When should a report indicate an investigation on the performance of a fire pump is necessary?

• A. If the packing glands smoke during the flow test
• B. When the pump's flow is degraded by 5% or more
• C. When the voltage reading is below 7%
• D. When there are air pockets in the water supply

Answer: (D)

Air in the suction/ water supply signals a suction-side problem that can prevent the fire pump from priming properly and delivering rated flow. When air pockets are present, the pump may lose prime, experience unstable operation, or even cavitate, all of which directly undermine performance. A report should flag this condition to identify and fix the source—venting issues, air-release devices, suction piping, or the water source—before the pump is relied on in a real emergency. The other scenarios describe separate maintenance concerns (packing gland leakage, a small flow drop, or a voltage issue) that don’t point as clearly to a suction-prime performance problem in the same way.