Fire Hose Hydraulics

What pump discharge pressure does this line need? Set hose size, flow, length, and elevation to get friction loss and the required PDP instantly.

Fire Hose HydraulicsLive

friction loss · pump discharge pressure

Required pump discharge pressure

125psi

100

nozzle

friction

elevation

Controls

Hose diameter

Presets

Flow (GPM)

Hose length (ft)

Nozzle pressure (psi)

Elevation (ft)

Friction loss uses the fireground formula FL = C·(Q/100)²·(L/100), added to nozzle pressure and elevation head to give the required pump discharge pressure. Coefficients are standard single-line values. Verify against your department's charts.

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Data Inspector

Friction loss25 psi

Elevation0 psi

Coefficient C2

Governing equation

PDP = NP + C (\frac{Q}{100})^{2} \frac{L}{100} + 0.434 h = 100 + 25 + 0 = 125 psi

Reading this result: Friction loss is modest here, so nozzle pressure sets most of the 125-psi discharge the pump must supply.

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How it works

Fireground hydraulics uses the friction-loss formula FL = C·(Q/100)²·(L/100), where C is the hose coefficient, Q the flow in GPM, and L the length. Adding nozzle pressure and elevation head gives the required pump discharge pressure. A training and pre-planning aid — verify against your department's pump charts and SOPs.

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Frequently asked questions

Is this fire hose friction loss calculator tool really free?▾

Yes. Fire Hose Hydraulics runs entirely in your browser using your device's own compute, so local use is free forever. You only pay Compute Tokens if you scale a job to the cloud.

Do I need to install anything?▾

No. Everything runs client-side in a modern browser — no downloads, no license, no account required to start.

Can I save or share my simulation?▾

Create a free account to save projects, and use a shareable embed or minted DOI to publish a live, interactive version anywhere.

How accurate are the results?▾

The solver uses established numerical methods, but results are for research and educational purposes and should be validated against experiment or professional review before you rely on them.