FIRE FLOW TESTING

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FIRE FLOW TESTING

• ACCURATE DATA
• ELECTRONICALLY GENERATED
• WIRELESS TRANSMISSION

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Our testing standards are based on the following
objectives

• How much water is available from the hydrant
• 2. How much water can the grid supply
• 3. We need data that will help determine if a
  hydrant is weak and why (mechanical, valve
  partially closed, tuberculation in the main etc.)
• 4. We need data that is acceptable to the ISO for
  rating purposes (Water supply comprises 40 of a
  community's overall fire protection score.)
• 5. We need data that is useful to water agency
  engineers in planning water system upgrade needs,
  capacity for expansion, identification of weak
  distribution areas, etc

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The following terms apply to the fire flow test
STATIC PRESSURE Pressure reading before water
flows.
RESIDUAL PRESSURE Pressure reading while water
is flowing (from an outlet other than the flow
outlet.)
PITOT PRESSURE Reading taken by a pitot gauge
inserted into the center of the flowing outlet,
at a distance away from the lip of the outlet of
about half the nozzle's diameter.
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COEFFICIENT Since hydrant nozzles typically
don't produce perfect discharge columns, this is
a correction factor which is often used to
compensate for errant pitot readings. Hydrant
manufacturers should be able to provide
coefficients for their products. For hydrants
where the coefficient is unknown, we use .95 or
.9 depending upon how uniform the discharge
stream looks when the hydrant is opened. If a
flow tube or "stream straightner" is used on the
hydrant, the coefficient would be 1.
RESIDUAL BASELINE A pressure which you determine
is the lowest that the hydrant would be pulled
down during actual use. NFPA states that the
basis for fire flow calculations will be 20 psi
residual, however in low pressure areas they
allow calculations based on one-half the static
pressure. Ergo, flow from a hydrant that has only
a 30 psi static pressure can be calculated on a
basis of drawing it down to 15 psi rather than
20.
AVAILABLE FLOW This is the calculated maximum
capacity of the hydrant if it is pumped down to
the basis residual pressure (usually 20 psi).
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The Hazen-Williams formula
Friction head loss (ft H2O per 100 ft pipe) in
water pipes can be obtained by using the
empirical Hazen-Williams equation
Pd 4.52  q1.85 / (c1.85 dh4.8655) (1) where Pd
pressure drop (psi/ft pipe) c design
coefficient determined for the type of pipe or
tube - the higher the factor, the smoother the
pipe or tube q flow rate (gpm) dh inside
hydraulic diameter (inch)
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Manual Fire Flow Test Kit With this system, you
will apply the following
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By measuring static, residual and pitot at the
hydrant being flowed we get the most accurate
look at that hydrant's individual characteristics
and efficiency. We can calculate pretty closely
what that hydrant can provide when pumped down by
a fire engine.
By measuring static and residual from a nearby
location, such as a fire hydrant adjacent to the
hydrant being tested, we can take an independent
look at the water main itself and estimate its
capacity with much higher accuracy
The adjacent hydrant used to take secondary
readings should not itself be flowing, but merely
have a cap gauge attached so that readings can be
taken.
Regardless as to where secondary readings are
measured, static readings should be recorded
prior to any water flowing and residual readings
recorded with the test hydrant valve fully opened
and water main pressure stabilized.
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The Hurco Fire Flow Pro takes care of all
Calculations
The Fire Flow Pro has been designed to perform
all necessary calculations for accurate flow
data. This data can be transferred to a GIS
system for mapping your asset management program
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Test hydrant set up
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Setting up the flow hydrant
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Hose Monster with transducer connected to Pitot
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Fire Flow Pro Settings Screen
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Test location screen with address information
and GPS
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Flow Location with address information and GPS
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Setting Static Pressure from Test Hydrant
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Flow hydrant set and flowing
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Flow test complete with Static Pressure /
Residual Pressure / and Pitot PSI locked and
logged
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Flow hydrant shut down slowly to prevent water
hammer
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Sample Hydrant Master Report with Graph Let the
Fire Flow Pro do the work for you
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Hydrant Color Codes
Firefighters can make better decisions affecting
a fire attack if they at least know the relative
available water flow of different hydrants. The
NFPA system of hydrant class and color coding
help Firefighters determine flow on sight.
Fire hydrants with bonnets painted blue, flow
1,500 gpm or greater and are Class AA.
Hydrants painted green are Class A and will flow
1,000 - 1,499 gpm.
Class B hydrants are orange and flow 500 - 999
gpm.
Red hydrants are considered Class C and flow less
than 500 gpm.
Hydrants flowing less than 250 GPM will be
painted black so the Fire Department does not
waste time hooking up to it in case of fire.
Another important factor with hydrants painted
are the improved visibility when decided to make
a hydrant to pumper connection.
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When done you can print test report with Track
One Software for the Hurco Fire Flow Pro
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Following are a few examples of failed hydrants
that are still in place today
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Headline from the Washington Post May 2, 2007
Across D.C., Dozens of Hydrants Are
Broken Disrepair Often Not Found Until a Fire
Dozens of fire hydrants across the District are
not in working order, including the two closest
to Monday's fire at the D.C. public library in
Georgetown. Fire and union officials say the
faulty hydrants often aren't discovered until a
fire breaks out, as was the case in Georgetown.
Firefighters tried hooking hoses to two hydrants,
including one just across the street from the
blaze, but were unable to draw water. They wound
up using hydrants roughly two blocks from the
burning building.
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Firefighters got no water from the hydrant
nearest the Georgetown library during a blaze
there Monday. The second-closest hydrant also
failed.
Photo Credit By Kevin Clark- The Washington Post
Photo
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Hydrant in Washington DC wrapped by the tree
root. Probably not tested for quite some time?
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A firefighter tugs at a hydrant that won't open.
CBS
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Bettendorfs emergency fire hydrant inspection
has revealed a failure rate of almost 10 percent
citywide. City officials previously had found a 5
percent failure rate.
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100 year old hydrant still in use in Portland
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No flow test available
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Fire spread to nearby homes because of failed
hydrants Cleveland OH
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Fire hydrant near facility was not working
SANFORD The Carolina Trace fire chief
addressed the issue of a fire hydrant not working
properly near the Carolina Trace Country Club,
which was destroyed by a fire Thursday night.
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FLINT (WJRT) -- (03/14/08)--They are a critical
tool in fighting fires fire hydrants. Sometimes
they are all firefighters have to depend on to
put out flames. One can be found on every city
block, but looks can be deceiving. Flint's
utilities superintendent says a significant
amount of hydrants in Flint don't work. During
a recent Flint City Council committee meeting,
Utilities Superintendent Lyle Hippensteel said
there were more than 100 hydrants in the city out
of service. It was about three months ago when an
abandoned house on Lewis and Oklahoma in Flint
caught fire. Since then, neighbors say the fire
hydrant has remained tied and bagged.
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Out Of Order Third Of Fire Hydrants Failed Test
AURORA, Ill. (Aurora Beacon-News) ? Your house
is on fire and rescue crews race to the scene.
They hook up to the closest hydrant, only to find
there's not enough water, or pressure, to fight
the blaze. That's the danger in many Illinois
communities uncovered by a CBS 2 and Aurora
Beacon-News investigation.
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Setting up the test hydrant cap with sensor
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Waiting for the test to be done
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Flow Hydrant cap removal
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Flowing hydrant for test
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