Precision and Safety: Why Hydraulic Calculations Are Key To a Reliable Fire Sprinkler System Design

A fire can occur in any establishment, whether a school, hospital, company, bank, or home. Therefore, a fire sprinkler system is vital to install in these establishments. A fire sprinkler system is made up of a complex network of pipes and sprinkler heads that releases water when heated to a specific degree/temperature. There are broadly two ways to design a fire sprinkler system.

• Pipe scheduling

• Hydraulic calculation

Pipe scheduling is the most commonly used method for designing fire sprinkler systems. This method determines the pipe sizing in Fire Sprinkler Design by considering several factors, such as pressure requirement, hazard level, etc. However, this approach requires installing large pipes for large areas containing more sprinklers. For example, if the number of sprinklers in a ceiling is more than 50, generally, a 3 inches pipe is used.

But how can you determine whether the pipe is providing the right amount of water? Here, the hydraulic calculations come into the picture. Hydraulic calculations ensure that the sprinkler head releases the right amount of water to put down the fire. The pipes do not dispense too much or less water, as the former can lead to other problems, while the latter can’t put down the fire.

 

Pipe scheduling requires large pipes to stop the fire, which takes up too much space and waste money. Hydraulic calculations do not face such kind of problems because they precisely determine the amount of water required. Here is how hydraulic calculation determines whether the water is enough.

Fire Sprinkler Design

Testing 

Fire Sprinkler Engineers do a water test for hydraulic calculations, but you first need to know the two types of water sources. First is closed sources, such as underground water tanks, and second is open sources, such as lakes and ponds.

 

Engineers analyze the water pressure and flow rate of the water source. And if the water flow/pressure is less or inadequate, they use other water sources such as lakes, ponds, underground water, etc.

 

Calculations are simple in pipe scheduling, but the pipe installation takes time as bigger pipes are used. Conversely, hydraulic calculations precisely determine the diameter of the risers and main lines, reducing the cost of the system and the time required for installing the pipes. If you still can’t understand why hydraulic calculations are great for sprinkler systems, the below points will help you.

• Hydraulic calculations determine the optimal pipe size by considering factors such as pipe length, diameter, and hazards, which ensure optimal performance.

• This approach helps meet the standards and safety requirements of building codes. So hydraulic calculations will prevent you from any legal issues and requirements. As regulations are designed for occupants' safety, this approach will help you create a space where people feel secure.

• A Fire Sprinkler Engineer does the hydraulic calculations after considering the potential hazards. For example, some hazards may require increased flow rate, water pressure, etc. All this means hydraulic calculations efficiently address the unique challenges that a premise can pose.

• Excess water from a fire sprinkler in the event of a small fire can cause property damage, which is not the case with hydraulic calculations. This method ensures sprinklers release the right amount of water to stop the fire.

• This calculation provides a cost-effective solution as there is no need to install oversize pipes, which helps save costs in terms of material, installation, etc.

The key takeaways

At last, you need hydraulic calculations to install a reliable sprinkler system. By providing optimal pipe sizing, accurate water distribution, complying with safety regulations, saving water, and providing a cost-effective solution, hydraulic calculations can help you install a fire protection system that ensures everyone’s safety and protects property.