Relay Pumping 2015

Relay Pumping Operations
OBJECTIVES
• Identify potential water sources
• Demonstrate acquiring water
from various water sources
• Demonstrate proper relay
pumping hydraulic calculations
• Demonstrate proper relay
pumping techniques
Relay Pumping
Supplying water from a supply/source
to a destination through hose utilizing
multiple pumps (Engine Companies) to
maintain a constant pressure and GPM
requirement or need.
Water Supply/Source Possibilities
Portable
Tanks/Pumpkins
Hydrants
Tanks
Pools
Lakes Rivers
Ocean
Pressurized Source
(Hydrant)
Water
Supply/Source
Acquisition
Draft
Relay Pumping Hydraulics
To effectively pump and supply water through a relay
pumping operation, five basic pieces of information are
needed:
 How much water is required at the destination or how much
water is being utilized at the destination? (GPM Flow)
 What size hose is being utilized to move the water from the
supply/source to the destination? (Hose factor)
 How far away is the destination from the supply/source? (How

much hose, length)
 Is there any change in elevation from the supply/source to the

destination? (Elevation = +/- ½ psi per foot)
 Required incoming pressure (Intake Pressure) at the destination?

(LACoFD utilizes a standard of 25 psi Intake Pressure)
 For basic hydraulics, 25 psi can be thought of as the “nozzle pressure”.
Other information that is good to know:
• What is the maximum pump rating of your pump
and/or each pump in the relay operation?
 This will determine the amount of water that can be

delivered.
– The pump with the greatest rated capacity should be placed at the
supply/source.
– The pump with the smallest rated capacity should be placed at the destination.
• What is the maximum distance that each pump can

provide the required GPM through the hose?
 Overall distance can be increased by:
– Increasing the size of hose
– Adding hose lines
– Adding pumps (Engine Companies)
LACoFD Engine Main Pump Capacity Ratings
• 1989 Kovach (Manual) = 1000 GPM

• 1990/91 Pierce (Manual) = 1000 GPM
• 1993 KME (Manual & Jake Brake) = 1000
GPM
• 1995 KME (Manual & Telma) = 1000 GPM
• 1998 KME (Automatic) = 1000 GPM
• 2006/07 KME (Automatic) = 1500 GPM
• Hard Suction
– Maximizes water
supply
– Best to use with:
• Low pressure
hydrant
• Compromised water
system
– Can “draft” water
from a damaged
system that has
residual water in
pipes
• Soft Suction
– Added flexibility of
hose for tight areas or
offset areas
– Best to use with:
• Higher pressure hydrant
• Intact water system
– Can use a 50’ section of
4” hose if extra
distance is needed
• Soft Suction x 2
– Can add extra
supply line (2 ½” or
4”) for more water
Note gated
wye on
hydrant for
additional
supply
Supplying From Source Engine
1
Pump through
Hydra-Assist
When pumping large

2
diameter hose,
connect hose to right
side discharge for
safety
Supplying From Source Engine
Direct Pumping
1
When pumping large 2

diameter hose,
connect hose to right
side discharge for
safety
Supplying Next Engine
Middle Engine
When pumping large 3

diameter hose, connect
hose to right side
discharge for safety
Destination Engine
• Destination
Engine
4 – Fire Fighting
Engine
Maintain a minimum
incoming pressure
of 25 psi.
Other Supply Possibilities
Supplies hydrant pressure to
second engine.
First engine will draw off the
amount of water needed. The
remaining water supply will
pass through the pump to
the second engine.
• Tandem Pumping
– Connecting two
engines to one
hydrant.
• Connect through the
keystones
Both engines are flowing 1000 GPM
Other Creative Water Supplies
• “Draft Pit” made from ladders and
salvage cover
• Trash dumpster (line with salvage
cover) to use water eductor
• Dig a hole and line with a salvage
cover
• Water run off, drainage channel
dammed up
• Maximum working pressure
– LACoFD recommended maximum safe pumping
pressure is 200 psi
• Therefore, with a required incoming

pressure of 25 psi at the destination,
each pump (Engine Company) within the
relay operation has a working pressure
of 175 psi
• NOTE – Each engine/pump within the relay operation is
considered a destination for the previous engine/pump,
and a supply/source for the next engine/pump in line.
Sample Hydraulic
Problems for Relay
Pumping
11
Calculate the engine
pressure for Engine 1
with the following
? factors:
• 800’ of 4” hose
800’
800’ • No elevation gain or loss
• Engine 2 flowing 1000
gpm
Remember, we
only need to know
how much water
2
Engine 2 is
flowing….NOT
how, why, where,
or what Engine 2
? outgoing pressure
is.
• Engine 2 GPM = 1000
• Relay Hose size = 4” (Factor = .2)
• Conversion: 1000 x .2 = 200 GPM which equals
10 psi per 100’ of hose
• Relay Distance = 800’
• Friction loss for distance: 10 x 8 = 80 psi
• Elevation between supply/source and
destination - Flat ground = 0 psi
• Intake Pressure = 25 psi
• Therefore the math is simple

