Fire Pump Hydraulics: Friction Loss, Nozzle Pressure & Pump Discharge Pressure
Smooth-bore and fog nozzle flows, friction loss by hose size, elevation pressure, pump discharge pressure for single, wyed and siamesed lines, standpipe support and a multi-line pump check with charts: 8 graded labs for driver/operator exam practice.
The first lesson is free — no account needed.
About this course
A fire pump hydraulics course that works through the calculations of the pump operator in a spreadsheet, for firefighters preparing for a driver/operator or engineer exam, fire science students and training officers. You calculate smooth-bore flow with GPM = 29.7 × d² × √NP and the nozzle reaction, check how much fog nozzles really flow when the pressure is off, look up friction loss coefficients and calculate FL = C × Q² × L for seven hose lays, apply elevation pressure with 0.434 psi per foot and the 5 psi per floor rule, work out pump discharge pressure for single and wyed lines, split a master stream over siamesed lines, support a standpipe through the FDC and flag floors above the pre-plan maximum, and check a multi-line pump chart against pump capacity. Illustrative exam-style values, not a substitute for codes, standards or your department's procedures, with no NFPA affiliation. The first lab is free.
Lessons
- Smooth-Bore Nozzle Flow: GPM = 29.7 × d² × √NPFree
- Fog Nozzle Flows & Pressures: Rated vs Actual, Reaction & Status Pro
- Friction Loss by Hose Size: FL = C × Q² × L with a Coefficient Lookup Pro
- Elevation Gain & Loss: 0.434 psi per Foot and the 5 psi per Floor Rule Pro
- Pump Discharge Pressure for Single & Wyed Lines Pro
- Siamese & Parallel Lines: Splitting the Flow to Cut Friction Loss Pro
- Standpipe Operations: Pumping into the FDC Pro
- Multi-Line Pump Chart & Maximum Flow Check Pro