Base Building Fire and Life Safety Team

Fire Pump Churn Testing

Fire Pump Churn Testing
Introduction

• The baseline regulations for Amazon Fire/Life-Safety equipment come

from the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) Standards.

• NFPA-25 is the “Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance

of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems”.

• NFPA-25 requires diesel driven fire pumps to be exercised for 30-

minutes each week. This standard requires electric driven fire pumps to Electric Pump
be exercised monthly. Amazon’s policy is to perform weekly fire
pump churn tests on both diesel and electric pumps to support
consistent testing.
Diesel Pump

• Amazon fire pump weekly run requirements:

• Diesel: 30-minutes
• Electric: 10-minutes

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 Fire Pump Churn Testing
Weekly Fire Pump Churn Test EAM Work Order

Amazon
PM Schedule FLS PM TASK (TITLE) TASK INSTRUCTIONS FREQUENCY Quarter Code PM Purpose (i.e. failure
(every # weeks) PERFORMED BY Performed reference controlled) Tech
Labor
Conduct weekly diesel fire pump inspection / test in accordance with NFPA-25 Site personnel if base
building techs onsite. 60 min per
FLS weekly DIESEL and/or ELECTRIC fire pump 1) Verify if EPO Interlock is tied to system NFPA 25
FLS.WS.PUMP.01 1 (unless prohibited by ALL QUARTERS Verify Fire Pump operation fire pump
inspection / churn test 2) Verify that EPO has been disable at both the FACP and the MDF room FACU before any local regulation - if so, 8.3.1.1
testing takes place churn test
vendor)

FLS PM: FLS.WS.PUMP.01

“FLS weekly DIESEL and/or ELECTRIC fire pump inspection / churn test”

"Conduct weekly diesel fire pump inspection / test in accordance with NFPA-25,
8.3.1.1
1) Verify if EPO Interlock is tied to system
2) Verify that EPO has been disable at both the FACP and
the MDF room FACP before any testing takes place“

The weekly churn test should be performed by site RME personnel unless:
1) The site has no RME personnel
2) Local regulation requires an FLS vendor to perform
3) The Landlord is responsible for fire pump maintenance

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Fire Pump Churn Testing
Fire Alarm Test and Disable Mode

PLACE FIRE ALARM SYSTEM IN TEST MODE AND DISABLE

FACU
Contact all Amazon stakeholders and inform them of the test. Fill out the fire system
impairment form on the Amazon website. Locate your facilities PMV to place your
FACU in test mode with the alarm monitoring company and then disable the FACU.

PROCEDURE:
1.Locate the outside contact number for Fire Alarm Monitoring
company.
2.Identify Amazon account number associated with facilities FACP.
3.Identify password in order to place system in test mode.
4.Call the fire alarm monitoring company and place system in test
mode for up to eight hours depending on the FLS PM or repair
task length. Once PM or repair is complete, take the system off
test after fire alarm panel restores to normal.
5.Disable the BMS trouble ticket function in your BMS dashboard
6.You then must physically disable the fire alarm panel horns
strobes and interlocks.(conveyance shut downs, elevator, hvac, ect.)
See PMV steps.
Step six is critical so site operation is not affected during pump test. There is a small
chance a waterflow switch can be activated due to flowing water within the sprinkler
system piping network.

* Monitoring contact number and Account number example

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Fire Pump Churn Testing
Fire Pump Churn Test Pressure Drop

REQUIREMENTS PER NFPA 20

There are three ways to start a fire pump to perform the churn test. Rotate start
methods every week.

#1.Pressure drop start on the main fire pump controller panel.

• Pull the plug out of the sensing line and open the ½” line until the fire
pump activates. (This ensures the sensing line is free of obstructions
during an actual pressure drop in the system)

• Record at what drop in pressure the fire pump starts

• When fire pump engages verify the fire pump runs and shuts off through
the timer test. Timer test as follows:

• Diesel- 30 minute run time

• Electric-10 minute run time
• ALSO VERIFY A FIRE PUMP RUN SUPERVISORY SIGNAL IS
BEING TRANSMITTED TO YOUR FIRE ALARM CONTROL
PANEL Pressure drop outlet
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 Fire Pump Churn Testing
Fire Pump Churn Test Manual Start

#2. Manual start button at the Fire Pump Controller

1. Find the fire pump controllers “on” button. It will be in the

form of a “push” button or a turn style switch.

