Automatic Sprinkler System Calculations 4–77

Table 4-3.2 Equivalent Pipe Length Chart (for C C 120)

Fittings and Valves Expressed in Equivalent Feet of Pipe
Fittings
and Valves ¾ in. 1 in. 1¼ in. 1½ in. 2 in. 2½ in. 3 in. 3½ in. 4 in. 5 in. 6 in. 8 in. 10 in. 12 in.

45Ü Elbow 1 1 1 2 2 3 3 3 4 5 7 9 11 13
90Ü Standard
Elbow 2 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 12 14 18 22 27
90Ü Long Turn
Elbow 1 2 2 2 3 4 5 5 6 8 9 13 16 18
Tee or
Cross (Flow
Turned 90Ü) 3 5 6 8 10 12 15 17 20 25 30 35 50 60
Butterfly
Valve — — — — 6 7 10 — 12 9 10 12 19 21
Gate Valve — — — — 1 1 1 1 2 2 3 4 5 6
Swing Checka — 5 7 9 11 14 16 19 22 27 32 45 55 65
For SI Units: 1 ft C 0.3048 m.
aDue to the variations in design of swing check valves, the pipe equivalents indicated in the above chart are to be considered average.

4 elbows, the equivalent fitting length would be 8 ft (2.4 When velocity pressures are used in calculations, it is
m). Added to the actual pipe length of 12 ft (3.6 m), the to- recognized that some of the energy of the water is in the
tal equivalent length would be 20 ft (6 m). This results in form of velocity head, which is not acting normal to the
a new value of pf C 20-ft Ý 0.20 psi/ft C 4.0 psi (0.28 bar). pipe walls (where it would help push water out the orifice),
The total pressure at the second sprinkler would then be but rather in the downstream direction. Thus, for every
equal to 20.2 psi = 4.0 psi C 24.2 psi (1.67 bar). The total sprinkler (except the end sprinkler on a line), slightly less
flow from the second sprinkler in this case would be Q C flow takes place than what would be calculated from the
K(P)1/2 C 27.5 gpm (100.4 lpm). use of the formula Q C K(Pt)1/2 . (See Figure 4-3.2.)
Some types of standard valves, such as swing check NFPA 13 permits the velocity pressure effects to be ig-
valves, are included in the equivalent pipe length chart, nored, however, since they are usually rather minor, and
Table 4-3.2. Equivalent lengths for pressure losses through since ignoring the effects of velocity pressure tends to
system alarm, dry, and deluge valves are determined by produce a more conservative design.
the approval laboratories at the time of product listing. If velocity pressures are considered, normal pressure
rather than total pressure is used when determining flow
Use of Velocity Pressures through any sprinkler except the end sprinkler on a
branch line, and through any branch line except the end
The value of pressure, P, in the sprinkler orifice flow branch line on a cross main. The velocity pressure, Pv ,
formula can be considered either the total pressure, Pt , or which is subtracted from the total pressure in order to de-
the normal pressure, Pn , since NFPA 13 permits the use of termine the normal pressure, is determined as
velocity pressures at the discretion of the designer. Total
pressure, normal pressure, and velocity pressure, Pv , have v2
Pv C ? 0.433 psi/ft (0.098 bar/m)
the following relationship: 2g
or
Pn C Pt > Pv
Pv C 0.001123Q2/d 4
Total pressure is the counterpart of total energy or to-
tal head, and can be considered the pressure that would
act against an orifice if all of the energy of the water in the PR gages
pipe at that point were focused toward flow out of the ori-
fice. This is the case where there is no flow past the orifice
in the piping. Where flow does take place in the piping N T
past an orifice, however, normal pressure is that portion of
the total pressure which is actually acting normal to the di-
rection of flow in the piping, and therefore acting in the di-
rection of flow through the orifice. The amount by which V Flow
N
normal pressure is less than total pressure is velocity pres-
sure, which is acting in the direction of flow in the piping.
Velocity pressure corresponds to velocity energy, which is
the energy of motion. There is no factor in the above ex- Pipe
pression for elevation head, because the flow from an ori-
fice can be considered to take place in a datum plane. Figure 4-3.2. Velocity and normal pressures in piping.
4–78 Design Calculations