80 + 25 = 105 psi for Engine 1
11
105
800’
800’
25
(Incoming)
11
Calculate the engine
pressure for Engine 1
with the following
? factors:
• 700’ of 4” hose
700’
800’ • 20 foot elevation gain
• Engine 2 flowing 1500
gpm
Remember, we
1500
only need to know
how much water
2
Engine 2 is
flowing….NOT
how, why, where,
or what Engine 2
? outgoing pressure
20ft is.
• Engine 2 - GPM = 1500
destination – 20 feet above:
• ½ psi x 20 = 10 psi

147 + 10 + 25 = 182 psi for Engine 1
11
182
700’
800’
1500
25
(Incoming)
Extra Practice
Go to the white board, draw
these out and come up with a
solution.
• Calculate Engine Pressure (EP) for
third engine/pump (Engine 3) in line of
a five engine/pump relay operation
using 4” hose to supply water to
Engine 4 which is supplying 1200 GPM
to Engine 5. Engine 4 is 900 feet away
and 30 feet above Engine 3.
• Remember, we only need to know how much
water Engine 4 is flowing….NOT how, why,
where, or what Engine 4 outgoing pressure is.
We also don’t need to know any of the
specifics of the Engine 5 operation.
• Engine 4 - GPM = 1200
destination – 30 feet above:
• ½ psi x 30 = 15 psi

126 + 15 + 25 = 166 psi for Engine 3
the supply/source engine/pump
(Engine 1) supplying water to
Engine 2 flowing 750 GPM, 600 feet
away, using two 2 ½ ” hose lines, 50
feet below Engine 1.
• Remember, we only need to know how
much water Engine 2 is flowing….NOT
how, why, where, or what Engine 2
outgoing pressure is.
• Engine 2 - GPM = 750 Divided by 2 hose lines =
375
• Relay Hose size = 2 ½ ” (Factor = 1)
• Conversion: 375 x 1 = 375 GPM which equals 32
psi per 100’ of hose
destination – 50 feet below:
• ½ psi x -50 = -25 psi

192 + 25 - 25 = 192 psi for Engine 1
the supply/source engine/pump
(Engine 1) supplying water to
Engine 2 flowing three 2 ½” hose
lines with 1 ¼” smooth bore nozzles
tips, 800 feet away, using a 4” hose
lines, 25 feet above Engine 1.
• Remember, we only need to know how much
water Engine 2 is flowing….NOT how, why,
where, or what Engine 2 outgoing pressure is.
• Engine 2 - GPM = 975 (325 x 3)
• Conversion: 975 x .2 = 195 GPM which equals 9 ½
psi per 100’ of hose
• Friction loss for distance: 9 ½ x 8 = 76 psi
destination 25 feet above:
• ½ psi x 25 = 12 ½ psi

76 + 12 ½ + 25 = 113 ½ psi for Engine 1
Relay Pumping Practice
• Practice Drills
–Pump through a Hydra-Assist
–Draft and water eductor from
a self made “Draft Pit”, be
creative
–Tandem pump
Relay Pumping Practice
• Practice Drills
– Discover maximum relay length and
GPM
• Engine 1, lay from hydrant 600 feet or more
• Flow 600 GPM to 1500 GPM, can you do it?
– See how much you can pump, vary the GPM flow
• Engine 2, pump Engine 1 at various GPM needs
– Pump through Hydra-Assist
– Pump direct line
• Engine 2, add a supply line, how much does it
help?
– 2 ½” and 4”
Director of Training LACoFD Training Services Section
Battalion Chief Patrick Errett (323) 881-2436

Relay Pumping 2015

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Relay Pumping Operations

 How far away is the destination from the supply/source? (How

 Is there any change in elevation from the supply/source to the

 Required incoming pressure (Intake Pressure) at the destination?

 This will determine the amount of water that can be

• What is the maximum distance that each pump can

• 1989 Kovach (Manual) = 1000 GPM

When pumping large

When pumping large 2

When pumping large 3

• Therefore, with a required incoming

• Therefore the math is simple

• Therefore the math is simple

• Therefore the math is simple

• Therefore the math is simple

• Therefore the math is simple

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