At zero flow take the pump boost pressure plus 20% (depending on the 
manufacturer-normally I use 20%) for the surge pressure at shut-off, add the 
city static pressure and you will  have the pressure that will be exerted 
throughout the system, less the elevation loss, of course.  This is the 
pressure condition the entire system will experience at no flow conditions.  
For instance:  70 PSI boost fire pump, times 120% = 84PSI.  Plus city pressure 
(assume it to be 65 PSI) = 149 PSI.  Ceiling sprinklers are at 30’, take off 
the elevation loss at 30 times .4331 = 13 PSI.  The static pressure max at 30’ 
roof will be 136 PSI.  Back into this formula to maximize boost pressure of a 
new pump when boosting city pressure and you want to stay at 174 PSI.  I hope 
this helps.

John O’Connor

National Fire Sprinklers, Inc.

 

From: Sprinklerforum [mailto:[email protected]] On 
Behalf Of Prahl, Craig/GVL
Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2018 11:24 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] RE: Real system pressures versus the calculations

 

Right, at the pump for sure, the question is once you get out on the system and 
there is some pressure losses due to pipe friction and elevations, then you 
can’t be 1005 sure what pressure the system is actually being subjected to.

 

Craig Prahl | Jacobs | Group Lead – Fire Protection | 864.676.5252 | 
[email protected] |  <http://www.jacobs.com/> www.jacobs.com

 

From: Sprinklerforum [mailto:[email protected]] On 
Behalf Of Matt Grise
Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2018 12:13 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] RE: Real system pressures versus the calculations

 

My thought is that you don’t need to run a calc at all. If pump-churn plus 
city-static is greater than 175, there is an over-pressurization problem (at 
the pump level).

 

Matt 

 

 

From: Sprinklerforum <[email protected]> On Behalf 
Of Prahl, Craig/GVL
Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2018 11:09 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] RE: Real system pressures versus the calculations

 

Matt, the point is, that when the pump starts it introduces the system to the 
churn or rated pressure as you state which will decrease as sprinklers open and 
flow increases.

 

But the point being is that if the calcs reveal a system requirement of 40 psi 
at the base of the riser, the system does not see just 40 psi if the pump + 
municipal supply are providing 200 psi to the system.  That’s the point of 
discussion.  

 

Without running a Full Flow or Supply calculation you can’t emphatically state 
there is not a problem with over pressurization based on a Demand calculation 
alone.

 

Craig Prahl | Jacobs | Group Lead – Fire Protection | 864.676.5252 | 
[email protected] |  <http://www.jacobs.com/> www.jacobs.com

 

From: Sprinklerforum [mailto:[email protected]] On 
Behalf Of Matt Grise
Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2018 11:58 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] RE: Real system pressures versus the calculations

 

Craig,

 

I don’t quite follow when you ask if the entire system will see pressure over 
175.

 

If the pump kicks on at zero flow (perhaps the jockey fails). The entire system 
will be subjected to the city static pressure plus the pump churn pressure. Any 
component that is higher in elevation will see less pressure than the lower 
components due to elevation changes. In that sense – the various elevations of 
piping would never see the same pressure (without some pressure regulating 
equipment at various levels).

 

As the flow rate increases, each pressure source (the city supply and the fire 
pump) will have less pressure to give – so the entire system will be exposed to 
less pressure as the flow increases.

 

I am not sure we have enough information to say what actual pressure will occur 
at various floor levels.

 

Matt 

 

 

From: Sprinklerforum <[email protected]> On Behalf 
Of Prahl, Craig/GVL
Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2018 10:34 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] RE: Real system pressures versus the calculations

 

Oh I am very well aware of the issue, I’d just like to be sure I’m not the only 
one who has an understanding of what our typical calculations represent.  

 

I sometimes gasp at the lack of understanding of design and calculations on the 
part of some designers.

 

Craig Prahl | Jacobs | Group Lead – Fire Protection | 864.676.5252 | 
[email protected] |  <http://www.jacobs.com/> www.jacobs.com

 

From: Sprinklerforum [mailto:[email protected]] On 
Behalf Of MFP Design, LLC
Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2018 11:29 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] RE: Real system pressures versus the calculations

 

What if fewer sprinklers open than in your design area?  The pump and water 
supply aren’t going to know what the minimum sprinkler demand is and magically 
hold to that point while discharging no more.

 

I know you are well aware of this.  The sprinkler calculations are demand calcs 
that give minimums.  You can run supply calcs to determine what pressures and 
flows you can expect with the full water supply discharging.

 

MFP_logo_F

Travis Mack, SET

MFP Design, LLC

3356 E Vallejo Ct

Gilbert, AZ 85298

480-505-9271

fax: 866-430-6107

 <mailto:email:[email protected]> email:[email protected]

 

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travismack

 

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is forgotten.”

 

From: Sprinklerforum <[email protected]> On Behalf 
Of Prahl, Craig/GVL
Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2018 8:22 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Real system pressures versus the calculations

 

I have a system that was originally designed with a fire pump taking suction 
from an elevated municipal water tank.  At some point in time the system source 
was changed from the tank to a municipal water supply.  This change has 
resulted in the system pressures being well over 200-250 psi.  So far nothing 
has blown out, yet but numerous buildings and underground were built based on 
standard pressure rated components.

 

The thought for the day is this, when you run a calculation, the output will 
show the minimum required pressure at the hydraulically most remote sprinkler 
that is required to provide the design flow rate.  The calculations also show 
the deviation between Required and Available system pressures.  So, when the 
fire pump kicks on, what the system ACTUALLY sees is the rated pressure of the 
pump being introduced into the system, not the minimum required pressure that 
is shown in the calculations, Agreed?

 

If it is stated that in the calculations that the pressure at the sprinklers on 
an upper floor will be less than 175 psi but those on the lower floor will be 
greater is it safe to assume based on the ACTUAL pressures coming out of the 
pump that the entire system will likely see pressures exceeding 175 psi?  

 

Looking for some thoughts.  

 

Craig Prahl | Jacobs | Group Lead – Fire Protection | 864.676.5252 | 
[email protected] |  <http://www.jacobs.com/> www.jacobs.com

 

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