2. Press or turn the switch, to manually start the fire pump. (This
verifies that if the fire pump does not activate through a
pressure drop in the sprinkler system it can be manually
activated thru the FP controller.)
3. Let the timer test perform it’s job by turning the pump off
through the proper shut off time.
Diesel- 30 min run time
Electric – 10 min run time

ALSO VERIFY A FIRE PUMP RUN SUPERVISORY

SIGNAL IS BEING TRANSMITTED TO YOUR FIRE
ALARM CONTROL PANEL

On or Start Button
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Fire Pump Churn Testing
Fire Pump Churn Test Manual Start at FP Engine

#3. Switch the turn style button to “H” which stands for
“hand” on the fire pump controller.
(The older FP controllers use the letter “M” for “manual”)

Go to the diesel engine controller:

1. Mode selector switched to “manual run”

2. Hold “manual crank” #1 in the up position until the diesel

engine starts. (15 seconds max)

3. Rotate manual crank 1 & 2 in-between manual diesel engine

start

4. The timer test on the Diesel FP will time out at 30 minutes.

** Anytime during the run of the diesel/electric engine, if you see any
trouble lights or hear anything out of the ordinary, immediately press
and hold the manual stop toggle switch until the FP shuts off.**

Amazon Confidential Manual Crank

 Fire Pump Churn Testing
Fire Pump Check During Test

FIRE PUMP CHECK DURING TEST

• Record the pump starting pressure.
(FP controller should have start up pressure in permanent marker)
• Record the system suction & discharge pressure gauge readings. (Any suction pressure
below 20 psi) Immediately shut the FP off.

• Check the pump packing glands for slight discharge. (One drop per second) (Safety guard)
Check with vendor on performance adjustment measures.
• Adjust gland nuts if necessary

• Check for unusual noise or vibration. (High pitched metal to metal )

• Check packing boxes, bearings or pump casing for overheating. Check coolant
temperature gauge located on controller or engine (diesel only).

• Keep log book posted inside fire pump room.

• PUMP TEST FORM IS CURRENTLY BEING MODIFIED as of Apr-2022

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 Fire Pump Churn Testing
Fire Pump Packing Glands

Fire Pump Packing Glands

• During the weekly fire pump churn test, it is important to observe the
packing glands.
• The glands seal the rotating assembly inside the cases.
• They also provide a cooling water to the rotating shaft.
• The minimum requirements of water leak-by is one drop per second.
• If more than one drop per second has been identified the packing bolts will
need to be adjusted.
• Use tools that will adjust the nuts accordingly.
(Be careful not to adjust the bolts too much as there is only ½ - ¾ of bolt
travel before the packing glands have to be replaced.)
• Please have an FLS vendor adjust packing if you are unsure of how to do so.
DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN OR YOU MAY DAMAGE THE BEARINGS
AND PUMP

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 Fire Pump Churn Testing
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why do Amazon personnel
perform the fire pump churn
test?
Frugality. Paying vendors to visit the
site weekly is costly and disruptive.
By bringing fire pump testing in-house,
Amazon saves approximately $3-million
across the NACF network each year.
Q: Why are the diesel and
electric pumps run for different
times?
One of the purposes of the weekly test is
to bring the motor to its operating
temperature. This extends the life of the
system, and ensures the pump can run
for an extended period.
Diesel and electric pump drivers have
different operating temperatures, so the
run time for each is also different.
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Q: Why is my fire pump not
shutting down after the timer
test is complete ?
The fire pump controller tells the fire pump
when to turn off. Occasionally these fire
pump controllers are not set properly and it
may be necessary to manually turn the fire
pump off using the “stop” button. On electric
fire pumps do not use the knife or lever
disconnect switch to stop the fire pump. Per
Amazon electrical arc flash policy the knife
switch is not allowed to be used.
NOTE: The jockey pump will shut off after
the completion of the churn test. The total
system pressure needs to be brought up to
normal operating pressure before jockey
pump will shut down. (Pressure will be
labeled on the jockey pump controller)
 Fire Pump Churn Testing
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: The fire pump is leaking
more than 1 drop per second.
What action do I take ?
The fire pump has packing glands inside the
rotating assembly. After a fire pump churn
test has been completed, typically the packing
gland nuts will need to be adjusted to expel
the correct amount of water for cooling
purposes of the packing/rotating assembly.
Contact an FLS vendor if you are unsure of
adjustment.
Q: What if the fire alarm panel
Q: How do I shut off the pump
does not indicate a fire pump
in an emergency?
signal?
Contact your FLS fire alarm vendor Use the off selector switch or button to
immediately to have this repaired. These isolate and shut off the pump on the
signals are critical and must be monitored
controller. DO NOT use the electrical
24/7 and are required by fire code.
knife switch or circuit breaker unless all
Amazon arc flash procedures are used
under the listed WHS cal/cm2 rating.
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End of the Road
Questions and Contact Info

FLS WIKI
https://w.amazon.com/bin/view/Fire/Life-Safety_Program
FLS Playbook
https://start.wwops.amazon.dev/boards/15844/253519
Playbook question or comments: Kyle Brown kylebroj@amazon.com
Help needed? Ask the SMEs
firesafety@amazon.com

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