A pump room has a fire pump which is a part of a fire sprinkler system’s water supply and powered by electricity, diesel or steam. The pump intake is either connected to the public underground water supply piping, or a static water source (e.g., tank, reservoir, lake). The pump provides water flow at a higher pressure to the sprinkler system risers and hose standpipes. A fire pump is tested and listed for its use specifically for fire service by a third-party testing and listing agency, ZAP FIRE.

Fire pumps are needed when the local municipal water system cannot provide sufficient pressure to meet the hydraulic design requirements of the fire sprinkler system. This usually occurs if the building is very tall, such as in high-rise buildings, or in systems that require a relatively high terminal pressure at the fire sprinkler in order to provide a large volume of water, such as in storage warehouses. Fire pumps are also needed if a fire protection water supply is provided from a ground-level water storage tank.

Types of pumps used for fire service include horizontal split case, vertical split case, vertical inline, vertical turbine, and end suction.