Is the Fire Hose Reel / Hydrant Demand Tool free to use?

Yes. The Fire Hose Reel / Hydrant Demand Tool is a free browser-based planning calculator from I Love MEP.

Can the Fire Hose Reel / Hydrant Demand Tool be used for final engineering design?

No. The result is for planning, tender review, and coordination support. Final design must be checked by a qualified engineer against project specifications, authority requirements, and applicable standards.

Does the PDF report replace approved design calculations?

No. The PDF report records inputs, assumptions, warnings, and planning results. It should be reviewed before any construction, procurement, or authority submission decision.

Fire Hose Reel / Hydrant Demand Tool

A demand calculator for hose reels and hydrants using simultaneous usage factors, flow rates, and duration. Includes formulas, sample data, warnings.

Last updated: July 27, 2026

Inputs

Forms are empty on load. Use sample data to preview the workflow or enter your own project values.

Learn more

Formula logic, use cases, assumptions, and limits for this tool.

How this tool helps

Use this to estimate hose/hydrant demand for fire pump and tank planning. Always compare against project and authority-specific requirements.

Assumptions and limits

This tool provides a planning-level result. It does not replace detailed engineering design, approved software, manufacturer data, authority requirements, or project specifications.

Typical use cases

Early estimation and tender support.
BOQ sanity checking and technical review.
Site discussion before final engineering verification.
Comparison of alternatives using consistent assumptions.

Result interpretation

Read the recommendation, warning, and confidence sections together. A result without warnings is still not an approval; it only means the entered values did not trigger built-in planning alerts.

Input definitions and typical values

These notes explain what each input means and which values usually produce a more reliable planning result.

Code / standard profile

Selects the planning profile used for conservative defaults. Use the project authority or client standard where known; otherwise use the closest regional profile. Options: GCC/Civil Defense planning, NFPA planning.

Hose reels considered reels

Number of hose reels included in the simultaneous demand assumption. Use authority and building-risk requirement.

Flow per hose reel L/min

Flow per hose reel. Use local fire authority or project standard; many planning checks use around 100 L/min per reel.

Hydrants considered hydrants

Number of hydrants included in the simultaneous demand assumption. Use authority and site fire strategy.

Flow per hydrant L/min

Flow per hydrant. Use local fire authority or project standard, not a generic value for approval.

Simultaneous usage factor %

Percentage of connected demand expected to operate simultaneously. Use project/fire strategy rather than assuming all points operate.

Duration minutes

Required operating time. Fire systems may use 30-120 minutes depending hazard and authority; water storage may use daily reserve periods.

Practical verification checklist

Confirm the selected standard profile is suitable for the project location and authority.
Replace sample values with project drawings, schedules, equipment data, or measured site values.
Review warnings, methodology, and PDF report before using the result outside early planning.
Verify final decisions against official standards, manufacturer data, consultant specifications, and local approvals.

Standards references for verification

For final design checks, verify calculator assumptions against the project documents and official standards bodies such as ASHRAE, NFPA, IEC, IET BS 7671, ICC, and CIBSE.

Calculation methodology

Base fire flow is hose reel plus hydrant connected flow. Simultaneous factor and duration produce demand and water volume.

Inputs are treated as planning assumptions. The calculator shows warnings when entered values fall outside practical thresholds or selected standard-profile limits.

View full methodology notes

Version history

v1.3.6-prelaunch: Added methodology, standard profile support, version notes, and direct PDF report download.
v1.3.5: Calculator page added with sample data, warnings, and print-ready report layout.

Stage 2 roadmap: optional saved projects, dashboards, and shared calculation history without forcing login for free use.

Trust and verification

Every result includes assumptions, warning logic, and a downloadable report. Final engineering decisions still need qualified review, local authority approval, manufacturer data, and project specifications.

Worked example

Use the sample data button to load a realistic scenario, then download the PDF report to review inputs, results, methodology, warnings, and disclaimers in one place.