Advanced Hydraulic Calculations Workshop

This two-day workshop provides an in-depth, calculation-based study of advanced hydraulic principles as they apply to fire pumps, standpipe systems, and water storage tanks. The course emphasizes practical application of NFPA standards and hydraulic fundamentals used in the design of water-based fire protection systems.
Participants will learn how to size and select fire pumps, analyze standpipe system demands, identify vertical pressure zones, and determine appropriate water storage solutions. Instruction focuses on understanding system behavior, identifying design limitations, and verifying performance through hand calculations.
Through guided examples and hands-on exercises, attendees will acquire the skills necessary to analyze complex hydraulic scenarios confidently, support informed design decisions, and effectively communicate with authorities having jurisdiction, contractors, and equipment suppliers.

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Hydraulic Fundamentals
  • Evaluate water supply adequacy using flow test data
  • Apply pressure, flow, friction loss, and elevation principles to fire protection systems
• Fire Pumps
  • Interpret fire pump curves and performance characteristics
  • Determine net pressure, suction pressure, and discharge pressure
  • Analyze fire pumps installed in series and parallel configurations
  • Size a fire pump based on available water supply and system demand
  • Apply the affinity laws to adjust pump performance
  • Size main pressure relief valve assemblies and fire pump test headers
  • Correct diesel engine horsepower for temperature and altitude
  • Determine the minimum diesel fuel tank capacity
• Standpipe Systems
  • Identify flow and pressure requirements for standpipe systems
  • Calculate hydraulic demand for standpipes terminating at different levels
  • Understand vertical standpipe zoning and pressure control methods
• Water Storage Tanks
  • Determine when water storage tanks are required for fire protection systems
  • Size water storage tanks based on system demand and duration
  • Determine suction tank and suction piping layouts to meet the minimum pump suction pressure
  • Calculate required elevations for high-level (gravity) tanks
  • Determine set pressures for pressure tanks
  • Size break tanks and determine minimum refill rates

Credits & Approvals

• 1.6 CEUs; 16 NICET CPDs
• 16 CEUs Florida Approved Credits

Schedule

• Day 1 & 2 – Introduction, Fire Pumps
  • Sizing and Selection of Fire Pumps
  • Affinity Laws, Test Header Calculation
  • Main Relief Valve Calculation
  • Diesel Engine Corrections
  • Diesel Fuel Tank Sizing
• Day 2 – Standpipe Systems
  • Minimum Flow and Pressure
  • Pressure Limitations
  • Vertical Standpipe System Zones
  • Tank Sizing, Pressure Tanks
  • Break Tank Refill Rates