Pump Systems in Perth

A pressure booster pump system takes water from the incoming mains supply — which typically arrives at around 200–400 kPa at street level — and boosts it to the pressure required to deliver adequate flow at the highest point in the building. In a 20-storey building, for example, water needs around 60 kPa of additional pressure for every six floors it rises, meaning the system must generate significantly more pressure than the mains supply provides on its own.

Without a correctly sized and maintained booster system, upper-floor residents experience chronically low water pressure at taps and showers, fire suppression systems may not meet test pressure, and the mains supply may be drawn into negative pressure, creating a contamination risk. A variable speed drive (VSD) booster system also adjusts pump output to match demand in real time, saving significant energy compared to fixed-speed systems.

How often should pump systems in strata buildings be serviced?

Minimum recommended service intervals depend on the pump type:

• Pressure booster pumps: Every 6 months for inspection; annual comprehensive service including motor checks, impeller inspection, seal replacement if required, pressure setting verification, and duty/standby test.
• Sewerage and wastewater pumps: Quarterly inspection of the wet well, float switches and alarm systems; 6-monthly pump removal and condition inspection for heavily loaded systems.
• Stormwater / sump pumps: Annual inspection before the wet season, plus post-event checks following significant rainfall.
• Fire booster pumps: Annual flow test and certification as required under AS 1851-2012, plus quarterly jockey pump and alarm checks.
• HVAC circulators: Bi-annual service in line with the broader HVAC maintenance schedule.
• Many strata schemes benefit from a bundled annual maintenance contract that covers all pump assets in a single agreement, simplifying the administrative burden on managers and ensuring nothing is missed.

In building services, the two terms are often used interchangeably but refer to slightly different applications:

• Sewerage pumps handle raw sewage — including solids — and are designed with either a grinder mechanism (to macerate solids before pumping) or a vortex/semi-open impeller that can pass solids without blockage. These are used when gravity drainage to the sewer is not possible, such as in basement toilets or pump-out systems below street sewer level.
• Wastewater pumps typically handle grey water — water from sinks, showers, laundries and drains that does not contain raw sewage solids. These pumps are less heavy-duty but still need to handle hair, soap scum and debris.

Both pump types require regular wet well cleaning, float switch testing, and alarm verification. In a typical high-rise strata building, both types may be present — sewerage pump stations for the toilets and a separate wastewater drainage system for greywater.

Low pressure complaints in a strata building should be investigated promptly and systematically. Here is the recommended approach:

• Step 1 — Confirm the scope: Identify which floors and which outlets are affected, and at what times of day. Pressure that is adequate overnight but poor during morning peak hours suggests a system capacity issue. Pressure that is consistently low on upper floors only suggests a static pressure or pump output issue.
• Step 2 — Check the pump system status: Visit the plant room and check whether the booster pump system is operating (look for fault lights, check system pressure gauge, confirm duty pump is running).
• Step 3 — Call a qualified pump technician: Do not attempt to adjust pressure settings without professional assessment — incorrect settings can cause damage to fixtures, burst flexible hoses, or create conditions that affect the fire system.
• Step 4 — Commission a system assessment: A qualified pump technician will measure actual pressure at multiple floors, test pump output against the design specification, inspect impellers, bearings and seals, and advise on repair, adjustment, or replacement.

In some cases, pressure problems are caused not by the pump system but by deteriorated building pipework, restrictors on fixtures, or localised hot water system issues. A proper assessment rules these in or out quickly.

How long does a high-rise booster pump system typically last, and when should it be replaced?

A quality booster pump system from a reputable brand such as Grundfos or Davey, properly installed and regularly maintained, has a typical service life of:

• Pump heads and motors: 15–20 years with annual servicing and timely seal/bearing replacement
• Pressure vessels: 10–15 years, limited by internal bladder/diaphragm condition
• Control panels and VSD drives: 10–15 years, depending on operating environment and heat management

Replacement should be considered when:

• The system has reached or exceeded its design life
• Repair costs in a single year exceed 30–40% of replacement cost
• Spare parts are no longer available for the installed model
• The system is consistently unable to meet building pressure demand
• Energy efficiency improvements would generate meaningful savings

For capital works planning purposes, a pump system in its 10th year should be flagged in the 10-year maintenance plan as approaching replacement, even if it is currently performing acceptably.

Yes. Fire pump systems in buildings are regulated under AS 1851-2012 (Routine Service of Fire Protection Systems and Equipment), which is referenced in the Building Code of Australia and enforced through state building regulations. Key obligations include:

• Monthly: Visual inspection of the pump controller, jockey pump operation check, fuel level check (diesel sets)
• Quarterly: Pump start test from all available starting modes (auto, manual, remote)
• Six-monthly: Flow performance check against installed system design
• Annually: Full system test including maximum flow at rated pressure, duty/standby transfer, alarm and shutdown functions, and issue of a compliance certificate

Non-compliance with AS 1851 can affect your building insurance validity and may constitute a breach of the strata scheme's duty of care obligations. Records of all testing and maintenance must be maintained on-site and made available to Fire and Rescue on request.

In many cases, yes. The single most impactful upgrade available for older pump systems is the addition of a variable speed drive (VSD) to an existing fixed-speed pump. A VSD adjusts motor speed in real time to match water demand, dramatically reducing energy consumption during low-demand periods. Buildings with older fixed-speed booster systems can often achieve energy savings of 30–60% on pump running costs through VSD retrofitting.

Other energy-saving upgrades include:

• Replacing aging standard-efficiency motors with IE3 or IE4-rated units
• Installing smart pump controllers with demand scheduling
• Adding pressure sensing at the highest floor rather than at the pump room (remote pressure sensing allows finer pressure control and less pump head required)
• Replacing oversized pumps selected to conservative standards with accurately sized modern units

We can conduct an energy assessment of your existing pump assets and provide a cost-benefit analysis of upgrade versus replacement options, including estimated payback periods. This is particularly useful for strata capital works planning and owners corporation reporting.