Property Risk Consulting

Guidelines
PRC.14.1.1.0
A Publication of AXA XL Risk Consulting

ESTIMATING FIRE PROTECTION WATER DEMANDS

INTRODUCTION
What constitutes an adequate water supply has generated much discussion over the years. NFPA
Standards provide some guidance but leave many areas to judgement. For example, when pipe
schedule designs are used, NFPA 13 provides guidelines only for Light Hazard, Ordinary Hazard
Group 1 and 2 Occupancies, Extra Hazard Group 1 and 2 Occupancies and storage occupancies.
Other occupancies are referred to the “Authority Having Jurisdiction.” Sprinkler densities and hose
stream demands are given in NFPA 13 for hydraulically designed systems, but, even in these cases,
the system must be designed before the exact requirements are known.
Most facilities contain a variety of hazards requiring sprinkler systems of differing design. Even when
the greatest sprinkler or process water spray demand in a facility has been determined, there may be
other factors which could lead to a larger overall demand. The layout of a facility may require large
hose demands to prevent fire spread to adjacent areas if the initial fire is not controlled. The
protection for yard storage (as found in a paper mill) may create the largest demand. Potential
exposures, e.g., a lumber yard, can also affect the amount of water required for manual fire fighting
efforts.
The purpose of this guide is to provide a consistent approach to determining the adequacy of a water
supply for AXA XL Risk Consulting serviced risks except Oil and Chemical Occupancies. The water
supply demands required by this method are not meant to define an “ideal” supply, but one that would
be expected to handle credible fire emergencies. It does not take into account the redundancy
needed for large or high-valued risks, but reflects the requirements for an initial supply. Finally, as
with any method, it cannot take into account all of the factors that could possibly affect water
demands. Good judgement must be exercised when applying the method to a specific risk.

SCOPE
This guide is to be used for all AXA XL Risk Cconsulting serviced risks except Oil and Chemical
Occupancies and applies to all occupancy hazards in those risks from Light to Extra Hazard. Options
are provided for all types of systems including pipe schedule and hydraulically designed systems. Oil
and Chemical Occupancies are covered in PRC.14.1.1.1.

METHOD
Analysis of a risk to determine the potential water supply demand is a two step process. First, the
facility must be evaluated to determine what scenarios might generate the largest demand. Second,
the probable demands under reasonably adverse conditions must be determined and compared for
each of these scenarios.

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 PRC.14.1.1.0

A water supply should be capable of supplying the largest demand. This is often the combination of
the largest sprinkler system and hose demand, although not always the case.
Building/Occupancy
The water supply for a building or occupancy should be adequate to supply simultaneously each of
the following conditions:
• The greatest sprinkler system (or deluge, water spray, foam water or other water based
extinguishing system) demand in the facility. When evaluating the demand for deluge, water
spray, or other special systems, the possibility of simultaneous discharge from multiple
systems must be considered.
• The hose stream requirements associated with the occupancy protected.
• Any exposure protection required, e.g., water curtains, hose streams, to prevent the spread of
fire to adjacent fire areas.
Yard Storage or External Structure
The water supply for a yard storage or external structure should be adequate to supply
simultaneously each of the following conditions:
• The water demand needed to protect against or combat any fire in yard storage or to protect
any external structure, tank, etc.
• Any exposure protection required for buildings threatened by a fire in yard storage or in the
external structure.
Exposure Protection
The water supply should be adequate to supply the anticipated water demand needed to protect
buildings threatened by fire from the most severe credible exposure hazard, e.g., hose stream and
open sprinkler protection for a neighboring lumber yard fire.
Catastrophic Hose Demand
The water supply should be adequate to supply the anticipated hose stream and exposure protection
demand needed to protect the remainder of the facility if a fire is uncontrolled in any one fire area.
The determination of the water supply needs for each of these cases can be broken down into two
basic steps:
• Sprinkler system (or other water based extinguishing system) demands.
• Manual fire fighting demands.
Once these demands are determined, the adequacy of an existing water supply can be evaluated or
the water supply requirements established for a new facility.

SPRINKLER SYSTEM DEMANDS

Sprinkler systems are of two basic designs: hydraulically calculated and pipe schedule. Each design
requires a different approach when estimating the water demand.
Hydraulically Designed Systems
The sprinkler density required to protect the hazard (usually specified in gpm/ft2 or L/min/m2 over an
area of application, or number of operating sprinklers and sprinkler operating pressure) is selected
from the appropriate standard (NFPA 13, NFPA 15, NFPA 16 or other guide) and the pipe sizing is
based on friction loss calculations. With this type of system, the demand (flow and pressure) needed
at the base of the riser becomes a known quantity.

