Running fire flow availability

Step-by-step Guide

InfoWorks WS Pro is capable of modelling fire flow availability. Users can determine the capacity of individual hydrants in a network to sustain additional levels of demand for firefighting.

To use the Fire Flow Availability simulation, first set up a normal run:

1. In the Model Group window, expand the BridgeTown Fire flow model.
2. Open the network control and demand diagram.
3. Right-click the model and click New > Run Group.
4. Click OK to accept the default name.
5. Right-click the new Run Group and select New > Run.
6. In the Schedule Hydraulic Run dialog, name the new Run. In this example, it is called "Normal".
7. Check the box next to Experimental.
8. From the Model Group window, drag and drop the Network into the dialog.

9. Click Save.
10. Click Run.

To set up a Fire Flow Availability run:

11. Right-click the Run Group, start another new run, and name it "FF Availability".
12. Repeat steps 6 – 8 and ensure the run is Experimental, and the Network, Control, and Demand Diagram areas are populated.
13. In the Run Type group box, expand the drop-down and select Fire Flow.

14. In the Fire Flow Options dialog, in the Type of simulation: group box, ensure that Fire Flow Availability is enabled.
15. Set the Hydrant Diameter to 50.
16. Set the Local Loss to 3.
17. Set the Required Fire Flow to 5.
18. Set the Residual Nodal Pressure to 10.
19. In the Enforce group box, ensure Fire Flow is enabled.

Note: When Fire Flow is enabled, the run determines the ability of each hydrant in the network to provide the required fire flow while retaining the specified residual pressure.

Note: When Pressure is enforced, the run determines the ability of each hydrant in the network to retain the specified residual pressure while providing the required fire flow.

20. Click OK.
21. In the Schedule Hydraulic Run dialog, click Save.
22. Click Run.

To graph the results:

23. Expand the Run Group link tree to find the FF Availability run.
24. Click and drag the results to the GeoPlan.
25. In the toolbar, activate the Graph tool, and then select any hydrant.
26. In the Choose One or More list, select FFA Flow.

27. Click OK to open the graph, which shows the FFA flow maintained at 5 liters per second.

To view all hydrant performance results in a grid:

28. In the Grid windows toolbar, expand the Grid windows drop-down and select Node results.

A grid displays the FF availability for all hydrants in the network, including values for FFA flow, head, and pressure:

Essentially, it shows what is happening across the network if 5 liters per second was forced from every node simultaneously.