Purpose Statement
Background Information
Needed Fire Flow calculations are a critical component of fire department pre-planning and water supply assessments. The calculation considers several building and risk variables, including:
Construction type
Area per floor
Floors above and below grade
Sprinkler system presence
Fuel load classification
Nearby exposures
Automating this process ensures consistent, standardized fire flow determinations across all occupancy records. The feature integrates directly with Occupancy Pre-Plans and can auto-populate required data from other sections, reducing manual entry and improving accuracy.
Required Permissions
- Navigate to Admin → Roles
- Select Edit for the appropriate role
- Expand the Pre-Planning permissions
- Search for "needed" in the filter
- Check the "Calculate Needed Fire Flow - Button" permission
- Select Save to update permissions
Video
Step-by-Step Guide
Enable the Permission
Navigate to Admin → Roles
Select Edit for the role that needs access
Expand the Pre-Planning permission bucket
Use the filter to search for needed
Enable Calculate Needed Fire Flow – Button
Select Save
Calculate Needed Fire Flow
Navigate to an Occupancy Record
Open the Needed Fire Flow section
Required fields:
Construction Type
Area Per Floor
Floors Above Grade
Sprinkler System Deduction
Important: Needed Fire Flow cannot be calculated while offline.
Select a Construction Type
Auto-populates if already selected in the Construction section
Refer to the Construction Type formatting document for accuracy
Enter Area Per Floor (Sq. Ft., Sq. Yd., or Sq. M)
Auto-populates if entered in the Area section
Enter Floors Above Grade
Must be greater than 0
Auto-populates if entered in the Area section
Enter Floors Below Grade
Auto-populates if entered in the Area section
Select Yes or No for Sprinkler System Deduction
Select the appropriate Fuel Load
If no selection is made, the system defaults to Combustible
Refer to the Needed Fire Flow – Fuel Load Examples document for guidance
Select the Number of Exposures Within 30 ft
Select Calculate NFF
Review the calculated Needed Fire Flow result
Select Recalculate NFF if any data is changed
The system does not automatically recalculate
Best Practices
- Complete all required fields (Construction Type, Area Per Floor, Floors Above Grade, Sprinkler System Deduction) before calculating
- Utilize auto-population features by entering building data in the Construction and Area sections first
- Verify construction type selection against the provided formatting document to ensure accuracy
- Review fuel load carefully using the examples document to select the most appropriate classification
- Recalculate when data changes as the system does not automatically update calculations
- Document the basis for fuel load and exposure selections in occupancy notes for future reference
- Ensure internet connectivity as calculations cannot be performed offline
Troubleshooting & FAQs
Q: Why can't I see the Calculate Needed Fire Flow button?
A: Verify that your user role has the "Calculate Needed Fire Flow - Button" permission enabled in the Pre-Planning bucket.
Q: The calculation won't run - what's wrong?
A: Ensure all required fields are completed and you have an active internet connection. The feature requires online connectivity to function.
Q: My fire flow calculation seems incorrect. What should I check?
A: Verify your Construction Type selection matches the formatting guidelines and that your fuel load selection is appropriate for the occupancy type.
Q: Why didn't my calculation update when I changed the area?
A: The system requires manual recalculation. Click "Recalculate NFF" after making any changes to input data.
Q: Can I calculate fire flow for buildings with no floors above grade?
A: No, the Floors Above Grade field must be greater than 0 for the calculation to work.