Fire Fighting Design Requirements

WELCOME
Fire-fighting Design
Requirements
Wed 15 June 2016
QUU reference TEM142

© 2016 Queensland Urban Utilities
Agenda
Building Fire Hydrant Systems: Water Supply Design Guidelines

» Ben Wilson, Senior Water Master Planner
Fire-fighting considerations during Water Approval Process

» Toby Turner, Senior Engineer Development Services
Q&A Discussion

© 2012 Queensland Urban Utilities 2
Safety share

Building Fire Hydrant
Systems
Water Supply Design

Guidelines
Ben Wilson
Senior Water Master Planner

Standards
Building Fire Building Fire Water Water Service

Hydraulic System System Infrastructure Provision
Design Maintenance and Connection
Design
Standards Building Code of Qld Maintenance SE Queensland Water Customer Service
Australia Standard(s) and Wastewater Standards
• “Deemed-To-Satisfy” • Eg. AS1851-2012 Construction Code
• eg. AS2419.1
Purpose Building Design Building Safety Development Water Operational
Performance Compliance Supply and Minimum Levels of
Compliance Infrastructure Design Service
Legislation • Building Act 1975 • Building Act 1975 SE Qld Water SE Qld Water
• Qld Development • Qld Development (Distribution and Retail (Distribution and
Code Code Restructuring) Act Retail Restructuring)
2009 Act 2009

SE Qld Water and Wastewater
Design and Construction Code
Scope
“1.4 Design Criteria and Service Standards…
It is important to clearly understand the intent and application of the design criteria... In all
instances, the criteria provided relate to future additions to the water/sewer distribution
networks within SEQ and are not to be confused with existing customer standards of service.”
“6.1.4 Private Building Fire Systems…

The water services businesses do not evaluate the performance of private fire systems, nor aim
to ensure their compliance with the relevant building codes and standards”
Triggers
• New Development
• Utility Infrastructure Design Projects
Who
• Development: Endorsed Consultant(s) engaged by Developer/Builder

Customer Service Standards
Scope
Operational Customer Service Standard: “Minimum flow or pressure at the
connection to the customer’s property”
Triggers
• General Water Operations eg.
» Zoning/Boundary Valve Selection
» Pump/Control Valve Pressure Setpoints etc.
• Service Pressure/Flow Inquiries or Complaints
» Less than 0.42 L/s Service Pipe / Standpipe; or
» Less than 210 kPa static @ Connection Point (General Urban)
Who
• QUU Operations

Building Fire System Water
Sources/Water Supply
Building Fire Building Fire
Water Service Point

Building Fire
Water Sources Water Supply Hydrant
(Off-Site) System
Eg. Fire Tank Eg. Fire Tank Source + Town

Eg. Town Main > Source + Fire
Min Design Flow Main Source + Fire Pump +
Pump Pressure > Feed Hydrant(s)
& Duration Min Design Flow &
Pressure
Property Boundary Eg. Fire Tank Source + Fire
Pump + Booster Assembly +
Eg. Town Main Source Attack Hydrant(s)
Building Fire
Water Sources + Fire Pump Pressure
(On-Site) > Min Design Flow & Eg. Fire Tank Source + Fire
Pressure Pump + Booster Assembly +
Eg. Fire Tank > Attack Hydrant(s)
Min Design Flow
& Duration

Water Source Design Flow
Chart
Design/Project to Establish Acceptable Source(s) of Water Supply
• > N x 10 L/s
• > 4 hours
AS2419.1 Appendix C – Fire Hydrant Installation Water Supply Flow Chart

Water Source Design
Acceptable Sources of Water Supply (Cl 4.1)
Individually from, or any Combination of:
• Tanks or Reservoirs
• Town Main
• Rivers, Lakes, Dams, Bores or Seawater
Minimum Water Supply Quantity (Cl 4.2)
• Min Flow Rate = n x 10 L/s (Table 2.2, Table 2.3)
• Min Duration = 4 hours
On-Site Water Storage (eg. Tanks) (Cl 4.3)
Required if:
• Town Main is unable to achieve required flow rate(s) or has insufficient capacity
Recommendations
1. Default Water Source = Tank(s)
2. Delete Tank(s) only if Town Main Connection Min capacity calculated and
verified as:
a) > n x 10 L/s (And If Exist: +Sprinklers, +FHRs)
b) +4 hours
3. Consider Project Infrastructure Solution Options to secure compliant Source
Water Supply Design Flow
Chart
Design/Project to Establish Water Supply meeting Min Flow & Pressure
• Hydrant Outlet: Supply Pressure > Min Req’d Hyd Outlet Pressure + Hydraulic Losses
• Refer AS2419.1 Clause 2.3, Tables 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3
AS2419.1 Appendix C – Fire Hydrant Installation© Water

