What does "hydraulic calculation" entail in sprinkler design?

Hydraulic calculation is a critical aspect of sprinkler system design that specifically involves analyzing water flow and pressure to ensure that the system provides adequate coverage for the protected area. This process evaluates the available water supply, the pressure at different points within the system, and how water will behave under various conditions when the sprinklers are activated.

The goal of hydraulic calculations is to confirm that each sprinkler will have sufficient water supply and pressure to operate effectively. This involves considering factors such as pipe sizes, lengths, and fittings, as well as the configuration of the sprinkler heads. By properly executing these calculations, designers can ensure that the system will perform as intended in the event of a fire, providing adequate water distribution over the intended area of coverage.

While other tasks such as measuring the physical dimensions of sprinklers, calculating installation costs, and determining the number of sprinkler heads are important in the overall design and implementation of a sprinkler system, they do not specifically address the essential requirement of ensuring that water flow and pressure meet the needs of the system during an event of fire.