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Existing Systems
For an existing hydraulically designed system, the system flow and pressure at the base of riser
should be known. To determine the adequacy of the system design, it is necessary to:
• Determine the occupancy hazard being protected. Refer to PRC.12.1.1.0 for guidance on
Occupancy Hazard Classification.
• Verify that the sprinkler system design is adequate for the current hazard.
• If the design is adequate, use the calculated base of riser demand.
• If the design is not adequate, recalculate the system demand based on the correct occupancy
type using graphical analysis or hydraulic calculations.
Proposed Systems
For proposed hydraulically designed systems, the flow and pressure required at the base of the riser
will not be known until the system is designed. Therefore, it is necessary to estimate the minimum
flow and pressure required to design the system.
The minimum theoretical flow required is obtained by multiplying the design density by the area of
application. However, water is not distributed evenly to all sprinklers. Sprinklers closer to the riser
discharge more water due to the higher available pressure. As a result, the theoretical flow-rate must
be increased by 10% before it can be used as an estimate.
Where Control Mode Specific Application (CMSA) sprinklers are to be used, the pressure required
should be selected as follows:
• Where a density of 0.30 gpm/ft2 (12.2 L/min/m2) for 3000 ft2 (279 m2) or less is needed, the
residual pressure available at the estimated demand should be at least 50 psi (3.4 bar). Where
the building is more than one story, nominal 15 ft (4.6 m), in height, the elevation loss should
be added to this pressure.
• Densities above 0.30 gpm/ft2 (12.2 L/min/m2) should have a residual pressure available at the
estimated demand of at least 75 psi (5.2 bar).
Where ESFR sprinklers are to be used, the high discharge pressure at the sprinkler may require
pressures greater than 75 psi (5.2 bar) at the base of the riser.
There will be cases where lower pressures may be adequate to supply the recommended sprinkler
design. A typical example is a strong public water supply at moderate pressures, 40 – 60 psi
(2.8 – 4.2 bar), with an extremely flat supply curve.
When in-rack sprinklers are provided, both the ceiling and the in-rack sprinklers should be
hydraulically calculated. The calculations should be balanced at the point where the in-rack and
ceiling flows combine. When the in-rack sprinklers are supplied by a separate riser, the flows should
be balanced at the common connection to the underground.
Pipe Schedule Systems
The older approach in sprinkler system design is the pipe schedule system where each pipe is sized
according to the number of sprinklers that it supplies. This type of system has considerable flexibility,
however, it has a drawback in that the water supply requirements are not known. The sizing was
developed over the years by “experience” and provided adequate protection with most water
supplies. NFPA 13 provides pipe sizing tables for Light, Ordinary, and Extra Hazard occupancies.
The demand for a pipe schedule system is more difficult to determine due to the variations in spacing
allowed. As with hydraulically calculated systems, a systematic approach is used to develop a
probable demand.
1. Determine the occupancy hazard being protected. (See PRC.12.1.1.0 for guidance on
Occupancy Hazard Classification.)

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2. Determine the density required to protect the hazard. The density should be selected from the
following:
Light Hazard - Hydraulically calculate the sprinkler system, since AXA XL Risk Consulting does
not recommend light hazard pipe schedule systems.
Ordinary Hazard Group 1 - 0.12 gpm/ft2 for 3000 ft2 (4.9 L/min/m2 for 279 m2)
Ordinary Hazard Group 2 - 0.17 gpm/ft2 for 3000 ft2 (6.5 L/min/m2 for 279 m2)
Extra Hazard Group 1 - 0.28 gpm/ft2 for 3000 ft2 (11.4 L/min/m2 for 279 m2)
Extra Hazard Group 2 - 0.38 gpm/ft2 for 3000 ft2 (14.7 L/min/m2 for 279 m2)
3. Determine the pipe schedule and the spacing between sprinklers and branch lines used to install
the system.
4. Using Table 1, select the system configuration that best matches the system layout, and obtain
the most remote area demand. Note that this demand is applicable at the connection of the last
operating branch line to the cross main.
These tables are based on wet systems and are calculated with a C factor of 120. Dry systems
are calculated with a C factor of 100, so the results must be adjusted. This difference in C factor
will result in an average flow increase of 10% and an average pressure increase of 40%.
Therefore, when dry systems are being analyzed, the flows from the table should be multiplied by
a factor of 1.1 and the pressure by a factor of 1.4.
5. Add the friction loss from the remote area back to the riser. This loss is estimated to avoid
documenting the riser details needed to make an exact calculation. The procedure to use is as
follows:
Assume that the cross main and riser are 6 in. (150 mm).
Using this distance and the flow obtained in step 4, calculate the friction loss back to the base of
the riser using a C factor of 120 for wet systems and a C factor of 100 for dry systems.
Make an estimate of the distance between the remote area of the system and the riser, and
multiply this distance by 300% for center feed systems and 600% for side feed systems.
6. Add the elevation loss to the top of the sprinkler riser.

