Making Stationary DRAFT PITS And Other Sources OBSOLETE With A Mobile DRAFT COMMANDER Purchase!

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WHAT IS THE DRAFT COMMANDER 3000® A/T?

pump test on two trucks simultaneously

The Draft Commander 3000® A/T is a unique environmental friendly mobile fire apparatus testing and training unit. The Draft Commander 3000® A/T allows you to perform a true pump test from draft creating a suction lift requiring the use of a primer as per NFPA 1911-2007 Edition, Section 18.7.5.1. This makes sure the engine and fire pump are performing with the correct horsepower and the firepump is pumping the correct GPM. This service test is done by working from a suction lift throughout the test. Flowing clean clear water as per NFPA-1911 up to 3000 GPM and with the added optional 6” suction drafting tube you can pump test 3500 up to 4000 GPM. You have the means of testing your fire truck at your desired location, at any time, during various seasons of the year offering unmatched simplicity, accuracy and safety. In fact, the Draft Commander 3000® A/T can perform a pump test on two trucks simultaneously with optional section hoses and monitor. The Draft Commander 3000® A/T offers a cost effective means of complying with annual pump test requirements as defined by ISO and the National Fire Protection Association(NFPA-11 2007 Edition). By doing these tests it helps communities to receive maximum credit points to help maintain the lowest insurance rates possible and to ensure that their fire apparatuses are performing as intended for the safety of their firefighters and the protection of their community. The Draft Commander 3000® A/T offers many other functions besides fire pump testing, such as training operations of the fire engine pump and different evolutions of flowing water while using the same water over and over.

WHAT IS DRAFTING?

Not Primed

Primed

Drafting (sucking) is removing the atmospheric air pressure out of the suction tubes and hoses with no air leaks by using the fire apparatus primer creating a vacuum. The vacuum pulls the water up and into the suction tubes and into the pump, pulling the water out of the Draft Commander 3000® reservoir.

NFPA - 1911 2007
18.7.5 Priming System Tests.

18.7.5.1 If the pump is tested from draft, a priming system test shall be conducted.

18.7.5.2 The test shall be permitted to be performed in connection with priming the pump for the pumping test.

18.7.5.3 With the apparatus set up for the pump test, the primer shall be operated in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions until the pump has been primed and is discharging water.

18.7.5.4 The interval from the time the primer is started until the time the pump is discharging water shall be noted.

18.7.5.5 The time required to prime the pump shall not exceed 30 seconds if the rate capacity is 1250 gpm (4732L/min) or less.

18.7.5.6 The time required to prime shall not exceed 45 seconds if the rated capacity is 1500 gpm (5678L/min) or more.

18.7.5.7 An additional 15 seconds shall be permitted to prime the pump beyond the time required by 18.7.5.5 or 18.7.5.6 when the pump system includes an auxiliary 4 in. (100 mm) or larger intake pipe having a volume of 1 ft³ (0.0283 m³) or more.

NFPA - 1911 2007 Section 18.5.1.1.1, Lift for Fire Pumps
Depending on the size of pump the maximum lift is from 6 to 10 feet. The Draft Commander 3000® A/T has a lift of approximately 3 feet which meets NFPA - 1911 2007 standards. You must use your primer to perform a pump test with the Draft Commander 3000® A/T, as there is a lift of approximately 3 feet.

WHY SHOULD I TEST MY PUMPS?

The main reason to test your pumps is for the piece of mind it gives knowing that the apparatus is fully functional and ready to handle a major incident. Additionally, a centrifugal fire pump is a mechanical device, like your car. The very moment it is put into service it is being worn out. By testing your apparatus annually, you have the ability of predicting your maintenance budget requirements 2 to 3 YEARS IN ADVANCE!

Here is an expert from NFPA standard 1911 - Appendix A:Investigation has shown that where regular and systematic tests of pumps are not made, defects often exist and can continue undetected for considerable periods under light demands at ordinary fires; these defects only become apparent at a large fire where the pump is called on to perform at or near rated capacity.

Other reasons are that it is a NFPA recommendation, and ISO (Insurance Services Organization) gives your department the most points for pump tests performed at annual intervals. While NFPA is only recommendations, if there were ever a problem, with the legal system as it is today, they would most probably be treated as law.

WHAT CAUSES A PUMP TO WEAR?

Fire pumps are closely fitted machine parts operating at high speeds. The average speed of a fire pump impeller is 4000 RPM at capacity. The impeller is spinning within what are called “seal rings”. These rings and the impeller run together with a .015 of an inch clearance. When the pump is run from draft, the water carries with it sand and other foreign material that get in between these surfaces and wears on them, causing them to gradually get farther apart. As these tolerances get bigger, more water is bypassed internally in the pump, thus reducing its capacity. In this context, bypassed is referring to the water that is re-circulating within the pump, from discharge to suction, because of this fact, pump capacity is reduced.

It should be noted that a large majority of fire departments do not operate their apparatus from draft, but all municipal water systems also contain sand, rust and other foreign materials not noticed while running your faucet or shower. These materials begin to show up when the large demands of a centrifugal fire pump are hooked to the system and begin operating. Another form of wear often not noticed or understood is cavitation. Cavitation can cause severe damage to a centrifugal fire pump. Cavitation is caused by attempting to pump more water out of the apparatus than is being received. An important note to remember is wear, due to sand or cavitation accumulated, in other words it progressively gets worse, from additional use. The only way to correct this wear is to overhaul the pump.

