Sprinkler Pump Reliability — A Complete Solution for EN 12845 & EN 16925
Acoem RT-300 and Acoem Advisor deliver alignment, vibration analysis and remote expertise for sprinkler pumps under EN 12845 and EN 16925. Fully documented.
One Ecosystem for Sprinkler Pump Alignment, Monitoring & Compliance
A sprinkler system only saves lives if the pump starts when the alarm sounds. EN 12845 requires weekly functional tests, installation according to the manufacturer’s instructions, and a documented maintenance history. Acoem delivers a complete solution — RT-300 for on-site measurement, the Acoem Wireless Balancer, and Acoem Advisor for remote expertise— so that installers, maintenance technicians, and fire safety consultants can verify pump performance across the entire system lifecycle.
EN 12845 Puts the Pump in Focus — Not Just the Sprinkler Heads
EN 12845:2015+A1:2019 governs the design, installation, and maintenance of automatic sprinkler systems across the EU. The pump-set is the critical component: main fire pumps start when pressure drops and are stopped manually, and weekly tests must be performed periodically and manually by the responsible technician. The standard also requires that each complete engine and pump set is tested by the supplier for no less than 1½ hours at rated flow, and that base plate fixing and shimming locations follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Acoem RT-300 Ecosystem
The RT-300 brings four capabilities into one tool: laser shaft alignment between driver and pump, pre-alignment checks (soft foot, runout), Machine Defender vibration diagnostics, and direct upload to Acoem Cloud. The baseline state is documented at commissioning and becomes a reference that follows the installation throughout its life.
Pre-Alignment - Check. Correct. Continue.
Alignment is only as good as the foundation it starts from. A soft foot, a bent shaft, or pipe strain on the pump will defeat even a perfect shaft alignment — and on a dormant fire pump these faults stay hidden until the pump is called to run.
The RT-300’s wireless Run-Out probe catches them first. A high-precision LVDT sensor with a ±2.5 mm measurement range, accurate to within 0.005 mm, measures directly on the machine foot — no guesswork, no disassembly.
In a single tool it covers the checks that matter for a sprinkler pump-set:
- Soft foot — the industry-first True SoftCheck™ function detects movement directly at each machine foot
- Run-Out — axial and radial checks for bent shafts and eccentric or skewed coupling hubs
- LiftCheck — bearing clearance verification
- Pipe strain — confirms the pump is not distorted by connected pipework
- Thermal growth — measurement on machine casings
The result: the pump-set is verified true before shaft alignment begins, so the alignment holds — and every check is documented for the EN 12845 record.
Shaft Alignment - Align. Verify. Document.
Misalignment causes most premature seal and bearing failures in fire pumps — and stays invisible until the pump runs under load. The RT-300 removes the guesswork.
Two smart sensors with 30 mm digital detectors and visible line lasers measure the position of driver and pump shaft. The IP65-rated design and pre-mounted fixtures allow fast setup even in a cramped pump room. With True Live™, both shaft positions are tracked in real time — interrupt the beam and the sensors resume automatically, so a lone technician completes the job in one pass.
Acoem’s patented GuideU™ interface — shared across the AT-series and the RT-300 — guides each step in icon-driven, language-free 3D, giving a documented, repeatable alignment that meets EN 12845 installation requirements regardless of who performs it.
Machine Defender - AI-Powered Machine Diagnostics
During the weekly EN 12845 test, the same RT-300 measures vibration on the pump during the manual functional test. Using Bearing Defender for quick spot inspections or/and Machine Defender for full vibration diagnostics, Accurex AI instantly flags whether the readings indicate unbalance, misalignment, bearing defects, cavitation, or other developing faults — directly on the device.
At service and periodic maintenance — Machine Defender’s diagnostic reports and trended cloud data show how the pump’s condition has evolved since the last visit. Bearing spot inspections and thermography (FLIR One app) complete the picture.