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TABLE 1
Wet Pipe Sprinkler System Remote Area Demands
(For dry systems multiply flow by 1.1 and pressure by 1.4)
Side Feed Systems Center Feed Systems
Spacing 6 Heads 8 Heads 10 Heads 6 Heads 8 Heads 10 Heads
Line Head Density gpm psi gpm Psi gpm psi gpm psi gpm psi gpm psi
Ordinary Hazard Pipe Schedule (1953) (2-3-5) !/2 in. orifice, K = 5.6 3000 ft2 Area of Application
8.0 12.5 0.12* 632 30 665 34 664 40 645 27 648 38 645 35
0.17* 729 39 759 44 757 52 737 36 740 51 736 45
8.5 15.0 0.12* 532 37 572 35 522 41 515 31 513 33 512 38
0.17* 744 71 774 68 730 78 721 59 717 64 716 72
9.0 12.0 0.12* 605 31 597 36 593 37 613 28 578 29 576 33
0.17* 743 46 733 53 728 55 751 41 711 43 708 49
10.0 10.0 0.12* 617 29 671 33 666 37 637 24 641 27 640 32
0.17* 704 37 765 43 760 48 744 32 731 36 731 42
10.0 12.0 0.12* 528 32 558 33 558 37 541 27 540 29 542 33
0.17* 717 57 756 60 757 67 735 48 734 53 740 61
12.0 09.0 0.12* 587 29 619 32 617 41 607 27 640 34 590 33
0.17* 722 43 760 48 758 61 743 40 785 51 725 50
12.0 10.0 0.12* 516 31 544 34 542 39 444 24 522 28 522 33
0.17* 701 56 739 62 736 70 604 44 709 51 710 59
12.5 08.0 0.12* 611 28 650 30 659 38 620 25 630 25 625 31
0.17* 698 36 742 39 751 49 707 32 718 32 713 40
15.0 08.5 0.12* 497 33 517 31 562 40 520 25 537 27 537 33
0.17* 696 63 723 59 785 75 715 47 749 52 774 64
Ordinary Hazard Pipe Schedule (1906) (1-2-3) !/2 in. orifice, K = 5.6 3000 ft2 Area of Application
08.0 9.0 0.12* 942 37 987 40 1021 45 964 29 977 31 961 36
0.17** 942 37 987 40 1021 45 964 29 977 31 961 36
09.0 8.0 0.12* 937 37 969 39 1019 48 926 30 961 31 948 36
0.17* 937 37 969 39 1019 48 926 30 961 31 948 36
09.0 12.0 0.12* 657 36 648 38 644 43 635 30 628 34 623 38
0.17* 805 53 795 57 790 63 779 45 821 51 764 56
10.0 10.0 0.12* 662 33 722 38 717 43 690 28 690 32 685 36
0.17* 756 42 822 48 817 55 787 36 786 41 780 46
12.0 09.0 0.12* 627 33 664 36 660 47 693 30 634 32 627 36
0.17* 770 49 814 53 809 69 852 45 778 47 769 53
Extra Hazard Pipe Schedule !/2 in. orifice, K = 5.6 3000 ft2 Area of Application
07.5 12.0 0.28 1144 077 1102 067 1083 067 1090 52 1067 056 1065 065
0.38 1527 137 1475 120 1449 120 1458 96 1428 101 1426 116
08.0 10.0 0.28 1150 068 1131 055 1103 054 1101 41 1079 043 1077 050
0.38 1535 121 1512 098 1476 096 1473 73 1444 077 1443 089
09.0 10.0 0.28 1143 078 1123 071 1096 068 1090 53 1073 054 1074 063
0.38 1527 139 1501 126 1466 122 1445 93 1437 075 1438 113
10.0 08.0 0.28 1166 073 1110 052 1132 054 1083 46 1105 040 1103 049
0.38 1556 130 1484 093 1512 096 1449 77 1477 072 1476 088
10.0 09.0 0.28 1148 080 1112 069 1121 066 1098 50 1101 054 1095 062
0.38 1533 142 1486 123 1499 118 1456 88 1471 097 1465 111
12.0 07.5 0.28 1162 084 1098 067 1130 067 1044 54 1088 052 1108 061
0.38 1552 150 1469 120 1509 120 1388 95 1456 096 1481 110
*
Note: Actual density exceeds that shown due to 7 psi minimum head pressure.

