Reverse Flow

Fireground Hydraulics

Save, load, and manage operational hose/nozzle setups.

Tools

Select a hydraulic calculation mode.

Reverse Flow Mode: Enter PDP to estimate GPM and Nozzle Pressure based on hose and nozzle characteristics.

Optional single supply section before the attack line.

Only nozzle style, nozzle pressure, and hose coefficient matter for these calculations.

Manual PSI value. Use negative values for elevation gain/downhill pumping.

Rounded Flow

GPM

Enter the required values to generate the fireground calculation.

Calculated

Total FL

FL / 100'

Nozzle

Reaction

Setup

Reverse Flow Formula

Total friction loss = PDP − nozzle pressure − appliance/elevation loss.

Friction loss per 100' = total friction loss ÷ hose length in hundreds of feet.

GPM = √(FL per 100' ÷ coefficient) × 100.

Final result rounds to the nearest 5 GPM.


Default Coefficients

1" = 100, 1.5" = 24, 1.75” = 15.5, 1.88” = 8, 2” = 4, 2.25” = 3, 2.5” = 2, 3” = 0.8, Dual 3” = 0.2, 4” = 0.2, 5” = 0.08

About / How to Use

Reverse Flow Mode estimates GPM by working backwards from pump discharge pressure, nozzle pressure, hose length, hose coefficient, and appliance/elevation loss.

Required PDP Mode calculates the pump discharge pressure needed to achieve a target flow.

Relay Pumping Mode calculates the required discharge pressure for a relay pumper to supply a receiving engine with a target flow and residual pressure.

Split Lay Mode models split-supply and split-attack hose layouts with dynamic pressure balancing, recalculated nozzle pressures, delivered flow, and appliance loss handling.

When unequal attack lines are supplied from a common source, lower-demand lines may become overpressured. Reverse Flow dynamically recalculates nozzle pressure, flow, friction loss, and nozzle reaction to better reflect real-world hydraulic behavior.

Smoothbore tip size is selected manually. In Reverse Flow and Split Lay modes, nozzle pressure and delivered flow may be dynamically recalculated based on available pressure, hose configuration, and hydraulic demand.

Actual pump discharge pressure may vary due to internal plumbing, apparatus piping, valves, appliances, intake restrictions, and other system-specific factors not automatically accounted for by the calculators.

This application is intended for training, reference, and operational decision support. Always follow local pump charts, equipment testing, department policy, and instructor guidance.