NFPA CWBSP Exam - Topic 2 Question 24 Discussion

Actual exam question for NFPA's CWBSP exam

Question #: 24
Topic #: 2

[All CWBSP Questions]

Annual testing for a 1,500 gpm (5,677 L/min) at 80 psi (1.4 bar) fire pump supporting an attached sprinkler system

demand of 1,800 gpm (6,813 L/min) at 100 psi (6.9 bar) is being conducted. The flow test of the fire pump must

achieve what minimum flow rate and discharge pressure?

A1,500 gpm (5,677 L/min) at 80 psi (1.4 bar)

B1,600 gpm (6,056 L/min) at 75 psi (5.1 bar)

C1,800 gpm (6,813 L/min) at 100 psi (6.9 bar)

D2,250 gpm (8,516 L/min) at 65 psi (4.5 bar)

Show Suggested Answer

Suggested Answer: C

For annual testing of fire pumps, NFPA standards require the pump to be tested at its rated capacity and pressure, as well as at 150% of its rated capacity at a correspondingly lower pressure. In this scenario, the minimum flow rate required for the test is the demand of the attached sprinkler system, which is 1,800 gpm at 100 psi, to ensure the pump can meet or exceed the system's highest demand.

by Delisa at Nov 20, 2025, 05:29 AM

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Evette

9 hours ago

I thought it was supposed to be 1,500 gpm at 80 psi? This is confusing!

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Sabina

6 days ago

Definitely option C, that's the only one that matches the demand.

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Kimbery

11 days ago

Imagine if the fire pump could shoot water high enough to water the moon! That would be one heck of a fire pump.

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Candida

16 days ago

C is tempting, but the question specifically asks for the minimum flow rate and pressure, so A is the way to go.

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Blair

21 days ago

Haha, D is just ridiculous. Who would need a fire pump that can pump 2,250 gpm at 65 psi? That's overkill!

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Fidelia

26 days ago

I agree, A is the correct answer. Anything less than the system demand would be unacceptable.

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Claribel

1 month ago

The answer is clearly A. The fire pump needs to match the system demand, which is 1,500 gpm at 80 psi.

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Eileen

1 month ago

I’m a bit confused about the pressure requirements. Does the discharge pressure need to be at least 100 psi to support the system?

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Pamella

1 month ago

I practiced a similar question where the pump had to exceed the demand, so I feel like option C might be the right choice here.

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Haley

2 months ago

I remember something about the minimum flow rate needing to be above the pump's capacity, but I'm not sure if it has to match the demand exactly.

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Maryln

2 months ago

Okay, I think I got this. The fire pump needs to match the demand of the sprinkler system, which is 1,800 gpm at 100 psi. So the minimum flow rate and discharge pressure it needs to achieve is that same 1,800 gpm at 100 psi. The answer is C.

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Theola

2 months ago

Alright, let me break this down. The fire pump is 1,500 gpm at 80 psi, but the demand is 1,800 gpm at 100 psi. So the pump needs to meet or exceed that demand during the test. I think the answer is C, 1,800 gpm at 100 psi.

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Orville

2 months ago

I think the fire pump needs to meet the demand of the sprinkler system, so it should be at least 1,800 gpm, right?

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Rosann

2 months ago

Hmm, this is tricky. I think the key is that the fire pump needs to match the demand, not exceed it. So the minimum flow rate and discharge pressure it needs to achieve is the 1,800 gpm at 100 psi. I'm pretty confident that C is the right answer.

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Raul

2 months ago

The pump needs to meet the demand, so it's gotta be at least 1,800 gpm.

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Selma

3 months ago

But what about A? It’s the pump's rated capacity.

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Martin

3 months ago

I'm a bit confused. The question says the fire pump is 1,500 gpm at 80 psi, but the demand is 1,800 gpm at 100 psi. Does that mean the pump needs to exceed the demand, or just match it? I'm not sure which answer is correct.

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Adelle

3 months ago

Okay, let's think this through. The fire pump needs to support a demand of 1,800 gpm at 100 psi, so the minimum flow rate and discharge pressure it needs to achieve during the test must be that same 1,800 gpm at 100 psi. That means the answer is C.

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Major

3 months ago

C is the only option that satisfies the test criteria.

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