Fully calculated fire fighting systems according

EN 12845 standard
Design and calculations with 4M FINE FIRE software

Fire Department Presentation

Isidoros Siderakis
Engineering Consultant at 4M SA
mail: isidoros@4m.gr
Athens, October 2018
Basic steps for network design using
FINE FIRE

1. Hazard selection according building type (LH, OH, HH)

2. Selection of sprinkler type and minimum design density (mm/min)
3. Sprinkler placement, network design and sprinkler group definition
4. Determination and checking of area covered per sprinkler displaying green or red colour
respectively
5. Network calculation
6. Definition of hydraulically most favourable and unfavourable group of sprinkler as well as
four sprinkler under consideration
7. Selection of appropriate fire pump, tank and net positive suction head (NPSH)
8. Get out technical reports, drawings and documentation
1. Hazard classification – Annex A (LH, OH, HH)
2. Select the sprinkler type and define the minimum design
density (§7.1)

FINE FIRE combines rich

libraries with a lot of types
of sprinklers and fire hoses
3. Place the sprinklers, set them to groups and design the
network.(table 37a)

𝑸=𝑲 𝑷
Maximum coverage and spacing for sprinkler other than sidewall (table 19)

Defining the fire fighting space area, FINE FIRE

places automatically the correct number of
sprinklers in right distances, following EN 12845
criterion .
 4. Determine the area of coverage per sprinkler. Check if each
sprinkler can cover its area. (§ 13.4.1)

Check of coverage area per sprinkler

The density of discharge shall be taken as the total flow in

litres per minute from a group of four sprinklers which are
most closely adjacent, divided by the area in square metres
covered by the four sprinklers, or, where fewer than four
sprinklers are in open communication, the density of
discharge shall be taken as the lowest value of the flow from
any sprinkler divided by the area covered by the sprinkler.

FINE FIRE provides automated processes in order to

check automatically the area of coverage per
sprinkler and export the drawings. Drawings
updated in order to indicate the efficient sprinkler
placemenet with juct one click.
5. Network calculations

Hydraulic calculation taking into account Hazen-Williams formula

Q= K x P

6, 05 x105
P  xLxQ1,85

C 1,85 xd 4,87
Detailed calculation
Detailed calculation

Total flow required = 260+285+315= 860 lpm> 720 (12 * 60) lpm

Total flow required > Theoretical flow

Inserting data and exporting calculation automatically

FINE FIRE provides detailed calculations

automatically for all the widely known standards like
EN 12845, NFPA 13, BS 9251, FM Global, AS 2118,
ASIB 11th edition, CEA 4001 and other.
6. Definition of hydraulically most favourable and unfavourable
group of sprinkler as well as four sprinkler under consideration

Hydraulically most unfavourable location

• For gridded installations:
The correct position shall be proved by displacing the area of
operation by one sprinkler pitch in each direction along the range
pipes until the area with the highest pressure requirement is
identified.
• For looped installations:
The correct position shall be proved by displacing the area of
operation by one sprinkler pitch in each direction along the
distribution pipe until the area with the highest pressure
requirement is identified

Hydraulically most favourable location

All possible locations, whether on the distribution pipes, or between distribution pipes where
these are connected by range pipes, shall be considered when determining the hydraulically
most favourable location of the area of operation.

After calculation process, FINE FIRE indicates the most

favourable and unfavourable sprinkler group and update
drawings and calculation sheets. There are no restrictions
regarding the geometry and the complexity of the network.
7. Selection of appropriate fire pump, tank and net positive
suction head (NPSH) (§ 10.6.2.1)

Υπόμνημα
1 Υδραυλικά δυσμενέστερη περιοχή
2 Παροχή σχεδιασμού αντλίας
3 Μέγιστη απαιτούμενη παροχή
4 Υδραυλικά ευμενέστερη περιοχή

Design pump flow Maximum flow demand

FIRE PUMP selection
Basic principles according ΕΝ 12845 (§ 10.6.2.1, 10.7.3)

 The rated duty of the pump shall be a function of the most unfavourable area curve.
A pump is chosen which:
• provides 0,5 bar higher pressure than that required for the most unfavourable area
• has a curve which extends to the point of NPSHr = 16 m
 The Max Demand Flow & Pressure of the selected pump is calculated based on the most
favourable area

 It is checked if the pump can deliver the maximum operating point at all levels of water supply

NPSHa  NPSHreq  1

FINE FIRE provides detailed calculation of the Fire Pump

based on the most favourable and unfavourable groups
and NPSH check.
Schematic diagram of a Fire pump selection
8. Get out technical reports, drawings and documentation

Briefly, according paragraph 4.4.3.3, 4.4.4.4-5 for fully calculated pipework, the following
shall be given, with detailed calculations, either on purpose designed work-sheets or as a
computer printout:

a. The program name and version number

b. Detailed and dimensioned working sheets with pipes and sprinklers
c. Detailed and dimensioned working drawings
d. Detailed calculations for the automatic pump set and storage tank

FINE FIRE performs calculations generate all the

required documents in compliance with
EN 12845 the standard.
 b. Detailed and dimensioned working sheets with pipes and
sprinklers
i. pipe node or other reference number vii. length in metres

ii. the specified design density in millimetres per viii. velocity in metres per second (m/s)
minute;
ix. static head change in metres
iii. pressures at inlet and outlet in bar
x. friction loss in bar;
iv. the nominal K-factor
xi. numbers, types and equivalent length in metres of
v. Nominal diameter in mm fittings and components

vi. the Hazen-Williams constant xii. indication of flow direction

vii iv ii,xii vi v viii x a

xi iii
FINE FIRE 14.2
i
xii ix

a © 4M s/n:999723
 c. Detailed and dimensioned working drawings
i. the node or pipe reference scheme used to v. the maximum area covered per sprinkler in
identify pipes, junctions, sprinkler heads and square metres (m2)
fittings which need hydraulic consideration
ii. the position of the hydraulically most vi. the hazard class
unfavourable and favourable area of operation
vii. the specified design density in millimetres per
ii. the four sprinklers upon which the design minute
density is based
viii. the number of sprinklers in the area of operation
iii. the height above datum (e.g. pump axis) of each
point of identified pressure value. ix. the sprinkler nominal orifice size in
millimetres(mm)

vi

ix
Unfavourable
i group

viii
ii
iii Favourable
group

v vii

iv
 d. Detailed calculations for the automatic pump set and storage
tank
For fully calculated networks apart from the supplier’s data it s required the following
diagrams and calculations:
i. Chart with the demand pressure/flow characteristic for the hydraulically most
unfavourable and most favourable area of operation calculated at the control valve 'C'
gauge.η.
ii. the available and the specified NPSH at maximum required flow
FINE FIRE advantages for the user
• Familiar graphical user interface based on AutoCAD® or IntelliCad®

• Compatibility with Revit®, Archicad®, Vectorworks®, SketchUp Pro® or

equivalent, through the IFC import function

• Enables automatic and reliable hydraulic calculation and pipe sizing for all the
widely known standards like EN 12845, NFPA 13, FM GLOBAL, CEA 4001,
AS 2118, BS 9251 and ASIB 11th edition.

• Automatic placement of sprinkler to each space according to the hazard (LH,

OH, HH) of building and the type of sprinkler (roof or sidewall sprinkler)

• Automated processes for the definition and calculation of most favorable and
unfavorable sprinkler group directly from the calculation engine

• Integrated fire pump set calculation with operation diagrams in accordance

with the standard and NPSH calculation

• End to End firefighting design simulation with complete 2D and 3D drawings

and plenty of calculation reports, specifications and results
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