Glossary & FAQ
Pump Operators Glossary
The Pump Operators Glossary gives you plain-language definitions of the fire-pump-operations terms, acronyms, and phrases behind the panel — each one linked to the lessons, calculators, scenarios, and simulator that teach it. There are 50+ terms, and it's free to browse.
Browsing terms
Terms are organized into categories so you can find what you need:
- Hydraulics — PDP, nozzle pressure, friction loss, static and residual pressure, elevation pressure, appliance loss, nozzle reaction, net pump discharge pressure, flow rate, back pressure, water hammer, friction coefficient, pump curve, priming, cavitation, overdraw, relief valve.
- Equipment — smooth-bore / fog / automatic nozzles, master stream, gated wye, siamese, large-diameter hose, preconnect, fire department connection, booster tank, suction strainer, intake.
- Operations — supply, drafting, relay pumping, recirculation, hydrant, standpipe, discharge gate, lift, available fire flow.
- Water Supply and Scenarios & Training Concepts — supply terms and the ideas that recur across scenarios.
What's on a term page
Each term page includes:
- A plain-language definition (the first line is a complete, standalone answer).
- Expanded detail putting the concept in teaching context.
- The formula, where one applies (e.g. PDP = NP + FL + AL + EP), with a legend for each symbol.
- A short FAQ of practical questions about that term.
- Related terms and links to the lessons and calculators that teach it.
- For many terms, an interactive diagram (see below).
Interactive diagrams
Many terms include a small interactive diagram you can play with — drag a slider or pick an option and watch the result update. For example:
- Nozzle pressure — pick a nozzle and adjust pressure to see GOOD / UNDER / OVER zones.
- Automatic nozzle — change delivered pressure and watch tip pressure, flow, and whether the line is fed vs. starved.
- Friction loss, elevation, cavitation, drafting/lift, hydrant changeover — see how each relationship behaves as you change the inputs.
Every diagram uses a label and symbol (not color alone) for its status and respects reduced-motion settings.
Links from the rest of the app
The first time a glossary term appears in a lesson, a calculator's help text, or a flashcard answer, it becomes a subtle link to its definition. Tap it to read the full entry, then return to where you were — you won't lose your place.
Frequently Asked Questions
The FAQ page answers about 20 of the most common questions, grouped roughly into:
- About the app & certification — Tank to Pump is a training aid, not a certification course; it doesn't replace hands-on training; the panel is a generic side-mount panel, not a specific apparatus; it's standards-informed but doesn't claim formal standards alignment or AHJ approval.
- Account & access — you can use the core features with no account; an account saves your lesson progress, scenario attempts, and flashcard schedule; saved progress is your personal practice record, not an official department record.
- Device & accessibility — lessons and calculators work well on mobile; the full panel is best on a larger screen.
- Features & content — the simplified training-math defaults it uses, the 16+ calculators, metric support, the glossary, how flashcards' spaced repetition works, and what practice mode is.
- Future & instructor use — lightweight group/instructor features are planned for a later version; foam/aerial/wildland/relay/standpipe appear as calculators in V1 while the full simulation stays focused on core pump-operator fundamentals.
- Pricing — the fundamentals are free; paid tiers are additive.
Definitions and diagrams are simplified training explanations. See Safety & Disclaimer.