Wireless Balancer — Correct Unbalance Without Dismantling the Pump
When Machine Defender flags rotor unbalance on a sprinkler pump, the fault rarely waits for a workshop slot. Unbalance accelerates bearing and seal wear, raises vibration, and — on a pump that may sit dormant for months under EN 12845 — quietly erodes the reliability the whole system depends on.
The Acoem Wireless Balancer corrects it on site, in place, without removing the pump from the installation. Fully cable-free single- and dual-plane balancing of rigid rotors is controlled from a mobile device or dedicated unit, with precision up to 0.5° at 3000 RPM.
For a fire-pump installation, the practical advantages are direct:
- No disassembly, no downtime extension — balance the rotor where it sits, keeping the sprinkler system back in service faster
- Cable-free safety — work up to 20 metres from the machine, an asset in the confined or hazardous spaces typical of diesel-driven fire pumps
- Fewer balancing runs — synchronous dual-plane measurement with ACOEM WBS™ technology shortens every job
- One ecosystem — integrates seamlessly with Acoem’s shaft alignment apps, Bearing Defender, Machine Defender and NEST Vision, so balancing data lives in the same documented record as alignment and diagnostics
- Compact and portable — the full kit weighs under 2 kg, easy to carry into any pump room
Detect with Machine Defender, correct with the Wireless Balancer, document in Acoem Cloud — a closed loop that keeps the sprinkler pump compliant and reliable across its entire lifecycle.
Acoem Advisor — Remote Reliability Expertise When You Need It
Not every site has a certified vibration analyst on call — and a sprinkler pump fault rarely waits. Acoem Advisor closes that gap. Share the data captured by your RT-300, and Acoem’s in-house Level 3 and 4 reliability experts analyse it and report findings within 24 hours, with clear advice on the how, what, and when to fix each problem.
For installers, maintenance teams, and fire safety consultants, that means objective expert judgement behind every EN 12845 decision — without the cost or delay of an on-site specialist. Advisor is a subscription-based service that integrates into your existing maintenance program, scaling from a single critical pump to a full estate.
Frequently Asked Questions — Sprinkler Pump Reliability & EN 12845
Does EN 12845 require laser shaft alignment of fire pumps?
EN 12845 does not specify a measurement method, but it does require that the manufacturer’s shimming and base plate fixing instructions are followed and that the pump-set’s performance can be demonstrated. Laser shaft alignment is the fastest and most accurately documented way to meet these requirements, which is why it has become standard practice for sprinkler pump reliability programs.
Can vibration monitoring replace the manual weekly EN 12845 test?
No. The weekly functional test is a mandatory requirement under EN 12845 and must be performed manually by the responsible technician. Vibration monitoring with Machine Defender complements the weekly test by detecting developing faults — unbalance, misalignment, bearing wear, cavitation — between tests, before they cause a failure.
How often should a sprinkler pump be aligned?
At commissioning, after any work involving the pump, coupling, or driver, and at the annual service. Because a fire pump may sit dormant for long periods, trended data from the RT-300 is the most reliable indicator of whether realignment is needed in between scheduled services.
What is the difference between Bearing Defender and Machine Defender?
Bearing Defender provides quick spot inspections to detect early signs of bearing wear — ideal for routine weekly checks. Machine Defender performs full vibration diagnostics covering unbalance, misalignment, bearing defects, cavitation and more, with Accurex AI generating an instant diagnosis. Both run on the same RT-300 hardware.
What does Acoem Advisor do for sprinkler pump reliability?
Acoem Advisor gives you remote access to Acoem’s Level 3 and 4 reliability specialists. When RT-300 measurement values are uncertain or the corrective action is unclear, you share the data and receive an expert assessment — typically within 24 hours — so every EN 12845 maintenance decision is backed by qualified analysis without the cost of an on-site specialist.
Does this solution also cover EN 16925 residential sprinkler systems?
Yes. EN 16925 governs fixed firefighting systems in residential buildings, a fast-growing segment across Europe. The pumps are smaller, but the documentation and reliability requirements are the same. The RT-300 ecosystem scales down to residential installations as effectively as it scales up to large industrial sprinkler systems.