Friction loss is measured in?

Friction loss is an important concept in fire service operations, particularly concerning water flow in hoses and piping systems. It quantifies the pressure drop that occurs as water flows through the hoses or fittings, which is crucial for maintaining effective fire suppression tactics.

The appropriate units for measuring friction loss are psi (pounds per square inch) or kPa (kilopascals). These units reflect pressure, which is necessary to understand how much force is needed to overcome the resistance that water encounters while moving through a firefighting system. When fire apparatus operators calculate friction loss, they use these measurements to ensure that there is sufficient pressure available at the nozzle to achieve effective water delivery.

In contrast, barometers measure atmospheric pressure, which is not applicable to friction loss in firefighting scenarios. Inches of mercury are used to measure pressure but primarily in barometric contexts. Feet of head is a measurement used to describe the height of a column of water based on pressure, but it is not as direct a measure of friction loss as psi or kPa. Thus, psi or kPa is the standard for quantifying the pressure loss due to friction in firefighting applications.