This SpringerBrief offers careful assessments of the appropriateness and effectiveness of
currently available methodologies for fire flow. It explains the water supply requirements for
firefighting including rate of flow the residual pressure required at that flow and the
duration that is necessary to control a major fire in a specific structure. First reviewing
existing fire flow calculation methodologies in the U.S. and globally the authors determine
the new information necessary to validate the existing fire flow calculation methodologies.
After identifying 19 methods from the U.S. UK France Germany the Netherlands New England
and Canada two types of methods are evaluated: those for building planning based on fire and
building code requirements and those for on-scene fire service use. Building planning methods
are also examined including an explanation of the range of building variables that determine
fire flow. A survey form for fire departments is provided to help fire departments identify key
predictive features based on construction and building parameters. Researchers and
professionals in fire engineering will find the recommendations in Evaluation of Fire Flow
Methodologies valuable.
