What is the minimum gallons per minute (gpm) required for the hose system?

What is the minimum gallons per minute (gpm) required for the hose system?

• A. 5 gpm
• B. 2 gpm
• C. 4 gpm
• D. 6 gpm

Answer: (A)

The basic idea is that a hose system must deliver enough water to cool the oil fire and cover the affected area effectively. For a cooking-oil (grease) fire, you need a flow that provides rapid heat absorption and keeps the surface from reheating and reforming vapors. Among common design values, 5 gpm is the smallest flow that still delivers enough water to achieve that cooling and knockdown. Flows as low as 2 or 4 gpm don’t provide adequate cooling or coverage, while 6 gpm would work but isn’t the minimum. So the minimum required is 5 gpm.

The basic idea is that a hose system must deliver enough water to cool the oil fire and cover the affected area effectively. For a cooking-oil (grease) fire, you need a flow that provides rapid heat absorption and keeps the surface from reheating and reforming vapors. Among common design values, 5 gpm is the smallest flow that still delivers enough water to achieve that cooling and knockdown. Flows as low as 2 or 4 gpm don’t provide adequate cooling or coverage, while 6 gpm would work but isn’t the minimum. So the minimum required is 5 gpm.