Friction Loss Calculator for Fire Sprinkler Systems

Friction loss is a critical factor in hydraulic calculations for fire sprinkler systems. This interactive calculator uses the Hazen-Williams formula to determine the pressure loss due to friction in pipes of various materials, sizes, and flow rates.

Imperial Metric

Load Example:

Pipe Specifications

Pipe Material:

System Type:

Wet System

Dry System

Pipe Schedule:

Pipe Size:

C-Factor: 120

Flow Parameters

Pipe Length: m

Flow Rate: L/min

Key Points About Friction Loss in Fire Sprinkler Systems:

Hazen-Williams Formula: The standard formula used in fire protection to calculate friction loss in pipes.
C-Factor: Represents the smoothness of the pipe interior. Higher values indicate smoother pipes with less friction.
Pipe Material Impact: Different pipe materials have different C-factors: Steel (100-120), CPVC (150), Copper (150).
System Type Impact: Dry systems typically have lower C-factors than wet systems due to increased corrosion potential.
Flow Rate Impact: Friction loss increases exponentially with flow rate (to the power of 1.85).
Pipe Size Impact: Larger pipes have significantly less friction loss (diameter is raised to the power of 4.87 in the formula).
Practical Consideration: Friction loss is a major factor in determining required pump size and water supply adequacy.