PUMP OPERATOR STUDY GUIDE 2025/2026 QUESTIONS
WITH SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔Solid stream nozzles should be operated at ______ psi (kPa) on handlines. - ✔✔50
psi (350kPa)
✔✔Why is it necessary to know the amount of friction and pressure loss in fire hose? -
✔✔To produce effective fire streams
✔✔Which of the following is NOT a cause of friction loss? - ✔✔Hydrant condition
✔✔The calculation of friction loss must take into account the: - ✔✔Length and diameter
of the hoseline
✔✔Together, friction loss and elevation pressure loss are referred to as: - ✔✔Total
pressure loss
✔✔Which two methods are used to determine friction loss? - ✔✔Field tests and
calculations
✔✔Which of the following is NOT a method for determining pressure loss and required
pump discharge pressure? - ✔✔Flow charts
✔✔Flowmeters provide: - ✔✔Water flow in gpm (l/min)
✔✔Flowmeter are particularly advantageous in: - ✔✔Supplying hoselines or master
stream devices equipped with automatic nozzles
✔✔Flowmeters are allowed to be used instead of pressure gauges on all discharges: -
✔✔1.5" to 3" (38mm to 77mm) in diameter
✔✔What size discharges may be equipped with a flowmeter but may also have a
pressure gauge? - ✔✔3.5" or larger
✔✔The modern fire department pumper is equipped with a ______ as its main pump. -
✔✔Centrifugal pump
✔✔Unlike centrifugal pumps, positive displacement pumps: - ✔✔Can pump air
✔✔What provides for the movement of the water through a piston positive displacement
pump? - ✔✔A piston that moves back and forth or up and down inside a cylinder
,✔✔The output of the piston positive displacement pump is determined by the size of the
cylinder and the: - ✔✔Speed of the piston travel
✔✔The capacity of a piston positive displacement pump is usually determined by the
size of the: - ✔✔Cylinder
✔✔Draft - ✔✔The process of raising water from a static source to supply a pumper
✔✔Lift - ✔✔The elevations difference between the static water source and the pump
intake
✔✔Vacuum - ✔✔The pressure differential between the inside of the pump and the
intake hose and the atmosphere that allows water to be forced into the hose and pump.
✔✔Theoretical lift - ✔✔Vacuum that would allow water to be raised by the atmospheric
pressure to a height in accordance with this pressure.
✔✔Maximum lift - ✔✔The maximum height to which any amount of water may be raised
through a hard intake hose to the pump.
✔✔Dependable lift - ✔✔The height a column of water may be lifted in sufficient quantity
to provide a reliable fire flow
✔✔In the customary (metric) system of measurement, at sea level a pump could
theoretically lift water ______ feet (meters) - ✔✔33.8 feet (10m)
✔✔Which of the following is the pumper connected to the water supply at the beginning
of the relay operation? - ✔✔Source pumper
✔✔Which of the following is the pumper connected within the relay that receives water
from the source pumper, boosts the pressure, and then supplies water to the next
apparatus in the relay? - ✔✔Relay pumper
✔✔In a relay pumping operation, the attack pumper is: - ✔✔The engine supplying
attack lines and appliances
✔✔Which of the following enhance firefighter safety and reduce the possibility of
damage to the pump caused by water hammer? - ✔✔Intake pressure relief valves
✔✔A relay operation is based on which two things? - ✔✔Amount of water required and
distance from the scene to water
, ✔✔Ideally, when positioning the fill site pumper, the pump panel should be located so
that the driver/operator can view: - ✔✔Both the fill and source operations
✔✔Regardless of whether a hydrant or static source is used, a ______ should be
continuously flowed from the fill site pumper to prevent a loss of prime. - ✔✔Booster line
or some other type of small discharge line
✔✔Although hoses used to fill tenders vary, the most common and most efficient are: -
✔✔Two 2.5" (65mm) direct tank fill connection and on LDH direct tank fill connection to
the rear of the vehicle
✔✔The ideal fill position is one that: - ✔✔Allows the driver/operator to enter and exit the
fill site without turning around or backing up
✔✔If available, ______ Inch (mm) hose should be used to fill tenders as it allows for
quicker filling of the tank. - ✔✔3 inch (77mm)
✔✔Which of the following is the device that introduces foam concentrate into the water
stream to make the foam solution? - ✔✔Foam proportioner
✔✔Which of the following is the mixture of foam concentrate and water before the
introduction of air? - ✔✔Foam solution
✔✔The term "aerate" means to: - ✔✔Mix with air
✔✔Which of the following is NOT needed to produce quality fire fighting foam? -
✔✔Vacuum pumps
✔✔Which of the following is NOT a way in which foam extinguishes and/or prevents
fire? - ✔✔Blanketing
✔✔If the requirements of NFPA 1901 are included in the apparatus bid specification,
which two tests must be performed by the manufacturer? - ✔✔The road test and the
hydrostatic test
✔✔When performing road tests, the apparatus should be: - ✔✔Fully loaded as it would
be once in service
✔✔In a road test, the apparatus must accelerate to ______ mph (km/h) from a standing
start within 25 seconds. - ✔✔35 mph (56km/h)
✔✔In a road test, the apparatus must achieve a minimum top speed of ______ mph
