Elite's FIRE Program quickly performs all necessary hydraulic calculations as required by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 13 1996 Edition). FIRE also estimates sprinkler head requirements, calculates optimal pipe sizes, and automatically performs a peaking analysis. FIRE can handle all types of sprinkler systems (trees, grids, and hybrids) with up to 1,000 or more sprinklers and pipes. Meters and standpipes can also be analyzed.

 FIRE calculates the gpm water flow and velocity through all pipe sections, the gpm flow and residual pressure at each sprinkler head, the pressure losses incurred in each pipe section due to both friction and elevation changes, the maximum system demand pressure, and the total water gpm demanded by the system. The report format is designed to aid both the designer and the plan reviewer. 

CALCULATION METHOD

The FIRE Program uses the Newton-Raphson method for performing the hydraulic calculations.  Calculations can be made for a given water supply pressure or they can be performed such that FIRE determines the lowest water supply pressure that adequately drive the sprinkler system.  Calculations are very fast and accurate.  The user manual lists all the pertinent equations to allow full manual verification.

PROGRAM INPUT

The FIRE program is a true Windows program complete with toolbars and hyperlinked help.All input is checked at the time of entry so that no improper data can be entered. If using AutoCAD and the Autodesk Building Systems module, FIRE can take data directly from a CAD drawing file. Upon completion of the input process, all data is saved  and can be reviewed and edited whenever desired. Two types of data are requested: general project data and pipe segment data. The general project data includes the project name and location, the client name, sprinkler specifications, hazard description, density requirements, hose stream allowances, hydrant test data, and other such data. The pipe data requires that each pipe section be defined as having a beginning and ending node number. If sprinkler heads are located at the pipe nodes, then the sprinkler K-factor must be given. In addition, the pipe length, nominal size, material type, and fitting quantities and types must be entered for each pipe section. FIRE contains a built-in library of pipe materials that includes cast iron, copper, steel, PVC, and many others. The pipe library allows up to 50 user defined pipe materials. Fitting equivalent lengths are automatically looked up depending upon fitting type, size, and pipe material.

AUTODESK BUILDING SYSTEMS 2005 INTERFACE

The Fire program can import a sprinkler piping system drawn in a .dwg file saved with Autodesk Building Systems 2005. Importing the pipes for your system saves considerable manual input time. If the drawing has been saved with the Fire .dwt template file included in the Fire installation, node number tags will be placed on the drawing as shown in the example ABS 2005 screenshot below. After you run the Fire calculations, you can then export the results back to ABS 2005. You can right click a pipe, fitting or sprinkler in the drawing and view the calculated flow, pressure and other data in the Object Properties|Design tab listed under Engineering data. You can even resize pipes in the drawing if they have been Autosized in the Fire calculations. ABS 2005 interface available only with 1000 node version, not the lower cost versions of Fire. 

PROGRAM OUTPUT

The FIRE Program provides numerous reports including: general project data, pipe and node input data, node grouping flows, detailed pipe and sprinkler output, bill of materials, supply/demand graph, and a network summary. The user can specify exactly what reports are to be printed, and all reports can be previewed on the screen. Shown below are just some of the available reports.  

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

Our Windows software applications are compatible with all Windows Operating Systems.(Windows 95, 98, ME, NT 4.0, 2000, and XP)  The minimum hardware requirements to run our application are the same as the minimum hardware requirements to run the operating system which the application is installed on click here for details. Additionally, 30 MB of hard disk space is required to install and run FIRE.

FIRE now has the capability to handle a fire pump at or near the inflow point of the the system. FIRE also can calculate using metric units. These are highly significant and useful new features for FIRE. This is a free update for existing Windows users. 

Click Here to Update FIRE for Windows 

Click Here to Download a Free Evaluation Version of FIRE for Windows 

Click here to View Reports