Our Commitment to Excellence
Benefits of Our Services
- Hydrant Flow Testing: We perform hydrant flow testing in accordance with NFPA 291, providing accurate flow data to support fire protection planning, hydraulic analysis, and water distribution system design.
- High-Velocity Flushing: Our flushing procedures meet NFPA 24 standards, helping remove sediment and debris while improving water quality and maintaining the performance of the distribution system.
- Environmentally Responsible Practices: Using advanced dechlorination and debris control equipment, we minimize environmental impact and help ensure compliance with applicable environmental regulations.
- Comprehensive Reporting: Every project includes detailed reports with test results, calculations, photographs, and site locations, giving clients the documentation they need for regulatory compliance, asset management, and future maintenance planning.
Understanding NFPA 291: Hydrant Flow Testing
Purpose
NFPA 291 establishes recommended practices for evaluating available water supplies for fire protection systems and fire flow requirements. It also provides guidelines for classifying and marking fire hydrants based on their available flow capacity.
Applications
The standard applies to the flow testing and identification of both public and private fire hydrants. It is widely used to assess available water flow and pressure for fire protection systems, including fire sprinklers, standpipes, and fire pumps.
Key Elements of the Testing Process
Water Supply Evaluation:
Hydrant flow testing is performed to determine the available water supply for firefighting operations and to assess the performance of the water distribution system under flow conditions.
Hydrant Flow Rating:
Hydrants are rated based on the available flow at a residual pressure of 20 psi (1.4 bar), providing a consistent benchmark for fire protection design.
Test Planning and Setup:
Test hydrants are strategically selected to obtain accurate results while minimizing impacts on traffic, surrounding property, and potential flooding. The residual hydrant is typically positioned closest to the facility or area being evaluated.
Accurate Flow Measurements:
Discharge flow is measured using pitot tubes or stream straighteners to improve accuracy. Testing procedures are designed to avoid pitot readings below 10 psi (0.7 bar), helping ensure reliable and repeatable results.
Understanding NFPA 24-10.10.2.1: Flushing of Piping
Purpose
Proper flushing of underground fire protection piping is an essential step in ensuring the long-term performance and reliability of fire protection systems. NFPA 24, Section 10.10.2.1 requires piping to be thoroughly flushed before it is placed into service to remove debris that could restrict water flow or damage system components.
Applications
Remove Debris Before System Startup:
All underground piping between the water supply, hydrants, and system risers should be flushed before connecting to downstream fire protection piping. This helps eliminate rocks, dirt, gravel, and other construction debris that may have entered the pipeline during installation.
Verify Clean Water Flow:
Flushing should continue until the discharged water runs clear, confirming that the piping system is free of debris and ready for operation.
Meet Required Flushing Velocities:
NFPA 24 specifies minimum flushing flow rates designed to achieve a water velocity of 10 ft/sec (3 m/sec) for different pipe diameters. Maintaining these flow rates helps ensure effective cleaning of the pipeline interior.
Use Maximum Available Flow When Necessary:
If the recommended flushing flow cannot be achieved, the highest available flow should be used to maximize debris removal while accommodating site-specific water supply limitations.
Protect Fire Protection Equipment:
Proper flushing prevents construction debris from entering sprinklers, valves, fire pumps, and other critical system components where it could cause restrictions or operational failures during an emergency.
Manage Discharge Safely:
Water discharged during flushing should be controlled and disposed of safely to minimize environmental impacts, prevent property damage, and comply with local environmental requirements.
By following NFPA 24 flushing requirements, Flow Control Solutions helps ensure newly installed and upgraded fire protection systems are clean, reliable, and ready to perform when they are needed most. Thorough flushing is a critical step in protecting both infrastructure and public safety.
Our Equipment
Flow Control Solutions uses specialized hydrant flow testing and flushing equipment designed to deliver accurate results while supporting efficient system maintenance. Featuring a patented Pitotless Nozzle®, the equipment allows debris to pass through without affecting test accuracy or damaging the device. It is FM Approved and engineered to perform reliably under high flow rates and operating pressures, making it well suited for hydrant flow testing, water main flushing, and fire pump performance testing.
Equipment Specifications
Flow Range: 856 to 2,759 GPM
Pressure Range: 5 to 55 PSI
Connection Size: 4-inch
Body Material: Injection-molded, glass-filled polypropylene
Pitotless Nozzle® Material: Precision-machined aluminum
Key Advantages
High-Flow Flushing
Using the 4.5-inch pumper (steamer) port allows for the high flow rates required to effectively remove sediment and debris, helping improve water quality and overall system performance.
NFPA 291 Hydrant Flow Testing
Our equipment provides accurate hydrant flow test data in accordance with NFPA 291, supporting hydraulic analysis, fire protection planning, and water system design.
NFPA 24 High-Velocity Flushing
The high flow capacity enables flushing that meets NFPA 24 requirements, helping maintain clean, reliable water distribution and fire protection systems.
Conclusion
Flow Control Solutions delivers efficient hydrant flow testing and high-velocity flushing services that meet the requirements of NFPA 291 and NFPA 24. Using specialized equipment and proven field methods, we provide accurate testing, effective flushing, and comprehensive reporting to support reliable fire protection systems. By combining hydrant flow testing and flushing into a single operation, we help municipalities and utilities reduce maintenance time, improve operational efficiency, and enhance the performance and reliability of their water distribution and fire protection infrastructure.
Our Locations
We operate throughout Ontario, including:
Greater Toronto Area (GTA): Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Oakville, Burlington, Milton, Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa
Hamilton & Niagara Region: Hamilton, St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, Welland, Grimsby, Lincoln
Southwestern Ontario: London, Windsor, Sarnia, Chatham-Kent, Woodstock, Stratford
Waterloo Region & Central Ontario: Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph, Brantford, Barrie, Orillia
Eastern Ontario: Ottawa, Kingston, Belleville, Brockville, Cornwall, Pembroke