Which statement best describes handling of saddle-type fittings with higher friction in hydraulic calculations?

• A. Increase the overall friction loss in the calculation
• B. Discard the saddle fitting and reroute
• C. Remove the saddle and use a direct short length
• D. Account for increased friction loss

Answer: (B)

Saddle-type fittings introduce flow disturbances and losses that are hard to quantify with standard hydraulic calculations. Their irregular pressure drop isn’t easily represented by the usual friction charts, so relying on them can make results unpredictable. The clearest way to get reliable calculations is to remove the saddle and reroute the branch using a conventional connection and a short straight run. This gives you a path whose friction losses you can estimate with established formulas, leading to a more accurate and controllable design. Adding friction for the saddle without changing the route keeps you guessing and can misrepresent the system’s performance, while merely increasing loss or using a direct short length without rethinking the connection doesn’t address the underlying variability introduced by the saddle.