
In an equilateral triangular spacing pattern, the distance “L” (the height of the triangle) is the sprinkler spacing “S” x.866. If large rotors on a golf course were spaced at 80 ft (25 m) in an equilateral triangular pattern, the distance between rows of sprinklers would be 80 ft (25 m) x.866 = 69.28 ft (21,65 m).
Full Answer
How do you measure the radius of a sprinkler?
The radius of a sprinkler is measured from the position of the sprinkler to the edge of the spray pattern (how far the water is thrown by the sprinkler). This means that a sprinkler with a radius of 15' with a full nozzle will actually cover a 30' area. Will you have any zones with rotors? Will you have any zones with spray heads / pop-ups?
Is there a rule of thumb for maximum sprinkler head radius?
So is there a rule of thumb for maximum sprinkler head radius? I also have a low tree bough at 4' high. Will a large radius mean the spray will hit the bough? Thanks. As long as you get head to head contact, you will be fine.
What is the relationship between water pressure and sprinkler radius?
As you can see a higher water pressure results in a larger radius and higher flow requirement, this relationship between pressure, radius and flow is true of most sprinklers. This is why it is so important to calculate what the water pressure will be when designing.
How many sprinklers are on a golf course?
A golf course can have between 500 and 5,000 sprinklers, or even more installed throughout an 18-hole facility. A golf irrigation sprinkler uses 18–45 gallons per minute throwing 50–90 feet with as many as 100 sprinklers operating at the same time.

How do you measure a sprinkler radius?
Just look at the manufacturer's chart for the radius you plan to reduce the sprinkler down to. Then read the GPM for that radius! For example, you're designing for 30 PSI. The radius at 30 PSI of the sprinkler you selected is 15 feet with 1.85 GPM according to the manufacturer's chart.
What is the radius of a fire sprinkler?
When properly installed, most sprinkler heads will have an 8' coverage radius. This is one of many determining factors in how the sprinkler heads must be spaced.
What does radius mean on sprinkler?
When relating the concepts of radius and diameter to a flow chart, you should picture in your mind that the sprinkler is in the middle of the circle and, if the flow chart states that the sprinkler has a radius of 4 meters it means that the sprinkler will spray water 4 meters from the centre of the circle to the ...
How do I know what size my sprinkler head is?
The size of a sprinkler is determined by the height of the stem - the part that pops up. The part that stays in the ground is called a canister and should NOT be measured to determine size. Do NOT measure the entire sprinkler, either, meaning the canister and the pop-up.
What is the range of a sprinkler head?
Usually, the water that is pumped out can reach about 3 to 15 feet. The fixed spray can be adjusted to fit the targeted area and might range from 40 degrees to a full 360 degrees, depending on the goal of that particular sprinkler head. What is this?
What is the distance between sprinkler heads?
Current fire safety codes require sprinkler heads always to be a minimum of 6 feet apart from one another to avoid cold soldering.
How do I adjust my sprinkler range?
1:063:48Hunter Spray Adjustments and Maintenance - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf you need to reduce the radius. Turn the screw clockwise. If. You need to reach a little farther.MoreIf you need to reduce the radius. Turn the screw clockwise. If. You need to reach a little farther. Turn it the opposite direction or counterclockwise.
How is fire sprinkler coverage area calculated?
In short, to determine the minimum flow from a sprinkler in multiplying the area by the required density, is the actual area of the room used (13'-0" x 13'-0" = 169 sqft) or is it computed the same as the maximum area of coverage for a sprinkler by doubling the furthest distance from adjacent walls [(7'-0" x 2) x (7'-0 ...
How do you adjust sprinkler spray distance?
0:040:36Spray Sprinkler - How to Adjust the Throw Distance - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipUsing a small screwdriver adjust the spray head's throw distance by turning the center screw toMoreUsing a small screwdriver adjust the spray head's throw distance by turning the center screw to reduce the throw distance by up to 25.
What size sprinkler do I need?
Size of the area: The best sprinkler for your lawn will be one that waters the entire area. Lawns that are 5,000 sq. ft. or smaller can use a fixed sprinkler while a larger lawn will need a rotating or oscillating sprinkler to cover the area.
What size is my sprinkler line?
The easiest might be to simply call your water company and ask. They'll have it on record. The other option, which is far from accurate but is safe for design, is to determine the size of the pipe leaving the meter and assume the meter is one size smaller.
How do you plan a sprinkler layout?
1:452:45Irrigation Design Tip - Sprinkler Head Layout - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWithin the irregular shaped area. Whether. It is square or equilateral triangle once you have yourMoreWithin the irregular shaped area. Whether. It is square or equilateral triangle once you have your string line laid out place a flag next to each loop to mark the placement of the heads in your grid.
Guide to Selecting The Right Sprinkler Type
Which to use, sprays, rotary nozzles, or rotors? Here are some questions to guide your selection. 1. Is your water pressure less than 40 PSI static...
Installation Issues Related to Sprinkler Selection
Rotors and rotary nozzles are spaced farther apart than sprays. Therefore installation of them requires less pipe and trenching, but they also cost...
