Pressure (water)

In the context of water, "pressure" refers to the force exerted by water inside of pipes or anything it flows through. Pressure is influenced by factors such as gravity (how high the water source is) or pumps that push the water through the pipes. A higher pressure generally means water moves faster and with more force.

In fire services, water pressure is measured in metric units, specifically in kilopascals (kPa). This helps gauge the force that water is applying within pipes, fittings, valves, etc. Maintaining the correct operating pressure is essential for the performance of systems like automatic fire sprinkler systems, fire hydrant systems and fire hose reel systems to satisfy their performance objectives.