(km/h) - ✔✔50 mph (80 km/h)
WITH SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔Solid stream nozzles should be operated at ______ psi (kPa) on handlines. - ✔✔50
psi (350kPa)
✔✔Why is it necessary to know the amount of friction and pressure loss in fire hose? -
✔✔To produce effective fire streams
✔✔Which of the following is NOT a cause of friction loss? - ✔✔Hydrant condition
✔✔The calculation of friction loss must take into account the: - ✔✔Length and diameter
of the hoseline
✔✔Together, friction loss and elevation pressure loss are referred to as: - ✔✔Total
pressure loss
✔✔Which two methods are used to determine friction loss? - ✔✔Field tests and
calculations
✔✔Which of the following is NOT a method for determining pressure loss and required
pump discharge pressure? - ✔✔Flow charts
✔✔Flowmeters provide: - ✔✔Water flow in gpm (l/min)
✔✔Flowmeter are particularly advantageous in: - ✔✔Supplying hoselines or master
stream devices equipped with automatic nozzles
✔✔Flowmeters are allowed to be used instead of pressure gauges on all discharges: -
✔✔1.5" to 3" (38mm to 77mm) in diameter
✔✔What size discharges may be equipped with a flowmeter but may also have a
pressure gauge? - ✔✔3.5" or larger
✔✔The modern fire department pumper is equipped with a ______ as its main pump. -
✔✔Centrifugal pump
✔✔Unlike centrifugal pumps, positive displacement pumps: - ✔✔Can pump air
✔✔What provides for the movement of the water through a piston positive displacement
pump? - ✔✔A piston that moves back and forth or up and down inside a cylinder
,✔✔The output of the piston positive displacement pump is determined by the size of the
cylinder and the: - ✔✔Speed of the piston travel
✔✔The capacity of a piston positive displacement pump is usually determined by the
size of the: - ✔✔Cylinder
✔✔Draft - ✔✔The process of raising water from a static source to supply a pumper
✔✔Lift - ✔✔The elevations difference between the static water source and the pump
intake
✔✔Vacuum - ✔✔The pressure differential between the inside of the pump and the
intake hose and the atmosphere that allows water to be forced into the hose and pump.
✔✔Theoretical lift - ✔✔Vacuum that would allow water to be raised by the atmospheric
pressure to a height in accordance with this pressure.
✔✔Maximum lift - ✔✔The maximum height to which any amount of water may be raised
through a hard intake hose to the pump.
✔✔Dependable lift - ✔✔The height a column of water may be lifted in sufficient quantity
to provide a reliable fire flow
✔✔In the customary (metric) system of measurement, at sea level a pump could
theoretically lift water ______ feet (meters) - ✔✔33.8 feet (10m)
✔✔Which of the following is the pumper connected to the water supply at the beginning
of the relay operation? - ✔✔Source pumper
✔✔Which of the following is the pumper connected within the relay that receives water
from the source pumper, boosts the pressure, and then supplies water to the next
apparatus in the relay? - ✔✔Relay pumper
✔✔In a relay pumping operation, the attack pumper is: - ✔✔The engine supplying
attack lines and appliances
✔✔Which of the following enhance firefighter safety and reduce the possibility of
damage to the pump caused by water hammer? - ✔✔Intake pressure relief valves
✔✔A relay operation is based on which two things? - ✔✔Amount of water required and
distance from the scene to water
, ✔✔Ideally, when positioning the fill site pumper, the pump panel should be located so
that the driver/operator can view: - ✔✔Both the fill and source operations
✔✔Regardless of whether a hydrant or static source is used, a ______ should be
continuously flowed from the fill site pumper to prevent a loss of prime. - ✔✔Booster line
or some other type of small discharge line
✔✔Although hoses used to fill tenders vary, the most common and most efficient are: -
✔✔Two 2.5" (65mm) direct tank fill connection and on LDH direct tank fill connection to
the rear of the vehicle
✔✔The ideal fill position is one that: - ✔✔Allows the driver/operator to enter and exit the
fill site without turning around or backing up
✔✔If available, ______ Inch (mm) hose should be used to fill tenders as it allows for
quicker filling of the tank. - ✔✔3 inch (77mm)
✔✔Which of the following is the device that introduces foam concentrate into the water
stream to make the foam solution? - ✔✔Foam proportioner
✔✔Which of the following is the mixture of foam concentrate and water before the
introduction of air? - ✔✔Foam solution
✔✔The term "aerate" means to: - ✔✔Mix with air
✔✔Which of the following is NOT needed to produce quality fire fighting foam? -
✔✔Vacuum pumps
✔✔Which of the following is NOT a way in which foam extinguishes and/or prevents
fire? - ✔✔Blanketing
✔✔If the requirements of NFPA 1901 are included in the apparatus bid specification,
which two tests must be performed by the manufacturer? - ✔✔The road test and the
hydrostatic test
✔✔When performing road tests, the apparatus should be: - ✔✔Fully loaded as it would
be once in service
✔✔In a road test, the apparatus must accelerate to ______ mph (km/h) from a standing
start within 25 seconds. - ✔✔35 mph (56km/h)
✔✔In a road test, the apparatus must achieve a minimum top speed of ______ mph
(km/h) - ✔✔50 mph (80 km/h)
