Fire Protection

Hydraulic Calculations
(Wet and Dry Systems)
BSSI 1001

John Willden, P.Eng.

Hydraulic Equations

Q  AOP  Density  for first sprinkler flow

where:
 Q = USGPM
 AOP = Area of Sprinkler operations
1500 – 3000 ft2 for light hazard
 Density = USGPM/ft2
or water/square foot
Hydraulic Equations
2
 Q
p  for first sprinkler pressure
 K
where:
 Q = USGPM QK p
 K=sprinkler factor
 p=pressure in psig
Hydraulic Equations

Pf  FQ1.85 PF  Pf  L

where:
 Pf = pressure drop per foot (psig/ft)
 Q = USGPM pipe flow
 F = friction factor from table
 PF = total pressure loss
Hydraulic Example
10 ft 10 ft 10 ft 10 ft

Q= Q= Q= Q=
1½ in 1¼ in 1 in 1 in
P= P= P= P= P=
Q=

 Ordinary Hazard group 1 we

16 ft get 0.15 USGPM/ft2
 If each sprinkler is covering
P=
Q= 130 ft2 we have:
Hydraulic Example
10 ft 10 ft 10 ft 10 ft

Q= Q= Q= Q=
1½ in 1¼ in 1 in 1 in
P= P= P= P= P=
Q=

16 ft  Q = Area x Density = 130 ft2 x

0.15 USGPM = 19.5 USGPM
P=
Q=
Hydraulic Example
10 ft 10 ft 10 ft 10 ft

Q= Q= Q= Q = 19.5
1½ in 1¼ in 1 in 1 in
P= P= P= P= P=
Q=

 p = (Q/K)2
16 ft
= (19.5/5.65)2
P=
Q=
= 11.91 psig
Hydraulic Example
10 ft 10 ft 10 ft 10 ft

Q= Q= Q= Q = 19.5
1½ in 1¼ in 1 in 1 in
P= P= P= P= P =11.91
Q=

 pf = FC120 x Q1.85
16 ft

= 5.10 x 10-4 x 19.51.85

P=
Q=
= 0.124 psig/ft
Hydraulic Example
10 ft 10 ft 10 ft 10 ft

Q4 = Q3 = Q2 = Q1 = 19.5
1½ in 1¼ in 1 in 1 in
P5 = P4 = P3 = P2 = P1 =11.91
Q5 =

 Pf = p f x L
16 ft
= 0.124 x 10 ft
P=
Q= = 1.24 psig
Hydraulic Example
10 ft 10 ft 10 ft 10 ft

Q4 = Q3 = Q2 = Q1 = 19.5
1½ in 1¼ in 1 in 1 in
P5 = P4 = P3 = P2 = P1 =11.91
Q5 =

 P2 = Pf + P1
16 ft

= 1.24 + 11.91
P=
Q= = 13.15 psig
Hydraulic Example
10 ft 10 ft 10 ft 10 ft

Q4 = Q3 = Q2 = Q1 = 19.5
1½ in 1¼ in 1 in 1 in
P5 = P4 = P3 = P2 =13.15 P1 =11.91
Q5 =

 Q2 = K P 2 + Q 1
16 ft
= 5.65 13.15 + 19.5
P= = 20.49 + 19.5
Q=
= 39.99 USGPM
Hydraulic Example
10 ft 10 ft 10 ft 10 ft

Q4 = Q3 = Q2 =39.99 Q1 = 19.5
1½ in 1¼ in 1 in 1 in
P5 = P4 = P3 = P2 =13.15 P1 =11.91
Q5 =

 Now you try the next

16 ft
sprinkler
P=
Q=
 wet systems are always full of water
 they sprinkle when a head opens

TO SPRINKLERS

CHECK VALVE

ALARM VALVE
(SPRINKLER VALVE)

INDICATING VALVE

SIAMESE CONNECTION
(FIRE DEPARTMENT
CONNECTION)

FROM SERVICE MAIN

Details of Wet System

 © 1997, The
Viking
Corporation
  dry systems are full of compressed air
 they bleed off the air and sprinkle when a head
opens
TO SPRINKLERS

ALARM VALVE
(DRY SPRINKLER VALVE)

FIRE DEPARTMENT
CHECK VALVE

INDICATING VALVE

CHECK VALVE

SIAMESE CONNECTION
(FIRE DEPARTMENT
CONNECTION)

FROM SERVICE MAIN

Dry Pipe System

 © 1997, The
Viking
Corporation
  preaction systems are full of compressed air
until a fire is detected
 then they fill with water to get ready
TO SPRINKLERS

CHECK VALVES

ALARM VALVE
(PREACTION SPRINKLER VALVE)

INDICATING VALVE

SIAMESE CONNECTION
(FIRE DEPARTMENT
CONNECTION)

CHECK VALVE

FROM SERVICE MAIN

  deluge systems are empty and the sprinkler
heads are open
 they all come on at once when a fire is detected

TO SPRINKLERS

CHECK VALVE

ALARM VALVE
(PREACTION SPRINKLER VALVE)

INDICATING VALVE

SIAMESE CONNECTION
(FIRE DEPARTMENT
CONNECTION)
CHECK VALVE

FROM SERVICE MAIN

Sprinkler Heads
 three major types
of sprinkler heads
 upright
 pendant
 sidewall
 dry type

http://www.vikingcorp.com/databook/sprinklers/
Sprinkler Arrangements
 Tree systems
 Only one path to
each sprinkler
head

 Grid systems
 At least two
paths to each
sprinkler head
Sprinkler Arrangements – cont’d

 Loop systems
 There are two paths to
each sprinkler head but
the system can also be
used to circulate heating
or cooling water

upright

pendant
Typical Alarm Valve
Parts of Alarm Valve
Fire Protection Symbols
pendent head – hangs down
upright head – stands up
sidewall head – sticks out sideways
upright (elevation view)
pendent (elevation view)
siamese connection – fire department
check valve
Fire Protection Symbols
ALARM VALVE (wet)
ALARM VALVE (dry)
ALARM VALVE (preaction)
ALARM VALVE (deluge)
FC flushing connection (flanged)
FC flushing connection (cap)
open stem and yoke valve (OS & Y)