Elements and Performance Criteria

Pumps may include
portable pumps
positive displacement
centrifugal
ejector
free-standing, trailer or vehicle-mounted
petrol or diesel driven
appliance-mounted pumps
single-stage centrifugal
multi-stage centrifugal
series/parallel centrifugal
peripheral
water turbine

Water supplies may be of the following shapes
rectangular
spherical
cylindrical
trapezoidal
irregular

Hydraulic calculations may include
friction loss
velocity
discharge and flow rates
jet reaction
theoretical and effective height of a jet

Foam equipment may include
foam-making branch pipes
in-line inductors
in-line foam generators
round-the-pump proportioners
pressure-balanced foam systems
electronic foam systems
Class A foam systems
Class B foam systems
medium expansion foam equipment
high expansion foam equipment
high back-pressure (sub-surface injection) foam system
compressed air foam system
pick-up tubes

Primers may include
force pump
exhaust ejector
diaphragm
water ring
rotary vane
rotary gear

Concentrates may include
aqueous film forming foam
alcohol type foam
protein foam
Class A foam

Static water supply may include
dams
rivers
lakes
reservoirs
tanks
seawater
swimming pools
portable dams

Reticulated water supply may include
trunk mains
distributary mains
reticulation mains

Ancillary equipment may include
hydrant tools and openers
standpipes
suction hoses, spanners, strainers, baskets
ropes/lines
couplings
adaptors and matching pieces
breechings
delivery hose

Organisation's procedures may be covered in
training manuals
manufacturer's specifications
fireground procedures
OH&S guidelines
maintenance procedures and checks
pumping practices
service procedures
standard operating procedures

Operation includes observance of
branch operators, where possible
pump operators on other units when relay pumping
monitoring of gauges and warning lights
use of pressure relief valves and transfer valves
use of pump performance charts or tables illustrating information such as optimum nozzle pressure and friction loss
water levels

Suitability factors include
capacity
pressure
turbidity
salinity

Critical aspects of evidence
It is essential for this unit that competence be demonstrated in:
maintenance of water supply to branch operators
maintenance of appropriate levels of pressure
responding appropriately to changing circumstances
when using foam, the correct proportion of foam and water is supplied/delivered and supply of foam concentrate is maintained
when pumping from an appliance tank, monitoring levels of water remaining in appliance tank to ensure minimum levels for crew protection
pumping without injury to personnel or damage to equipment.

Interdependent assessment of units
Pre-requisite units:
PUAFIR203A Respond to urban fire or
PUAFIR202A Respond to urban fire using defensive firefighting strategies, or
PUAFIR204A Respond to wildfire or
PUAFIR205A Respond to aviation incident (specialist)
PUAEQU001A Prepare and maintain response equipment
Co-requisite units:
Nil

Underpinning knowledge
principles of hydraulics (flow and pressure)
calculations of water supply capacity
hydraulic calculations including friction loss
velocity
discharge and flow rates
jet reaction
theoretical and effective height of a jet
types of pumps and primers
pump components and their principles of operation
pump gauges and controls
power train
positioning pumps
principles of operating pumps
relay pumping
types of foam concentrate

Underpinning skills
prime and operate a pump
operate a pump using gauges and controls
position a pump
supply water to a location using a relay pump

Resource implications
Access to a range of pumps.

Consistency of performance
Evidence should be gathered over a period of time in a range of actual or simulated workplace environments.

Context of assessment
A combination of oral or written presentations, on the job and/or in a range of simulated environments.