This self-paced online course covers hydraulic principles as they apply to sprinkler systems, and explains the applications and design criteria for hydraulically designed sprinkler systems.

Upon completion you should be able to:

• Explain the use of computers and programming in hydraulic sprinkler system design
• Explain the arrangement of pipe schedule systems
• Describe the different types of design methods for sprinkler systems
• Explain the differences between gridded and looped sprinkler systems
• Explain the "k" factor of a sprinkler orifice
• List and explain the four items that affect losses in piping systems
• Demonstrate the ability to determine the approximate flow delivered from hydraulically designed sprinkler systems
• List the items that affect the design of residential sprinkler systems
• Explain the following sprinkler system design methods:
  • density/area
  • room design
  • exposure/water curtain

Who Will Benefit

Anyone whose job involves designing, reviewing, evaluating or installing fire protection systems, including: designers, installers, engineers, electrical contractors, technicians, project managers, fire marshals, and architects.

Course Summary

• Hydraulic sprinkler systems are the most efficient when properly designed, because their design makes the most efficient use of the available water supply. Four things determine the ability of any piping system to pass water through...
  • distance that the water has to travel,
  • amount of flow through the piping,
  • type of material used, and
  • the age of the piping network, in many cases.
• The advent of the computer has enhanced the design of sprinkler systems in the past forty years. Prior to the computer, almost all systems were installed as pipe schedule systems.  These types of systems were based on the number of sprinklers loaded onto a specific diameter pipe. There wasn't too much thought given to the water supply, as long as the supply met some rudimentary requirements for flow and pressure.
• Hydraulically designed systems can use a variety of design methods, based on the requirements of the occupancy and the desire of the designer. The most common type of hydraulic system is the density/area method, which can be used in almost every occupancy. However, as the hazard of the space increases, designs that use more appropriate methods, such as ESFR for high challenge occupancies, are necessary in many cases.