© Supply
2016 Queensland Flow
Urban Chart
Utilities
2012 Queensland Urban Utilities 11
Water Supply Design
Flow and Pressure Requirements (AS2419.1 Cl 2.3)
Two Scenarios:
• Unassisted Supply cannot provide minimum on-site pressure(s) = Pump(s)
• Unassisted Supply can provide minimum on-site pressure = Delete Pump(s)
Recommendations
1. Default Water Supply = Tank(s) + Pump(s)
2. Delete Pump(s) only if Town Main Connection Min pressure calculated and
verified as > Min On-Site Required Pressures
3. Seek advice from Water Agency for Min Available Mains Residual Pressure
4. Consider Project Infrastructure Solution Options to secure compliant Supply
(ie. Connection Residual Pressure)

Town Mains
Design Residual Pressure Calculation
Determination of Water Supply Pressure (AS2419.1 Appendix F)
• “Both the residual pressure and the available flow in a water supply
system can vary considerably. It is therefore important…to use
appropriate methods to determine results that are representative of the
actual system pressure performance in the locality”
• “The water agency is usually in the best position to provide system
pressure and flow information by use of a computer model of the
system or other records of pressure performance…”
Recommendations
1. Seek Pressure/Flow Advice from Water Agency, noting:
• Availability/Reliability of Hydraulic Modelling
• Advice Services on Offer
• Limitations of Advice
Town Mains
Hourly Pressure Variations
Sandgate Network Background Pressures
Feb-Mar 2011
450
More people at home weekend:

440
Use more water over day = less 40 kPa current variance
pressure than weekday Higher variance in future years with:
430 a) More development
b) More garden watering
420
Pressure (kPa)
410
Before work:
400 Showering demand = lower pressures
Weekend = Get up later: 3:30 - 4:15 pm
Showering times later/more variable Watering Gardens!
390
High load on network =
lower pressures
380
370
0:00
0:45
1:30
2:15
3:00
3:45
4:30
5:15
6:00
6:45
7:30
8:15
9:00
9:45
10:30
11:15
12:00
12:45
13:30
14:15
15:00
15:45
16:30
17:15
18:00
18:45
19:30
20:15
21:00
21:45
22:30
23:15
Time of Day
Weekday Avg Pressure (kPa) Weekend Avg Pressure (kPa)

Town Mains
Daily – Yearly Pressure Variations
Long-Term Pressure Example
Indooroopilly / St Lucia / Chapel Hill / Fig Tree Pocket
800
Under "normal" demands: Drought = Lower Demands:

Avg ~640 kPa Avg ~720 kPa
Min ~560 kPa Min ~640 kPa
750
Average Daily Pressure (kPa)
700
95th percentile: 3 years

~690 kPa
650
95th percentile: October 2010

~715 kPa
600
95th percentile: 8 years
~600 kPa Network designed to operate at
minimum: 560 kPa
550
1/01/2003
8/09/2003
15/05/2004
20/01/2005
27/09/2005
4/06/2006
9/02/2007
17/10/2007
23/06/2008
28/02/2009
5/11/2009
13/07/2010
Town Main – Field Pressure Tests
Raw Mains Test Pressures: Do Not use as Design Pressures!
• Not referenced by AS2419.1 as Design Pressure Calc Method
• AS2419.1: Design Pressure = Minimum Pressure (95th percentile)
» Raw field test pressures are greater than minimums, often
significantly more
• AS2419.1 recognises that water mains pressures Vary with time:
• Raw field test pressures vary depending on hour, day, month or
year of measurement
• AS2419.1 Clause 2.3.3: Select “Most Appropriate” method:
a) Water Agency Hydraulic Modelling (95th percentile). Preferred by AS2419.1
b) Water Agency Pressure Records (95th percentile) + Extra Calculated Losses
c) System Reference Point (95th percentile) + Extra Calculated Losses to
Connection
d) Testing Method Approved by Water Agency
Recommendations
1. Default to Water Agency Hydraulic Modelling as most reliable for 95th percentile
2. Verify Modelled Pressure Drops with Field Testing Pressure Drop Measurements
3. If Field Test Pressure Drop > Modelled: Conservative Approach – Adjust Modelled
Pressure
QUU reference TEM142 Drop by Field Measured Pressure Drop (See©similar © AS2419.1-Cl
2016 Queensland F3.1)
Urban Utilities
2012 Queensland Urban Utilities 16
Additional Hydraulic Losses
Pressure/Flow @ Building Hydrants does not equal Mains Pressure/Flow!
• Additional Losses: Hydraulic Engineering-Published Formulae
» Darcy-Weisbach / Hazen-Williams Equations
» AS2200-2006 Design Charts for Water Supply and Sewerage
Hydraul𝐢𝐢𝐢𝐢 Friction Loss𝐞𝐞𝐞𝐞 (𝐤𝐤𝐤𝐤𝐤𝐤)
Pipe Friction Factor × Pipe Length × Fluid Velocity 2
=�
Pipe Internal Diameter × 2
Fitting k Factors × Fluid Velocity 2
+ �
2
For Complex Fittings and Valves (Eg. SCVs, DCVs)