where Q is the upstream flow through the piping to an acceleration of gravity. The unit weight of water is 62.4
orifice (or branch line) in gpm and d is the actual internal lbs/ft3 (1000 kg/m3).
diameter of the upstream pipe in inches. This means that one cubic foot of water at rest weighs
Because NFPA 13 mandates the use of the upstream 62.4 pounds (1000 kg). The cubic foot of water, or any
flow, an iterative approach to determining the velocity other water column one foot high, thus results in a static
pressure is necessary. The upstream flow cannot be pressure at its base of 62.4 pounds per square foot (304.66
known unless the flow from the sprinkler (or branch line) kg/m2). Divided by 144 sq in. per sq ft (1.020 ? 104 kg/m3
in question is known, and the flow from the sprinkler (or bar), this is a pressure of 0.433 pounds per sq in. per ft
branch line) is affected by the velocity pressure resulting (0.099 bar/m) of water column.
from the upstream flow. A column of water 10 ft (3.048 m) high similarly ex-
erts a pressure of 10 ft ? 62.4 lbs/ft2 ? 1 ft/144 in.2 C 4.33
EXAMPLE 8: psi (3.048 m ? 999.5 kg/m2 @ 1.020 ? 104 kg/m2 bar C
If the pipe on the upsteam side of the second sprin- 0.299 bar). The static pressure at the top of both columns
kler in Example 6 were 3 in. Schedule 40 steel pipe with an of water is equal to zero (gauge pressure), or atmospheric
inside diameter of 1.38 in. (35 mm), the flow from the sec- pressure.
ond sprinkler would be considered to be 26.6 gpm (100.2 On this basis, additional pressure must be available
lpm) as determined at the end of Example 6, if velocity within a sprinkler system water supply to overcome the
pressures were not included. pressure loss associated with elevation. This pressure is
If velocity pressures were to be considered, an up- equal to 0.433 psi per foot (0.099 bar/m) of elevation of
stream flow would first be assumed. Since the end sprin- the sprinklers above the level where the water supply in-
kler had a minimum flow of 25.2 gpm (95.2 lpm) and the formation is known.
upstream flow would consist of the combined flow rates Sometimes the additional pressure needed to over-
of the two sprinklers, an estimate of 52 gpm (196.8 lpm) come elevation is added at the point where the elevation
might appear reasonable. Substituting this flow and the change takes place within the system. If significant eleva-
pipe diameter into the equation for velocity pressure gives tion changes take place within a portion of the system
that is likely to be considered as a representative flowing
0.001123Q2 orifice (such as a single branch line along a cross main
Pv C
d4 that is equivalent to other lines in the remote design area),
0.001123(52)2 then it is considered more accurate to wait until calcula-
C tions have been completed, and simply add an elevation
(1.38)4
pressure increase to account for the total height of the
C 0.8 psi (0.06 bar)
highest sprinklers above the supply point.
This means that the actual pressure acting on the orifice of
the second sprinkler is equal to EXAMPLE 9:
The pressure that must be added to a system supply
Pn C Pt > Pv to compensate for the fact that the sprinklers are located
120 ft (36.6 m) above the supply can be found by multi-
C 22.6 psi > 0.8 psi plying the total elevation difference by 0.433 psi/ft (0.099
C 21.8 psi (1.50 bar) bar/m).

This would result in a flow from the second sprinkler of 120 ft ? 0.433 psi/ft C 52 psi (3.62 bar)

Q C K(P)1/2
Loops and Grids
C 26.1 gpm (98.7 lpm)
Hydraulic calculations become more complicated
Combining this flow with the known flow from the end when piping is configured in loops or grids, such that
sprinkler results in a total upstream flow of 51.3 gpm water feeding any given sprinkler or branch line can be
(194.2 lpm). To determine if the initial guess was close supplied through more than one route. A number of com-
enough, determine the velocity pressure that would re- puter programs that handle the repetitive calculations
sult from an upstream flow of 51.3 gpm (194.2 lpm). This have therefore been developed specifically for fire protec-
calculation also results in a velocity pressure of 0.8 psi tion systems, and are being marketed commercially.
(0.06 bar), and the process is therefore complete. It can Determining the flow split that takes place in the var-
be seen that the second sprinkler apparently flows 0.5 ious parts of any loop or grid is accomplished by apply-
gpm (1.9 lpm) less through the consideration of velocity ing the basic principles of conservation of mass and
pressures. conservation of energy. For a single loop, it should be rec-
ognized that the energy loss across each of the two legs
from one end of the system to the other must be equal.
Elevation Losses
Otherwise, a circulation would take place within the loop
Variation of pressure within a fluid at rest is related to itself. Also, mass is conserved by the fact that the sum of
the density or unit (specific) weight of the fluid. The unit the two individual flows through the paths is equal to the
weight of a fluid is equal to its density multiplied by the total flow into (and out of) the loop. (See Figure 4-3.3.)
 Automatic Sprinkler System Calculations 4–79