Cost Issues in Selecting Type of Sprinkler
Surprisingly, regardless of the type of sprinkler you use, the cost per square foot of area irrigated comes out about the same, assuming correct de...
Sprinkler Make and Model Recommendations
Mix and Match. One common question I get from users of this tutorial is “who makes the best sprinkler heads” or “which model should I use?” This pr...
Pressure Requirements For Sprinklers
For spray type sprinklers, rotary nozzles, and rotators most designers use an operating pressure of 30 PSI, unless a lack of available pressure for...
What is the most common design layout of sprinklers?
The most common design layout of sprinklers is called ‘head-to-head watering’ where the spray from one sprinkler hits the next sprinkler on the head. An added benefit to this style of sprinkler layout is that when this method is applied using part circle sprinklers around the perimeter of an area, the water can be completely contained within the area, which means minimal wastage.
How to eliminate dry areas in sprinklers?
The only way to eliminate these dry areas is to use combinations of sprinklers while also following the basic sprinkler layout guidelines. This uneven watering can be mostly overcome by 'head-to-head' watering, where your sprinklers must overlap by at least 100% along your Pipe run.
What is a sprinkler design service?
Our sprinkler design service enables you to not only buy all the components that you require to establish an effective sprinkler system on your property but ensure that your sprinklers are properly positioned for optimum efficiency and coverage.
Do sprinklers water around corners?
Sprinklers will not water around corners or through obstructions. No exceptions! It’s easy to forget that sprinklers won’t water around objects, in the enthusiasm of planting your garden and watching it grow. But when plants grow bigger, they can “mask” areas of garden that your sprinklers watered in the beginning.
How many sprinklers are needed for a golf course?
A golf course can have between 500 and 5,000 sprinklers, or even more installed throughout an 18-hole facility. A golf irrigation sprinkler uses 18–45 gallons per minute throwing 50–90 feet with as many as 100 sprinklers operating at the same time.
How efficient is golf course irrigation?
Golf course irrigation systems are normally in the 80% efficiency range, the highest achievable efficiency with overhead irrigation. The general public looks at the large green expanse of a golf course and the amount of water it uses and assumes that the golf course is wasting water.
What are the inputs needed to maintain a golf course?
Depending on the quality of the golf course, some need more inputs than others. One of the needed inputs to maintain a healthy playing surface is, of course, water.
What is a golf course superintendent?
Golf course superintendents are highly educated individuals. They are not only educated and trained in the operation of the specific irrigation control system installed at their facilities, but also in soils and turf grass.
What is pressure regulated in golf course irrigation?
Each individual sprinkler is pressure-regulated so that the sprinkler receives its intended pressure regardless of elevation change or distance from the water supply. Golf course irrigation sprinklers are the most uniform applicators of water of any sprinkler manufactured.
What percentage of golf course water is effluent?
Effluent: 12%. Many golf courses use a combination of sources, hence the total percentage in the list is over 100%. For example, although water may not be pumped directly from a well into the irrigation system due to the large flow required by the irrigation system, the well is instead used to fill an irrigation pond.
What is the percentage of water used in golf courses?
According to GCSAA, golf course water sources break down as follows: Many golf courses use a combination of sources, hence the total percentage in the list is over 100%.
How to choose a sprinkler?
Guide to Selecting the Right Sprinkler Type: 1 Is your water pressure less than 40 PSI static? If so you should consider using sprays or rotary nozzles. 2 Is the area long and narrow, between 12-28′ wide? Then you should look into rotary nozzles. They may also be appropriate for narrower areas, at the time I am writing this Hunter has introduced a “side-strip” rotator for 4 to 5 foot wide strips that are at least 12′ long. More combinations of widths will likely be introduced in coming years. 3 Is the area you want to water greater than 30′ x 30′ in dimensions? If so, rotors may be the best solution. 4 Is the edge of the area to be watered curved? If the edge has sharp curves (less than 20′ radius) then rotors with longer radii will have difficulty watering the edges without over-spraying them. This may not be an issue depending on what is beyond the edge. If the area beyond the edge should not get water on it you might want to consider a smaller rotary nozzle or spray-type sprinkler.
How far apart should spray heads be on a sprinkler?
Some specialty patterns are available for long, narrow areas. Spray heads are spaced up to 18 feet apart.
What are the different types of sprinkler heads?
Types of Sprinklers: Traditionally sprinkler heads are grouped into two broad types based on the method they use to distribute the water, spray type sprinklers and rotor type spri nklers. However new technologies are blurring the traditional boundaries between the types.
How much pressure do you need to space rotors?
Thus if you want to space rotors 35 feet apart you will need 35 PSI of pressure at the sprinkler head. That means you will probably need around 45 PSI minimum to operate the system since pressure will be lost in the pipes and valves as the water flows to the sprinklers. More on that later.
What is a rotor sprinkler?