• Obtain Hydraulic Loss Charts/Coefficients from Manufacturer
AS2419.1 – References
Cl 2.2.1: “Hydraulic Analysis of Fire Hydrant Systems shall be carried out to
demonstrate that, when the specified number of fire hydrants are
discharging…the residual pressure at each fire hydrant is within a range
suitable…”

Hydraulic Loss Calc Examples
The “Good”
• Compliant with AS2200 and AS2419.1 (Section 2, Cl 2.2.1)

Hydraulic Loss Calc Examples
The “Bad”
Design “Calculation” by Licenced Building Fire Services Contractor
“Hydraulically, the maximum flow possible through a 100mm pipe is
4980L/min (83.1L/s) from standard annubar flow chart figures.”
“Factoring in the towns main pressure at this property of 330kPa at the

street and utilising these standard flow tables, the towns mains should be
delivering in the order of 50L/s at the property line through the 100mm
supply pipe”

Sensitivity to Design Diameter
20 L/s Design Flow – DN100 mm Design
Component Internal Diameter (mm) Length (m) Quantity Fitting k Factor Hydraulic Loss (kPa)
Pipe-Main to Meter Assembly 100 5 7
Tees 100 2 1.2 8
90 Degree Bends 100 3 0.75 8
Gate Valves 100 2 0.2 2
M-19 Meter Assembly DN100 Special 65
(Pentair SDCV w/ 50 kPa Spring + Strainer)
Pipe-Meter Assembly to Booster Feed Hydrant 100 5 7
Tees 100 5 1.2 20
90 Degree Bends 100 8 0.75 20
Gate Valves 100 2 0.2 8
Landing Valve (10 L/s each) 1 Special 25
Total 17.45 170 Will Fail @
Town Mains Res
20 L/s Design Flow – DN150 mm Design Press < 400 kPa!
Component Internal Diameter (mm) Length (m) Quantity Fitting k Factor Hydraulic Loss (kPa)
Pipe-Main to Meter Assembly 150 5 1
Tees 150 2 1.2 2
90 Degree Bends 150 3 0.75 1
Gate Valves 150 2 0.2 0.5
Magflow Meter Assembly DN150 Special 0
Pipe-Meter Assembly to Booster Feed Hydrant 150 5 1
Tees 150 5 1.2 4
90 Degree Bends Generally: Use DN150 + Magflow!
150 8 0.75 4
Gate Valves 150 2 0.2 0.5
Landing Valve (10 L/s each) 1 Special 25
Total 17.45 39
Elevation – Pressure Corrections
Water is Heavy!
• Lower Mains/Pipes/Hydrants have Higher Pressure (More water column weight)
• Higher Mains/Pipes/Hydrants have Lower Pressure
Two Approaches
1. Hydraulic Grade Line
PressurePoint A = 9.8 x (Hydraulic Head – ElevationPoint A)
2. Pressure Correction (More prone to Calc errors)

PressurePoint B = PressurePoint A – 9.8 x (ElevationPoint B – ElevationPoint A)
Hydraulic Head = 85mAHD
Connection
Water Main @ Static/Rest Conditions
Elev=65 mAHD
P=?
PG = 300 kPa Static Q = 0 L/s
Elev Diff = 10m P=
300kPa – 9.8x(65-55) =
H1 Elev = 55 mAHD 202 kPa Static!

