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Did you know how fire duct design determines the success or failure of fire suppression?
In fire safety management, the design of fire piping can be said to be crucial. These systems must not only be able to efficiently deliver water near the source of the fire, but must also ensure that the water flow and pressure are sufficient to ensure fire control, suppression, or suppression. From fire pump selection to piping planning and installation, every step has a profound impact on the final fire safety outcome.
Water transmission and distribution networks require hydraulic calculations to determine flow and pressure characteristics at one or more consumption points.
The importance of fire hydraulic calculations
Firefighting hydraulic calculation is a key step in testing the performance of the entire fire extinguishing system. They can enhance safety by ensuring that the flow and pressure passing through the interior of the pipe meets design goals. Many international standards and reference models, such as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the EN 12845 standard, specify these calculations in detail.
Hydraulic calculations indicate whether the combination of the two main components of a water-based fire protection system will meet design objectives.
Water flow and water source availability
According to pipeline design standards, the amount of water required for fire protection systems is usually calculated based on different fire protection scenarios. The standards take into account factors such as the building's purpose, height, contents and its layout, and compare these variables to reference tables for water requirements based on past fire incident data. An effective water source must not only provide sufficient water flow, but the water pressure must also meet the requirements to avoid insufficient water supply in the event of a fire.
Testing of fire water sources
To assess available water sources, a flow test is typically performed, which involves opening one or more fire hydrants to measure water pressure and flow. Many towns provide estimates of water sources based on hydraulic models, which is particularly common in urban areas. However, for areas with scarce water sources or no municipal water supply, the use of open water bodies or reservoirs needs to be considered.
Design of pipeline network
Piping designs for fire protection systems are usually divided into three configurations: tree, loop or grid. Each configuration has its advantages, disadvantages and applicable scenarios. The pipes in a tree system have limitations in the direction of flow because all pipes terminate in a dead end. The loop system provides higher hydraulic efficiency because water can flow from two directions to any nozzle. On the other hand, the grid system provides multiple water flow paths, effectively reducing pressure losses in the system and improving the efficiency of the entire system.
Most design standards require the application of the Hazen-Williams method to determine frictional pressure losses as water flows through a network of pipes.
Computational complexity
Hydraulic calculations for tree and loop systems are relatively simple and can be calculated manually by many engineers. However, due to the diversity of water flow paths involved in the grid system, the calculation process requires computer software for automatic balancing. This allows engineers to quickly modify pipe dimensions and recalculate its performance, saving time and improving accuracy. Since 2013, the NFPA 13 manual has included some corresponding application theories and procedures to help professionals better complete these calculations.
Conclusion
In fire protection design, the accuracy and effectiveness of hydraulic calculations are related to the fire safety of the entire building. Whether it's graphic design or actual water source testing, these are critical steps in improving fire protection system performance. Whether the design is reasonable or not will ultimately affect the efficiency of emergency response when a fire occurs, and will directly determine the success or failure of fire extinguishing. Does this tell us what other factors are not being taken seriously in future fire safety planning?
