About FireCalc
A practical system demand estimator built for fire protection professionals.
What is FireCalc?
FireCalc is a web-based engineering tool developed to help fire protection designers, engineers, and technicians estimate sprinkler system demands quickly, consistently, and conservatively during early design and verification stages.
The platform focuses on clarity, transparency, and defensible assumptions, allowing users to understand how system demand is built up—from sprinkler operation, through internal system losses, and out to the test hydrant connection.
Design Philosophy
FireCalc is intentionally not a replacement for a full hydraulic calculation. Instead, it serves as a system demand estimator that supports:
- Early-stage system sizing
- Design checks and sanity reviews
- Supply versus demand comparisons
- Field verification and planning
Conservative assumptions are used throughout the calculations to reflect real-world conditions and uncertainties commonly encountered in fire protection systems.
Engineering Approach
FireCalc calculations are based on standard fire protection engineering principles and industry-accepted methodologies, including:
- Sprinkler discharge relationships (PQK)
- Hazen–Williams friction loss
- Elevation (static head) effects
- Allowance for internal and external hose streams
- Typical losses through underground piping and backflow prevention assemblies
All calculations are performed in a consistent base unit system and converted for display to avoid unit drift and rounding errors.
Transparency & Responsibility
FireCalc is designed to make assumptions visible rather than hidden. Where typical values or safety allowances are used, they are clearly identified in both the interface and generated reports.
Users remain responsible for verifying results against applicable codes, standards, manufacturer data, and project-specific requirements.
Reports
FireCalc generates clean, structured PDF reports that summarize:
- Project information
- Design criteria
- Hydraulic results
- Demand points and safety margins
- Supply versus demand graphs
These reports are intended to support design documentation, internal reviews, and discussions with stakeholders.
Looking Ahead
FireCalc is actively evolving. Future enhancements may include additional designer tools, expanded system components, and improved field-testing workflows, while maintaining the platform’s core goals of accuracy, simplicity, and clarity.
Feedback from industry professionals helps guide development and prioritize features that add real value to everyday fire protection work.
Disclaimer
FireCalc is provided as an engineering aid only. It does not replace professional judgment, detailed hydraulic calculations, or compliance with NFPA standards and local authority requirements. All results should be reviewed and verified by a qualified professional.