What triggers the operation of a jockey pump?

A jockey pump is primarily designed to maintain the pressure within a fire protection system and to compensate for minor pressure drops. It activates when there is a small decrease in system pressure, which can occur due to issues such as leaks or minor system usage. The jockey pump helps to restore the pressure to the desired level without engaging the main fire pump, ensuring that the system remains ready to operate effectively when needed.

In contrast, high demand for water typically would necessitate the activation of the main fire pump rather than the jockey pump, as it is meant to handle larger volume needs. A significant pressure increase would not trigger the jockey pump since its role is to react to drops in pressure, not increases. Lastly, while a fire alarm activation is an important event, it would activate the system's main pump for firefighting needs rather than the jockey pump, which is focused on maintaining pressure during routine conditions.