Pump Operations

[fireleach]

Need some help guys.. Need to know the easiest way to calculate friction loss, elevation loss etc..Also does anyone know of any good literature that would help me out on this sort of subject..Thanks in advance for any help that could be offered..

[engine10_iaff12]

Try the IFSTA manual for fire streams.

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G.B. Yoho (member)
IAFF Local #12
Wheeling Firefighters
Wheeling, WV.
Be Alert and Be Safe!!!!

[FF13]

Figuring friction loss for elevation alone is(+ or -) simple enough, as follows: Water exerts .434 psi per foot of height. Round this figure off to 1/2 psi per foot of height. Say you have to pump water to the 4th floor of a building, thats roughly 40 feet of evevation or 20 psi more thats needed to overcome the elevation. An aerial flowing water from an elevation 70 feet, thats an additional 35 psi to give the proper flow and nozzle pressure. Opposite is true if you're flowing water over terrain lower than the pumper. Say the nozzle is at a location 50 feet below the pumper, thats 25 psi less on the pump discharge because the drop in elevation is helping you in this case! Hope that helps.

[mark440]

IFSTA manual
-Apparatus Driver Operator's Manual for Engines
-Apparatus Driver Operator's Manual for Aerial Devices
They both provide answers for everything you are asking about.

Mark

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If in doubt - Call us out

[tc1chief]

My Chief Engineer uses the following for a rule of thumb as is practiced by Virginia DFP:
5 lbs + or - per story of elevation up or down
15 lbs per 50 FT section of 1 1/2" hose
5 lbs per 50 FT section of 2 1/2" hose
3 lbs per 50 FT section of 3" hose w/ 2 1/2" couplings

Its about as close as you can get without the use of flow meters and automatic nozzles.


Find it hot and leave it wet...