Fire Pump Servicing

A typical fire pump room in MALAYSIA.

During Fire Pump Servicing it is noticed that Fire pumps in Malaysia are mostly using gland packing to seal and isolate water from pump and electric motor. This is due to :

1. Reliability: Gland packing has been used for many years and is a reliable sealing method when installed and maintained correctly. It can withstand high temperatures and pressure, making it suitable for firefighting applications.
2. Cost-effective: Compared to some modern sealing technologies like mechanical seals, gland packing can be more cost-effective, which can be a consideration when choosing components for large-scale applications like fire pumps.
3. Easy to Maintain: Gland packing can be adjusted and repacked relatively easily, which simplifies maintenance procedures and reduces downtime for servicing.
4. Temperature Resistance: Fire pumps handle high-temperature fluids, and some types of gland packing materials can withstand these extreme temperatures without significant degradation.
5. Sealing Performance: When properly installed, gland packing can provide effective sealing even under challenging conditions, making it suitable for firefighting scenarios.

However, technologies have evolved over time, and fire pumps that uses gland packing can be modified to use mechanical seal instead.