pf length, diameter, and Hazen-Williams coefficient. Re-

duce the number of individual pipes where possible
by finding the equivalent pipe for pipes in series or
Q1 parallel.
2. Evaluate each parameter in the proper units. Minor
Q Q losses through fittings should be converted to equiva-
lent pipe lengths. A value of all parameters except
Q2 flow for each pipe section should be calculated (FLC).
3. Assume a reasonable distribution of flows that satisi-
Figure 4-3.3. Example of a simple loop configuration. fies continuity, proceeding loop by loop.
4. Compute the pressure (or head) loss due to friction, pf ,
in each pipe using the FLC in the Hazen-Williams
formula.
Applying the Hazen-Williams formula to each leg of 5. Sum the friction losses around each loop with due re-
the loop gard to sign. (Assume clockwise positive, for exam-
ple.) Flows are correct when the sum of the losses, dpf ,
4.52Q1.85
1
4.52Q1.85
2 is equal to zero.
pf C L1 C L2
C11.85d14.87 C21.85d21.85 6. If the sum of the losses is not zero for each loop, di-
vide each pipe’s friction loss by the presumed flow for
Substituting the term FLC for all terms except Q, the pipe, pf /Q.
7. Calculate a correction flow for each loop as
pf C FLC1Q1.85
1
C FLC2Q1.85
2 >dpf
dQ C
This simplifies to become [1.85&(pf /Q)]
Œ ÷ 1.85
Q1 FLC2 8. Add the correction flow values to each pipe in the
C loop as required, thereby increasing or decreasing the
Q2 FLC1
earlier assumed flows. For cases where a single pipe is
Since Q1 and Q2 combine to create a total flow of Q, the in two loops, the algebraic difference between the two
flow through one leg can be determined as values of dQ must be applied as the correction to the
assumed flow.
Q 9. With a new set of assumed flows, repeat steps 4
Q1 C
[(FLC1/FLC2)0.54 = 1] through 7 until the values of dQ are sufficiently small.
10. As a final check, calculate the pressure loss by any
For the simplest of looped systems, a single loop, route from the initial to the final junction. A second
hand calculations are not complex. Sometimes, seemingly calculation along another route should give the same
complex piping systems can be simplified by substituting value within the range of accuracy expected.
an “equivalent pipe” for two or more pipes in series or in
parallel. NFPA 13 requires that pressures be shown to balance
For pipes in series within 0.5 psi (0.03 bar) at hydraulic junction points. In
other words, the designer (or computer program) must
FLCe C FLC1 = FLC2 = FLC3 = ß continue to make successive guesses as to how much flow
takes place in each piece of pipe until the pressure loss
For pipes in parallel from the design area back to the source of supply is ap-
Œ ÷ 0.54 Œ ÷0.54 Œ ÷0.54 proximately the same (within 0.5 psi [0.03 bar]) regardless
1 1 1 of the path chosen.
C = =ß
FLCe FLC1 FLC2
For gridded systems, which involve flow through EXAMPLE 10:
multiple loops, computers are generally used since it be- For the small two-loop grid shown in Figure 4-3.4,
comes necessary to solve a system of nonlinear equations. the total flow in and out is 100 gpm (378.5 lpm). It is
When hand calculations are performed, the Hardy Cross2 necessary to determine the flow taking place through
method of balancing heads is generally employed. This each pipe section. The system has already been simpli-
method involves assuming a flow distribution within fied by finding the equivalent pipe for all pipes in series
the piping network, then applying successive corrective and in parallel. The following values of FLC have been
flows until differences in pressure losses through the var- calculated:
ious routes are nearly equal.
Pipe 1 FLC C 0.001
The Hardy Cross solution procedure applied to
Pipe 2 FLC C 0.002
sprinkler system piping is as follows:
Pipe 3 FLC C 0.003
1. Identify all loop circuits and the significant parame- Pipe 4 FLC C 0.001
ters associated with each line of the loop, such as pipe Pipe 5 FLC C 0.004