AZEIDK supplies Jack Pump fire pumps in Saudi Arabia in three types: the VES end-suction series, the MSC horizontal split-case series and the VTP vertical turbine series. All three are centrifugal pumps. How each one is built affects where it can be installed, how it is maintained and how its catalogue tables should be read.
This guide does not repeat the brand introduction, which is covered in Jack Pump in Saudi Arabia. It covers what an engineer needs when opening the datasheet: the design differences between the three types, how to decode a model number, and how to read the “listing range” tables for speed, maximum working pressure and number of stages. The products sit under AZEIDK’s fire fighting systems solution.
Key takeaways
- VES end-suction: 50–1,000 GPM and 84–230 psi, with a back pull-out design.
- MSC split-case: 300–8,000 GPM and 82–369 psi, with a double-suction impeller.
- VTP vertical turbine: 50–5,000 GPM, multistage, drawing from a ground tank, well or sump below the pump.
- The catalogue tables give different pressures at different speeds. Use the row whose speed matches the actual driver (60 Hz in Saudi Arabia).
- Compare the maximum working pressure with churn pressure plus maximum suction pressure, not with rated pressure alone.
In this article
- Three Jack Pump fire pump designs
- Jack Pump fire pump types compared
- Decoding the model number
- Reading the listing range table
- Example: 500 GPM across the three series
- What changes in installation and maintenance
- Common mistakes when selecting Jack Pump fire pumps
- Approvals and supply in Saudi Arabia
- Frequently asked questions
- Summary
Three Jack Pump fire pump designs
AZEIDK’s product pages and the Jack Pump 2024 catalogue published with them describe all three series as designed to UL 448 and NFPA requirements. They are available with an electric motor or a diesel engine, for hydrant, sprinkler and foam systems. UL 448 is the standard for centrifugal stationary pumps for fire-protection service. The series differ in their mechanical construction.
VES end-suction
Water enters at the front of the pump on the shaft axis and leaves from the top of the casing. The back pull-out design lets the bearing frame, shaft and impeller be withdrawn from the rear without disturbing the suction and discharge piping. The catalogue lists a ductile iron casing, a bronze or stainless steel impeller, gland packing, replaceable wear rings and flanges drilled to ANSI B16.1 Class 250. Suction flanges run from 1.5 to 6 in and discharge flanges from 2.5 to 4 in.
MSC horizontal split case
The casing splits horizontally along the shaft centreline. The upper half lifts off and the complete rotor comes out without disconnecting the piping or the driver. The double-suction impeller takes water from both sides, which reduces axial thrust on the bearings. The catalogue notes a short bearing span and counter-rotation with similar parts, which helps with pump room layout. Suction flanges run from 125 to 400 mm and discharge flanges from 75 to 355 mm.
VTP vertical turbine
The bowl assembly and impellers are submerged in the water source. The discharge head and driver sit on a base plate above the tank. A stainless steel strainer is fitted at the bottom. The pump is multistage: each stage is one impeller and bowl, and pressure rises with the number of stages. It is driven by a vertical electric motor, or by a diesel engine through a right-angle gear drive. Discharge flanges run from 2.5 to 12 in.
Jack Pump fire pump types compared
| Item | VES end-suction | MSC split case | VTP vertical turbine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flow (GPM) | 50–1,000 | 300–8,000 | 50–5,000 |
| Discharge pressure (psi) | 84–230 | 82–369 | 84–230 per the product page; varies with stage count |
| Water source | Tank feeding the pump under positive suction | Tank feeding the pump under positive suction | Water level below the pump: ground tank, well or sump |
| Main maintenance access | Rotor withdrawn from the rear | Upper casing lifted, rotor removed | Submerged assembly lifted out of the tank |
| Driver | Electric or diesel | Electric or diesel | Vertical electric, or diesel with right-angle gear drive |
| Pump room footprint | Compact horizontal base | Longer, heavier base | Small floor area, more headroom to lift the assembly |
The rule of thumb: when the water is below the pump, the usual choice is a vertical turbine, as Consulting-Specifying Engineer notes in its overview of fire pump types. When a tank feeds the pump under positive pressure, the two horizontal pumps are compared on flow, pressure and space. For the duty-point method, see the fire pump selection guide for Saudi projects.
Decoding the model number
The catalogue explains VES and MSC model numbers the same way:
- VES 80-250: VES is the pump type, 80 is the nominal discharge flange DN in mm, and 250 is the nominal impeller diameter in mm.
- VESD 150-100-200: VESD150 is the pump type code as the catalogue defines it, followed by a 100 mm discharge DN and a 200 mm nominal impeller diameter.
- MSC5-80-250: MSC with a frame number, then an 80 mm discharge DN and a 250 mm nominal impeller diameter.
The catalogue does not explain VTP codes such as VT80-145 or VT170-304. Do not infer dimensions from them. Use each model’s performance and dimension tables instead. The brand article notes that the vertical turbine listing in the UL directory uses different model names, so ask the supplier for the document linking the offered VTP model to the listing.
Reading the listing range table
The Jack Pump catalogue has an “Approved UL Listing Range” table for each series. The VES and MSC tables give rated capacity, size (suction × discharge in inches), model, rated pressure range, approximate speed and maximum working pressure. The VTP table gives capacity, model, pressure range, speed and number of stages, with no size or maximum working pressure column. Check four points in every row:
1. Speed decides the right row
The same model appears in several rows at different speeds and pressures. At 500 GPM, the VES 80-250 gives 84–139 psi at 2,900 rpm and 125–205 psi at 3,500 rpm. Saudi Arabia’s grid runs at 60 Hz, where electric motor synchronous speeds are about 3,600 and 1,800 rpm. So rows at 3,500, 3,550 and 1,760 rpm match an electric motor in the Kingdom. Rows at 2,900, 2,950 and 1,480 rpm match 50 Hz motors. Other speeds, such as 2,350, 2,600 and 2,100 rpm, do not match a standard electric motor. They are most likely diesel rows, since the catalogue’s sub-vendor list shows diesel drivers with speed ranges that cover them; the manufacturer confirms this on the performance curve.
