Design Fire Fighting System

How can you design a water distribution
system for fire protection?

1) Assess the demand
2) Select the source
3) Design the network
4) Locate the devices
5) Test and verify
6) Here’s what else to consider
1)Assess the Fire Water Demand

The first step is to assess the water demand for fire protection, which
depends on several factors, such as the
1) type and occupancy of the building,
2) the fire risk classification,
3) the fire flow duration, and
4) the minimum residual pressure.
You can use various methods and tools to estimate the fire water
demand, such as the ISO method, the NFPA method, the Fire
Suppression Rating Schedule, or the Hazen-Williams equation.
You should also consider the domestic and industrial water demand,
as well as the peak and average demand patterns.
2) Select the Fire Water Source

The next step is to select the water source for the distribution system,
1) which can be a public water supply,
2) a private water supply,
3) or a combination of both.
You should evaluate the availability, reliability, quality, and cost of
each water source, as well as the environmental and regulatory
impacts.
You should also ensure that the water source can provide enough
water to meet the fire demand and the other water demands at all
times.
3) Design the network

The third step is to design the network of pipes, valves, pumps, tanks,
and fittings that will convey the water from the source to the points of
use.
You should use appropriate hydraulic models and software to analyze

the network performance, such as EPANET, WaterCAD, or HEC-RAS.
You should optimize the network layout, diameter, material, and

alignment to minimize the head losses, ensure the required pressure
and flow, and reduce the construction and maintenance costs.
4) Locate the devices
The fourth step is to locate the fire protection devices, such as fire
hydrants, sprinklers, and standpipes, along the distribution network.
You should follow the codes and standards, such as NFPA 13, NFPA
14, and NFPA 24, to determine the number, type, spacing, and location
of the devices.
You should also coordinate with the fire department, the building
owners, and the users to ensure the accessibility, visibility, and
functionality of the devices.
5) Test and verify

The final step is to test and verify the water distribution system for fire
protection before and after the construction.
You should conduct field tests, such as flow tests, pressure tests, and
leakage tests, to measure the actual performance of the system and
compare it with the design criteria.
You should also conduct computer simulations, such as fire scenarios,
to evaluate the system response and identify any potential problems
or improvements.
Skip to Main Content

Sr. Design and Project Engineer
Plumbing and Fire Fighting System
Member of Kuwait Society of Engineers (KSE)
Kuwait Fire Force License [KFD Card]

Contact : +965 94074747
E-mail : kamal.mech.engg@gmail.com
Home
About
Services
Projects
Plumbing

Fire Fighting
CAD
Resources
Contact

Hydraulic Calculations for Fire Fighting System
We designing a fire protection system, hydraulic calculations are very important to ensure that
the flow rate in piping network will be enough to control fires effectively. In NFPA, the
calculation procedures are established and verified by the three basic elements of firefighting
system:
1. Water delivery requirements of fire sprinkler system
2. Available water supply
3. The piping network system and its related friction losses.
Occupancy Classification
Any hydraulic design of sprinkler systems must begin with an analysis of the commodity being
protected. The National Fire Protection Association, Standard No. 13 “Installation of Sprinkler
Systems” (NFPA-13) defines three basic commodity classification: Light Hazard, Ordinary
Hazard and Extra Hazard. These classifications are defined in NFPA-13 and examples are
given in that document. Ordinary Hazard occupancies are divided into two categories: Ordinary
Hazard Group 1 and Ordinary Hazard Group 2. Extra Hazard occupancies are also divided
into two categories: Extra Hazard Group 1 and Extra Hazard Group 2. Once a hazard
classification is chosen for a known occupancy, the water requirements may be established from
NFPA-13, (2007) Figure 11.2.3.1.1
Density/ Area Curve for water requirements
NFPA-13, (2007) Figure 11.2.3.1.1 displays five density/area curves overlain on a graph. These
five curves correspond to the previously discussed hazard classifications: Light Hazard, Ordinary
Group 1 Hazard, Ordinary Group 2 Hazard, Extra Hazard Group 1 and Extra Hazard Group 2.
These curves stipulate the required minimum densities and remote areas that establish minimum
water requirements for sprinkler systems.
Densities and Remote Areas

