What is defined as a fire pump?

A fire pump is specifically defined as a water pump that has a capacity of 250 gallons per minute (GPM) or greater while providing a minimum pressure of 150 pounds per square inch (psi). This definition highlights the critical role that fire pumps play in firefighting scenarios where high volumes of water at sufficient pressure are necessary to effectively combat fires.

Fire pumps are integral to fire protection systems, enabling firefighters to draw water from sources such as hydrants or reservoirs and deliver it to the fire scene with the required flow and pressure to suppress flames. The capacity and pressure specified ensure that the pump meets the demands of various firefighting operations.

The other options do not meet the criteria set forth in fire service standards. For instance, defining a fire pump simply as any pump with any GPM rating is too broad and does not address the critical pressure requirements essential for effective firefighting. A hand-operated device for water extraction does not qualify as a fire pump due to its limitations in capacity and pressure output. Lastly, a pump used exclusively for maintenance does not serve the purpose of delivering water for firefighting, thus failing to meet the definition of a fire pump.