2. A pressure range, not one pressure
The “Pressure Rating” column shows a range, such as 125–205 psi. The supplied pump has one rated point inside that range. Ask the supplier for the performance curve at the point taken from the hydraulic calculations: flow, rated pressure and speed.
3. Maximum working pressure versus churn
Under NFPA 20, as summarised by the Hydraulic Institute, churn (shutoff) pressure is 101–140% of rated pressure. Consulting-Specifying Engineer, citing NFPA 20 paragraph 4.7.7.1, adds that net churn pressure plus maximum static suction pressure, adjusted for elevation, must not exceed the pressure rating of system components. Check it in the edition adopted for the project. A worked example: a pump rated at 150 psi may reach 210 psi at churn. With 20 psi suction, the total is 230 psi, above a row whose maximum working pressure is 225 psi. In that case, check another row or model, or add the pressure control measures the designer approves.
4. Stage count on vertical turbines
The VTP table gives the number of stages for each pressure range. At 1,000 GPM and 1,760 rpm, the VT170-304 uses two stages for 105–119 psi and four stages for 210–238 psi. The stage count sets the bowl assembly length, which in turn sets sump depth and the headroom needed to lift the pump for maintenance.
Example: 500 GPM across the three series
The rows below are taken from the Jack Pump catalogue for 500 GPM. They show that one flow rate has more than one solution:
| Model | Size (in) | Speed (rpm) | Pressure range (psi) | Max working pressure / stages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VES 80-250 | 5×3 | 3,500 | 125–205 | 290 psi |
| VES 80-250 | 5×3 | 2,900 | 84–139 | 225 psi |
| MSC5-80-250 | 5×3 | 3,550 | 118–195 | 280 psi |
| VT145-270 | — | 1,760 | 94–283 | 3–6 stages |
| VT100-155 | — | 2,950 | 78–228 | 3–6 stages |
At this flow, the two horizontal series cover a similar pressure range. The choice then comes down to space, weight from the dimension tables, and maintenance access. The split case comes into its own at flows beyond the VES range, up to 8,000 GPM. The vertical turbine is chosen when the water source requires it, not because it is cheaper.
What changes in installation and maintenance
- VES and MSC: pump and driver share a skid, and coupling alignment is checked after installation. Consulting-Specifying Engineer notes that suction reducers must be eccentric to avoid air pockets, and that an elbow or tee whose centreline plane is parallel to a horizontal split-case pump shaft must be at least 10 pipe diameters from the suction flange.
- MSC specifically: leave headroom above the pump to lift the upper casing. That is its maintenance advantage.
- VTP: coordinate sump depth, minimum water level and bowl assembly length with the manufacturer’s dimension drawing, which shows submergence and minimum water level. Leave headroom to lift the submerged assembly. On diesel drives, add the gear drive to the inspection items.
The catalogue includes a sub-vendor list for drivers, controllers, flow meters and gauges. State the actual supplier and model of each component, and its listing status, in the submittal.
Common mistakes when selecting Jack Pump fire pumps
- Taking the pressure from a 2,900 rpm row, then supplying a 60 Hz electric motor.
- Comparing maximum working pressure with rated pressure and ignoring churn and suction pressure.
- Selecting a horizontal pump for a ground tank whose water level is below the pump.
- Inferring VTP dimensions from the model code instead of the dimension table and stage count.
- Relying on the UL mark in the catalogue without matching model, size and speed to the listing.
- Ignoring the space needed to lift the upper casing or the submerged assembly in the pump room design.
Approvals and supply in Saudi Arabia
The Saudi Fire Protection Code (SBC 801) is the regulatory framework. NFPA 20 is the technical reference the designer and consultant adopt for fire pump details. The SASO Technical Regulation for Fire Control Materials and Equipment covers fire pumps, so they need a certificate of conformity, and product conformity is handled through the SABER platform. An approval file normally includes the datasheet, performance curve, listing document, conformity certificate and dimension table. Each series has its own product page: the VES end-suction pump, the MSC split-case pump and the VTP vertical turbine pump.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the Jack Pump end-suction and split-case pumps?
Both are horizontal. The VES is smaller, covers up to 1,000 GPM and is serviced by withdrawing the rotor from the rear. The MSC covers up to 8,000 GPM, has a double-suction impeller, and its upper casing lifts off for maintenance without disturbing the piping or driver.
When do I need the VTP vertical turbine pump?
When the water level is below the pump, as with ground tanks, wells and sumps. The submerged assembly works inside the water, while the driver and discharge head stay above it.
Why does the same model show different pressures in the table?
Pressure changes with speed. Use the row that matches the actual driver: about 3,500 or 1,760 rpm for a 60 Hz electric motor, or the diesel engine speed the manufacturer specifies.
What does the maximum working pressure column mean?
It is the highest pressure the pump is rated to see in service. Compare it with churn pressure, which can reach 140% of rated pressure, plus the maximum suction pressure, not with rated pressure alone.
Summary
The choice between the three Jack Pump types starts with the water source and the required flow, and is settled in the datasheet’s listing table. Use the row whose speed matches the driver. Compare maximum working pressure with churn plus suction pressure. On a vertical turbine, check the stage count against sump depth. Reviewing these points before the submittal saves rounds of consultant comments.
Have a duty point and need the right series and model? Send us the flow, pressure, tank level and driver type, and we will review the catalogue rows, performance curve and approval documents with you. Contact the AZEIDK team
