3000 A/T Mobile Fire Pump Testing and Training Unit, says many pump test pits installed at training facilities years ago are now obsolete. “Some fire pumps today perform at 2,000 gallons per minute (gpm), and a lot of those older pits won’t function at that rate,” Weis says. “Also, the water in those pits often is dirty from runoff and sediment, which can allow grit and other solids to get into the pump, damaging it by sandblasting the interior. Our Draft Commander pump tests only with clean water that we recycle.”

The Draft Commander has a 3,000-gallon T-shaped reservoir made of one-inch polypropylene that is attached to a heavy-duty DOT-rated transporter so it can’t twist or flex. The drafting pit section of the reservoir has four antiswirl plates and a water temperature gauge to monitor the water temperature. The Draft Commander is fitted with drafting tubes and swivels, hard suction hose, aluminum inlet manifolds for flowing water and pitot gpm readings, a pump testing monitor station, a handheld monitor, and storage areas for hose and equipment.

1 Weis Fire & Safety Equipment personnel use a Draft Commander 3000 A/T Mobile Fire Pump Testing and Training Unit to pump test a U.S. Air Force pumper. (Photo courtesy of Weis Fire & Safety Equipment.)

Weis says many of the problems he sees during pump tests can be traced back to maintenance issues. “When we perform pump tests, we have numerous tank-to-pump valves leak,” Weis says. “Also, a lot of discharge valves leak. People don’t realize the wear and tear that valves take, and we also see pump seal rings wearing out from getting sand and grit in them. We have a 64-point checklist to review during a pump test, and it covers everything from A to Z.”

Dan Kreikemeier, president of Danko Emergency Equipment, says his company makes the Draftmaster Pump Tester and Trainer. The Draftmaster has a 2,400-gallon UPF water tank and can handle pumps with capacities up to 2,500 gpm. The unit has a forced-air water cooling fan system, stainless steel manifold, stainless steel diffuser with a flowmeter, hard suction hoses, adapters, and an operator’s panel-all on a tandem-axle trailer with a 7,000-pound weight rating and DOT trailer brakes.

2 The Plymounth (MN) Fire Department uses Emergency Apparatus Maintenance to pump test all of its pumps. (Photo courtesy of Emergency Apparatus Maintenance.)

The Draftmaster also

By Alan M. Petrillo

Let’s face it: Pump testing is a long, arduous, and thankless job that has to be done on a regular basis.

While many fire departments perform this task on a yearly basis on their own, often using a training facility with a pump test pit or heading to a surface water source, other departments opt to have a mobile pump testing company come to their locations and pump test apparatus in their home stations.

Pump Testing Units

Gary Weis, chief operating officer of Weis Fire & Safety Equipment and inventor of the Draft Commander 3000 A/T Mobile Fire Pump Testing and Training Unit, says many pump test pits installed at training facilities years ago are now obsolete. “Some fire pumps today perform at 2,000 gallons per minute (gpm), and a lot of those older pits won’t function at that rate,” Weis says. “Also, the water in those pits often is dirty from runoff and sediment, which can allow grit and other solids to get into the pump, damaging it by sandblasting the interior. Our Draft Commander pump tests only with clean water that we recycle.”

The Draft Commander has a 3,000-gallon T-shaped reservoir made of one-inch polypropylene that is attached to a heavy-duty DOT-rated transporter so it can’t twist or flex. The drafting pit section of the reservoir has four antiswirl plates and a water temperature gauge to monitor the water temperature. The Draft Commander is fitted with drafting tubes and swivels, hard suction hose, aluminum inlet manifolds for flowing water and pitot gpm readings, a pump testing monitor station, a handheld monitor, and storage areas for hose and equipment.

1 Weis Fire & Safety Equipment personnel use a Draft Commander 3000 A/T Mobile Fire Pump Testing and Training Unit to pump test a U.S. Air Force pumper. (Photo courtesy of Weis Fire & Safety Equipment.)

Weis says many of the problems he sees during pump tests can be traced back to maintenance issues. “When we perform pump tests, we have numerous tank-to-pump valves leak,” Weis says. “Also, a lot of discharge valves leak. People don’t realize the wear and tear that valves take, and we also see pump seal rings wearing out from getting sand and grit in them. We have a 64-point checklist to review during a pump test, and it covers everything from A to Z.”

Dan Kreikemeier, president of Danko Emergency Equipment, says his company makes the Draftmaster Pump Tester and Trainer. The Draftmaster has a 2,400-gallon UPF water tank and can handle pumps with capacities up to 2,500 gpm. The unit has a forced-air water cooling fan system, stainless steel manifold, stainless steel diffuser with a flowmeter, hard suction hoses, adapters, and an operator’s panel-all on a tandem-axle trailer with a 7,000-pound weight rating and DOT trailer brakes.

2 The Plymounth (MN) Fire Department uses Emergency Apparatus Maintenance to pump test all of its pumps. (Photo courtesy of Emergency Apparatus Maintenance.)

