Plans and Calculations

CHAPTER 22

Dr. Awni Alkhazaleh

The base formula for friction loss through a given length of pipe using the Hazen–
Williams approach is as follows:

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The example illustrates why an adjustment is needed and considers a 2 in. (50 mm),
Schedule 40, 10 ft (3 m) length of steel pipe with a C factor of 100 when 135 gpm
(511 L/min) is flowing through the pipe. The actual internal diameter of the pipe
must be used.

From Table 22.4.3.2, the multiplier for pipe having a C value of 100 is 0.713. The
correction to the friction loss value is as follows:

Dr. Awni Alkhazaleh

Determine the equivalent length of a 11/4 in. (32 mm) 90 degree elbow used in a
system employing Schedule 10 steel pipe on a dry pipe system. In Step 1, determine
the internal diameter of Schedule 10 and Schedule 40 steel pipe. From Table
A.6.3.2, Schedule 10 is 1.442 in. (36.6 mm) and Schedule 40 is 1.380 in. (35.1 mm).
In Step 2, derive the factor using the following equation (see also 22.4.3.1.3.1):

In Step 3, establish the equivalent length of a 11/4 in. pipe obtained from Table
22.4.3.1.1 for a 11/4 in. (32 mm), Schedule 40, 90 degree elbow by the factor
determined in Step 2, as follows:

In Step 4, make a final adjustment for the different C factor for a dry pipe system.
From Table 22.4.4.7, the C value for a dry system using black steel is 100. From
Table 22.4.3.2, the multiplier for pipe with a C value of 100 is 0.713. Therefore, the
equivalent length of a 11/4 in. (32 mm) 90 degree elbow used in a system
employing Schedule 10 steel pipe on a dry pipe system is as follows:

Dr. Awni Alkhazaleh

Dr. Awni Alkhazaleh
Dr. Awni Alkhazaleh
  Calculation Procedure

Dr. Awni Alkhazaleh

If the sprinkler system in Figure A.22.4.4 were a tree or loop system, the branch line
would terminate at the last sprinkler on the right in the calculated area, and the
cross main would probably be to the left. In this situation, the extra sprinkler on
branch line 4 would have to be sprinkler B for tree and loop systems, because it is
closest to the supply and would be the hydraulically most demanding on that
branch.

The most demanding situation may not be the most remote from the water supply
if situations closer to the water supply are more hazardous or have larger areas
protected by individual sprinklers.

Dr. Awni Alkhazaleh

For example, an office building might be sprinklered as a light hazard occupancy,
with sprinklers spaced 14 ft × 14 ft (4.3 m × 4.3 m) in the rooms remote from the
water supply and extended coverage sprinklers covering 20 ft × 20 ft (6.1 m × 6.1
m) close to the water supply. The extended coverage sprinklers are closer to the
water supply, but they may produce a demand greater than the sprinklers on 14 ft
× 14 ft (4.3 m × 4.3 m) spacing far from the water supply. Calculations need to be
performed for verification. Where multiple areas are being calculated, it is possible
that one area will have a higher pressure demand and the other area will have a
higher flow demand. In these circumstances, adding the demands together is not
necessary. It is also not necessary to ensure that the higher flow is available at the
higher pressure. Instead, the water supply only needs to be verified as being
capable of handling each individual demand situation.

- Also recognizes that the design areas are not always in the shape of a rectangle.

Dr. Awni Alkhazaleh

Dr. Awni Alkhazaleh
Dr. Awni Alkhazaleh
Systems B and C in Figure A.22.4.4.1(a) are examples of two such rectangular
design areas, with the location of the extra sprinkler on the fourth branch line.
System D in Figure A.22.4.4.1(a) illustrates the situation described in 22.4.4.1.1.3,
with an insufficient number of sprinklers on the branch lines to meet the rule for
1.2 times the square root of the area. In this case, additional sprinklers on
additional branch lines are added to maintain the minimum design area. System E
in Figure A.22.4.4.1(a) illustrates that sprinklers on both sides of the cross main can
be used to achieve the required design area and the rule for 1.2 times the square
root of the design area.

In systems having branch lines with an insufficient number of sprinklers to fulfill

the 1.2 requirement, the design area shall be extended to include sprinklers on
adjacent branch lines supplied by the same cross main.

Dr. Awni Alkhazaleh

However, under certain conditions, such as where sprinklers were spaced 13 ft
(3.96 m) apart on a branch line and the branch lines were spaced 10 ft (3.05 m)
apart, and where the design area included 12 sprinklers, some designers were
calculating 3 sprinklers on a branch line [3 ×13 ft = 39 ft (3 × 3.96 m = 11.9 m)]
over four branch lines [4 ×10 ft = 40 ft (4 × 3.05 m = 12.2 m)]. This approach
resulted in a design area that was nearly a perfect square.

Therefore, the requirement that the area of operation take the form of a rectangle,
with the length of the longer side having a dimension of 1.2A,. The longer side of
the rectangle must be at least 1.2 times greater in length than its shorter side.

Dr. Awni Alkhazaleh