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Example:
Building A is a machine shop protected by a wet ordinary hazard pipe schedule sprinkler system. The
sprinkler system is a center feed system with 8 head branch lines. The spacing is 12 ft (3.7 m)
between the branch lines and 10 ft (3 m) between the sprinklers. The elevation from the floor to the
sprinkler heads is 18 ft (5.5 m). The building is protected by a single riser, and the most distant area
is 200 ft (61 m) from the riser.
• A machine shop is an Ordinary Hazard Group 2.
• Required density is 0.17 gpm/ft2 for 3000 ft2 (6.9 L/min/m2 for 279 m2).
• From Table 1, the remote area demand is 709 gpm @ 51 psi (2680 L/min @ 3.5 bar).
• Friction loss to the riser flowing 710 gpm (2683 L/min) through 600 ft (183 m) of 6 in. (150 mm)
pipe is approximately 12 psi (0.83 bar).
• Elevation loss is 0.433 psi/ft × 18 ft (0.098 bar/m × 5.5 m) or 8 psi (0.55 bar).
• Total pressure required is 51 psi + 12 psi + 8 psi (3.5 bar + 0.83 bar + 0.55 bar) or 71 psi
(4.9 bar).
• Sprinkler demand at the base of the riser is 710 gpm @ 71 psi (2684 L/m @ 4.9 bar).
Exposure Protection
When sprinklers are providing exposure protection and would be expected to operate in conjunction
with the sprinklers in the area under evaluation, the demands for the exposure protection systems
should be added to the sprinkler demands calculated above. For example, the demand for sprinkler
protection for a conveyor opening in a fire barrier wall should be included when analyzing the inside
demand, whereas exposure protection on the outside of a building due to inadequate separation from
yard storage would be included in the analysis of the yard storage area.
AXA XL Risk Consulting recommends that all sprinkler systems for exposure protection be
hydraulically calculated. Existing pipe schedule exposure protection systems should be calculated to
determine the demand.
Multiple System Operation
When more than one sprinkler system is expected to operate, i.e., both in-rack sprinkler and/or
exposure protection systems and ceiling sprinkler systems, the calculated system demands for each
system should be balanced to the highest pressure before the flows are added together to determine
the total sprinkler demand.

MANUAL FIRE FIGHTING (Hose Stream) DEMAND

The selection of a credible water demand for manual fire fighting efforts depends upon several
factors. Some of the factors include the hazard being protected, the provision of inside hose
connections, whether or not the building is of combustible construction, the exposures to the area
being evaluated, and the catastrophic loss potential.
Flow Requirements
The water requirement for hose streams is based on occupancy hazard. The base hose stream
demand, for both inside and outside hose streams, for sprinklered occupancies is as follows:
• Light and Ordinary Hazard - 500 gpm (1890 L/min).
• Extra Hazard, Group 1 - 750 gpm (2835 L/min).
• Extra Hazard, Group 2 - 1000 gpm (3780 L/min).
• High Piled Storage - Refer to PRC Guidelines PRC.8.1.0, PRC.10.2.1, PRC.10.2.3,
PRC.10.2.6 and PRC.12.1.1.0.
This basic hose demand should be increased by 25% when any of the following conditions exist:

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• Combustible construction — The presence of combustible building materials requires an

