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Fire Hydrants Minimum Flow Requirement
Question asked by patrickbouchedid on Oct 30, 2016
Latest reply on Nov 8, 2016 by rkhanna 

 Like • 1  Comment • 9

For Fire Hydrants, NFPA 24 doesn't specify the minimum flow rated per Hydrant and How many Hydrants to be considered for the design flow rate. 1- What is the Minimum flow rate per Hydrant and the NFPA reference please?

2- As per NFPA 24, A combined system for Hydrants, Hose Reel and Sprinklers is allowed?

Thank You

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Last modified on Oct 30, 2016 5:49 AM

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9 Replies

nocivus
Oct 30, 2016 8:57 PM

NFPA 24 does not have required flow rate for hydrants and hose connections nor where they must be located, it only says how to install them. Flow requirements and
location are covered by other NFPA standards and the AHJ depending on the hazard to be protected.

Check the applicable NFPA standard. For example, an oil refinery will have different requirements than an airport terminal or a alcohol beverages production facility.

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patrickbouchedid
@ nocivus on Oct 31, 2016 8:47 AM

Thanks Emmanuel,
I totally agree with what you said and it is correct.

For question 1:
For Hydrants, (Like Public Hydrants, which NFPA to Refer?)
In addition NFPA 24 describe 4 types of Hydrant like Class A, Class AA,... but without defining them, only provide the maximum flow range for each. Where the
definition of each Class of Hydrants can be found?

For Question 2 I did not get an answer.

Thank You
kristinbigda mattklaus

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nocivus
@ patrickbouchedid on Nov 1, 2016 8:40 PM

Public hydrants are covered in NFPA 1. NFPA 24 is mostly about private hydrants. Hydrant classification is covered in NPFA 291.

Technically, combined systems falls under NFPA 13 and/or NFPA 14. They are permitted, but discouraged as they require greater waterflow demand and higher
pressured to meet simultaneously sprinklers and hose connections.

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patrickbouchedid
@ nocivus on Nov 2, 2016 1:57 AM

NFPA 291 Section 5.1-5.2 specify the classifications of Hydrants based on their capacity (Class AA - for 1,500 GPm and greater,.....) But it don't show or
define what is Class AA, Class A,.....

Based on what the fire hydrant capacity is selected in order to give it a classification?

Thanks

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nocivus
@ patrickbouchedid on Nov 2, 2016 11:38 PM

Hydrant classification is based on the amount of water a hydrant can discharge at 20 PSI residual pressure. In order to know a hydrant's capacity a water
flow test must be done. See the video below on how to perform a hydrant flow test:

CONDUCTING AND REPORTING HYDRANT FLOW TESTS BY DR. TOM WALSKI (1987) - YouTube

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patrickbouchedid
@ nocivus on Nov 6, 2016 2:59 AM

Dear Emmanuel,
The above is very clear and helpful thank you.
But i still did not get the answer to my question.
My question is: At design stage, when you wan to design the external fire hydrants, we know tha the spacing is 100 meters between them.
In order to select the pumps, we should know the Hydrant flow. What should be the design base for the pumps flow for a hydrant network?
The previous message and video are for testing and verifying the flows but about the initial design and selections?

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nocivus
@ patrickbouchedid on Nov 6, 2016 7:04 PM

When designing fire mains with hydrants, the waterflow demand will depend on the applicable NFPA standards o even AHJ requirements, as
said on my first post. Some standards only require 250 GPM flow for hydrants (high voltage transformers), while others such as airport
terminals, a minimum of 500 GPM is required. LPG facilities are required to provide at least 1000 GPM in hydrant flow. The AHJ may even
require several times that mentioned previously on high risk facilities.
 Also, hydrant separation distance will vary as well. Shipping terminals are required to have hydrants separated a maximum of 90 meters, while
airport hydrants have a maximum separation of 150 meters. Most standards do not have a maximum distance, leaving hydrant placement to the
designer's criteria or the AHJ. Some AHJ will require hydrants to be placed every 60 meters, because of reasons.

Read the applicable NFPA standard for your project, it will tell you the total flow design required for hydrants, and if there's any maximum
distance requirement. From there you can assign the flow per hydrant as you see fit, although in many cases, the total flow is assigned to the
hydraulically furthermost hydrant. Then you will know what fire pump to select.

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mariettahaywood
Nov 7, 2016 10:42 AM

In Tennessee, the State Fire Marshal requires:

Residual at 20 psi minimum
Flow at 500 gpm minimum
And they put a note that these readings requirements come from the Department of Environment and Conservation, Rules and Regulations 1200-05-01-.17 paragraph (18).

I hope this helps.

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rkhanna
Nov 8, 2016 3:28 AM

Required flow is depends on the NFPA code and AHJ requirements.

The hydrant with two nos. outlet (2 x 2.5" size) each outlet shall have the capacity to deliver 250gpm. hence the fire water demand for each hydrant is 500 gpm.
Usually the Fire pump capacity sizing is based on by considering the follows
Fire pump capacity for combined system has to be referred the concerned NFPA (it may be sprinkler system, water spray / foam system....), the Water demand for any of
the largest hazard + Hose stream allowance.
If you are using dedicated Fire pump for Hydrant. The selection of capacity is by considering two hydrants under operation 1000 gpm or more. again its as per the local
authority requirement / Client or owners specification requirements.

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