RUN A PUMP TEST WITH CLEAN CLEAR WATER

Conventional testing of a pumper has involved the grueling task of finding a standing water source such as a swimming pool, lake or stream. Suitable water sources are becoming more difficult to access and water levels are unpredictable. Water cleanliness can vary with dirty water causing abrasive premature pump wear. Test pits often contain dirty run off water and sediment and require transport to and from. The Draft Commander 3000® A/T comes with all hoses, complete set of testing discharge tips and a portable testing Draft Commander 3000® A/T telescoping monitor station. The Draft Commander 3000® A/T comes standard on a tongue mounted transporter but can also be ordered with a 5th wheel mount or the unit can be mounted stationary if desired. Pump testing can be done at the firehouse or amother desired location with no apparatus or personal downtime in the event of a emergency or fire call.

DRAFT COMMANDER 3000® A/T MONITOR STATION

The Draft Commander 3000® Monitor Station is mounted on a telescoping tripod for quick set up anywhere. The Draft Commander 3000® Monitor Station has two (2) pitot gauges reading 0-160, one (1) 400 pump pressure gauge, one (1) 0-30 vacuum gauge, one (1) etched instruction fire pump flow chart and one (1) etched smooth bore conversion flow chart. All gauges are liquid filled, mounted in the etched instruction panel, and each gauge is labeled and marked on the front and back panels of the Draft Commander 3000® Monitoring Station. Each gauge is equipped with quick disconnects. The pitot gauge quick disconnects come with a 30 ft high pressure hose so you are able to connect to each pitot gauge compartment. The vacuum and pressure gauges are each equipped with a 10 ft high pressure hose for the test plugs on the fire apparatus. The vacuum and pressure hose are equipped with fittings to attach to test plugs on the fire apparatus.

The detailed instructional etched fire pumps test flow chart for 500 GPM to 3000 GPM is mounted on the front side of the Draft Commander 3000® Monitoring Station. The fire pump test flow chart shows smooth bore nozzle sizes, GPM discharges, pitot reading pressures, suction hoses layout and size and discharge hoses layout and size information to perform a pump test (see chart on page 16). An etched flow pump chart showing the nozzle diameters to determine gallon per minute performance with nozzle range from 1” – 3” is mounted on the back panel of the monitoring station.

GREAT INVESTMENT FOR YOUR FIRE MUNICIPALITY

• Test your fire trucks annually (per NFPA 1911and ISO) at your location.

• Use for training operations of the fire pump and different evolutions of flowing water.

• Using clean and clear water protects your pumps and valves.

• Lifetime warranty on water reservoir.

• Add points to your ISO rating for each truck you test.

• No longer have plugged suction screens.

• Ability to disconnect your apparatus quickly if there is an emergency in the community.

• Mobile Pump Testing Monitor is furnished with each Draft Commander 3000®.

• The unit can be used outdoors during various seasons of the year or inside a building.

USE THE DRAFT COMMANDER 3000® A/T FOR TESTING FIRE HOSE

By utilizing the Draft Commander 3000® A/T and your fire apparatus fire pump you can test fire hoses up to 250-300 PSI. Example: using 2 ½” discharge to pressure the fire hose your testing up to 250 PSI and using another 2 ½” discharge attached to the Draft Commander 3000® A/T and discharging low volumes of water back into the Draft Commander 3000® A/T keeping your Fire Pump from overheating. Set your relief valve at 250 PSI or at a pressure desired.

Note: All fire hoses should be tested according to NFPA Standards.

WHY THE DRAFT COMMANDER 3000® A/T FOR TRAINING YOUR FIREFIGHTERS?

• Learn to perform a Fire Service Pump Test as per NFPA 1911-2007 Guidelines.

• Flowing water and setting the relief valve discharging large volumes of water and why setting the relief valve is important for safety of the Fire Fighters.

• Fire Pump Operator/Engineer- Importance of observing all gauges on the pump panel, such as master pressure gauge, vacuum gauge, individual gauge.

• Importance of when drafting to make sure of no air leaks which causes loosing prime and etc.

• See the difference in water flow and pressure when changing a two stage pump from pressure to volume.

• Importance of time when hooking up suction hose to discharge water to fight fire and learning what happens before your apparatus is ready to receive water.

• Learn the sounds of your fire apparatus engine and your fire apparatus fire pumps when flowing high volumes of water.

• Flowing water with different sizes of fire hoses and learning the difference of water flow using different pressures.

• Engagement of pump in gear and out of gear at an idle.

• Importance of not running your fire pump dry and not moving water for a long period of time.

• Importance of setting brake and use of wheels chocs.

• Disconnecting from Draft Commander 3000® A/T suction tubes and putting the fire apparatus back into service. Making sure the fire apparatus is ready to be put back into the fire house and ready for the next emergency call.

A MUST HAVE FOR YOUR FIRE APPARATUS SERVICE COMPANY

Perform Fire Service Pump Tests as per NFPA 1911-2007 Guidelines and ISO Standards at your customers location. Be the first company in your state to offer mobile pump testing at the customer’s location so the truck is not out of district or having to be driven to a remote location that takes time, drivers and fuel. Pump tests can be performed at your company whenever major repairs or modifications to the pump or any component of the apparatus that is used in pump operations have been made as per NFPA 1911 3.1 standards.

For more product information please contact Mike Weis or Gary Weis

Phone: 785-825-9527 * Toll Free 888-689-9347 * Fax 785-825-9538

Email: wfe@weisfiresafety.com