Prepare for your pump operator test

The mental model — where water comes from and where it goes.

• Pump Basics

  Trace how the pump moves water from intake to discharge.

• Panel Anatomy & Flow Paths

  Name every gauge, valve, and control on the panel.

• Tank-to-Pump & First Line

  Get water on the line from your own tank.

Read your supply and protect the pump while you hold water.

• Static & Residual Pressure

  Read static and residual pressure to judge a hydrant.

• Tank Fill / Recirculation

  Keep the pump cool when you are holding water.

• Recirculation and HeatPro

  Manage recirculation and heat during a hold.

• Watch Your WaterPro

  Plan ahead so your tank water does not run out on you.

• Weak HydrantPro

  Hold a line on a weak hydrant without losing the pump.

Pressure, friction, and what the nozzle is asking for.

• Friction Loss Basics

  Explain how friction loss grows with flow and length.

• Pump Discharge Pressure Builder

  Build a pump discharge pressure from its parts.

• The Pump Curve and The Tag

  Read the pump curve and what the capacity tag is telling you.

• Automatic Nozzles: The Flow You Can't Feel

  Explain what an automatic nozzle does to your pressure.

• First Attack Line

  Set the pressure for a first attack line.

• The Big LinePro

  Set the pressure for a high-flow line.

• Uphill StretchPro

  Correct for a line stretched uphill.

• Through the WyePro

  Pump through a wye to two branches.

• Know Your AutomaticPro

  Pump an automatic-nozzle line and hold the right pressure.

Whole-incident decisions, start to finish.

• Five Pump Myths

  Avoid the common pump-operator myths.

• First Line from Tank

  Get the first line flowing from tank, start to finish.

• Hydrant TransitionPro

  Transition from tank to an established hydrant supply.

• Two Lines, One PumpPro

  Balance pressure across two working lines.

• Stretched ShortPro

  Recalculate when the stretch changes on you.

Hands-on to demonstrate for your evaluator

The app can’t verify these — work them on the apparatus with your instructor. With Pro they print on your prep summary as a checklist to fill in together.

• ○Prime the pump from a static (draft) source on your apparatus.
• ○Complete a tank-to-pump transition on the rig with water on a line.
• ○Establish a hydrant supply and transition to it without losing the line.
• ○Set and check your relief valve or pressure governor on the apparatus.
• ○Flow two attack lines at once and keep both pressures steady.
• ○Recognize and recover a loss of prime or a cavitating pump with your evaluator.