Operate Pumps

PUAFIR309B – Operate pumps

CERTIFICATE III

Overview

Water is the most commonly used fire extinguishing agent. For water to be used effectively, it needs to be applied in a suitable form and at a rate high enough to overcome the heat of a fire. This learner resource is designed to provide an individual with the knowledge and skills to operate portable and appliance-mounted pumps to support operations at an incident.

Target

audience

The target audience for this training are individuals who are required to operate portable and appliance-mounted pumps at an incident.

Nominal

duration

80 hours

Relationship to PUA units

This document is part of the support materials for the unit of competency, PUAFIR309B Operate Pumps. PUAFIR309B is a core unit in Certificate III in Public Safety (Firefighting and Emergency Operations) and an elective unit in Certificate III in Public Safety (Firefighting Operations).

Course
content

This learner resource is divided into eight sections.

·         Section 1 deals with the theory associated with hydraulics and pump operation.

·         Section 2 explores the centrifugal pump and principles of operation; it also discusses multi-stage and peripheral pumps.

·         Section 3 describes the types of pumps commonly used as priming pumps

·         Section 4 explains the different types of pump gauges, valves and engine controls used to safely and effectively pump water.

·         Section 5 describes portable pumps, their operation and maintenance.

·         Section 6 covers appliance-mounted pumps, their installation, power train, how to power the pump, cooling systems, their operation and maintenance.

·         Section 7 concentrates on practical pump operation in a range of situations.

·         Section 8 describes types of foam and foam-making equipment.

Learning objectives

On completion of PUAFIR309B, participants will be able to:

·         identify and apply the principles of hydraulics to practical pump operation

·         describe the principle of operation, characteristics, limitations and representative types of centrifugal firefighting pumps

·         locate, set up, prime and operate safely a firefighting pump to provide an effective and reliable water supply to firefighters

·         describe the operation and use of pump gauges, valves and controls

·         describe the characteristics, operation and maintenance of typical portable and appliance-mounted firefighting pumps

·         apply practical pump operation techniques, including operating from an appliance tank, open water and reticulated water supply; fault finding and relay pumping

·         deal safely and effectively with a typical range of problems, within the scope of operator control, that might interrupt or diminish the safety and effectiveness of pump operation

·         describe the characteristics, use and limitations of typical firefighting foams and foam making equipment

·         demonstrate the safe and effective operation of pumps, primers, valves, controls and foam systems in a typical variety of firefighting scenarios.