Basic Hydraulic Formulas for the Fire Service

Area of a square or rectangle A = L x W

Volume of a square or rectangle V = L x W x H
Area of a circle A = .7854 x D
Volume of a cylinrical container V = .7854 x D x H or L
!on"ert "olume in cu#ic ft. to gallons V $cu#ic ft.% x 7.48& = 'allons
!ircumference of a circle ! = (.&4&) x D
*ngine +ressure formula *, = -, . /L . or 0 *L . A,
*ngine ,ressure = *, ,ressure = ,
-o11le ,ressure = -, !oefficient = !2 or !
/riction Loss $3ose% = /L -o11le 4eaction = -4
*le"ation $Hea ,ressure% = *L ,um+ ,ressure = ,,
A++liances = A, Hori1ontal 4eac3 = H4
5quare root = $6% Vertical 4eac3 = V4
',7 83en -, an 9i+ si1e is :no8n ',7 = ;<.7 x D x 6 of -,
5quare root of -o11le si1es $6% of 5= = 7.=7
8= = 8.<4
&== = &=
',7 > &== = ?
-o11le +ressure 83en ',7 is :no8n -, = @? A ;<.7 x DB;
2+en Cutt Disc3arge ',7 = ;<.7 x D x 6 of , x .<
The Q Method
/L in ;DE 3ose uner &== ',7 /L = $;? . D ?%
/L in ;DE 3ose o"er &== ',7 /L = $;? . ?%
/L for (E an u+ 3ose /L = $;? . ?% !2
/riction loss in FE to ;E 3ose /L = @4= x $;? . &>) ?%B !2
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!oefficient of (E = .4 4DE = .=5(
/or G?E met3o (DE= .&87 5E = .=(&
4E = .=<
!oefficient of FE = &&.7
&E = ;.5
&DE = .4 93ese !oefficients are gi"en
&FE = .&77
;E = .&
!oefficient calculations for (E 3ose u+ = ;.5
$3ose si1e% to t3e 5
t3
+o8er
Condensed Q
!?L = /LH. !oefficients are as follo8sII no formula to finI Just learn

& FE = &5.5 ;E = 8 ;D = ;
(E = =.8 4E = =.; 5E = =.=8E
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!ritical "elocities of 3ose $7ax /lo8% &E = (= ',7
&DE = &== ',7
;DE = (== ',7
(E = 5== ',7
5E = &;== ',7
-o11le 4eaction 5oli 5tream -4 = &.5 x D x -,
/og -o11le -4 = .=5=5 x ',7 x 6 of -,
Knitial -4 K-4 = &.8 x D x ,,
4ule of 93um# -o11le 4eaction -, = D ',7
Hyrant !a+a#ility $/lo8ing% $5tatic 0 4esiual% x &== = L Dro+
5tatic
&=L or less Dro+ from static ( more sets $4 times 8ater%
&&L to &5L Dro+ ; more sets $( times 8ater%
&)L to ;5L Dro+ & more set $; times 8ater%
;5L or more Less t3an & more set $Ce !areful%
5+rin:ler 3ea isc3arge DE 3ea 8it3 +ressure :no8n
? = $D, . &5% x M num#er of 3eas x time isc3arge
5+rin:ler 3ea +ressure 8it3 ?uantity :no8n
, = $? 0 &5% x ;
Hori1ontal 4eac3 H4 = D -, . ;) for FE ti+
$A 5 for eac3 NE larger t3an FE%
4ule of 93um# H4 = &D -,
Vertical 4eac3 V4 = ;, 0 O,; > &==P
?uic: /ire /lo8 calculations L x W A L of in"ol"ement
(
*x+osures = ;5L of total area of fire floor x amount of ex+osures
= total g+mQs of 8ater neee