Standards + Certification
Not publishedof exam
Inspection + Maintenance
Not publishedof exam
Driving + Positioning
Not publishedof exam
Pump Theory + Panel
Not publishedof exam
Hydraulics + Water Supply
Not publishedof exam
Quick Facts
- Standard
- NFPA 1010 Chapters 11-12
- Edition
- 2024 edition
- Replaced
- NFPA 1002, now consolidated
- Required chapters
- Chapters 4, 11, and 12
- Accreditation
- Pro Board or IFSAC
- Who certifies
- State or regional entity
- Prerequisite
- None in NFPA 1010
- Questions
- Set by certifying entity
- Pass mark
- Entity set; 70% common
- Also required
- Practical skills evaluation
- Stay qualified
- Annual competency demonstration
- Pro Board compliance
- NFPA 1010 since June 30, 2026
Standards Map 2026
- NFPA 1010
- Firefighter pro qualifications 20242024 ed.
- Chapter 11
- Driver/operator general requirements
- Chapter 12
- Pumper apparatus JPRs
- Chapter 13
- Aerial device apparatus
- Chapter 14
- Tiller apparatus
- Chapter 15
- Wildland suppression apparatus
- Chapter 16
- Aircraft rescue firefighting apparatus
- Chapter 17
- Mobile water supply apparatus
- Replaced NFPA 1002
- Also 1001, 1003, 1005
- NFPA 1900
- New apparatus design standard
- NFPA 1910
- In-service inspection and testing
- NFPA 291
- Hydrant flow testing, marking
- NFPA 1091
- Traffic incident management
- NFPA 1550
- Responder health and safetyReplaced 1500
Certification Path
- Required chapters
- Chapters 4, 11, and 124.4.7.2
- Pro Board tests
- Chapter 11 plus 12
- Prerequisite
- None listed by NFPA
- Driver license
- All vehicles you operate
- Annual proof
- Demonstrate competency every year
- Test vehicle
- Similar weight, wheelbase, function
- AHJ sets
- Age, medical, background rules
- Written plus practical
- Both required to certify
- Domain weights
- Not published by NFPA
- Item count
- Entity set, commonly 100
- Pass mark
- Entity set, 70% common
- Compliance deadline
- June 30, 2026Pro Board
- State adoption dates
- Vary by state, 2026-2027
Chapter 11 JPR Map
- 11.2.1
- Verify apparatus operational status
- 11.2.2
- Document inspection and maintenance
- 11.3.1 + 11.3.6
- Road driving operations test
- 11.3.2
- Alley dock exercise
- 11.3.3
- Serpentine exercise
- 11.3.4
- Confined space turnaround
- 11.3.5
- Diminishing clearance exercise
- 11.3.7
- Operate fixed systems and equipment
- Chapter 11 applies
- Every driver/operator apparatus type
Chapter 12 JPR Map
- 12.2.1 + 12.2.2
- Response and communications JPRs
- 12.3.1
- Pumper-specific inspection additions
- 12.4.1
- Restraints and defensive driving
- 12.4.2
- Establish protected work areas
- 12.4.3
- Connect pumper to water supply
- 12.4.4
- Produce hand and master streams
- 12.4.5
- Pump a supply line
- 12.4.6
- Pump a foam stream
- 12.4.7
- Supply sprinklers and standpipes
Pump Test Runs
One fifty, two hundred, two fifty
100% capacity, 150 psi70% capacity, 200 psi50% capacity, 250 psiTwenty, ten, ten minutes
NFPA 1900 vs NFPA 1910
NFPA 1900
- How apparatus is built
- Replaced NFPA 1901
- Design and construction
NFPA 1910
- Inspection, testing, retirement
- Replaced NFPA 1911
- Annual pump service test
New versus in-service
Out-of-Service Picker
- Air leak in brakes→Out of service(Safety critical)
- Warning lights inoperative→Out of service(Cannot respond safely)
- Fuel below three-quarters→Refuel now(Then document)
- Fluid level slightly low→Top off, record(Return to service)
- Pump fails vacuum test→Repair before pumping(Cannot hold prime)
- Any deficiency found→Report and document(JPR 11.2.2)
Daily Check Items
- Tires
- Tread depth and inflation
- Batteries
- Clean, corrosion free, secured
- Engine oil
- Level within manufacturer specifications
- Coolant
- Level within manufacturer specifications
- Fuel
- Keep above three-quarters tank
- Belts
- Tight, no excessive wearEngine off
- Electrical
- Warning lights and sirens
- Brakes
- Check air and fluid leaks
- Steering
- Linkage wear, fluid level
