Fire Pumps and the Fire Water Network
An engineer-written guide to the fire pump set and the water network it serves, explaining the role of jockey, duty and standby pumps, dedicated water storage, and the risers that feed sprinklers, hydrants and hose reels.
Almost every active firefighting system in a building — sprinklers, hydrants, hose reels and standpipes — needs water delivered at a guaranteed pressure and flow. The town water main alone cannot be relied upon to provide this during a fire, so buildings install a dedicated fire pump set fed from a stored water supply. This is the heart that pressurises the entire fire water network.
A fire pump installation is engineered for reliability above all else: it must start automatically, deliver its rated performance even if the electricity fails, and never lose its water supply. This guide explains the pumps, the storage, and the network of pipes they pressurise.
How it works
Dedicated water storage. The fire pumps draw from a stored water supply — typically a dedicated fire water tank or a reserved fire volume within a larger tank — sized to sustain the design firefighting demand for a required duration. Keeping this reserve separate from domestic water ensures that water is always available for firefighting even if other systems are in use or isolated.
The jockey (pressure-maintenance) pump. The network is normally held at a steady standby pressure. Small leaks or pressure drift would otherwise cause the main pumps to start unnecessarily, so a small jockey pump tops the system up and maintains pressure. It runs frequently and briefly, keeping the large pumps idle until a genuine demand — such as a sprinkler head opening — causes a real pressure drop.
The duty fire pump. When pressure falls below the jockey’s range, the main duty fire pump starts automatically and delivers the rated flow and pressure for sprinklers, hydrants or hose reels. It is sized from the most demanding fire scenario in the building and is usually electrically driven. Once started it typically continues running until manually reset, so that protection is not interrupted.
The diesel standby pump. Because mains power can fail in a fire, a diesel-engine-driven standby pump is provided to take over if the electric duty pump loses power or fails to deliver. With its own fuel supply and batteries, it is independent of the building’s electrical system, giving the installation a reliable second source of pumping. The controllers monitor both pumps and start them in sequence on pressure demand.
The fire water network. From the pump discharge, a common header feeds vertical fire risers that distribute water up through the building. Branches off the risers serve the sprinkler control valves, fire hydrants/landing valves and hose reels on each floor. A fire brigade inlet (breeching inlet) lets the fire service pump additional water into the network from their appliances. Properly sized pipework keeps pressure adequate at the most remote and highest outlet.
Main types
In the UAE
- Fire pump capacity, redundancy and water storage in the UAE follow the UAE Fire & Life Safety Code of Practice (referencing NFPA pump standards), enforced by Civil Defence — in Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Civil Defence (ADCD).
- Fire pump and water-supply designs require Civil Defence approval, inspection and witnessed performance/flow testing, and must use approved/listed pumps, controllers and components.
- A diesel standby pump is commonly required so that firefighting water remains available during a power failure, and pump rooms must meet access, ventilation and fire-separation requirements.
How GPR applies this
As an Abu Dhabi firefighting contractor, GPR designs and installs complete fire pump sets — jockey, electric duty and diesel standby pumps with their controllers — fed from correctly sized dedicated fire water storage. GPR builds the common header, fire risers and branch connections that serve sprinklers, hydrants and hose reels, provides the fire brigade inlet, and commissions and flow-tests the installation for ADCD approval to UAE Fire & Life Safety Code requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Why does a building need a fire pump instead of using the town water main?
The town main cannot guarantee the pressure and flow that sprinklers and hydrants need during a fire, so a dedicated fire pump set draws from stored water and pressurises the network reliably.
What is the difference between a jockey pump and the main fire pump?
The jockey pump is a small pump that maintains standby pressure and prevents needless starting of the main pump; the main (duty) pump is the large pump that delivers the rated firefighting flow when a real demand drops the pressure.
Why is a diesel pump used as a backup?
Because mains electricity can fail during a fire, a diesel-engine pump with its own fuel and batteries provides an independent source of pumping so firefighting water stays available even without power.
What is a fire brigade inlet?
It is a breeching connection on the outside of the building that lets the fire service pump extra water into the fire network from their appliances, boosting the supply during firefighting.
Do fire pumps in the UAE need Civil Defence approval?
Yes. Fire pump and water-supply designs must be approved by Civil Defence, use approved/listed equipment, and pass witnessed flow and performance testing before the building can be occupied.