Environmental Controls I/IG

Lecture 7
Upfeed Systems
Pipe Sizing Procedure
Pipe Sizing Example
Upfeed Systems
 Pressure in Upfeed Systems

Fixture pressure head

Static head
Friction head loss
Meter pressure loss

S: p. 913, F.21.13
 Pressure in Upfeed Systems

Proper fixture flow pressure A

+ Pressure lost due to height B
+ Pressure lost due to friction C
+ Pressure lost through meter D
Total street main pressure E
A: Fixture
Flow Pressure

Pressure
needed to
get water
through
fixture

S: p. 970, T.21.14
B: Pressure lost due to height
Weight of water
column

S: p. 913, F.21.13
C: Pressure loss due to friction
Initially unknown, must be calculated
based on pressure remaining after
accounting for the other factors
D: Pressure lost through meter
Make initial size assumption and
then repeat to optimum size

S: p. 971, F.21.63a
 E: Total Street Main Pressure
Check with water company or fire department
Pipe Sizing Procedure
1. Determine
Supply
Fixture
Units

Fixture units
take into
account
usage
diversity

S: p. 974, T.21.15
 2. Calculate Demand Flow
Use curve 1 for flush valve dominated system
Use curve 2 for flush tank dominated systems

S: p. 975,
F.21.65a
 3. Determine the
“Most Critical Fixture (MCF)”
Highest and
farthest from
inlet main
Confirm
pressure
required (A)
Identify
height (B)

S: p. 958, F.21.52
 4. Determine Developed Length
The total length of all
horizontal and vertical
pipes from the main to
the MCF

S: p. 995, F.22.17
 5. Determine Total
Effective Length (TEL)
Two approaches:

1. equivalent length
or
2. multiply DL x 1.5

TEL= DL x 1.5

S: p. 976, T.21.16a
 6. Determine Street
Main Pressure (E)
Contact utility
company or fire
department
7. Determine Pressure Available for
Friction Loss
Proper fixture flow pressure A
+ Pressure lost due to height B
+ Pressure lost due to friction C
+ Pressure lost through meter D
Total street main pressure E

or
C=E-A-B-D
 Meter Loss (D)
Since D is unknown, pick an initial
size, do calculation, repeat as
needed to optimize flow

C=E-A-B-D

S: p. 971, F.21.63a
8. Determine Friction loss/100’
C=E-A-B-D

Δp/100’ = 100 x C/TEL

9. Verify flow
for meter size
If flow > Total Demand
(#2)  repeat 7-9 at
smaller diameter

If flow < Total Demand

(#2)  repeat 7-9 at
larger diameter

S: p. 972, F.21.64a
10. Select final
meter size
When flow > Total
Demand (#2)  stop

S: p. 972, F.21.64a
Pipe Sizing Example
 Given Information
Small Office Building  public numbers

2 Flush valve toilets

2 Lavatories
2 Drinking fountains
1 Service sink

DL: 92’
MCF: Flush Valve Toilet, 16’ above water main
Street Main Pressure: 44.1 psi
1. Determine
Supply
Fixture
Units

Fixture units
take into
account
usage
diversity

S: p. 974, T.21.15
1. Determine Supply Fixture Units

Cold Hot Total

2 Flush valve toilets 20.00 --- 20.0
2 Lavatories 3.00 3.00 4.0
2 Drinking fountains 0.50 --- 0.5
1 Service sink 2.25 2.25 3.0
25.75 5.25 27.5
 2. Calculate Demand Flow
20 WSFU out of 27.5 WSFU are flush valves
Use curve 1 for flush valve dominated system

40 gpm
S: p. 975,
F.21.65a
3. Determine
the Most
Critical
Fixture
Confirm
pressure
required (A)
15 psi

Height above
main (B)
16’  7.0 psi
S. p. 970, T.21.14
 4. Determine Developed Length
Developed length

92’

Note: this figure for generic

reference only and does not
S: p. 975, F.22.17 illustrate the example
problem
 5. Determine Total
Effective Length (TEL)

TEL= DL x 1.5
= 92 x 1.5
= 138’
6. Determine Street
Main Pressure (E)
44.1 psi
7. Determine Pressure Available for
Friction Loss
Proper fixture flow pressure A 15.0
+ Pressure lost due to height B 7.0
+ Pressure lost due to friction C ?
+ Pressure lost through meter D ?
Total street main pressure E 44.1
 Meter Loss (D)
Pick an initial size

2” diameter… 1.4 psi

S: p. 971, F.21.63a
8. Determine Friction loss/100’
C=E-A-B-D
= 44.1-15.0-7.0-1.4
= 20.7 psi

Δp/100’=100 x 20.7/138
= 15 psi/100’
9. Verify flow
for meter size
At 2”
Flow=150 gpm >
Total Demand 40 gpm
At 1-1/2”
Flow=60 gpm >
Total Demand 40 gpm
(Δp/100’= 13.1)
At 1”
Flow=13 gpm <
Total Demand 40 gpm
(Δp/100’= 5.1)
S: p. 972 F.21.64a
9. Verify flow
for meter size
When flow > Total
Demand (#2)  stop

At 1-1/2”
Flow=60 gpm >
Total Demand 40 gpm
(Δp/100’= 13.1)

S: p. 972 F.21.64a
Pipe Sizing
Use Δp/100’=
13.1 psi/100’

Use fixture units to

determine flow

S: p. 972 F.21.64a
Pipe Sizing

Use fixture units to

determine flow

Pay attention to flush

valve domination

S: p. 972 F.21.65a
Pipe Sizing
Use Δp/100’=
13.1 psi/100’

Use fixture units to

determine flow

Select size which does not

exceed 13.1 psi/100’

20 gpm, use 1”
10 gpm, use ¾”

Use runout sizes at each

fixture
S: p. 972, F.21.64a
Runout
Pipe Sizing

Use actual flow to size

runouts

Lavatory: 2 gpm

S: p.970, T.21.14
Runout
Pipe Sizing
Use Δp/100’=
13.1 psi/100’

Lavatory: 2 gpm

S: p. 972, F.21.64a
 Notation System
Suggested for
organizing data

WSFU Curve
Flow Diam.
2.7 2
3 ½”

3.6 2
S: p. 995, F.22.17 4 ¾”