SKILL  KNOWLEDGE  SAFETY

PUAFIR309B - Operate pumps

Description This unit covers the competency to operate portable and appliance-mounted pumps at an incident
Pre Requisites

PUAFIR203B Respond to urban fire OR

PUAFIR202B Respond to isolated/remote structure fire OR

PUAFIR204B Respond to wildfire OR

PUAFIR205B Respond to aviation incident (specialist)
Application

The application of this unit in the workplace - the environments, complexities and situations involved - will be written during Phase II of the Review of the PUA00 Public Safety Training Package.

This text will be useful for the purposes of job descriptions, recruitment advice or job analysis; where possible, it will not be too job specific to allow other industries to import it into other Training Packages, where feasible.
Performance Criteria
1. Prepare pump to deliver water    
1.1 Type of pump selected is appropriate to the operation/incident
1.2 Suitability of water supply is determined
1.3 Pump is sited and positioned to receive and deliver water supply in accordance with the organisation's requirements
1.4 Pump is engaged in accordance with the manufacturer's guidelines and the organisation's procedures
1.5 Appropriate agents are prepared for the production of foam at an incident, where required

2. Operate pump    
2.1 Pump components, ancillary equipment and principles of operation are utilised to draught water from a static supply, to boost water from a reticulated supply or to deliver water from the appliance tank
2.2 Pump operation is in accordance with manufacturer's specifications, organisation's procedures and OH&S guidelines
2.3 Hydraulic requirements of hose lines and branches are calculated
2.4 Pumps are operated to ensure that pressure and flow meet operational requirements and safety to personnel is maintained
2.5 Pump performance is monitored and maintained to ensure maximum efficiency of operation, to detect and correct pumping and safety problems and to take appropriate action in accordance with the organisation's procedures
2.6 Pump operations are to be carried out avoiding injury to personnel and damage to equipment and facilities
2.7 Mechanical malfunctions are reported to supervisor according to the organisation's procedures

3. Conclude pump operations    
3.1 Pump operations are concluded in accordance with the organisation's procedures
3.2 Ancillary equipment is collected and stowed in accordance with the organisation's requirements
3.3 Maintenance procedures and checks are undertaken to ensure pump and ancillary equipment is serviceable in accordance with the organisation's requirements
    
Required Skills & Knowledge Required Skills
  • prime and operate a pump
  • operate a pump using gauges and controls
  • position a pump
  • supply water to a location using a relay pump

Required Knowledge
  • principles of hydraulics (flow and pressure)
  • calculations of water supply capacity
  • hydraulic calculations including friction loss
  • velocity
  • discharge and flow rates
  • jet reaction
  • theoretical and effective height of a jet
  • types of pumps and primers
  • pump components and their principles of operation
  • pump gauges and controls
  • power train
  • positioning pumps
  • principles of operating pumps
  • relay pumping
  • types of foam concentrate
Range Statement Pumps may include    
  • portable pumps
  • positive displacement
  • centrifugal
  • ejector
  • free-standing, trailer or vehicle-mounted
  • petrol or diesel driven
  • appliance-mounted pumps
  • single-stage centrifugal
  • multi-stage centrifugal
  • series/parallel centrifugal
  • peripheral
  • water turbine

Water supplies may be of the following shapes    
  • rectangular
  • spherical
  • cylindrical
  • trapezoidal
  • irregular

Hydraulic calculations may include    
  • friction loss
  • velocity
  • discharge and flow rates
  • jet reaction
  • theoretical and effective height of a jet

Foam equipment may include    
  • foam-making branch pipes
  • in-line inductors
  • in-line foam generators
  • round-the-pump proportioners
  • pressure-balanced foam systems
  • electronic foam systems
  • Class A foam systems
  • Class B foam systems
  • medium expansion foam equipment
  • high expansion foam equipment
  • high back-pressure (sub-surface injection) foam system
  • compressed air foam system
  • pick-up tubes

Primers may include    
  • force pump
  • exhaust ejector
  • diaphragm
  • water ring
  • rotary vane
  • rotary gear

Concentrates may include    
  • aqueous film forming foam
  • alcohol type foam
  • protein foam
  • Class A foam

Static water supply may include    
  • Dams
  • rivers
  • lakes
  • reservoirs
  • tanks
  • seawater
  • swimming pools
  • portable dams

Reticulated water supply may include    
  • trunk mains
  • distributary mains
  • reticulation mains

Ancillary equipment may include    
  • hydrant tools and openers
  • standpipes
  • suction hoses, spanners, strainers, baskets
  • ropes/lines
  • couplings
  • adaptors and matching pieces
  • breechings
  • delivery hose

Organisation's procedures may be covered in    
  • training manuals
  • manufacturer's specifications
  • fireground procedures
  • OH&S guidelines
  • maintenance procedures and checks
  • pumping practices
  • service procedures
  • standard operating procedures

Operation includes observance of    
  • branch operators, where possible
  • pump operators on other units when relay pumping
  • monitoring of gauges and warning lights
  • use of pressure relief valves and transfer valves
  • use of pump performance charts or tables illustrating information such as optimum nozzle pressure and friction loss
  • water levels

Suitability factors include    
  • capacity
  • pressure
  • turbidity
  • salinity
Evidence Guide Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit    
It is essential for this unit that competence be demonstrated in:
maintenance of water supply to branch operators
maintenance of appropriate levels of pressure
responding appropriately to changing circumstances
when using foam, the correct proportion of foam and water is supplied/delivered and supply of foam concentrate is maintained
when pumping from an appliance tank, monitoring levels of water remaining in appliance tank to ensure minimum levels for crew protection
pumping without injury to personnel or damage to equipment

Consistency in performance
Evidence should be gathered over a period of time in a range of actual or simulated workplace environments

Context of and specific resources for assessment    
Context of assessment
A combination of oral or written presentations, on the job and/or in a range of simulated environments

Specific resources for assessment
Access to a range of pumps

Guidance information for assessment     
Information that will assist or guide assessment will be written during Phase II of the Review of the PUA00 Public Safety Training Package.

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