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H.W Coefficient

This is the Hazen-Williams roughness coefficient used in calculating the friction loss in a pipe. The following are clean and typical design values:

Hazen-Williams Coefficient
Clean*Suggested design valuesSource
Bitumen lined concrete145-140140(AS2118)
Spun bitumen-lined steel150-145140(AS2118)
Cement lined iron or steel150-140140(AS2118 & NFPA)
Cast iron (uncoated)140-125100(AS2118, NFPA & NZ4541)
Cast iron (coated)145-130115(unknown)
Ductile Iron100(NZ4541)
Concrete150-140110(unknown)
Copper160-155150(AS2118 & NFPA)
Copper, MPVC, UPVC & PE140(NZ4541)
Stainless Steel Tubing160-155150(NFPA & NZ4541)
Stainless Steel Pipe140-130130((AS2118)
Stainless Steel Pipe140-130140(NFPA750)
Welded & seamless steel (wet)150-140120(AS2118, NFPA & NZ4541)
Welded & seamless steel (dry)150-140100(NFPA)
Galvanised Gteel (wet)150-140120(AS2118, NFPA & NZ4541)
Galvanised Steel (dry)100(NFPA)
Steel galvanised after fabrication110(NZ4541)
Steel, spun concrete lined130(NZ4541)
CPVC150(NFPA)
CPVC140(NZ4541)
Polyethylene160-155150(AS2118)
U.P.V.C. (Hose reel pipe)160-155150(AS2118)
Fire hose (non-percolating)140(unknown)
Fire hose (unlined or percolating)100(unknown)
  • Clean values are for concentrically joined and clean pipes. Values except for welded and seamless steel are from Australian Standard 2200-1978.
Default values for Hazen Williams Coefficient used by HYENA
AS2118NFPA, SSCP52 & GB50084NZ4541
HW CoSourceHW CoSourceHW CoSource
Cement Lined C.I.140AS2118140NFPA140AS2118
Unlined Cast Iron100AS2118100NFPA100NZ4541
Copper150AS2118150NFPA140NZ4541
Stainless Steel Pipe130AS4587140NFPA750130AS4587
Steel120AS2118120NFPA120NZ4541
PVC & CPCV150NFPA150NFPA140NZ4541
HDPE150AS2118150AS2118140NZ4541
HOSR150AS2118150AS2118140NZ4541
HOSC140Unknown140Unknown140Unknown

For HW coefficient used with AS4587 and NFPA750 see Surf Roughness - Mist Systems

The Hazen-Williams Coefficient may be entered in a number of places:

  • a default can be set under Set Defaults accessed from Configuration on the Menu Bar of the Main Screen. This value will be the default on opening a new project.

  • a default value may be entered above the H.W.Coefficient heading on the Pipes Tab Page and on the GRID Main Pipes Tab Page. Pipes with the H.W.Coefficient left blank in the column below these defaults will assume the default value.

  • For an individual pipe in the H.W.Coefficient. column on the Pipes Tab Page.

  • For the individual main or rising main pipes in a GRID on the Main Pipes Tab Page.

  • For the individual range or tree pipes in a GRID on the Ranges and Trees Pipes Tab Page.