Pipe/Fitting Diameter Selection
Clause 8.5.1: “The nominal size of a fire main shall comply with the
requirements for pressure, flow and velocity as further specified in Section
2…”
Ie. Size the Pipework to meet Minimum Fire Hydrant System

Pressures and Flows!
Recommendations
1. DN150 mm is recommended default for 20L/s
2. Adjust pipe sizes by full hydraulic analysis

Street Hydrants
as Feed Hydrants
Street Hydrants may only be used as Feed Hydrants if (AS2419.1 Cl 2.1.1)
• Provide coverage; and
• Comply with requirements for Flow and Pressure
Street Hydrant used as AS2419.1 Feed Hydrants

• Must be designed as if it was an on-site Feed Hydrant
» Ie. Cl 2.2.1 still applies: Hydraulic analysis by designer to
demonstrate will meet required Feed Hydrant Flow + Pressure
» Design must account for hydraulic losses across Tee, Riser, Spring
Hydrant and Standpipe
» Note: Min Feed Hydrant Flow Requirement = 10 L/s
• Responsibility for system design, performance and ongoing building
compliance the same as for an on-site Feed Hydrant

QDC – Fire Hydrant/Sprinkler
Testing Procedure
Purpose
• “This procedure is made under Queensland Development
Code (QDC) Mandatory Part (MP) 6.1. It is unlawful not to
follow this procedure.”
• Mandatory from January 1, 2012 to address inconsistent fire
testing industry practices
Use of Street Hydrants as “Deemed-to-Satisfy” Building Hydrants

“While street hydrants may be used to provide coverage in
system design, most water agencies do not design their systems
to cater for individual property firefighting flow and pressure
requirements. “
“AS2419.1 is not applicable to water agency street hydrants. If

street hydrants are deemed sufficient for a particular property, it
is the building owner/occupier’s responsibility to have such
hydrants maintained in accordance with AS1851-2012.
Permission from water agencies must be gained before testing
street hydrants”

Attack Hydrants
Water Supply Design
AS2419.1 Initial Attack - Min Pressure
• 700 kPa Outlet Residual if building design uses on-site pump
• 350 kPa “compromise” (ie. Half of 700 kPa) if building can achieve
using unassisted pressure only ie. Delete on-site fire pump
Recommendations
QUU does not recommend building attack hydrants use unassisted town
mains pressure for compliance
a) Unreliable design performance and ongoing compliance
b) Town mains designed to supply domestic pressures and provide
access points (street hydrants) to Qld Fire Service as water source for
fire service appliance (“BRT”) onboard pumps
c) Town mains not designed/operated to supply pressure direct to Fire
Service attack hose branch nozzles. This is role of Fire Appliance
Pump / Booster Assembly / Building High Pressure Pump(s)
Field Testing Usage
Design Pressure Verification
Verification of Town Mains Design Pressure Calculations
• Absolute Pressure Readings should be > Calculated/Modelled Design Pressures
» But must compare at same System Reference Points!
– Apply Additional Hydraulic Loss + Elevation Correction Calculations to
align Field PG location with Design Pressure SRP
» Calculated/Modelled = 95th percentile Design Pressure
» Field Pressure Readings expect much greater than 95th percentile
• Verify Relative Pressure Drops vs Modelled Pressure Drops
» But must compare at same System Reference Points!
– Apply Additional Hydraulic Loss + Elevation Correction Calculations to
align Field PG location with Design Pressure SRP

Field Testing Usage
Diagnostics
Diagnostics
• Eg. When Design Performance Non-Compliance
• Key Troubleshooting Step
» Measure Town Mains Residual Pressure Whilst Flowing On-Site!
» Compare On-site Flow/Pressure with Town Mains Flow/Pressure
» Identify locations of pressure drops
» Compare Town Mains Residual Pressure with Design Pressure Calculation
» Minimum Diagnostic test required by Water Agency to provide additional
design advice/assistance
Measure
Booster Flow Here
Assembly
Measure Mains Q = 0 L/s

