Fireground Hydraulic Calculations

Driver/Operator 1B
September 2003 Slide #-#-1

Fireground Hydraulics
Make it easy to understood and applicable to mnemonic use Memorizing elements is effective in determining fire stream calculations Develop fireground hydraulic charts

Driver/Operator 1B
September 2003 Slide #-#-2

Common NP and Flows

1" smooth bore tip nozzles
50 psi, 200 gpm

Fog nozzles
100 psi, 250 gpm

Driver/Operator 1B
September 2003 Slide #-#-3

Common NP and Flows

Master Stream Nozzles
Smooth bore tip, 80 psi 1" tip = 400 gpm 11/8" tip = 500 gpm 1" tip = 600 gpm 15/8" tip = 700 gpm 1" tip = 800 gpm 2" tip = 1,000 gpm Fog, 100 psi Flows can vary by manufacturer

Driver/Operator 1B
September 2003 Slide #-#-4

FL in 3" Hoselines
Tip = 7/8" Tip = 1" Tip = 1 /8" Tip = 1" FL = Q2
1

FL = 2 psi FL = 4 psi FL = 6 psi FL = 8 psi

gpm = 150 gpm = 200 gpm = 250 gpm = 300

Flow less than 500

Driver/Operator 1B
September 2003 Slide #-#-5

FL in 2" Hoselines
Tip = 7/8" Tip = 1" Tip = 1 /8" Tip = 1"
1

FL = 5 psi FL = 10 psi FL = 15 psi FL = 20 psi

gpm = 150 gpm = 200 gpm = 250 gpm = 300

Driver/Operator 1B
September 2003 Slide #-#-6

Common FL in Appliances
Wye >350 gpm Siamese > 350 gpm Portable monitor Standpipe 10 psi 10 psi 25 psi 25 psi

Driver/Operator 1B
September 2003 Slide #-#-7

Common Pressure Usages

Preconnect 1" and 1"
PDP = 135 psi

PDP = Do not exceed 250 psi Intake (residual pressure)

Do not drop below 20 psi
Driver/Operator 1B
September 2003 Slide #-#-8

Common Pressure Usages

Use volume mode
Two or more 2" or larger lines pumping 50% or more than pump capacity

Elevation
PDP = 5 psi per story (minus first story)

Supplying an engine
50 psi to start
Driver/Operator 1B
September 2003 Slide #-#-9

Example: 2" Hoseline

What is the PDP and gpm for 300 feet of 2" hose with a 1" smooth bore tip? gpm = 200 PDP = NP + FL PDP = 50 + (10 x 3) PDP = 50 + 30 PDP = 80 psi
Driver/Operator 1B
September 2003 Slide #-#-10

Example: 3" Hoseline

What is the PDP and gpm for 400 feet of 3" hoseline with a fog nozzle? gpm = 200 PDP = NP + FL PDP = 100 + (4 x 4) PDP = 100 + 16 PDP = 116 psi
Driver/Operator 1B
September 2003 Slide #-#-11

Example: Wyed Hoselines

What is the PDP and gpm for 150 feet of wyed 1" hoselines using fog nozzles through 100 feet of 2" hoseline? gpm = 200 PDP = NP + FL + AL PDP = 135 + (10 x 1) + 10 PDP = 135 + 10 + 10 PDP = 155 psi

Driver/Operator 1B
September 2003 Slide #-#-12

Example: Elevation Loss

What is the PDP and gpm for 200 feet of 2" hose up to a third floor? gpm = 150 PDP = NP + FL +/- EL PDP = 50 + (10 x 1) + 10 PDP = 50 + (10) + 10 PDP = 70 psi
Driver/Operator 1B
September 2003 Slide #-#-13