GUIDE FOR

FIRE PROTECTION AND

DETECTION SYSTEM
CALCULATIONS

Standpipe System Flow and Pressure

Demand Calculations

Prepared by: Mehboob Shaikh

M. TECH (ISFT) | B.ENG(ME) | AMIE | CFPS | CFI

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 STANDPIPE SYSTEM

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 NFPA 14 Rules for Class 1 Standpipe Systems

An Excerpt from NFPA 14, Chapter-7, Cl. 7.10 – Flow rates

▪ NFPA 14 requires the system to be capable of

delivering 250 gpm from the most remote hose
connection on the most remote standpipe plus 250 gpm
from the second most remote outlet on the most remote
standpipe. To this 500 gpm, an additional 250 gpm
needs to be added from the most remote outlet on
each of the other standpipes until a maximum flow
is reached.

▪ Where a horizontal standpipe on a Class I or Class III

system supplies three or more hose connections on any
floor, the minimum flow rate for the hydraulically most
demanding horizontal standpipe shall be 750 gpm
(2840 L/min)

▪ The maximum flow rate shall be 1000 gpm (3785

L/min) for buildings that are sprinklered throughout, in
accordance with NFPA 13, and 1250 gpm (4731 L/min)
for buildings that are not sprinklered throughout, in
accordance with NFPA 13

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 EXAMPLE

250 GPM C
250 GPM @ 100 psi A

250 GPM B
45’ of 4” pipe

10’
750 GPM
D 500 GPM

Building with250’
Five Standpipes
200’ of 4” Sch 40 pipe of 4” Sch 40
pipe
T
Transition point between AG and UG Piping Cement line Di pipe D = 6” & L = 75’

To Water Supply U

Right Angle Valve

Node A

Node O ( outlet of
Right angle valve)

1’ of 2.5” pipe

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 Step 01 Step 02

B
Flow @ Node O = 250 GPM

Pressure @ Node 0 = 100 psi

Flow @ Node B = 250 GPM

Flow @ Node A = 250 GPM
Pressure @ Node A = 114.01 psi
Pressure @ Node A = 109.48 psi

Step 03 Step 04

Flow @ Node D = 500 GPM T

Flow @ Node T = 750 GPM
Pressure @ Node A = 150.34 psi
Pressure @ Node A = 185.90 psi

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 Step – 05
Calculation for Pressure Loss between above
ground and Underground Piping ( Call between
Node T & U)

Above Ground piping Material : Sch. 40 Steel

Under Ground Piping Material : Class 52 Cement lined DI
We need to adjust Equivalent lengths of fittings (1 E + 1 T ) in
the UG pipe because of two reasons here ;
1. Change in the pipe materials, its DI ( C factor other than
120)

2. Change in the internal diameter ( Other than those for sch.

40 steel)
C factor for DI pipe

Adjustmet for C factor :

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Adjustmet for Inside Diameter:
4.87
 Actual inside diameter 
Factor =  
 Schedule 40 Steel Pipe inside diameter 
6.16 4.87
Factor = (6.065)

Factor = 1.08

Adjusted Eq. lenth of Elbow = Equivalent length of elbow x adj

for C x Adj for internal dia.
Total Adjustment for Elbow = 20 x 1.33 x 1.08
Adjusted Eq. lenth of Elbow = 20.1 ft.

Total Adjustment for Tee = 30 x 1.33 x 1.08

Adjusted Eq. lenth of Tee = 43.1 ft

Flow @ Node U = 750 GPM

Pressure @ Node A = 187.89 psi

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 CLASS 1 STANDPIPE HYDRAULIC CALCULATION(Manual Worksheet)
Reference : NFPA 14 & NFPA 13, Ed. 2013
Flow added Nominal Fittings- Quantity
Node-1 Elev-1 K- Factor L- ft C Factor Total(Pt)
this step(q) ID and Length
Pf per foot (psi) ( Notes
Actual F-ft Elev(Pe)
Node-2 Elev-2 Total Flow (Q) 4.52*Q^1.85*/C^1.85/d
ID T- ft Frict( Pf)
^4.87)
1.00 120.00 100.00
O 45 250.00 2 1/2 Right Angle Valve (31) Step-01
43.00 -
0.22
A 45 250.00 2.47 Tee (12) 44.00 9.48

Pt 109.48

10.00 120.00 109.48 Step-02

A 45 - 4.00
None - 4.33 Pe= 0.433*10=4.3
0.02
B 35 250.00 4.03 10.00 0.20

Pt 114.01

285.00 120.00 114.01

B 35 250.00 4.00 Step-03
Elbow(10) 10.00 15.16
0.07 Pe= 0.433*35=15.16
D 0 500.00 4.03 295.00 21.18

Pt 150.34

200.00 120.00 150.34

D 0 250.00 4.00
Step-04
Check Valve( 22),Gate
34.00 -
Valve(2),Elbow(10)
0.15
T 0 750.00 4.03 234.00 35.56

Pt 185.90

75.00 140.00 185.90 Step-05

T 0 - 6.00
Equivalent Length
Elbow( 20.11), Tee(43.1) 63.21 -
Adjustments
0.01
C-factor = 1.33
U 0 750.00 6.16 138.21 1.99
(6.16/6.065)4.87 =1.08
Pt 187.89

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 NFPA 14 Rules for Class 2 Standpipe Systems

Class II standpipe systems are much easier to calculation than Class I (or Class III) systems.

Flow Demand = 100 GPM

Pressure Demand = 65 psi

Example :

Assume, piping between the water supply and the most remote hose station has
following details

Diameter = 1.5 “
Length = 200’ ( Including Eq. Fittings)

Friction loss per ft of pipe flowing 100 GPM = 0.317 psi ( refer below graph)

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 Total Friction loss = 200 x 0.317 = 63.4 psi

Pressure Required at the water supply source = Pressure demand @ remote hose
station + Pressure loss along length of pipe

Pressure Required at the water supply source = 65 + 63. 1 = 128.1 psi.

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