The Basics of Dual Pumping (Pump Series Part 24)

[@loladauster6172]

My department strongly believes in the safety of the men and women inside a structure fire. After a couple near-misses, we addressed our issues by pumping in a similar method as yours with a slight variation. While the crew of Pumper A is hooking up to the hydrant, we have Pumper A engineer pump through a line we call "Truck to Truck" to Pumper B intake, that they had rolled back, and give Pumper B their tank water. This will is a more efficient way to give the interior crew additional water immediately until the crew of Pumper A hooks the hydrant up to Pumper A and then continues to feed Pumper B through the Truck to Truck line. This provides a safety measure for a complete pump failure along with providing the opportunity to pump multiple additional lines off of Pumper A. Give it a try and I'm sure you will find it more efficient as well as better safety for your crews.

[@TheRollSteady]

If I'm understanding correctly, you are referring to Relay/Series Pumping. This is a great option and one that we use as well here in Dallas. Our SOPs do not dictate if we use a Dual or Series setup... so it's on the discretion of the Drivers to match the method to the scenario. Part 25 in this series (next Monday), will cover what Pumping in Series/Relay looks like. Appreciate the comment 🙏

[@chadwheeler3501]

We do the same. Fortunately, have never had a pump failure in 13 years, but I have lost water supply (5” hydrant) three times. Once civilian vehicle and twice hose failure.

[@Wallacecory]

Your videos are both informative and appreciated. Thank you for this. Valuable. What would you say to using a 5" to connect to pumper A's other side intake to Pumper Bs instead of the 3"? Thank you for your time.

[@TheRollSteady]

5” is a great option.

[@briansargent2834]

Thanks for sharing! I’m wondering what the Engine A operator is doing to prepare for a failure? Is the pump engaged? Tank to pump open? The concept makes sense to me and I feel like it’s a solid practice, it’s just new to me :) thanks!

[@TheRollSteady]

In a dual pumping set up, both engines are pumping and flowing water. They are just sharing a single hydrants pressure and volume.

[@gsmacka96]

Im still not understanding how attaching to the Intake on both sides vs hooking up the discharge on engine A would allow to bypass pump on engine B.

[@noyanerermis4439]

My understanding is the discharge is on the other side of the pump. So if the pump is down, the discharge wouldn't be much use. Using intake to intake, the hydrant water goes directly to pumper B without having to go through pumper A pump.

[@achilles6312]

By any chance have you, or do you plan on making any training videos about pumping to or through appliances and their friction loss associated with them? Eg. foam pickup, wye, Siamese, thief, etc...

[@TheRollSteady]

If you check out Therollsteady.com, under classes we have an engine pumping course (100% free). It's called Pump School with Rick Brewer. In the "Know Your Hose" section we discuss friction loss a bit. It would be impossible to factor exact FL in every appliance out there. Best thing is to isolate the equipment you utilize on a regular basis (wye, inline system, etc) and then test each appliance using the same setup. We've done this just using our FoamPro or pitot tube from the water dept. This should get you rough numbers to use on a cheat sheet.

[@achilles6312]

@@TheRollSteady Awesome thank you, also when you're writing with your marker on the glass, how are you doing that?

[@TheRollSteady]

@@achilles6312 its called a lightboard. Just plexiglass and a camera.

[@ronburgundy6760]

Much easier in my opinion for engine A to tag the hydrant and run their 5” off their discharge to engine B’s intake. If engine B needs more pressure, engine A simply engages pump. If engine B goes down, engine A becomes main pumping unit and can pump right through engine B

[@greglackey]

What you are describing is "relay" or "series" pumping. This is a different tactic that bypasses the pump entirely. I'm not sure what you mean by "easier" since the mechanics of hooking up a hose to a threaded pipe is exactly the same process and amount of work. If you mean utilizing "series pumping" is easier than "dual pumping," you've missed the point. Both series/relay and dual/parallel pumping can be used to solve problems on the fire ground. It's about knowing the "HOW and WHY" that equips great Drivers with the ability to solve [unexpected] problems on the fire ground. One tool in the toolbox will only get you so far in this career. I have used series pumping far more than dual pumping... however, dual pumping is a tactic that was learned and taught throughout our ranks in Dallas after the Baby Doe's Restaurant fire. Series pumping played a roll in the issue.... dual pumping solved it.

[@ronburgundy6760]

@ We call it “manifolding” because normally the supply engine at the hydrant isn’t pumping, simply flowing from the hydrant through our engine and into the first in engine at the fire. Just a safety valve so to speak. No threaded connections with 5” so it goes quick gaining supply. If first engine goes down we simply overcome friction loss and can pump the fire from the supply engine. Also keeps the second engine away from the fire and doesn’t block ladder company in front of the house. We’ve used intake to intake at large fires and yes, it’s another tool in the toolbox but at a standard house fire we feel our supply gets established very quickly.

[@greglackey]

What is the advantage to using intake to intake at larger fires vs. Discharge to Intake?