What is the required pressure at the topmost hose connection when designing a manual standpipe system using a fire department pumper?

• A. 90 psi
• B. 100 psi
• C. 110 psi
• D. 120 psi

Answer: (B)

The main idea is that a manual standpipe fed by a fire department pumper is designed to deliver a minimum of 100 psi at the topmost hose outlet. This standard ensures that, after accounting for elevation (the height of the building) and friction losses in the piping, firefighters still have adequate pressure to operate a standard handline effectively. NFPA 14 uses 100 psi as the target design pressure for the farthest or highest outlet so the system provides reliable performance without overburdening the pump or piping with excessive pressure. Lowering the pressure could leave the top outlets underpowered for effective firefighting, while higher pressures aren’t required by the code and can add unnecessary stress to the system.