Chlorine - An oxidizer used to kill bacteria in drinking water and pools.

Coefficient - Coefficient of discharge or roughness coefficient  A number or symbol multiplied with a variable or an unknown quantity.  In the case of flow devices the coefficient is 1.0 or less.

Dechlorinate - Neutralize the chlorine in water

Dechlor Demon™ - Hydro Flow Products’ device for dechlorinating.

Extrapolate - To infer or estimate by extending or projecting known information.  In the case of flow testing the known information is:

• Static Pressure
• Residual Pressure at a known test flow rate
• Test Flow Rate

The inference or estimation is flow rate available at a specific residual pressure

FM Approved – Factory Mutual is an internationally recognized testing laboratory.

Fire Flow Tester – Hydro Flow Products’ software package for flow testing

Fire Plug - see Hydrant

Fire Pump - Fire pumps are used to boost the water supply in fire sprinkler and hydrant systems.

Flow Device - Equipment used for measuring flow rate in flow testing, main flushing or pump testing

Flow Rates - Water supplies and fire pumps are rated according to flow rates that they are expected to achieve.

Flow Testing – the test performed to gather the information needed to predict flow rates at specific residual pressures.

Flow Velocity - see Flushing Velocity

Flushing – The procedure of cleaning the inside of a water main by moving large amounts of water through a hydrant or fire pump.

Flushing Velocity – The speed at which water travels through a main while flushing.

GPM – Gallons Per Minute. 

Hose Monster® - Manufactured by Hydro Flow Products, Inc.  The patented, listed tee-shaped device used in fire flow testing, water main flushing and fire pump testing.  It measures flow rates while diverting and diffusing discharge water.

Hurco Technologies – Manufacturer of valve exercising and flow testing equipment.

Hydrant – An upright pipe with a nozzle or spout for drawing water from a water main. Also called fireplug .

Hydrant Nozzle - A hydrant nozzle is any of the openings to which the fire department would attach hose. The exterior thread connection is a specific thread spec, such as NH, NST or Storz.

Hydrant Test – Usually means fire flow test.

Main – Refers to fire main or water distribution main.

Main Flushing - see Flushing

Monster Tester – Device manufactured by Hydro Flow Products, Inc. used for taking multiple pressure readings from multiple Hose Monsters® or Pitotless Nozzles™.

NFPA Rating – Refers to classification of hydrants based on predicted flow rate at 20 PSI (or ½ the static pressure if less than 40 PSI)

Nozzle - The passageway in a flow device such as the Hose Monster or Pitotless Nozzle that conducts water.

Playpipe – flow nozzle with a known coefficient.  2 ½” diameter inlet and 1 ¾” outlet by 30” long. It must be secured and held down while flowing. A hand-held pitot and gauge is used to measure the velocity pressure.

Pitot – Regionally pronunciations ( pee-toe or  pit-tot)
A pressure measuring instrument used to measure fluid flow velocity. It is used as an integral component of the Hose Monster™ with or without UL/FM Nozzle Inserts.  A hand-held pitot is also used with a pressure gauge to determine flow rates through hydrant nozzles or other flow devices.

The pitot was invented by Italian-born French engineer Henri Pitot in the early 1700’s, and was modified to its modern form in the mid 1800’s by French scientist Henry Darcy.

Pitotless Nozzle - A specialty nozzle that is FM Approved for flow rate measurements. No pitot is used. The pressure of the internal nozzle diameter is measured and corresponds to exact water flow rates. Used in testing fire pumps and for hydrant flow testing.

Predicted Flow – The flow rate predicted to be at a given residual pressure.  A fire flow test is used to determine Static Pressure, Residual Pressure and Test Flow Rate.  These measurements are used to arrive at Predicted Flow.

PSI – Pounds per square inch.

Pump Testing - Pump tests are conducted to prove the operation of a fire pump.

Pumper Port - Also known as steamer port. It is the 4" or 4 1/2" port on a hydrant.

Remote Reader – A single-tube device with adapters used to transmit pressure from a pitot or Pitotless Nozzle™ to a gauge held remotely from the flowing water.

Residual Pressure – The pressure residing in the water distribution system when flowing in a fire flow test or any other actual flowing condition.

Roof-top Standpipe Testing – The procedure of testing the water supply of a standpipe at the roof level of a building.

Standpipe - Standpipe is a fire protection system in high rise buildings that provides water to fire hose stations.

Static Pressure – Water distribution system pressure at zero test flow.

Steamer Port - See Pumper Port

TrackOne™ - Water distribution system maintenance software used to inventory and maintain hydrants, valves and water mains.  The software allows for fire flow testing and unidirectional flushing.

Unidirectional Flushing – The procedure for moving water at high velocity one direction through a single segment of pipe.  When the pipe diameter and the discharge flow rate are known, the flushing velocity can be determined.  TrackOne software includes module to plan, execute and report on unidirectional flushing.

UL - Underwriters Laboratory – An international recognized testing laboratory.

Valve – A valve is a device that regulates the flow of substances (either gases, fluidized solids, slurries, or liquids) by opening, closing of partially obstructing various passageways. Valves are technically pipe fittings, but usually are discussed separately.

Valve Exercising - To ensure that a valve is operating, a valve must be exercised periodically. A valve is closed and opened fully until it is determined to be mechanically sound. Then the exercised valve is returned to its normal operating position.

ValveSTAR – ValveStar is a patented technological wonder manufactured by Hurco Technologies.  It is a computer operated valve exercising, flow testing and unidirectional flushing machine.  It communicates seamlessly with TrackOne™ for ValveStar software.

VC Minitabs - Dechlorination tablets marketed by Hydro Flow Products, Inc. Each tablet measures 7/8" diameter x 1" and weighs 0.23 oz gross. The active ingredient is ascorbic acid. Very convenient size for the Dechlor Demon™.

Velocity Pressure - Is the pressure measured at the pitot in a fire flow or fire pump test.

Vita-d-chlor - Dechlorination tablets manufactured by Integra Chemical. Each tablet measures 2 5/8" diameter x 1" deep and weighs 4 oz gross. The active ingredient is ascorbic acid (vitamin C). 75% active ingredient.