- Transmission
- Fluid level within specifications
- Pump systems
- Engage and check pump12.3.1
- Water tank
- Agent levels topped off
- Foam system
- Concentrate level, if equipped
- Deficiencies
- Report and document immediately
Pumper vs Mobile Water Supply
Pumper
- 750 gpm pump minimum
- 300 gallon tank minimum
- 40 cubic feet compartments
Mobile water supply
- 1,000 gallon tank minimum
- Pump not required
- 6 cubic feet hose
Pump versus tank
Annual Pump Service Test
- 100% capacity
- 150 psi, 20 minutes
- 70% capacity
- 200 psi, 10 minutes
- 50% capacity
- 250 psi, 10 minutes
- Test source
- Draft, lift under 10 ft
- Vacuum test
- Pull at least 22 in. Hg
- Vacuum drop limit
- 10 in. Hg per 5 minutes
- Primer during test
- Off once timing starts
- Priming time
- 30 seconds up to 1,250 gpm
- Larger pumps
- 45 seconds at 1,500 gpm
- Auxiliary intake
- Adds 15 seconds allowance
- Transfer valve
- Volume position for priming
- Governing standard
- NFPA 1910, formerly 1911
Pumper Minimum Specs
- Fire pump
- 750 gpm minimum
- Water tank
- 300 gallons minimum
- Compartments
- 40 cubic feet minimum
- Hose bed
- 30 cubic feet, 2½-inch
- Preconnects
- Two areas, 3.5 cubic feet
- Rating point
- Draft at 10 ft lift
- Rating pressures
- 150, 200, and 250 psi
- Mobile water supply
- 1,000 gallon tank minimum
- Design standard
- NFPA 1900, formerly 1901
Air Brake Checks
- Governor cut-out
- Around 120 to 140 psi
- Governor cut-in
- Around 85 to 100 psi
- Static leak test
- Engine off, one minute
- Applied leak test
- Hold brake, time one minute
- Low-air warning
- Alarm at 55 psi minimum
- Spring brakes
- Pop out 20-45 psi
- Brake lag
- Air travel delay before braking
- Chock wheels
- Before any brake testing
Four Driving Exercises
Alley, Serpentine, Confined, Diminishing
Alley dock: 12 ft spaceSerpentine: back then forwardConfined: 180 degree turnDiminishing: narrowing clearance
Fixed Driving Exercises
- Alley dock
- Back into 12 ft space11.3.2
- Alley dock turns
- 90 degrees, right and left
- Serpentine
- Back then drive through markers11.3.3
- Confined space turnaround
- Turn vehicle 180 degrees11.3.4
- Diminishing clearance
- Horizontal and vertical restrictions11.3.5
- Course markers
- Striking one fails skill
- Backing rule
- Always use a spotter
- Test vehicle
- Similar weight and wheelbase
Driving Physics
- Total stopping distance
- Reaction plus lag plus braking
- Weight transfer
- Braking shifts weight forward
- Centrifugal force
- Grows with speed squared
- Liquid surge
- Partial tank shoves apparatus
- Rollover risk
- High center of gravity
- ABS braking
- Firm steady pressure, steer
- Never pump ABS
- Pumping defeats the system
- Hydroplaning
- Slow down, avoid hard steering
- Following distance
- Longer than any passenger vehicle
Due Regard + Response
- Due regard
- Reasonable care for others
- Exemptions apply
- Only with lights and siren
- Red light
- Come to complete stop
- Stop sign
- Complete stop before proceeding
- Negative right-of-way
- Intersection where you yield
- Seat belts
- Fastened before wheels move12.4.1
- Riding position
- Seated and belted only
- Speed
- Never exceeds safe control
- Backing
- Spotter or walk-around first
Scene Positioning
- Front of building
- Save it for aerial
- Uphill and upwind
- Standard hazardous materials positioning
- Supply position
- Pumper takes the hydrant12.4.3
- Attack position
- Short stretch to entry
- Protected work area
- Set devices before working12.4.2
- Traffic incidents
- Block with the apparatus
- Collapse zone
- One and a half heights
- Overhead hazards
- Avoid wires and limbs
Cavitation Signs
Speed up, pressure down, gravel sound
Engine rpm climbsDischarge pressure dropsRattling inside the pumpFix: throttle back
Volume vs Pressure
Volume, parallel
- Both impellers feed discharge
- Full rated capacity
- Use above 50% capacity
Pressure, series
- First impeller feeds second
- Half rated capacity
