Fire Pump Hydraulics: Friction Loss, Nozzle Pressure & Pump Discharge Pressure

What you'll build

What you will be able to do

Each lab ends with a concrete result that you build yourself and the checker confirms, cell by cell.

• Calculate the flow and nozzle reaction of seven smooth-bore tips with the classic 29.7 formula and work backwards to the nozzle pressure that gives a target flow.
• Work out how much six fixed-gallonage fog nozzles really flow when the nozzle pressure is off, estimate their reaction and flag the nozzles that fall below 90 % of their rated flow.
• Look up the friction loss coefficient for seven hose lays, calculate the friction loss of each, build the loss curve of a 1¾ in line and chart how fast it climbs with flow.
• Calculate the elevation pressure for six hillside, aerial and basement situations, apply the 5 psi per floor rule in a building and compare it with the exact 0.434 psi per foot.
• Calculate friction loss and pump discharge pressure for four single lines with elevation, then for a wyed layout where the supply line carries the flow of both branches.
• Calculate the flow of a master stream tip, split it over one, two or three supply lines, and compare the friction loss and pump pressure of five layouts.
• Calculate the pump discharge pressure for supporting a standpipe from the fire department connection (FDC) for five fire floors and flag the floors where it would exceed the pre-plan maximum.
• Calculate the discharge pressure of four lines flowing at once, find the pressure the pump must make, check total flow against the pump's capacity at that pressure and chart the line pressures.