What Are Some Must-Have Pump Enclosure Features?

From irrigation pumps and pressure boosters to complex pump skids and control panels, water pumps come in all shapes, sizes and applications. But regardless of the differences in pump equipment, one thing remains constant: the need for a properly designed protective enclosure.

A high-performing pump enclosure shields your system from environmental factors and theft, improves maintenance access, prevents downtime, and can even extend the life of your equipment.

Whether you're protecting a booster pump, a hydraulic unit or a fire suppression system, the right enclosure must deliver on six essential features:

1. Climate control to prevent freezing or overheating in extreme conditions
2. Easy access to critical components for fast maintenance and servicing
3. Secure piping penetrations for clean, efficient pipe routing
4. Built-in security to deter theft, vandalism and unauthorized access
5. Noise reduction to comply with sound ordinances and reduce operational disruption
6. Weather resistance to guard against rain, snow and withstand harsh conditions

1. Regulate Temperature

The right pump enclosure can and should make climate control easy. Here's how.

Cooling Benefits

Most booster pumps produce heat that needs to be removed to prevent your pump from overheating; if your pump overheats, it can damage your control panel and your water lines. Enclosures that have an exhaust fan on one end and a louver on the other — readily available with any Safe-T-Cover enclosure — will pull air through the enclosure to keep temperatures down and protect your equipment.

Heating Benefits

Even though pressure boosting pumps produce heat on their own, not all pumps continuously run. They need to be heated during winter months.

Take fire booster pumps, for example. They're often located outside, near big box stores and warehouses. Fire booster pumps may contain small amounts of water when not in use and usually only run for a few minutes each week when they’re being tested. This creates freezing potential in colder climates. It’s important to keep these pumps warm and in good working condition so they perform if needed in an emergency.

Pumps also push all different types of fluids with some being more viscous than others, such as oil. Keeping pumps warm keeps the fluids inside warm, which makes the pumps more efficient and can also extend its life.

During the pump heater design process, consider:

• Size and type of enclosure

  Options like aluminum come with distinct advantages, which fiberglass and other materials may lack. For example, insulation is an important factor when considering temperature regulation. We recommend a minimum R-value of 9.0 in pump cover walls and 18.0 in roofs. You won't find this insulation with fiberglass. Plus, an aluminum custom pump enclosure can be designed to your equipment's exact specifications to reduce enclosure cost and speed up maintenance.

• Heater placement

  If using a pump skid, it most likely won’t have a floor or a concrete slab. In this case, a wall-mounted heater can be affixed to the inside of the pump cover wall. This heater placement will keep it away from other equipment, as well as potential leaks and spills.

  If your pump cover has a floor or concrete slab, a slab-mounted heater works well. This type of heater is mounted to the slab, is wet- and damp-rated, and provides radiant heat that warms the enclosure, the slab and up to six inches beneath.

2. Easy Access for Maintenance and Repairs

Many pumps have panels and equipment that needs to be accessible for maintenance and repairs. It's very important that your pump cover has lockable, removable panels that give easy maintenance access.

When designing a custom pump enclosure, it's also a good idea to make the roof of the pump cover removable or hinged to allow equipment to be easily removed and added. You can also add removable access panels and lighting to custom enclosures for better visibility.

3. Precise Piping Penetrations

Booster pumps have inlet and outlet pipes that run in and out of your enclosure, hence the need for creating piping penetrations. Although we are able to produce penetrations at Safe-T-Cover's manufacturing facility here in Nashville, we recommend that penetrations are cut at the project site. This is because pipe placement may not end up where originally planned. Making the penetrations on-site provides more flexibility and accuracy for those situations.

4. Deter Theft and Vandalism

Pump equipment can be susceptible to theft and vandalism. Providing security features, such as a lockable enclosure or cover, deters thieves and keep equipment safe. We use lockable handles in our access panels that, when used in combination with a padlock, keep your pump secure.

5. Reduce Noise Pollution

Certain equipment like HVAC pumps, pump motors, compressors and generators can produce quite a bit of noise. This can create a safety and health issue if workers are working nearby. The way enclosures are designed can help limit some noise, but insulation is key in this situation.

In order to reduce the amount of noise generated, you want to keep the noise reduction coefficient rating in mind. This grades the amount of noise the panels and insulation of the enclosures will absorb. We use materials that will absorb about 85 percent of noise pollution generated by equipment, or a .85 NRC rating.

If your pump enclosure requires enhanced noise reduction, Safe-T-Cover offers specialized noise rated insulation panels that can virtually eliminate equipment noise.

6. Protect From The Elements

Protecting pump equipment from inclement weather and the elements is a core feature of any pump enclosure. Pump covers contain sensitive equipment such as control panels, pump motors, and electronics that shouldn't get wet or covered in ice or snow. You need a cover capable of standing up to outdoor environments including wind, rain and heavy snow.

To maintain optimal operating temperature, add proper ventilation and exhaust fans for summer temperatures (see above). The upside of these upfront customizations is reduced long-term maintenance costs and uninterrupted operation over the long haul, maximizing your investment.

Pump Enclosure Guide

If you’re in the market for a robust modular enclosure or pump cover, here’s a quick and easy way to find out what you need. Our checklist, How to Design and Buy a Pump Enclosure, will walk you through all the necessary features and steps.