Use Boundary Conditions in Lieu of Flow Test?

4/17/2024

In a recent project, I asked for hydrant flow test results from the civil engineer, and I received Boundary Conditions instead.

Is there a way of using this information to validate hydraulic calculations?

An example of Boundary Conditions given to us: Demand = 18.54 gpm (1.17 L/s), HGL = 463'-11" (141.41 m), Pressure = 64.1 psi (442 kPa).

Thanks!

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7 Comments

Dan Wilder

4/17/2024 07:16:43 am

These results look to have no direct correlation to information needed for a water supply (real life testing nor modeling) especially as to the volume.

Glenn Berger

4/17/2024 08:10:33 am

The numbers that you were given are not useful for a fire sprinkler system hydraulic calculations. A flow rate of 18.54 gpm may not be sufficient for a single sprinkler.

You might have an elevated tank that is connected to the water distribution system. Investigation is warranted to understand the water supply distribution.

Jesse

4/17/2024 08:16:50 am

Ugggg, boundary conditions. My grandfather was a hog-farmer in the midwest and would utter something about it being as useful as some sort of sustenance appendage on a bore-hog blah blah blah.

There is nothing really useful there. And in my opinion, there nothing that is as useful as the actual flow test. Yeah, someone's gonna get wet, cold, sweaty, muddy, whatever. But its good date.

Anthony

4/17/2024 08:17:07 am

NFPA 13-16
23.2.1 - You need to supply the water supply information on your drawings.
24.2.2.2 - water supply info shall be from a water flow test.
I've never seen a "boundary condition".

This is a simple reply e-mail: "Thanks for the information however NFPA 13 requires a flow test please provide us with the information within x days/weeks of the submission due date. This will allow us to properly size the system as NFPA 13 requires. "

Copy the GC, CM or architect, whoever you're working for so there is a record of the request. That way when they give you the wrong info again you can let them know it's the civil people holding up the project, not you.

Ricardo Gonzales Jr

4/17/2024 08:59:29 am

What is not clear or may be me, is what is a 'Boundary Condition' as they describe it. As many of the previous answer indicate, the raw numbers appear useless as they don't describe the supply system in terms useable for Fire Protection.

Jack G

4/17/2024 09:45:21 am

Useless. In some of the states down on the east coast before you can build…. Anything, you must make a flow test and include it in the drawings and specifications, paid for by the building owner. If it takes longer than 6 months to build/ occupy, then another must be made for the CO. Makes it easy on contractors.
But as I used to say “ nothing like showing me the water” ( flow test )

Anon

4/17/2024 10:39:29 am

I suggest confirming what is meant by "boundary condition." I see on the internets that term is used in describing aquifers, but also as describing a outer parameter of flow test, in which case that flow is useless for our purposes. Perhaps it is a regional term unfamiliar to many of us here.

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Use Boundary Conditions in Lieu of Flow Test?

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