Fire Department Hydraulics

Understanding hydraulics and pump operations doesn’t have to be difficult, and it is of key importance to the science of fire engineering. Putting all the pieces together correctly so that the right stream is brought to the fire is essential to effective fireground operations. In the second edition of Fire Service Hydraulics and Pump Operations, author Paul Spurgeon, engineer/pump operator with the Denver Fire Department, breaks down the sometimes difficult-to-understand formulas of hydraulics and pumps into easily learned steps, taking care to explain the hows and whys of each formula discussed. Using an in-the-street, practical approach, Spurgeon teaches readers how to develop proper fire streams as well as how they relate to overall fireground strategies. He covers hydraulics and pumps extensively—from the properties of water to its supply to pumping to sprinkler systems and foams. So readers can put what they’ve learned into practice, Spurgeon provides both end-of-chapter tests and practice sets at the end of the book, complete with answers so that readers can check their knowledge. The second edition includes numerous updates and additions, including the Rule of Thumb chapter that illustrates how to perform these complex calculations while under stress on the fireground. This text meets the learning objectives for FESHE Fire Protection Hydraulics and Water Supply course work. Features and Benefits: • Summary of chapter formulas • End-of-chapter tests with answers • Practice sets with answers to further test your understanding

This time-honored classic has been used to help instruct personnel throughout the country in the science and art of fire service hydraulics. The fundamentals of hydraulics are unchanging. Topics discussed include water distribution systems, friction loss calculations, discharge and nozzle pressures, fire streams, standpipe systems, sprinkler systems, and foam systems.

Fire service pump operators must have an understanding of the many laws of science that govern the study of hydraulics and water supply in order to be able to handle the complex hydraulic problems that may arise in real world scenarios.