ANSI/HI 14.6 — hydraulic performance testing
ANSI/HI 14.6 (current edition: 2022) is the rotodynamic pump acceptance test standard. When a buyer specifies “tested per HI 14.6 Grade 1B” in a purchase order, this is what they are referring to.
What gets tested
The test bench measures, at a defined speed and fluid temperature:
- Q — flow rate, via calibrated flow meter
- H — total head, via pressure transducers at suction and discharge flanges
- P — input power, via torque cell or calibrated motor
- η — efficiency, derived as
(ρ·g·Q·H) / P - NPSHr — measured by progressively dropping suction pressure until head drops 3% (the “3% drop” criterion)
Several points are taken across the curve: typically 0%, 50%, 75%, 100%, 110%, and 120% of rated flow.
Acceptance grades
The standard defines tolerance bands the as-tested results must fall within:
| Grade | Application | Q tolerance | H tolerance | η tolerance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1U | Critical / API 610 | ±5% | ±3% | -3% |
| 1B | Industrial standard | ±8% | ±5% | -5% |
| 2B | Commercial / utility | ±10% | ±8% | -8% |
| 3B | Light duty | ±10% | ±8% | none |
Grade 1B is the typical acceptance target for industrial process duty.
Grade 1U is mandatory for API 610 (refining and petrochemical) — see API 610 §8.3 for the additional vibration and bearing temperature limits that stack on top of HI 14.6.
What the buyer receives
A factory acceptance test (FAT) per HI 14.6 produces:
- A test certificate with serial number, test date, and operator signature
- Numerical data at each test point (Q, H, P, η, NPSHr)
- A performance curve plotted from the data
- Witness sign-off if the buyer attended (witnessed FAT)
Shipping a pump without an HI 14.6 certificate to a process plant is unusual — ask for it explicitly when negotiating.
What FB Bombas tests
Our hydraulic test bench in Cabreúva runs ANSI/HI 14.6 acceptance tests up to the size envelope of our catalog. See Por que FB Bombas for the test capability matrix.
Further reading
References
- ANSI/HI 14.6-2022 — Rotodynamic Pumps for Hydraulic Performance Acceptance Tests.
- API 610-2021 §8.3 — Performance, mechanical, and NPSH tests.
- ISO 9906:2012 — Rotodynamic pumps — Hydraulic performance acceptance tests — Grades 1, 2 and 3 (the international equivalent).