Suggested Water Flow Velocities



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The table below gives maximum water flow velocities in feet per second (ft/s) that should not be exceeded in water-piping systems adjacent to acoustically sensitive spaces. To avoid excessive flow velocity, use pipes with large inside diameters.

Pipe Inside Diameter (inches)

Maximum Flow Velocity (ft/s)

1

2

3

4

6

8 and larger

3

4

6

7

8

10

To meet stringent acoustical criteria, pipes carrying water at high flow velocities can be wrapped with a layer of glass fiber or mineral fiber inside a cover of sheet lead, dense vinyl, or sheet metal. This kind of wrapping is called pipe lagging.

Example

A 4-in riser in a shaft near an acoustically sensitive area has a water flow volume Q of 250 gallons per minute (gpm). What will be the flow velocity v in ft/s? Is this flow velocity satisfactory?

The water flow velocity is less than 7 ft/s. so water flow noise control requirements are satisfied according to the table.

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Updated: Thursday, 2009-11-05 4:53 PST