The Draftmaster also

By Alan M. Petrillo

Let’s face it: Pump testing is a long, arduous, and thankless job that has to be done on a regular basis.

While many fire departments perform this task on a yearly basis on their own, often using a training facility with a pump test pit or heading to a surface water source, other departments opt to have a mobile pump testing company come to their locations and pump test apparatus in their home stations.

Pump Testing Units

Gary Weis, chief operating officer of Weis Fire & Safety Equipment and inventor of the Draft Commander 3000 A/T Mobile Fire Pump Testing and Training Unit, says many pump test pits installed at training facilities years ago are now obsolete. “Some fire pumps today perform at 2,000 gallons per minute (gpm), and a lot of those older pits won’t function at that rate,” Weis says. “Also, the water in those pits often is dirty from runoff and sediment, which can allow grit and other solids to get into the pump, damaging it by sandblasting the interior. Our Draft Commander pump tests only with clean water that we recycle.”

The Draft Commander has a 3,000-gallon T-shaped reservoir made of one-inch polypropylene that is attached to a heavy-duty DOT-rated transporter so it can’t twist or flex. The drafting pit section of the reservoir has four antiswirl plates and a water temperature gauge to monitor the water temperature. The Draft Commander is fitted with drafting tubes and swivels, hard suction hose, aluminum inlet manifolds for flowing water and pitot gpm readings, a pump testing monitor station, a handheld monitor, and storage areas for hose and equipment.

1 Weis Fire & Safety Equipment personnel use a Draft Commander 3000 A/T Mobile Fire Pump Testing and Training Unit to pump test a U.S. Air Force pumper. (Photo courtesy of Weis Fire & Safety Equipment.)

Weis says many of the problems he sees during pump tests can be traced back to maintenance issues. “When we perform pump tests, we have numerous tank-to-pump valves leak,” Weis says. “Also, a lot of discharge valves leak. People don’t realize the wear and tear that valves take, and we also see pump seal rings wearing out from getting sand and grit in them. We have a 64-point checklist to review during a pump test, and it covers everything from A to Z.”

Dan Kreikemeier, president of Danko Emergency Equipment, says his company makes the Draftmaster Pump Tester and Trainer. The Draftmaster has a 2,400-gallon UPF water tank and can handle pumps with capacities up to 2,500 gpm. The unit has a forced-air water cooling fan system, stainless steel manifold, stainless steel diffuser with a flowmeter, hard suction hoses, adapters, and an operator’s panel-all on a tandem-axle trailer with a 7,000-pound weight rating and DOT trailer brakes.

2 The Plymounth (MN) Fire Department uses Emergency Apparatus Maintenance to pump test all of its pumps. (Photo courtesy of Emergency Apparatus Maintenance.)

The Draftmaster also

By Bill Adams

“Apparatus Purchasing: Stock, Standard, or Demo? Part 1” (February 2016) offered my personal opinions on stock, demonstrator, and standardized apparatus, noting it may be financially advantageous for fire departments to consider one for a new purchase. For Part 2, several apparatus manufacturers responded to several questions on the topic.

How do you characterize stock, demo, and standard apparatus?

Dave Stoffel, senior manager, business development, Pierce Manufacturing: “Stock trucks allow for quick deliveries, emergency purchases, alternate bids, and competitive bids with shortened lead times. Pierce field stock units (demos) are well configured, high-content apparatus engineered to readily accept multiple options after they are completed.”

Mike Yurgec, director, dealer development and product management, Spartan Motors: “A stock unit is an apparatus slotted for production without an owner. It can be a pumper, aerial, or rescue built for the purpose of value and quick delivery. Stock unit information is distributed to our sales team with the intent on selling them to customers who require quick delivery, big value, or convenience. These customers are able to take advantage of value-priced apparatus and chassis with quick delivery.

1 This W.S. Darley mini pumper was recently delivered to the Sheldon Community (TX) Fire Department. This rig is similar to Darley’s demonstrators, which are displayed at trade shows. Demonstrators can offer special features and quicker delivery at more competitive pricing than a totally custom rig. (Photo courtesy of W.S. Darley & Company.)

“A standard unit, in Spartan terms, refers to a series of apparatus in our stock program. It is standard from the point of similar features and equipment in the series. Typically, a standard unit will feature the same pump, chassis cab configuration, or body style. A demo apparatus is built for the purpose of demonstrating new features and benefits of the manufacturer. Typically, these units are not sold right away and are intended to be on the show circuit or for demonstrations to key customers. After their time on the road, they are offered for sale, usually with a discount because of their mileage and minimal wear and tear.”

Dave Rider, director of global product management, Smeal Fire Apparatus: “Standard isn’t really a word that applies across our product line because almost every pumper or aerial is customized depending on what the customer wants and needs. That being said, standard options are options that are already in our product lineup and previously engineered so that the customer isn’t incurring any special design costs. We do have a starting point for each major configuration that gives our customers and sales reps a starting point for their customization discussions.

“At Smeal, stock units are units we build to have available for sale, even before they are completed. We configure these around the most popular configurations and options that we see with our customers.

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