Pressure Here
H1

Field Testing Usage
Commissioning
Commissioning (AS2419.1 Section 10)
• To measure town mains pressure during commissioning (AS2419.1 Cl 10.3(c) )
• Verifies on-site hydrant pressures will achieve greater than req’d min pressures:
» Under design conditions Ie. 95th percentile water supply pressures
» Raw commissioning test results: Adjust by difference between Town Mains
Actual Pressure – Town Mains Design Pressure (AS2419.1 Cl 10.3(c) )
» Eg. If Town Mains Actual Pressure = 400 kPa @ 20 L/s vs Design Pressure = 300
kPa @ 20 L/s:
– Adjust raw commissioning on-site pressure measurements by -100 kPa
• Establishes AS1851 Maintenance Baseline Data
» Allows maintenance contractor/utility to diagnose/resolve later
performance issues
» Compare Mains Pressure Commissioning vs Mains Pressure Maintenance

Field Testing “Traps”
Misinterpretation of Field Test Results
• Flow and Pressure measured at hydraulically different locations from
connection
• Elevation of Test PG is different from Elevation Connection/On-Site Hydrants
• Flow Point(s) are different from Connection Point
Test
FH #1
Proposed
Test
SAMPLE FIELD TEST Connection
FH #2

Common Design Issues
Selection of Non-Compliant Water Supply

Town Mains may only be used as AS2419.1 Water Supply only if:
• Have Available Flow
• Have Available Pressure
• Have Available Volume (4 hours)
Project’s/Hydraulic Design’s to allow for/specify works that installs a

compliant water supply that provides enough pressure/flow eg:
• On-Site Solutions
» Fire Tanks / Pumps
• Infrastructure Solutions
» High Flow/High Capacity Town Main Network and Connection
Recommendations
1. Establishing compliant Water Supply key to entire Design
2. High Risk = High Due Diligence Requirements
Hydraulically Risky Water Supply Design Methodologies
• Non-compliant / Miscalculated Town Mains Design Flow/Pressure
» Eg. Single-point-in-time Field Test
• Field Test Methodology and Result Usage
» Design of Test not optimized. For Example
– Test Points in different street(s) from connection
– Test Points on ring main when connection on branch main
– Insufficient Flow/Pressure Test Point installation Eg. Fire systems
drawing from End of cul-de-sacs/main dead-ends
» Raw Test Results not corrected for:
– Additional Pipe Lengths/Losses to Connection Point
– Elevation Pressure Corrections
– Ambient Condition Influences Eg. Temporary/Short-Term Utility
Network Configurations

Hydraulic Design Issues
High Hydraulic Loss Connection/Internal Pipework Design
• Eg. Undersizing of Retic Mains/Service Pipework/Fire Mains
» Artificially Limit On-Site Available Flows/Pressures
» Selection of Mains, Connection Point, Metering Arrangement, Bends,
Length of Pipework etc. : Significant impact on Performance Compliance
• Non-standard Hydraulic Calculations
» ie. Not AS2200 compliant
• Sub-optimal Booster Assembly Placement
» Placed at high-points (least pressure)
» Placed at end of long pipe runs with high hydraulic losses

Use of Cast Iron Mains as Water Source/Supply
Different Mains Technologies = Different Flow Capacities
From “Most” Flow Capacity to “Least” Flow Capacity:
1. Plastic (PE, uPVC) = Most Flow Capacity
2. DICL / AC
3. Cast Iron – Factory Spun Lined (CISL) – (DN100: 60% flow capacity of mPVC)
4. Cast Iron – Post Construction In-Situ Lined (CICL) – (DN100: ~20-60% flow capacity of mPVC)
DN100 Cast Iron – Factory Spun Lined (~1955) DN100 mPVC
DN100 CICL
ID= 92 mm
(Pre1945) ID= 110 mm
ID~ 40-90 mm
Recommendations
1. Connections fed by Cast Iron Mains do not reliably achieve 20 L/s
2. Make design allowances for On-Site Storage,©or
2016Infrastructure
Queensland Solution
Urban Utilities
Project Management / Building Design Issues
Connection Civil Designer vs Building Hydraulics Consultant
• Hydraulic Consultant engaged late in Building Design process
• Insufficient Building Hydraulic Design Specifications @ Time of Connection
Design
• Unclear Project Responsibilities for achieving Fire System Design Compliance
» Who? Doing what?
• Time/cost penalty risks of non-compliant Fire System design not identified
» Identify need to install Fire Tank or Fire Pump to Building after been built and no
allowance in Building Plans / Project Costs?
» Pre-Design / Design Due-Diligence processes not carried out
» Pre-Commissioning / Design testing left too late eg. 1-2 weeks before handover