Rotor is the term used to describe the various sprinklers which operate by rotating streams of water back and forth or in circles over the landscape. The example which most people are familiar with is the “impact” rotor sprinkler (often improperly called a “rainbird*”) which moves back and forth firing bursts of water.
What is the most common material used for sprinklers?
However, times have changed and now plastic is the most common material for sprinklers. Very few manufacturers even bother to make an all-metal sprinkler anymore.
Which is better, plastic or brass nozzles?
Hybrids: A few companies manufacture plastic sprinkler bodies which accept brass nozzles, which they claim results in a better water pattern. Other manufacturers claim that plastic nozzles perform as well as brass. The research tends to indicate that a really well-machined brass nozzle has better water distribution.
Why are my sprinklers not level?
Low sprinklers or ones not set level to grade are a typical problem and are often the reasons a course may have wet and dry areas. Over time, the settling of the soils under and around sprinklers does change. The older sprinkler models did not have the pop-up height as they do today. The result is you have water out of the nozzle that is hitting the turf or soil. If the sprinkler is not level the radius of throw will be higher on one side and lower on the other, thereby affecting the D.U.
How long can a sprinkler go without being detected?
Without performing an inventory audit which entails turning on every sprinkler and checking for problems, some of these leaking sprinklers can go for months and years without being detected.
Can sprinklers fail?
Sprinklers with built in pressure regulation can and do fail over time. If they are failing and the result is low pressure, the gallons, profile and radius of throw is greatly affected. Failure on the high side can lead to a larger radius of throw and in some cases misting out of the nozzles. There is an allowable variance in regulation from all the sprinkler companies and it is a good idea to know what that variance is. For the courses with pressure regulating valves (PRV) on the main line, it is recommended that they be serviced or at least evaluated whenever the pump station is serviced. During one audit we discovered a PRV that the new Superintendent did not even know was on the golf course. It had been buried and not working properly for an unknown number of years. That same PRV that should have been regulating pressure down to 90PSI had a downstream pressure of 160PSI. The high pressure caused the failure of numerous pressure regulators at the sprinklers. On many of these sprinklers that were regulated to 65PSI, we measured up to 110PSI out of the nozzles
Do golf courses have sprinklers?
As a golf course ages, different Superintendents come and go. Some may prefer one sprinkler over another and over time this leads to multiple types of sprinklers all over the course.
Should you change sprinklers or just the main nozzles?
Should you be considering changing sprinklers or just the main nozzles, using bigger nozzles is not always better. Consideration should be given to existing spacing, main line pressures and infiltration rates. In a perfect world, head to head coverage across the entire course during the nightly cycle would be ideal. When the main nozzles throw much further than the surrounding sprinklers, wet areas can develop. When head to head throw is short, dry patterns can typically be found. Most Superintendents call dry patterns “donuts” and recently one called them “beauty rings”. Either way, if you are changing nozzles or sprinklers, we recommend starting with a short Par 4 fairway in order to determine the best nozzle selection for your golf course.
How many gpm is a full circle sprinkler?
When four sprinklers delivering 1.1 gpm (0,25 m3/h) each are added together, they are the equivalent of one full circle sprinkler or 4.4 g pm (1 m3/h). With full circle sprinklers, you can use the equivalent of one sprinkler’s discharge as the gallons per minute (meters cubed per hour) for the precipitation rate formula.
How to determine precipitation rate of sprinkler system?
The precipitation rate of the sprinklers you have selected for the project should be calculated to determine first if the rate exceeds the soil’s intake rate (which it shouldn’t) and , secondly, if the rate will apply enough water during acceptable operating times to meet the irrigation requirement (which it should).
How to measure sprinkler spacing?
Sprinkler spacing is measured by radius. The radius of a sprinkler is measured from the position of the sprinkler to the edge of the spray pattern (how far the water is thrown by the sprinkler). This means that a sprinkler with a radius of 15' with a full nozzle will actually cover a 30' area.
How many locations does a sprinkler system have?
Generally, a residential sprinkler system will only have 1 or 2 locations. Keep in mind that by choosing multiple locations the parts list won't be as accurate, meaning you may need more valves to control the selected sprinklers. We will strive to improve this function.
How to input sprinkler heads and emitters?
Below you will input sprinkler heads and emitters by selecting their nozzle size or emitter GPM. Simply press the plus button for the corresponding nozzle or emitter GPM. You can likewise remove a selection by pressing the subtract button.
What is the most common use for a sprinkler system?
The most common uses are filling a pool or hot tub quickly, and sprinkler system winterization (Access directly to the main line for blowing the system out with air).
What percent of water should I use for irrigation?
Percent used is the maximum amount of water you desire to use for irrigation. While you can, in theory, use 100 percent, it is recommended that you use 70-80 percent. It is, after all, it is nice to have water available for things like showering, washing dishes, etc.
Is a stop and waste valve required for a sprinkler system?
Yes. No. This is a must in areas that have hard freezes. The stop and waste is a shutoff valve that drains the downstream water from a main line. It is generally installed at the point of connection that is leading to the sprinkler system (generally close to the meter or a building).
