Fire pumps are which type of pump?

• A. Multistage centrifugal pump
• B. Reciprocating pump
• C. Single staged centrifugal pump
• D. Positive displacement pump

Answer: (C)

Fire pumps in fire protection systems use centrifugal pump action, which turns shaft power into fluid velocity and pressure to push a large volume of water quickly. The typical fire pump configuration is a single-stage centrifugal unit, meaning there is one impeller in the pump. This setup provides the needed flow with a simple, robust design that starts quickly and is easy to maintain, which is ideal for reliable fire protection service.

A multistage centrifugal pump would add extra impellers to raise the pressure, which is not required for most standard fire protection scenarios and adds complexity and cost. Reciprocating (positive displacement) pumps and other positive displacement types aren’t used as the standard fire pump because they’re not as well suited to the high-flow, rapid-start demands of fire protection systems.