During an acceptance test, if a jurisdiction is above 2000 feet elevation, a blank test must be performed.

• A. Engine overload
• B. Brake test
• C. Emissions test
• D. Cooling system check

Answer: (A)

At higher elevations the air is thinner, so an engine has less oxygen to burn and produces less power. When performing an acceptance test, a blank test—running the pump with no water (discharge gates closed) to put the engine under the pump’s internal load—needs to be checked under those thinner-air conditions. The engine overload test ensures the engine can reach and sustain the required speed without overheating or stalling when faced with that load in a high-altitude environment. If the engine can handle this no-water load safely, it’s a good indicator it won’t be overstressed once actual pumping begins. The other checks don’t address this altitude-specific risk.