Achieving Performance
Compliance
Water Supply Design / Due Diligence
Adopt default solution of tanks/pumps unless certain town main can be
used as compliant source or supply
• Request Water Agency Pressure/Flow advice every project
• Recommend to project considering Infrastructure Solutions to meet on-
site performance (vs Default On-Site solution)
» If multiple mains available, select highest performance
» Eg. Specify connection/infrastructure design performance to be met
• Verify Town Mains Design Pressure calculations with field testing
» Spend time designing test properly so hydraulically valid
» Install more test points on mains if required
• Test Design well before building works handover dates
» Recommend early connection works
» Leave enough time to rectify performance deficiencies
» Consider temporary on-site test facilities

Achieving Performance
Compliance
Pipework and Fitting Detail Design
• For 20 L/s: DN150 mm minimum recommended
» For long pipe runs or lower water supply pressure availability: Larger
pipe diameters required
• Attention to high pressure loss “specials”
» Use low loss meter assembly (Eg. Magflow)
» Use low loss Backflow Prevention (Eg. SCV: 15 kPa spring)
• Carry out full hydraulic analysis: Pipework/Fitting inventory and
calculation of losses and elevation corrections
• Locate Booster Assembly/Hydrants at most hydraulically advantaged
locations

Resolution Design
Non-Performance
Operational Standards Not Met
• If Available Flow < 0.42 L/s or Static Pressure < 210 kPa (@ 0 L/s):
» Raise Pressure/Flow Inquiry with QUU
Building Design Performance Standards Not Met
• “Town Mains Available Flow/Pressure Too Low”
» Not general trigger for QUU investigation
– Performance of solution determined by project connection design
(including infrastructure) and on-site hydraulic design done by others.
» Use of Town Mains as Building Fire System Water Source/Supply is option
adopted by design
– Design determines suitability and usage within building fire system
design
– Used at designer’s discretion, at own risk

Resolution Design
Non-Performance
Building Design Performance Standards Not Met
• “Town Mains Available Flow/Pressure Has Changed”
» QUU may investigate on case-by-case basis. Requires town mains pressure
measurements and pre-design town mains pressure measurements to be
submitted for same flow/pressure test points
» Note, in most cases, pressure variations found to be due to normal
operational reasons.

Resolution Design
Non-Performance
Design Performance Deficiency Solutions
• Building/Fire Service Industry Led
» Specialist Investigative/Diagnostic Hydraulic Consultants
» Specialist Private Field Testing Services
• QUU Services Advice Notices / QUU Engineering Support
» Obtain QUU advice/feedback on Fire Industry suggested solutions
• Requests for QUU Network Optimisations (Considered Case-by-case)
Water Approvals
• If recommended/adopted solution identifies additional infrastructure
required
» Submit (revised) connection design/application to QUU
Development Services

Fire-fighting
considerations
during Water
Approval Process
Toby Turner
Development Services Senior Engineer

Water Approval Process
• We assess water and sewerage aspects of development and building,

and are responsible for the end-to-end connections process.
• A Water Approval is the authority given by Queensland Urban Utilities

to a developer to make a connection, disconnection or alteration to
our water or sewerage network.
• We assess developments on whether our existing water and sewerage

network can service the new development under SEQ Code design
requirements.
• We do not guarantee network performance beyond our Customer

Service Standards

Seeking advice – Prior to
Water Approval application
SERVICES ADVICE NOTICE (SAN)
Provided within 10 business days of properly made application
$507 + GST (15/16 cost)
• Advice about the expected hydraulic performance of the water

supply network at any proposed point of connection
• In the form of a theoretical flow and pressure curve taken from a

hydraulic model - taking into account potential hydraulic losses
• You need to verify the theoretical network performance provided the

SAN and to acknowledge and incorporate limitations of the water
network.

Seeking advice – Prior to
Water Approval application
INFRASTRUCTURE AUGMENTATION OF TOWN MAINS
• In some areas, an upgrade to our infrastructure (typically increasing

pipe diameters) may be a cost effective alternative to on-site assets
• We do not condition water main upgrades in order to satisfy the

performance of private fire systems.
• SANs can provide advice to validate the suitability of infrastructure

upgrades to satisfy private fire systems. However, we accept no liability
for the improved performance achieved via infrastructure upgrades.

