Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS) Practice

A reliable public waterworks system must provide adequate capacity and pressure for automatic sprinkler systems to ensure they can operate effectively during a fire emergency.

Capacity refers to the system's ability to deliver enough water to meet the demands of the sprinkler system, typically measured in gallons per minute (GPM). If the capacity is insufficient, the sprinklers may not be able to discharge the required amount of water to suppress or control a fire effectively.

Pressure is equally important, as it determines how forcefully the water is delivered through the sprinklers. Adequate pressure is necessary to ensure that the water reaches all areas of the protected space, especially in larger facilities where sprinkler heads may be spread out over a considerable distance.

Without both adequate capacity and pressure, an automatic sprinkler system could fail to function properly, leading to increased risks during a fire event. This highlights the criticality of these two factors in the design and operation of effective fire protection systems.