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Lowest Supply Needed for an ESFR System?

12/18/2018

9 Comments

 
What is the lowest demand pressure and flow you've come across for an ESFR system? 

Looking big-picture at owner storage options early in a project (when we might have an idea on available pressure but don't yet have a plan to work from), the minimum flow and pressure we've come across as a minimum was 73 psi at 1,450 gpm. It was using (12) K25.2 sprinklers at 15 psi (minimum storage heights and a 250 gpm hose allowance). If we don't even have this supply, I typically anticipate a fire pump.

Have you seen any demands lower than this?

Posted anonymously by a member for discussion. Discuss this | Subscribe
9 Comments
Adam Hicks
12/18/2018 10:06:34 am

There are CMSA K25.2 options that could work depending on Hieght and class of storage. Refer VICTAULIC V4601 and V4603

Reply
Mike
12/18/2018 11:46:15 am

If you are preplanning for a fire pump, I definitely would not want to cut short my pressure when selecting a pump.

Just my .02$

Reply
Kyle
12/18/2018 12:28:50 pm

Agreed! Typically come across this situation just with pre-planning on whether the owner would need a fire pump or not.

Reply
Mike Stewart
12/18/2018 11:54:04 am

You don’t recall what the ceiling height was associated with this 73 psi system do you?

Reply
Kyle
12/18/2018 12:28:06 pm

It was storage up to 20 feet, roof deck no greater than 30 feet.

Reply
Justin Harrison link
3/16/2020 03:29:02 pm

This is exactly what i'm looking at now, though it is only for bid purposes and waterflow info is unknown. I was thinking of figuring for a fire pump to be on the safe side. Appreciate the info fellas

Colin link
12/18/2018 12:56:05 pm

With larger pipe, you can get the demand down lower than that. I just looked back a project I did which required 1500 gpm at 65 psi, while flowing 12 x 25.2K heads at 25 psi each. We had to use 8/10" mains and 3" branchlines to do so, but the point is, it can be done if your structure can support the pipe sizes.

Reply
Pete
12/19/2018 10:10:33 am

Don't forget the 250 gpm hose stream allowance. I wouldn't price huge pipe sizes. It can become ridiculous. If the job calls for a pump, I would sell them a pump. If they are dead set against the idea of a pump and someone else wants to come in and undercut the job by designing very large overhead pipes- I don't want the work. The pump sets the client up for unlimited versatility in the future.

Reply
Colin
12/19/2018 12:42:00 pm

Yes, of course 250 outside hose was included (at the street, so not part of the 1500 gpm required in the bldg). I can understand your position, but In this case, I also sympathize with the Owners position; the added cost of pump is huge...need a pump room, which needs HVAC and electrical, plus a floor drain, and the cost that really goes understated is the added maintenance...with weekly runs, fuel, annual flow tests, etc. So the lifetime cost of a pump is significant. In my area (Hawaii), the construction alone for a pump + pump room is $250k-$300k, so a significant additional cost vs. utilizing larger pipe sizes.

That said, anytime the pipe sizes get above 8", you probably should install a pump. This particular project we advocated for a pump but they were dead set against it.




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  • Blog
  • Forum
  • THE TOOLKIT
    • SUBMIT AN IDEA
    • BACKFLOW DATABASE*
    • CLEAN AGENT ESTIMATOR*
    • CLOUD CEILING CALCULATOR
    • DOMESTIC DEMAND*
    • FIRE FLOW CALCULATOR*
    • FIRE PUMP ANALYZER*
    • FIRE PUMP DATABASE*
    • FRICTION LOSS CALCULATOR
    • HANGER SPACER*
    • IBC TRANSLATOR*
    • K-FACTOR SELECTOR*
    • NFPA 13 EDITION TRANSLATOR ('19 ONLY)
    • NFPA 13 EDITION TRANSLATOR ('99-'22)*
    • LIQUIDS ANALYZER*
    • OBSTRUCTION CALCULATOR
    • OBSTRUCTIONS AGAINST WALL*
    • PLUMBING FIXTURE COUNTS
    • QUICK RESPONSE AREA REDUCTION
    • REMOTE AREA ANALYZER*
    • SPRINKLER DATABASE*
    • SPRINKLER FLOW*
    • SYSTEM ESTIMATOR*
    • TEST & DRAIN CALCULATOR
    • THRUST BLOCK CALCULATOR
    • TRAPEZE CALCULATOR
    • UNIT CONVERTER
    • VOLUME & COMPRESSOR CALCULATOR
    • WATER STORAGE*
    • WATER SUPPLY (US)
    • WATER SUPPLY (METRIC)
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