SPIPE FEATURES

• Calculates Using ASHRAE and ASPE Procedures
• Sizes both Hot and Cold Water Supply Systems
• Uses Full Screen Input And Editing Features
• All Input Data Is Checked As You Enter It
• Disk Storage And Retrieval Of Input Data
• Built-in data for Pipes, Fittings, and Fixtures
• All Built-in Data Can Be Changed by the User
• Uses Hunter GPM Curve or Your Own
• Allows for All Types of Pipe Materials
• Prints Bill of Materials with Labor Costs
• Extremely Flexible Report Sorting Options
• Calculates Demand Water Pressure and Flow
• Computes Fitting Equivalent Lengths, Fixture Unit Loads, Demand GPM Quantities, Pipe Specific and Total Accumulated Pressure Drops, Velocities, and Optimal Sizes for all Pipes

Download your free evaluation (Beta test) version of SPipe for Windows!

SPIPE is a program that computes optimal pipe sizes for hot and cold water domestic water supply systems in both residential and commercial buildings. SPIPE can handle systems with virtually unlimited numbers of pipes. Besides computing pipe sizes, SPIPE can also perform a system analysis complete with a bill of materials and labor estimate. Reports list the GPM water flow, velocity, and pressure losses through all pipe sections, the maximum system demand pressure, and the total water GPM demanded by the system. SPIPE is very easy to use as it contains built-in data concerning fitting equivalent lengths, pipe materials, internal pipe diameters and C-Values, fixture unit quantities and pressure requirements, equipment flow and pressure requirements, materials and labor costs, and demand GPM curves. Any or all of the built-in data can be revised to meet your particular needs.

PROGRAM INPUT

All input data is entered using full screen features that provide a "fill in the blank" type of procedure. Every input is checked at the time of entry, thus helping to protect the user from careless mistakes. SPIPE requires two types of data: general project data and pipe section data. The general project data includes the project name, the name of the designer, the client, the date, and other such information. The pipe data requires that each pipe section must be defined as having a beginning and ending node along with the pipe type and length. In addition, the type and quantity of fittings and fixtures that exist on each pipe section must be specified. There is also provision for equipment such as dishwashers, heaters, and backwater flow preventers. Optional pipe input data includes provision for specifying a maximum allowed pressure drop and a maximum allowed velocity. These constraints along with an allowable pipe size range may be changed from pipe to pipe. Once all the pipe sections have been entered the water distribution system is ready for calculation.

CALCULATION METHOD

SPIPE uses two criteria for sizing pipes, maximum allowed water velocity and maximum allowed pressure drop per 100 ft. of pipe length. If physical space problems exist the user may also specify an limited range of sizes that SPIPE can select from when calculating a size. There is even provision for directly specifying pipe sizes such that no size computation is performed. When SPIPE is allowed to calculate sizes, it uses the Hazen-Williams equation to determine the pressure drop due to friction for a particular pipe size. Water velocity is calculated by first determining the expected gpm flow rate and then dividing by the pipe cross sectional area. Given no physical constraints, SPIPE always selects the smallest pipe size such that neither the allowable maximum water velocity or the allowable maximum pressure drop is exceeded.

PROGRAM OUTPUT

SPIPE provides both input and output reports. The input reports reflect all the data that was entered by the designer while the output reports list all values calculated by the program. The reports list pipe data including fittings and fixtures selected, general project information, system design requirements, and a bill of materials with labor costs. SPIPE allows you to specify exactly what reports you want and in what order you want them. Note that SPIPE provides many intermediate values such that the results are easy to check and verify by hand.