My experience with computer models has not be great. One project I did earlier this year was done with a computer model from the purveyor, who I stated they would not do a flow test. The Fire Marshal insisted on an actual flow test and the real static pressure turned out to be 10 psi less than the model. The curve was also slightly steeper.
Being a long time tree hugger, I have thought about the amount of water used for flow testing and have been trying to come up with ways of doing the test with less water discharged, but still get accurate results. A couple of things I have concluded: 1. With the advent of the Hose Monster, flow testing is much more accurate than it was in the days of pitots and open hydrant butts. 2. The management at the water purveyors care about excess water usage, the guys with the hydrant wrenches don’t. 3. An accurate residual and pitot pressure can mostly be obtained within 10 to 15 seconds once the hydrant is at full flow. 4. The amount of water used opening and closing hydrants is significant. Also flushing hydrants to get the water to run clean. 5. The actual techniques for doing flow tests has not changed dramatically in decades, with the exception of the Hose Monster. Perhaps it is time to look at that and see if we can use technique and technology to make this a little more environmentally friendly and keep the accuracy. I would love to be in a situation to test out a few things, but alas, I am not. Todd G Williams, PE Fire Protection Design/Consulting Stonington, CT 860-535-2080 (tel:860-535-2080) (ofc) 860-554-7054 (tel:860-554-7054) (fax) 860-608-4559 (tel:860-608-4559) (cell) > > On Aug 31, 2022 at 11:12 AM, <Craig Prahl (mailto:[email protected])> > wrote: > > > > > > Having experienced bogus results from computer modeling on more than one > occasion, nothing matches the actual flow of the hydrant systems. > > > > > > > > Most recently I got a water report from a local municipality who generated > the info via their water modeling software. It said I could expect 6700 > gpm from the system……. via 8” lines at 10 fps! Nope, don’t think that’s > going to be a real thing. > > > > > > > > > Craig Prahl |Jacobs | Group Lead/SME – Fire Protection | > [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])|www.jacobs.com > (http://www.jacobs.com/) > > > > 1041 East Butler Road Greenville, South Carolina 29606 > > > > CONTACT BY: Phone 1-864-676-5252, Email or MS TEAMS > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > From: Rick Matsuda <[email protected]> > Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2022 9:51 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: [EXTERNAL] [Sprinklerforum] Hydrant flow tests > > > > > > > > > > > I know that an accurate flow test is critical for the sprinkler system > design, but I’ve heard several discussions recently about water conservation > during our drought conditions across the SW states. > > > > > > > > > > > > With all our technology, is it possible to develop an accurate computer > modeling program for water departments to use in lieu of flow tests? Even > with the program, I think there would still be a need for some flow tests to > verify the program results, but maybe not as many as now. > > > > > > > > > > > > I’m not taking any pro/con position regarding this issue. I’m just providing > food for thought for the future as our need for water increases and our > resources diminish. Adequate water is the key for our industry. > > > > > > > > > > > > It’s ironic cause we get more wild fires due to the drought, and then we have > to use more water to fight the fires. > > > > > > Rick Matsuda > > > > > > > > > > > > > > NOTICE - This communication may contain confidential and privileged > information that is for the sole use of the intended recipient. Any viewing, > copying or distribution of, or reliance on this message by unintended > recipients is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in > error, please notify us immediately by replying to the message and deleting > it from your computer. > _________________________________________________________ SprinklerForum > mailing list: > https://lists.firesprinkler.org/list/sprinklerforum.lists.firesprinkler.org > To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >
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