additional hose demand to limit building damage.
• Possible delay in public fire department response — Many sprinkler designs contemplate
fire control, but not extinguishment. The delay in public protection response may allow the fire
to grow and require additional water for manual fire fighting.
• Minimum protection design — Designs in accordance with minimum NFPA standards, but
less than recommended by the AXA XL Risk Consulting, may not provide the desired degree
of fire control and require additional water for manual fire fighting.
• Limited access — Occupancies, located in a remote interior section of a large building,
resulting in limited access may delay or inhibit manual response.
The demand for hose streams should be included, regardless of whether the hydrants are on public
or private mains, since the fire department will use public hydrants located on mains supplying private
mains if private hydrants are not available. AXA XL Risk Consulting expects hydrant protection to be
available and, if not provided, hydrants should be recommended.
Where manual fire fighting is the essential line of defense, as in the protection of yard storage,
protection from exposure fires, or when the sprinklers have failed to control the fire, alternative
methods must be used to determine the hose demand. Due to the varying nature of yard storage, i.e.,
commodities, piling arrangements, hydrant layout, etc., it is difficult to provide guidelines that will
cover all situations. Each situation will require individual review, and the following features should be
considered in any evaluation:
• Location and type of yard hydrants.
• Number of hydrants that may be used.
• Presence and size of monitor nozzles.
• Distance between the storage and plant buildings or structures.
• Construction of exposed buildings.
• Layout and size of piles.
• Commodity being stored.
• Location of plant doors with regard to hydrants.
Water demands may be as low as 1000 gpm (3780 L/min) for small yard storage areas or as high as
6000 gpm (22,680 L/min) or more for large log storage piles. As a general rule, 500 gpm (1890 L/min)
should be available for each yard hydrant that might be expected to be used. The demand for monitor
nozzles should be based on the rating of the nozzle at 100 psi (6.9 bar) and straight stream flow. If
the specific rating is not known, use 500 gpm (1890 L/min).
Where there is a severe exposure, e.g., lumber yard, flammable liquid tanks, yard storage of rolled
paper, similar logic should be used when evaluating the exposure protection requirements. Guidance
for log storage and other severe hazards can be found in other AXA XL Risk Consulting publications
or PRC Guidelines.
While AXA XL Risk Consulting expects the sprinkler systems to control any fire that may occur,
occasionally sprinklers may fail. This may be due to an impairment, or be the result of an
occupancy change where the sprinklers have not yet been reinforced to protect the new hazard.
While these situations may not be predictable, they pose problems to manual firefighting which must
be considered.
Small facilities with a single fire area would not usually require more than the basic sprinkler and hose
demand for manual firefighting. Larger facilities with several fire areas will require additional water to
prevent the spread of fire. When sprinklers have failed to control the fire, the amount of additional
water needed will depend on:
• The type of cutoff and rating, e.g., fire wall vs. fire barrier wall, 1 hr vs. 2 hr rating, or the
separation between the hazard and the exposed building or structure. (See PRC.2.2.1.)

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• Building construction.
• Hazards in adjacent areas.
• Size of the fire area burning out of control.
Some of the water demand allocated for sprinkler protection of the occupancy may be available for
use to prevent spread of fire when the sprinklers have failed to control a fire. It may be possible to
shut-off sprinkler systems that are not operating effectively, e.g., mains have broken following roof
collapse, if the sprinkler control valves are located outside and are accessible.
Secondary supplies (see PRC.14.0.1) can also be used to supply the additional hose demands
required for manual fire fighting efforts when provided. The demand for a specific risk should be
estimated based on the above factors. Fire departments may use several thousand gpm for hose
when a fire is out of control and this should not be overlooked.
Pressure Requirements
As a general rule, 75 psi (5.2 bar) should be available for hose stream use. Lower pressures are
acceptable in areas where there is a strong public fire department equipped with pumpers to boost
the public water pressure, or where alternate suction sources are available, such as cooling tower
basins, ponds, rivers or swimming pools.

TOTAL WATER DEMAND

The total water demand is estimated by totaling the sprinkler and hose stream demands. Where the
pressures required for the sprinkler and hose demands differ, the flow required for hose should be
added to the sprinkler flow at the required sprinkler pressure. This total demand and pressure is then
compared with the water supply to determine if the existing supply is adequate.

DURATION OF WATER SUPPLY

Water supplies should be capable of delivering the anticipated demand as long as fire fighting efforts
are necessary. In reality, this duration depends on a number of factors including the occupancy
hazard, building construction, and the layout of the facility. The following should be used for water
supply evaluation purposes, barring unusual circumstances:
• Light Hazard Occupancies – 1½ hours.
• Ordinary Hazard Group 1 & 2 Occupancies - 2 hours.
• Extra Hazard Occupancies - 3 hours.
Warehousing Occupancies - Refer to the applicable NFPA standards and associated PRC
Guidelines.

SUMMARY
The estimation of the water demand for a facility is a complex issue, and not one that can be
determined by a simple formula. The hazards, exposures, building features, facility layout, fire
department availability, and many other hazards must be taken into consideration, and good
judgement used when evaluating a risk.

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