- Pressure roughly doubles
Flow versus pressure
Pump Problem Picker
- Rpm up, pressure down→Cavitation(Throttle back)
- Gravel sound in pump→Cavitation(Reduce the flow)
- Primer runs, no vacuum→Find air leak(Check caps, gaskets)
- Pressure spikes on shutdown→Water hammer(Close valves slowly)
- Pump overheats at idle→Open pump cooler(Little water flowing)
- Pressure creeps up→Set relief valve(Or use governor)
- Need pressure, low flow→Pressure position(Series staging)
Centrifugal Pump Theory
- Centrifugal pump
- Nonpositive displacement, cannot self-prime
- Impeller
- Adds velocity to water
- Volute
- Converts velocity into pressure
- Primer
- Positive displacement, removes air
- Single stage
- One impeller, most pumpers
- Two stage
- Two impellers, transfer valve
- Volume position
- Parallel, full rated capacity
- Pressure position
- Series, half rated capacity
- Change to volume
- Flow above 50% capacity
- Rated capacity
- 100% at 150 psi
- Net pump discharge pressure
- Discharge minus intake pressure
- Draft net pressure
- Discharge plus lift losses
PSI Mode vs RPM Mode
PSI mode
- Holds set discharge pressure
- Changes engine speed automatically
- Preferred for attack lines
RPM mode
- Holds set engine speed
- Pressure moves with flow
- Acts like manual throttle
Pressure versus throttle
Transfer Valve Picker
- Flow above 50% capacity→Volume position(Parallel staging)
- Flow at or below half→Pressure position(Series staging)
- Long lines, high pressure→Pressure position(Pressure roughly doubles)
- Supplying large master stream→Volume position(Full rated capacity)
- Priming or service test→Volume position(Standard test setup)
- Single-stage pump→No transfer valve(Nothing to change)
Panel Controls + Gauges
- Master intake gauge
- Compound, also reads vacuum
- Master discharge gauge
- Pressure leaving the pump
- Tachometer
- Engine speed in rpm
- Pump shift
- Engages pump from transmission
- OK to pump
- Green light before throttling
- Tank to pump
- Feeds pump from tank
- Tank fill
- Refills tank from pump
- Primer control
- Creates vacuum for draft
- Transfer valve
- Volume or pressure selection
- Discharge gates
- Open and close slowly
Relief Valve vs Governor
Relief valve
- Mechanical, dumps excess water
- Pressure bypasses back
- Engine speed unchanged
Governor
- Electronic, changes engine speed
- No water dumped
- Two selectable modes
Dump versus throttle
Pressure Control Devices
- Relief valve
- Dumps excess discharge pressure
- Intake relief
- Protects pump from surge
- Governor PSI mode
- Holds set discharge pressure
- Governor RPM mode
- Holds set engine speed
- Water hammer
- Surge from sudden closure
- Cavitation
- Discharging more than receiving
- Cavitation signs
- Rpm rises, pressure falls
- Cavitation sound
- Gravel rattling in pump
- Cavitation fix
- Throttle back, add supply
- Pump cooler
- Cools recirculating pump water
Cavitation vs Water Hammer
Cavitation
- Pump starved of water
- Rpm up, pressure down
- Gravel rattling sound
Water hammer
- Moving water stopped suddenly
- Pressure surge and shock
- Close valves slowly
Starved versus stopped
Pump Discharge Pressure
Nozzle, Friction, Appliance, Elevation
NP: nozzle pressureFL: hose friction lossAPPL: appliances and standpipeELEV: up adds, down subtracts
Static vs Residual
Static
- No water moving
- Stored system pressure
- Read before opening
Residual
- Water is flowing
- Pressure left in system
- Never below 20 psi
Stopped versus flowing
Water Source Picker
- Hydrant close, good pressure→Direct hydrant supply(Simplest option)
- Hydrant far from scene→Relay pumping(Boost the pressure)
- No hydrant, static source→Draft(Hard suction needed)
- No hydrant, no static→Water shuttle(Tankers and portable tank)
- Lift above 25 feet→Move closer(Lift too high)
- Intake falls under 20 psi→Add a pumper(Cavitation risk)
Core Formulas
- Pump discharge pressure
- Nozzle, friction, appliance, elevation
- Friction loss
