• InfoWorks WS Pro

Introducing fire flow modelling and analysis

Understand how InfoWorks WS Pro models fire flow.


00:04

Info

00:05

works W S pro is capable of modeling firef flow.

00:08

Firef flow analysis is an integral part of

00:11

water supply modeling and is typically used during

00:13

preliminary design to ensure that adequate flow and

00:16

pressure is available at points in the system.

00:20

This is often for firefighting compliance to ensure hydrants

00:23

can supply enough water and pressure during emergencies.

00:27

Fire flow analysis can also help during model calibration during

00:31

which firef flows and residual pressures can be simulated.

00:33

And compared with field data,

00:36

there are three types of firef flow simulation.

00:39

Firef flow availability,

00:40

hydrant testing

00:42

and forced firef flow.

00:44

The firef flow availability simulation determines the fire

00:47

flow availability from required firef flow specifications.

00:51

Local nodal pressure calculated as in a

00:53

normal run and assumed hydrant characteristics.

00:57

It then checks the ability of each hydrant in

00:59

turn to meet the defined firef flow requirements.

01:02

Each hydrant is considered independently as if

01:05

no other hydrant in the system is open

01:07

firef flow availability results are calculated using the orifice equation.

01:13

These results can be used to show the ability of individual hydrants

01:17

to sustain additional levels of demand for firefighting or other similar purposes

01:21

note that fire flow is not applied to the network.

01:24

Therefore, the effect of increased flows in the network is not considered

01:29

the firef flow availability options.

01:31

Dialogue only allows you to set a single value for required fire flow or

01:35

residual not pressure and you can only choose to enforce one or the other.

01:40

You may need to carry out more than one firef flow availability simulation in

01:44

order to analyze and check that availability

01:46

reaches the required standard throughout the network.

01:50

Firef flow availability simulation results include FFA flow

01:54

and FFA residual pressure at the nodes.

01:58

F fa flow is the maintained firef flow and

02:01

F fa residual pressure is the residual pressure.

02:04

After the fire flow is considered,

02:06

these additional results can be viewed via the node results

02:08

grid as well as in individual node graphs and grids.

Video transcript

00:04

Info

00:05

works W S pro is capable of modeling firef flow.

00:08

Firef flow analysis is an integral part of

00:11

water supply modeling and is typically used during

00:13

preliminary design to ensure that adequate flow and

00:16

pressure is available at points in the system.

00:20

This is often for firefighting compliance to ensure hydrants

00:23

can supply enough water and pressure during emergencies.

00:27

Fire flow analysis can also help during model calibration during

00:31

which firef flows and residual pressures can be simulated.

00:33

And compared with field data,

00:36

there are three types of firef flow simulation.

00:39

Firef flow availability,

00:40

hydrant testing

00:42

and forced firef flow.

00:44

The firef flow availability simulation determines the fire

00:47

flow availability from required firef flow specifications.

00:51

Local nodal pressure calculated as in a

00:53

normal run and assumed hydrant characteristics.

00:57

It then checks the ability of each hydrant in

00:59

turn to meet the defined firef flow requirements.

01:02

Each hydrant is considered independently as if

01:05

no other hydrant in the system is open

01:07

firef flow availability results are calculated using the orifice equation.

01:13

These results can be used to show the ability of individual hydrants

01:17

to sustain additional levels of demand for firefighting or other similar purposes

01:21

note that fire flow is not applied to the network.

01:24

Therefore, the effect of increased flows in the network is not considered

01:29

the firef flow availability options.

01:31

Dialogue only allows you to set a single value for required fire flow or

01:35

residual not pressure and you can only choose to enforce one or the other.

01:40

You may need to carry out more than one firef flow availability simulation in

01:44

order to analyze and check that availability

01:46

reaches the required standard throughout the network.

01:50

Firef flow availability simulation results include FFA flow

01:54

and FFA residual pressure at the nodes.

01:58

F fa flow is the maintained firef flow and

02:01

F fa residual pressure is the residual pressure.

02:04

After the fire flow is considered,

02:06

these additional results can be viewed via the node results

02:08

grid as well as in individual node graphs and grids.

Step-by-step Guide

InfoWorks WS Pro is capable of modelling fire flow.

  • Integral part of water supply modelling
  • Used during preliminary design to ensure adequate flow and pressure
  • For firefighting compliance to ensure hydrants can supply enough water and pressure during emergencies.
  • Help model calibration, during which fire flows and residual pressures can be simulated and compared with field data.

There are three types of fire flow simulation: Fire Flow Availability, Hydrant Testing, and Forced Fire Flow.

Fire Flow Options window displaying the three types of fire flow simulations.

The Fire Flow Availability simulation determines the fire flow availability from:

  • required fire flow specifications
  • local nodal pressure (calculated as in a normal run)
  • assumed hydrant characteristics.

It then checks the ability of each hydrant in turn to meet the defined fire flow requirements. Each hydrant is considered independently, as if no other hydrant in the system is open.

Fire Flow Availability results are calculated using the orifice equation. These results can be used to show the ability of individual hydrants to sustain additional levels of demand for firefighting or other similar purposes.

Note: Fire flow is not applied to the network; therefore, the effect of increased flows on the network is not considered.

Note: You may need to carry out more than one fire flow availability simulation in order to analyze and check that availability reaches the required standard throughout the network.

Fire Flow Availability simulation results include:

  • FFA Flow – the maintained fire flow
  • FFA Residual Pressure – the residual pressure after the fire flow is considered.

These additional results can be viewed via the Node Results Grid, as well as in individual node graphs and grids.

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