You may increasingly see the name FPS Engineered™ across FloodandWaterPumps.co.uk, particularly on our complete pump kits and pumping solutions.
At its simplest, FPS Engineered™ means we have used our experience to make the buying decision easier.
FPS Engineered™: a product or kit where we have considered the intended use, selected or configured the components around that application, or combined parts to create a practical feature that makes the overall pumping setup work better.
Sometimes that means looking at a common use case, such as clearing a flooded garage, automatically managing water in a basement or dewatering a construction site, and bringing together the pump, hose, fittings and accessories we think make the best complete kit for that job.
Other times it is about solving a much more specific problem.
It could mean using a 90° elbow hose tail so the hose leaves a submersible pump cleanly rather than immediately bending and restricting the flow.
It could mean including a non-return valve so water already pumped up a hose cannot simply drain back towards the pump when it stops.
It could mean adapting from one hose diameter to another, choosing reinforced hose where layflat is likely to kink, or using quick-release couplings so a longer discharge hose can be connected and removed easily.
Individually, none of those things are particularly complicated.
We have also used our experience, together with customer feedback and the real-world problems we see people encounter, to help develop and adapt new pump models. Examples include our input into the automatic EVAK Residox range, along with the automatic Stream SPP-2 and SPK530 puddle pumps, where both our technical knowledge and practical customer use cases helped shape new product variants.
That is an important part of how we work. We are not simply a faceless online retailer listing pumps and leaving customers to work out which one they need. Buying pumping equipment online can be difficult, particularly where specifications look similar, compatibility is unclear, or newer suppliers appear without an established technical background. Our aim is to combine product knowledge, engineering experience and what we learn from customers to make choosing the right pump and accessories as straightforward as possible.
Sometimes that means recommending an existing product for the right application. Sometimes it means bringing components together into a complete kit. In other cases, it means feeding practical problems back into product development so that a pump itself can be improved or adapted around the way customers actually need to use it. (Of course, different pump designs have different physical characteristics, strengths and limitations, which is precisely why understanding the application and applying the right technical expertise matters.)
The value is knowing when they are useful, how they should be combined and what difference they make to the person actually using the pump.
We start with what you are trying to do
Most people looking for a water pump do not start by knowing the exact pump model, outlet diameter or motor size they need.
They usually start with a problem:
- How do I pump water out of my flooded garage?
- What pump do I need for a basement?
- How can I automatically remove shallow floodwater?
- What pump is suitable for a muddy trench?
- How do I pump water a long distance?
- What hose and fittings do I need with my pump?
Those are the questions we think a good pump supplier should be helping to answer.
So, rather than simply putting a pump and a length of hose together and calling it a kit, we look at the likely use case and ask what the customer actually needs to make the setup useful.
Sometimes the improvement is a small component
A good example is an elbow hose tail.
Many submersible water pumps discharge vertically upwards. If a relatively stiff hose then needs to run horizontally across a floor, it has to bend sharply immediately above the pump.
Depending on the hose and installation, that can encourage kinking and restrict the discharge.
Using a 90° outlet can allow the hose to leave the pump in the direction it actually needs to travel.
It is a simple change, but it can make the complete pump setup easier to position and more efficient in use.
Sometimes it is about making the pump behave better
A non-return valve is another good example.
When a pump stops, particularly after lifting water vertically out of a basement, cellar or sump, there can still be a significant volume of water sitting inside the discharge hose.
Without a non-return valve, some of that water may drain back through the pump.
For an automatic pump, that can mean the water level rises again and causes the pump to restart unnecessarily.
Adding an appropriately selected non-return valve helps retain the water already within the discharge pipe or hose. This can reduce drain-back and, depending on the installation, reduce unnecessary cycling of the pump.
We explain this particular issue in more detail in our guide to puddle pumps and non-return valves.
Sometimes it is simply choosing the right combination
Another customer may already have the right pump but need to connect it to a different hose size.
Or they may want a long discharge arrangement which can be quickly disconnected and stored.
In those cases the useful part of the solution may be an adaptor, reducer, hose tail or quick-release coupling rather than the pump itself.
The same principle applies.
We are using our understanding of pumps, hoses, fittings and real-world pumping applications to bring those parts together in a way that makes sense.
What makes an FPS Engineered™ pump kit different?
A pump kit should do more than save somebody from adding several individual products to their basket.
For us, the point of a kit is that somebody has already considered how those components are going to work together.
Depending on the application, that might include:
- selecting a pump capable of dealing with the type of water involved;
- choosing an appropriate hose diameter;
- using reinforced hose where kinking could be a problem;
- using layflat hose where portability and longer discharge runs are more important;
- including the correct hose tails and clips;
- using an elbow to improve the hose route;
- adding a non-return valve where drain-back is likely to be a problem;
- using adaptors to change between different hose sizes; or
- adding quick-release couplings where the system needs to be frequently deployed or disconnected.
The exact combination changes with the application.
Making it easier to buy the right water pump
There are hundreds of water pumps, hoses, valves, fittings and accessories available.
For somebody who works with pumps every day, choosing between them may be relatively straightforward.
For somebody dealing with a flooded garage for the first time, it often is not.
We therefore see part of our job as removing as much of that uncertainty as we reasonably can.
If we know that a particular pump works well for shallow garage flooding, we can build a kit around that use.
If we know that water draining back down the discharge hose can cause problems in a basement, we can consider a non-return valve.
If we know that a hose is likely to kink as it leaves a particular pump, we can change the connection or the hose type.
If a contractor needs another 20 metres of discharge hose, we can make sure the connection between those sections is straightforward.
Ultimately, FPS Engineered™ means we have done more of the thinking before you buy. We look at the application, consider how the equipment will actually be used and bring together the pump, hose, fittings and accessories that make sense for the job.
Does FPS Engineered™ mean FPS manufactures everything?
No.
We work with established pump and equipment manufacturers and clearly identify the manufacturer of the underlying product where applicable.
FPS Engineered™ describes our role in the solution.
That may involve selecting equipment for a defined use case, configuring several components into a complete pump kit or combining parts to create a feature that makes the system easier or more effective to use.
The value is not pretending we manufactured every individual component.
The value is using our experience to make those components work together.
Frequently asked questions
What is an FPS Engineered™ pump kit?
An FPS Engineered™ pump kit is a pump and accessory package which we have configured around a particular use or pumping requirement. Depending on the application, it may include hose, hose tails, valves, adaptors, couplings, controls and other accessories.
Why buy a complete water pump kit?
A complete pump kit can make it easier to buy compatible equipment for a particular job. Instead of separately selecting the pump, hose diameter, fittings and accessories, the main components have already been brought together around the intended use.
How do I know what hose size I need for my pump?
The appropriate hose size depends on the pump outlet, required flow, hose length, lift and application. Reducing the hose diameter can increase hydraulic resistance and reduce the flow achieved, so we consider hose selection when developing our pump kits.
Why would a pump need a non-return valve?
A non-return valve allows water to travel in one direction and helps prevent it flowing back towards the pump when pumping stops. This can be useful where water is being lifted vertically or where drain-back could cause an automatic pump to operate unnecessarily.
Can I connect different pump hose sizes?
Yes, in many situations different hose sizes can be connected using suitable reducers, adaptors, hose tails or couplings. The effect of reducing hose diameter on pump performance should also be considered.
What are quick-release pump hose couplings used for?
Quick-release couplings allow sections of pump hose to be connected and disconnected more easily. They can be particularly useful for temporary pumping, flood response, construction dewatering and applications where hose needs to be regularly deployed and stored.