- C times Q² times L
- Q means
- Gpm divided by 100
- L means
- Length in hundreds of feet
- Smooth bore flow
- 29.7 times d² times √NP
- Elevation exact
- 0.434 psi per foot
- Elevation fireground
- 5 psi per floor
- Percent drop
- Static minus residual, over static
- Head conversion
- 1 psi lifts 2.304 ft
- Flow rule
- Double flow, quadruple friction loss
Percentage Method
Ten three, fifteen two, twenty-five one
0-10% drop: three lines11-15% drop: two lines16-25% drop: one lineOver 25%: less than one
Draft vs Hydrant Supply
Draft
- Atmospheric pressure pushes water
- Primer required first
- Lift limits the flow
Hydrant
- System pressure feeds pump
- No primer needed
- Watch residual pressure
Vacuum versus pressure
Nozzle Pressure Picker
- Smooth bore handline→50 psi(Solid stream)
- Smooth bore master stream→80 psi(Deck gun tip)
- Standard fog nozzle→100 psi(Combination nozzle)
- Low-pressure fog nozzle→75 psi(Reduced nozzle reaction)
- Standpipe operation→Smooth bore(Pressure device uncertainty)
- Flow over 350 gpm→Add appliance loss(10 psi)
Friction Loss Coefficients
- 1½-inch
- C equals 24
- 1¾-inch
- C equals 15.5
- 2-inch
- C equals 8
- 2½-inch
- C equals 2Baseline
- 3-inch
- C equals 0.82½-inch couplings
- 3½-inch
- C equals 0.34
- 4-inch
- C equals 0.2
- 4½-inch
- C equals 0.1
- 5-inch
- C equals 0.08
- 6-inch
- C equals 0.05
- 1-inch booster
- C equals 150
- Upsizing hose
- Cuts friction loss sharply
Nozzle Pressures
Fifty solid, eighty master, hundred fog
50 psi smooth bore handline80 psi smooth bore master100 psi standard fog75 psi low-pressure fog
Class A vs Class B Foam
Class A
- Ordinary combustibles and wildland
- 0.1% to 1.0%
- Acts as wetting agent
Class B
- Flammable and combustible liquids
- 1%, 3%, or 6%
- Seals vapor with blanket
Wetting versus sealing
Foam Picker
- Ordinary combustibles or wildland→Class A foam(0.1% to 1.0%)
- Gasoline or diesel spill→Class B at 3%(Hydrocarbon fuel)
- Ethanol or alcohol fuel→AR-AFFF at 6%(Polar solvent)
- Burning hydrocarbon spill→0.10 gpm per ft²(Fifteen minute run time)
- Burning polar solvent→0.20 gpm per ft²(Double the rate)
- Weak foam from eductor→Check 65 percent rule(Back pressure high)
Nozzle Pressures + Losses
- Smooth bore handline
- 50 psi nozzle pressure
- Smooth bore master
- 80 psi nozzle pressure
- Fog nozzle
- 100 psi nozzle pressure
- Low-pressure fog
- 75 psi nozzle pressure
- Appliance under 350 gpm
- Loss small enough to ignore
- Appliance 350 gpm up
- Add 10 psi
- Standpipe system
- Add 25 psi
- Master stream device
- Add 25 psi
- Handline versus master
- Split at 350 gpm
Lift Numbers
Thirty-four theoretical, ten ideal, fifteen dependable
33.9 ft theoretical maximum10 ft ideal lift14.7 ft dependable lift14.7 psi atmospheric
Hydrant + Percentage Method
- Static pressure
- Stored pressure, nothing flowing
- Residual pressure
- Pressure left while flowing
- Flow pressure
- Measured with pitot gauge
- Drop 0-10%
- Three more equal lines
- Drop 11-15%
- Two more equal lines
- Drop 16-25%
- One more equal line
- Drop over 25%
- Less than one line
- Residual floor
- Never below 20 psi
- Class AA hydrant
- Light blue, 1,500 gpm upNFPA 291
- Class A hydrant
- Green, 1,000 to 1,499NFPA 291
- Class B hydrant
- Orange, 500 to 999NFPA 291
- Class C hydrant
- Red, under 500 gpmNFPA 291
- Dead-end main
- Collapses quickly under flow
Drafting + Lift
- Atmospheric pressure
- 14.7 psi at sea level
- Theoretical lift
- 33.9 ft at sea level
- Ideal lift
- About 10 feet
- Dependable lift
- 14.7 ft, most texts
- Maximum lift
- About 22 to 25 feet
- Measure lift
- Water surface to intake
- Strainer depth
- At least 2 ft submerged
- Strainer clearance
- 2 ft off the bottom
- Air leaks
- Prevent prime from holding
- Whirlpool
- Means strainer sits too shallow
- Hard suction
- Rigid hose resists vacuum
Relay + Water Shuttle
- Relay minimum
- 20 psi residual intake12.4.5
- Relay target
- 20 to 30 psi
- Source pumper
