Flow test for single family home

[Ehendrix]

I have been reading and digging to find out the best method to perform a flow test for a sprinkler system we are installing in a beach home.

I would like to connect to the 1" cold water copper line at the water heater, but I need to know if that is sufficient to supply 2 sprinklers.

I have read one method is to make the connection and then pipe a line outside with a control valve and perform a flow test.

Not sure been a long time cant remember how we did it.

Thanks,

Eric Hendrix, SET
NICET Certified
Design Manager

 

[cdafd]

Only two sprinklers??

What are they going to protect??

Suggest also see what the city says about your set up

 

[cdafd]

Sorry read the question wrong

Never mind my question

 

[Ehendrix]

Calculating 2 sprinklers. I am just trying to figure how to flow it. There might be hydrants way down the road.

Eric Hendrix, SET
NICET Certified
Design Manager

 

[cdafd]

I am thinking just but a gage on the house water faucet and get a pressure reading.

No actual flow required ?

If you have 2016 look at all of 10.4.4 and item 2

Which edition of 13d are you using

 

[cdafd]

And appendix A.10.4.4

 

[Ehendrix]

I have 2016 edition. I have read that putting a pressure gauge on the cold water supply would at least give you an operating pressure.

I cant see how obtaining a flow would be needed, but I have nothing to back that up.

Thanks,

Eric Hendrix, SET
NICET Certified
Design Manager

 

[MGXFP]

Are there no fire hydrants of blowoffs in the area?

 

[cdafd]

I am not a designer or engineer, but looking at appendix A.10.4.4

Appears one method,

just use the water pressure only to design the system, and go through the sheet.

Just a question how many sq ft and how many stories is this house?

 

[Ehendrix]

cdafd, 1 story about 3000sf.

Eric Hendrix, SET
NICET Certified
Design Manager

 

[cdafd]

From 2014

https://community.nfpa.org/communit...erstanding-hydraulic-requirements-in-nfpa-13d

 

[TravisMack]

Eric:

Think about your typical flow test. Lets assume static is 60 psi, residual is 45 psi and flow is 1000 gpm. 2 sprinklers is at most 40 gpm with 4.9k pendents. What do you think the available pressure will be at 40 gpm using that flow test data? It will be something like 59.99999. That is why the traditional flow test is not required in NFPA 13D systems. The pressure available at your flows is basically your static pressure. So, put a gauge anywhere on that line. Account for friction losses from the city main to your point you connect to and you are good to go.

Travis Mack
MFP Design, LLC

http://www.mfpdesign.com

"Follow" us at

https://www.facebook.com/pages/MFP-Design-LLC/92218417692

 

[Ehendrix]

Travis,

Thats the conclusion I came to as well, thank you all.

Eric Hendrix, SET
NICET Certified
Design Manager

 

[cdafd]

Thank you travis