Seeking advice – on
application
REQUEST FOR MORE INFORMATION (RFI)
• During application assessment, we do not consider whether a water

main is adequate for fire-fighting purposes specific to your
development, and do not guarantee that a new connection will
provide the hydraulic performance required by a particular fire system
design.
• We may issue a Request for Information if during assessment it is

determined that:
» a development is likely to require a private fire-fighting system; and
» the applicant for Water Approval is proposing to connect to a

reticulated water main with reduced hydraulic capacity (typically
older cast iron mains, or small diameter mains)

Seeking advice – on
application
REQUEST FOR MORE INFORMATION (RFI) EXAMPLE
Note on fire systems Queensland Urban Utilities does not guarantee minimum flow or pressure to private fire-fighting systems
reliant on Queensland (or meet private fire-fighting requirements).
Urban Utilities’ Town Mains
and fire system design Our Customer Service Standards for water supply commit to a minimum of 210 kPa static pressure, and
a minimum flow rate of 25 litres per minute, at the connection to each serviced property. While the
available flow and pressure in the majority of Queensland Urban Utilities’ water supply network
significantly exceeds our minimum Customer Service Standards, the additional capacity is
circumstantial and not guaranteed in the same way.
Due to changing operational circumstances, the available flow and pressure in town mains may vary
over time. Hydraulic designers are advised to make suitable provision during the design process
(acknowledging that the hydraulic performance of town mains may change over time) to ensure that
private fire systems are compliant with applicable standards.
Request For Information If this development is reliant on a private fire-fighting system, please confirm (in writing) that either:
a) the internal hydraulic design will be completed at a later date, and will incorporate the
limitations of the water supply network; or
b) field investigations into the water supply network have been undertaken, and any hydraulic
design assumptions relating to the private fire-fighting system have been validated.
It is the responsibility of the applicant to review this request and provide a response that
acknowledges the risks associated with reliance on Queensland Urban Utilities’ water supply
infrastructure

Seeking advice – Following
approval
CONNECTION CERTIFICATES
• Issued following connection of a new or altered service intended for

fire-fighting purposes (including any and all reliance on Queensland
Urban Utilities’ water supply network)
• Confirmation that the civil works were correctly completed; not a

validation that that any private fire system is performing correctly.
• If the fire system fails QFES testing, the developer should speak directly
with their hydraulic consultant.
• If you suggest an infrastructure upgrade may be an appropriate

solution, the developer should contact Queensland Urban Utilities for
further discussions.
Q&A Discussion


Fire Fighting Design Requirements

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QUU reference TEM142

Building Fire Hydrant Systems: Water Supply Design Guidelines

Fire-fighting considerations during Water Approval Process

QUU reference TEM142

QUU reference TEM142

Water Supply Design

QUU reference TEM142

Building Fire Building Fire Water Water Service

QUU reference TEM142

“6.1.4 Private Building Fire Systems…

QUU reference TEM142

QUU reference TEM142

Water Service Point

Eg. Fire Tank Eg. Fire Tank Source + Town

QUU reference TEM142

AS2419.1 Appendix C – Fire Hydrant Installation Water Supply Flow Chart

QUU reference TEM142

AS2419.1 Appendix C – Fire Hydrant Installation© Water

QUU reference TEM142

More people at home weekend:

Weekday Avg Pressure (kPa) Weekend Avg Pressure (kPa)

QUU reference TEM142

Under "normal" demands: Drought = Lower Demands:

95th percentile: 3 years

95th percentile: October 2010

For Complex Fittings and Valves (Eg. SCVs, DCVs)

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QUU reference TEM142

“Factoring in the towns main pressure at this property of 330kPa at the

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2. Pressure Correction (More prone to Calc errors)

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Ie. Size the Pipework to meet Minimum Fire Hydrant System

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Street Hydrant used as AS2419.1 Feed Hydrants

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Use of Street Hydrants as “Deemed-to-Satisfy” Building Hydrants

“AS2419.1 is not applicable to water agency street hydrants. If

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QUU reference TEM142

Measure Mains Q = 0 L/s

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QUU reference TEM142

Selection of Non-Compliant Water Supply

Project’s/Hydraulic Design’s to allow for/specify works that installs a

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• We assess water and sewerage aspects of development and building,

• A Water Approval is the authority given by Queensland Urban Utilities

• We assess developments on whether our existing water and sewerage

• We do not guarantee network performance beyond our Customer

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• Advice about the expected hydraulic performance of the water

• In the form of a theoretical flow and pressure curve taken from a