Skagit Valley College

Catalog Course Search Details

This course has been changed from the previous catalog, the changed field(s) are highlighted in red:

 Course Title:   Fire Service Hydraulics

 Title Abbreviation:   FIRE SERVICE HYDRAULICS

 Department:    FIRE

 Course #:    230

 Credits:    3

 Variable:     No

 IUs:    3.5

 CIP:    430203

 EPC:    828

 REV:    2019


 Course Description  

Introduction to hydraulics as it affects fire stream development and water supply. Includes formula and table calculation of friction loss and engine pressures using hydraulic principles. Covers water main systems, water tender shuttle operations, and fire engine pumping operations. Studies fire pump construction, operation, and techniques of pumping. Pumping evolutions are practiced to become proficient in performing various water supply and attack evolutions.

 Prerequisite  

None

Additional Course Details

Contact Hours (based on 11 week quarter)

Lecture: 22

Lab: 22

Other: 0

Systems: 0

Clinical: 0


Intent: Distribution Requirement(s) Status:  

Vocational Preparatory Required for ATA degree  

Equivalencies At Other Institutions

Other Institution Equivalencies Table
Institution Course # Remarks
N/A

Learning Outcomes

After completing this course, the student will be able to:

  1. Given static sources of water, calculate weight, pressure & volume, describe applicable principles of fluid pressure, and describe conditions under which drafting may take place.
  2. Given a body of water at rest or in motion, describe types of kinetic or potential energy acting on it.
  3. Given a pumping system configuration, calculate pressures acting on the system.
  4. Given an elevation head, compute the velocity head.
  5. Given an area of outlet and velocity of flow, determine the quantity of flow.
  6. Describe the factors affecting the ability to lift water.
  7. Given Freeman Formulas, calculate fire flow under various conditions.
  8. Given orifices of various shapes, calculate the fire flow.
  9. Given nozzles flowing at various pressures, calculate nozzle reaction.
  10. Describe how a water hammer occurs and how it affects pumping systems.
  11. Describe how friction loss occurs in waterways.
  12. Given common friction loss equations and flow conditions, calculate friction loss in waterways.
  13. Describe where hose lengths, hose size, velocity, and pressure are variable.
  14. Calculate friction loss for various working conditions using formulas and friction loss tables.
  15. Describe the various conditions that affect fire streams.
  16. Given a nozzle pressure, calculate the maximum effective horizontal and vertical reach of a fire stream.
  17. List the chief causes of defective fire streams.
  18. Have a working understanding of positive displacement and centrifugal pumps and how centrifugal pumps are driven and plumbed in typical fire engines, including automatic pressure control devices, priming pumps, pump panels instrumentation, and auxiliary cooling devices.
  19. Given a fire engine, demonstrate proficiency in producing effective hand and master streams from tank water, a pressurized supply, at draft, while pumping in a supply line in relay, by supplying water to an upper floor of a highrise building, and by shuttling water for a fire operation.

General Education Learning Values & Outcomes

Revised August 2018 and affects outlines for 2019 and later.

Quantify

Definition: Apply mathematical skills quantitatively, logically, creatively, and critically.

Course Contents

  1. Basic mathematics.
  2. Hydraulic sciences.
  3. Velocity & discharge.
  4. Friction loss calculations, engine and nozzle pressures.
  5. Effective fire streams.
  6. Pressurized water distribution systems and fire operations.
  7. Draftable water supply systems and tender shuttling.
  8. Fire pump theory.
  9. Operating fire pumps from tank, from pressure sources, and from static sources directly and while in relay pumping operations or water shuttle operations.