Do you drain the tank for the test?

No. The flow test is performed with the tank in service. We do not drain, empty, or refill tanks as part of fire pump testing.

What if the pump fails the curve?

We document the result. Diagnosis and repair of the pump, controller, or piping is outside our scope. We can coordinate with a licensed contractor if needed.

Do you provide an engineering stamp?

No. FLOW provides the field data and report. If an AHJ or insurer requires a stamp, that is arranged separately through a licensed fire protection engineer.

Fire Pump Flow Testing (NFPA 25)

A fire pump is the only reliable way many buildings can deliver the required pressure and flow to standpipes and sprinkler systems during a fire. NFPA 25 requires weekly churn tests and an annual flow test that plots the pump curve against its original acceptance test. FLOW performs the water-side testing and documents the results. We do not drain tanks, repair pumps, or stamp engineering drawings.

What the Annual Fire Pump Flow Test Covers

The annual test measures the pump at three points and compares the results to the original acceptance test curve:

Churn (no-flow) pressure — the pump running against a closed discharge
100 percent rated flow — the design point the pump was selected for
150 percent rated flow — the maximum flow point required by NFPA 25
Suction and discharge pressures at each point
Voltage and amperage on each phase (recorded, not diagnosed)

What FLOW Does and Does Not Do

FLOW performs the water-side flow test and provides the field data and report. That is the scope.

We do not drain or empty tanks, perform coating or liner inspections, do ultrasonic thickness testing, repair pumps or controllers, or provide engineering stamps. If a licensed fire protection engineer or contractor is required for acceptance or repair, we coordinate through a partner and stay on the water side.

Who Needs Fire Pump Testing

High-rise and mid-rise buildings with standpipe systems
Large commercial and industrial facilities with fire pumps
Property managers preparing for annual NFPA 25 compliance
Owners whose insurance carrier or AHJ has requested the annual flow test
Buildings where the weekly churn test has not been documented

What to Expect During the Test

1
Site coordination: we confirm the pump room is accessible, the controller is in automatic, and any required notifications are made.
2
Weekly churn data review: if records exist, we note the pattern. If not, the annual test still proceeds.
3
Flow test: suction and discharge pressures recorded at churn, 100 percent, and 150 percent of rated flow.
4
Electrical readings: voltage and amperage recorded on each phase. We do not troubleshoot controllers.
5
Report delivery: test data, pump curve comparison to the acceptance test, and a clear statement of what was tested.

Code References

NFPA 25-2020 (Virginia edition)

Chapter 8 — Fire Pumps. Weekly churn and annual flow test requirements.

NFPA 20

Standard for the Installation of Stationary Pumps for Fire Protection. Original acceptance test is the baseline.

NFPA 14-2019 (Virginia edition)

Standpipe systems that rely on the fire pump for required pressure and flow.

Related Planning Resources

NFPA 25 overview — What the standard requires and how FLOW approaches the water side.
Standpipe flow testing — Flow testing the system the pump is designed to support.
What we do and don't — Clear scope boundaries for every service.

Frequently Asked Questions

NFPA 25 requires a weekly churn (no-flow) test and an annual flow test at 100 percent and 150 percent of rated capacity. The annual test is compared to the original acceptance test.

Schedule a Fire Pump Test