- Largest capacity at source
- Constant pressure relay
- About 175 psi discharge
- Dump line
- Relieves excess intake pressure
- Shuttle flow limits
- Fill rate, dump rate, travel
- Not the limit
- Tanker tank size alone
- Portable tank
- Dump site holding basin
Foam + Proportioning
- Class A concentrate
- 0.1% to 1.0%
- Class B concentrate
- 1%, 3%, or 6%
- AR-AFFF
- 3% hydrocarbon, 6% polar
- Eductor principle
- Venturi creates low pressure12.4.6
- Eductor inlet
- Rated at 200 psi
- 65 percent rule
- Downstream under 65% of inlet
- Eductor hose limit
- 150 ft to nozzle
- Hydrocarbon rate
- 0.10 gpm per square foot
- Polar solvent rate
- 0.20 gpm per square foot
- Run time
- At least 15 minutes
- Flow match
- Eductor and nozzle ratings
Standpipe + Sprinkler Support
- Connection point
- Fire department connection, FDC12.4.7
- Standpipe allowance
- Add 25 psi
- Elevation per floor
- Add 5 psi
- Ground floor
- Adds no elevation pressure
- Standpipe nozzle choice
- Smooth bore preferred
- Sprinkler FDC
- 150 psi common defaultAHJ sets
- Never shut down
- Sprinklers controlling the fire
- Two FDC inlets
- Supply both when possible
- Second supply line
- Add if flow increases
Common Traps
NFPA 1002 vs NFPA 1010
NFPA 1002 was consolidated ≠ Content now NFPA 1010 Chapters 11-12
NFPA 1900 vs NFPA 1910
1900 builds new apparatus ≠ 1910 tests in-service apparatus
Elevation exact vs fireground
0.434 psi per foot exact ≠ 5 psi per floor shortcut
Volume does not add pressure
Volume gives full capacity ≠ Pressure position doubles pressure
Cavitation is not water hammer
Cavitation starves the pump ≠ Water hammer stops moving water
Discharge relief vs intake relief
Discharge relief controls outgoing ≠ Intake relief protects incoming
Firefighter I is not required
NFPA 1010 lists no prerequisite ≠ Many AHJs require it anyway
Low-air warning vs spring brakes
Warning alarms near 55 psi ≠ Spring brakes pop 20-45 psi
Priming thresholds are not equal
30 seconds to 1,250 gpm ≠ 45 seconds at 1,500 gpm
Percentage method counts added lines
Answer is additional lines ≠ Not the total flow available
Pump rating is not tank flow
Rating set at 10 ft draft ≠ Tank-to-pump flow is lower
Hydrant residual has a floor
Never below 20 psi residual ≠ Low residual can collapse mains
Last Minute
- 1.Pumper operator = Chapters 11 and 12
- 2.NFPA writes it; state entity certifies
- 3.PDP = nozzle + friction + appliance + elevation
- 4.Friction loss uses C Q² L
- 5.Double the flow, quadruple the loss
- 6.Smooth bore 50; fog 100 psi
- 7.Elevation exact is 0.434 psi/ft
- 8.Appliance loss starts at 350 gpm
- 9.Never let residual drop below 20
- 10.Volume above half; pressure below half
- 11.Cavitation: rpm up, pressure down
- 12.Theoretical lift 33.9 ft; ideal 10
- 13.Pump test: 150, 200, 250 psi
- 14.Vacuum 22 in. Hg minimum
- 15.Alley dock space is 12 ft
- 16.Class A foam: 0.1% to 1.0%
- 17.Eductor: 65 percent downstream limit
- 18.Green hydrant = 1,000 to 1,499 gpm
- 19.Pumper minimum: 750 gpm, 300 gallons
- 20.Annual competency demonstration is required
Buy on AmazonSame family resources
Explore More Firefighter Certifications
Continue into nearby exams from the same family. Each card keeps practice questions, study guides, flashcards, videos, and articles in one place.
More From This Family
Videos and articles for deeper review.
VideoFirefighter Written Exam Study Guide 2026: Pass the Fire Department TestVideoFREE Certified Fire Inspector Exam Guide 2026: NFPA 1031/1030, ICC CFI-1 & CFI-2VideoHazMat Technician Exam 2026: FREE NFPA 470 Study GuideArticleFirefighter Written Exam Study Guide 2026: Pass the Fire Department Test16 min readArticleFREE Certified Fire Inspector Exam Guide 2026: NFPA 1031/1030, ICC CFI-1 & CFI-216 min readArticleHazMat Technician Exam 2026: FREE NFPA 470 Study Guide32 min readArticleCFEI Exam Guide 2026: How to Study NFPA 921 for NAFI Fire Investigator Certification15 min read