Water Pressure Booster System Selector
Prefer to print the System Sizing Worksheet? Download the PDF.
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Step 1

Since municipal water pressure is often sufficient to handle the needs of many buildings, first determine if a water pressure booster system is required.

Project CriteriaPSI
A. Pressure required at the highest outlet*
B. Height of highest fixture relative to Pump Package (in feet)*
B. Static Head from Pump Package Inlet (Elevation in feet x .433psi/ft)
C. Piping friction loss (Estimate 10% of static head in PSI)
D. Pressure loss through building system components such as water filters, softeners, etc.*
E. Required building system pressure (Add A+B+C+D)
F. Enter the minimum expected incoming pressure at the pump (after water meter and backflow preventer)*
G. Total (E minus F)
H. Add internal water booster pressure loss (5 psig)
I. Required pump differential pressure “Boost” (G+H)
Step 2 – Fixture Flow Units

Instructions: Use this table to determine peak flow capacity. Do not include fixtures not serviced by the water pressure booster system.

FixtureOccupancyLoad in Fixture UnitsxNumber of FixturesTotal
Bathroom Group F.V. *Private8x
Bathroom Group F.T.*Private6x
Water Closet F.V.*Public10x
Water Closet F.T*Public5x
Urinal-Stall or WallPublic5x
LavatoryPublic2x
BathtubPublic7x
ShowerHead Each **Public7x
Kitchen SinkPublic7x
Service SinkPublic3x
Clothes WasherPrivate2x
Clothes WasherPublic4x
DishwasherPublic2x
Drinking FountainPublic2x
3/4″ ConnectionPublic6x
Total Flow Fixture Units =
F.V.* = Flush Valve, F.T.* = Flush Tank
** A showerhead over a bathtub does not add a fixture unit to the group
Step 3 – System GPM Load

Instructions: After determining the total fixture flow units, convert to gallons per minute load (GPM).

Laundries – In the case of hotels and hospitals, where a laundry is operated, increase the total pumping capacity by 10%.

Added Service – Flow required for any special duty such as future expansion, irrigation systems, and cooling tower evaporation make up (Use (1) GPM per 20 tons cooling).

Minimum Required System GPM Reference
Fixture Flow UnitsSchool,Office,Apt. GPMHotel GPMHospital GPM