Correct Hydraulic Calculations are Important for Efficient Operation of Sprinkler Systems

by Stephen Wright Building Management Solutions Software

It is important for fire protection engineers and designers to understand hydraulic calculations and analysis principles to create and install efficient fire protection systems, such as sprinklers and other water-based extinguishing systems. Hydraulic calculations are important for designing fire protection systems and ensuring that piping delivers a sufficient amount of water to extinguish the fire in the event of a sudden outbreak. A fire sprinkler calculation software allows building services engineers to design a sprinkler system that meets code standards at an optimal cost.

Occupancy hazard calculation is a critical factor to consider when designing an automatic sprinkler system. If the fire hazard is underestimated, the resulting sprinkler system will be undersized and won’t be able to provide you with the optimal results. It also won’t be able to extinguish the flames. Based on the fire hazard classification, fire hydraulic calculation software can help the designers to determine the optimal layout of pipes and fire sprinklers. It will help them determine the maximum number of sprinklers that could activate at once and calculate the required pressure to extinguish the fire. The fire sprinkler design can range from high flow density over a small area, to low density over a large area. The software help in controlling the fire before it spreads outside of the designated area.

Popular fire hydraulic calculation software

Most designers in Australia, New Zealand and other countries recognize the value of fire hydraulic calculation software over pipe schedule charts due to their ability to easily solve complex engineering and installation challenges and provide accurate results in a cost-effective way. Some of the popular fire sprinkler calculation software and fire hydraulic calculation software used by building services providers all over the world include:

SPRINK2000 for hydraulic analysis of fire sprinkler and hydrant systems

This fire sprinkler calculation software by ACADS-BSG, the leading building services provider can be used to analyse automatic fire sprinkler systems with simple or complicated systems. It is designed specifically for use in North America. The computer program may also be used to analyse fire hydrant and hose reel installations or combined sprinkler, hydrant, and hose reel systems.

The piping systems in SPRINK2000 can have up to 10 input points that can be modelled as a fixed pressure, a town mains water supply, or a pump. The program can work on a wide range of units including Metric, British and US. All nodes that are not nominated as discharges or input points are automatically assigned as reference nodes by SPRINK fire sprinkler calculation software to save input. When pipe sizes are entered as nominal sizes, the computer program determines the actual I.D. from the stored data, which is very helpful! The program can be used to determine the design point given the K-factor and minimal discharge of each sprinkler head or hose reel.

Other features of SPRINK2000

A graphical display of the grid is provided where the user can choose to display pipe numbers, node numbers, pipe diameters and lengths. The grid commands can be converted into the longhand detailed individual pipe and sprinkler specification. The results of SPRINK2000 include a summary of the flows and pressures for all discharges and for all input points.

HYENA for hydraulic analysis of fire sprinkler and hydrant systems

The fire hydraulic calculation software HYENA from ACADS-BSG performs a complete hydraulic analysis determining the water flow in and pressure drop through each pipe in the entered network. The program can be used to carry out a sprinkler system analysis in accordance with NFPA, NZ4541, AS2118 and SSPC52 standards.

Piping materials complying with a wide range of nodes are catered to by HYENA fire hydraulic calculation software including light, medium and heavy steel, cast ductile iron, and copper piping to Australian and New Zealand Standards. On the pipes entry screen of HYENA, columns can be sorted in ascending or descending order. A global check box allows global changing of pipe diameters or lengths and booster pumps can be located anywhere in the network with back flow preventers and check valves to restrict flow to one direction in a given pipe. Provisions are made in HYENA for gridded layouts to be entered easily that can contain up to three main pipes.

Calculations using matrix inversion to solve differential equations

In a grid, sprinkler elevations can be fixed at a given height, entered individually across a grid row or a single slope or pitched slope across the grid row. Range checks are carried out on all items as they are entered, and rigorous cross-checks are made with a validation button. The calculations from HYENA use a process of matrix inversion to solve the differential equations for each loop in the system. For design estimation, the program can determine quantities in the system including pipe lengths and numbers of fittings, categorized by pipe material type and diameter.

Many more software available for building services designers and providers

Other useful building services software by ACADS-BSG that you can consider using include CAMEL which provides building air conditioning load analysis and psychometrics, DOLPHIN for sizing and pressure drop calculations of duct runs, PYTHON for the design of water piping systems for air conditioning and many more. Using cloud-based building services software by ACADS-BSG, engineers and contractors can increase the efficiency of their building operations while minimizing installation costs.

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Created on Mar 24th 2021 02:35. Viewed 292 times.

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