These curves stipulate the required minimum densities and remote areas that establish minimum
water requirements for sprinkler systems.
Density - The amount of water that must be delivered every minute for every square foot of floor
space. The English units for density is (gallons per minute per square foot (gpm/sq.ft.) For
example, a Light Hazard occupancy could be designed for a density of 0.1-gpm/sq.ft. This means
that 0.1-gallons must discharge every minute for every square foot of floor space over a specified
area.
Remote Area – the minimum area of floor space over which the density must discharge.
As an example, Figure 11.2.3.1.1 indicates that an acceptable design for an Ordinary Hazard
Group 1 occupancy is 0.15-gpm/sq.ft. over 1500-sq.ft.
This means the sprinkler system designer will choose the most hydraulically demanding 1500-
sq.ft. of the sprinkler system layout and perform a calculation of all sprinklers within that 1500-
sq.ft. area. Therefore, only a portion of sprinklers on a sprinkler system are expected to operate
during a typical fire, not all. If all sprinklers on a sprinkler system operate the water supply most
likely will not be adequate to control the fire.
Calculating number of sprinklers in Remote Area
Total number of sprinklers = Remote Area (Design Area) / Area covered by one sprinkler.
For example, if Remote area = 1500 sq-ft and area covered by one sprinkler = 130 sq -ft
Total number odd sprinklers = 1500/130 = 11.538.

Therefore, we shall consider 12 Nos. of sprinklers which the water tank must provide for
sprinklers to operate in case of fire.
End sprinkler start conditions
Once the hydraulic requirements are selected for the occupancy, the hydraulic calculation of the
sprinkler system may begin. In modern times sprinkler system hydraulics are performed by
computer programs. However, in the early days of sprinkler system hydraulic design all systems
were calculated with a calculator as we will do here. A thorough understanding of these
principles is not required to perform calculations on a hydraulic calculation program but these
are the principles on which the program operates. A better understanding of these principles will
allow the designer to better understand how the sprinkler system will function hydraulically. The
density/area curves will tell the designer the starting point of the design. Our example is an
Ordinary Hazard Group 1 occupancy and we will choose the point on the density/area curve of
0.15- gpm/sq.ft. over 1500-sq.ft.
This means that every square foot of the 1500-sq.ft. remote area must be covered with at least
0.15- gpm. By extension, this means that the floor area under each sprinkler, called the
Protection Area of Coverage, must be provided with 0.15-gpm/sq.ft. In other words, each
sprinkler must discharge enough water to provide a minimum of 0.15-gallons per minute for
every square foot it protects.
The end sprinkler must discharge 19.5-gallons every minute over the 130-sq.ft. it protects in
order to meet the minimum density requirement of NFPA-13. We might start the calculation
process at this point, however there is one other item that must be verified. NFPA-13, (2007)
section 22.4.4.10.1 states that no sprinkler may operate at less than 7-psi. This means that we
must verify that our end sprinkler satisfies this condition. For our example, we have chosen a
sprinkler with a k-factor of 8.0.
Formula used in Hydraulic Calculation process

Simple Example for Manual Calculation
Consider the following remote area.
Hazard Classification : Light Hazard
This is three story building (Ground Floor +1st Floor + 2nd Floor + Roof). Fire water tank and
Fire Pump set is installed on roof. Therefore, we will select remote area on second floor since it
will have less pressure.
Remote Area
Calculation Summary
Click here for....
SAMPLE MANUAL HYDRAULIC CALCULATION FOR LIGHT
HAZARD FOR BEGINNERS
Sample Calculation 2

Design Fire Fighting System

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Design Fire Fighting System

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Design Fire Fighting System

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

How can you design a water distribution

system for fire protection?

1)Assess the Fire Water Demand

2) Select the Fire Water Source

3) Design the network

You should use appropriate hydraulic models and software to analyze

You should optimize the network layout, diameter, material, and

5) Test and verify

Skip to Main Content

Kuwait Fire Force License [KFD Card]

Densities and Remote Areas

Total number odd sprinklers = 1500/130 = 11.538.

Formula used in Hydraulic Calculation process

You might also like