Fire Hydrant

Main Loop Testing

Why Loop Piping..?
An Excerpt from UAE Fire and Safety Code of Practice, 2018, Chapter-9
Table 9.13 : Yard Hydrant System Requirement,8(2)

The hydrant piping shall be looped without

open ends, such that any isolation from one
side will not hamper the water supply from
the other end to any hydrant
 Pump Room

Water Tank Isolation Valves

F
A
D E

B
G
 Fire Main Loop Test with Fire
Hydrant

Why..?
To determine if the condition of the system is adequate to support a
Worst Case Credible Event(WCCE) need for firewater.

The condition of the piping, leaks, existence of closed valves or

sediment, operability of valves for firewater delivery systems
 Fire Main Loop Test with Fire
Hydrant
When water flow encounters a loop or grid, two things occur

The flow splits into a determinable ratio

The pressure drop across each of the two legs will be the same

There are four methods to test a loop or grid system:

(1) Isolate the Legs
(2) Choose Two Hydrants on a Large Main
(3) Simultaneous Flow
(4) Single Hydrant Flow Test
Isolate the Legs : Test -1

Measure static pressure,

flow and residual pressure

SP1
RP1
Q1
Shut Valve -1
1 2

Source
Isolate the Legs : Test -2

Measure static pressure,

flow and residual pressure

SP2
RP2
Q2
Shut Valve -2
1 2

Source
Isolate the Legs : Test -3

Measure static pressure,

flow and residual pressure

SP3
RP3
Q3
Both valve opened
1 2

Source
Result
The static pressure should be identical in each of the three tests. A
drop in static pressure in test 1 or 2 is indicative of a restriction and a
leak.
In the event of a 100% restriction, no water will come out of the
hydrant
 In the event of a partial restriction, the residual pressure and/or the
flow is significantly diminished.
Further flow testing on different hydrants can usually narrow down
the location of the restriction