About fire flow simulations

There are three types of fire flow simulation available:

• Fire flow availability runs calculate the potential fire flow availability from local nodal pressure (calculated as in a normal run) and assumed hydrant characteristics. Fire flow is not applied to the network, therefore the effect of increased flows on the network is not taken into account.

Use the hydrant testing or forced fire flow run types for more accurate modelling of the impact of fire flow on the network.

• Hydrant testing runs allow automated testing of a selection of nodes to determine whether a required minimum fire flow can be supplied without breaching pressure constraints.

The hydrant testing simulation is performed as a series of steady state analyses. Each node is considered independently, as if no other hydrant in the system is open.

• Forced fire flow runs allow automated testing of a selection of flows at a single fire flow target point. Each flow is tested in turn against user defined constraints such as minimum allowable network pressure. The forced fire flow simulation is performed as a series of snapshot simulations.