Fire Flow Calculator
Calculate required fire flow GPM from building construction type, area, and height.
Inputs
Results
Adjusted Flow w/ Sprinklers (GPM)
1,000
Required Duration (hours)
2
Base Fire Flow (GPM)1,626
Needed Fire Flow (GPM)1,750
Total Water Needed (gallons)120,000
Hydrants Needed1
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter Building Area (sq ft), Construction Type, and Number of Stories.
- Set Sprinkler System.
- Review Adjusted Flow w/ Sprinklers (GPM) and Required Duration (hours).
- Use Base Fire Flow (GPM) and Needed Fire Flow (GPM) to inform your decision.
How the result changes with Building Area (sq ft)
| Building Area (sq ft) | Adjusted Flow w/ Sprinklers (GPM) | Required Duration (hours) |
|---|---|---|
| 100,450 | 2,000 | 2 |
| 350,325 | 3,500 | 3 |
| 650,175 | 4,750 | 4 |
| 900,050 | 5,500 | 4 |
What each input means
- Building Area (sq ft)
- Total building footprint area.
- Construction Type
- 1=Fire Resistive, 2=Non-Combustible, 3=Ordinary, 4=Heavy Timber, 5=Wood Frame.
- Number of Stories
- Total number of building stories.
- Sprinkler System
- 1 if building has automatic sprinkler system, 0 otherwise.
How this is calculated
Worked example, using the default values
- Identify Input Parameters4 parametersBuilding Area (sq ft) = 20000, Construction Type = 3, Number of Stories = 2, Sprinkler System = 1 = 4 input(s) provided
- Calculate Adjusted Flow w/ SprinklersAdjusted Flow w/ Sprinklers1000 = 1000
- Calculate Required Duration2 = 2
- Calculate Base Fire FlowBase Fire Flow1626 = 1626
- Calculate Needed Fire FlowNeeded Fire Flow1750 = 1750
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