Te c h n i c a l

Newsletter

Special Issue Published by Rain Bird Corporation, Turf Products Spring 2001

IN THIS ISSUE: The Secrets Behind Successful

Sprinkler Spacing and Design Sprinkler Spacing and Design
Knowing the types of sprinklers that are best for a job and determining where to place
them for maximum efficiency and economy are decisions that begin early in the design
process. They are choices based on all of the information gathered about the site as
well as an understanding of basic hydraulics.
Selecting the Right Sprinklers
Irrigation designers today have a wide choice of sprinklers, ranging from shrub spray
sprinklers and pop-up spray sprinklers to rotating impact and pop-up gear-driven designs.

There are a few general considerations to keep in mind

when determining what type of sprinklers to use:
• the size and shape of areas to be watered
• type of plant material
• available water pressure and flow
• local environmental conditions such as wind and temperature
• soil type and the rate at which it can accept water

The challenge is to irrigate the area adequately while using the least number of sprinklers
to keep the job economical. Each sprinkler has a performance range that must fit within
the flow and pressure available to the site. Knowing the discharge requirements for a
sprinkler is also important to ensure it does not exceed the soil absorption rate.
Each kind of sprinkler has specific strengths.

Spray, strip and stream sprinklers:

• are used for smaller landscaped areas
• are used for a mixed selection of plantings
• have a fixed arc of coverage that ranges from full-,
half- and quarter-circles to variable arc nozzles (VAN)
• usually operate at 15-30 psi
• throw water from 4-22 feet
• are well suited for projects with lower water pressures

Impact, ball drive, and gear-driven rotors:

• are best for larger areas
• apply water more slowly than spray heads
• can operate at higher pressures (25-100 psi)
• throw from 15-80 feet
• offer full and part circle models

continued on next page

continued from front
Determining Sprinkler Example of MPR sprinklers.
Sprinkler performance charts from the Precipitation Rates
manufacturer can summarize critical
The designer needs to know how much
information to help designers make the
water is needed per week or per day
best sprinkler decisions. (see figure 1)
to maintain the turf and how that
SPRINKLER SPACING AND RANGES compares to the amount of water the
sprinklers in an area will apply. The
12 SERIES (STANDARD 30° TRAJECTORY) precipitation rate (PR) is the calculated
Nozzle Pressure Radius Flow Precip. Precip.
average amount of water that all of the
psi ft. GPM in/h in/h sprinklers in a specific area apply in one
15 9 1.80 2.14 2.47 hour. It is usually measured in inches per
20 10 2.10 2.02 2.34 hour (metric=mm/h). This delivery rate is
25 11 2.40 1.91 2.21 based on the type of nozzle, the arc and
12F 30 12 2.60 1.74 2.01 the spacing.
15 9 0.90 2.14 2.47
Calculating the PR early in the process
20 10 1.05 2.02 2.34 figure 3
helps the designer make sure that the
25 11 1.20 1.91 2.21
sprinklers can apply enough water
12H 30 12 1.30 1.74 2.01
during the time available for watering
15 9 0.45 2.14 2.47 Practice calculating the PR for this area.
(water window), without exceeding the
20 10 0.53 2.02 2.34 The spacing, length and gpm discharge
soil intake rate.
25 11 0.60 1.91 2.21 for the full-, half- and quarter-circle
12Q 30 12 0.65 1.74 2.01 Here is the formula: sprinklers are shown on the layout.
figure 1
The operating pressure is 25 psi (2 bars)
Spray heads and rotors each have different PR Formula and radius of throw is 11 feet (3.3528 m).
requirements for zoning and spacing. The total number of gallons applied by
PR = 96.3 x gpm (applied to the area)
Spacing Sprinklers = IN/HR these MPR sprinklers is:
S x L (or area in ft 2 of each zone)
Efficient spacing begins with an under-
standing of sprinkler water distribution. 96.3 – is a constant • 1 - Full-circle sprinkler = 2.40 gpm (0,16 l/s)
Sprinklers are designed for overlapping
GPM – applied to target area by all sprinklers • 4 - Half-circle sprinklers = 4.80 gpm (0,32 l/s)
coverage. Proper overlap ensures even
distribution of water and eliminates dry in pattern • 4 - Quarter-circle sprinklers = 2.40 gpm (0,16 l/s)
spots. When overlapped, the weak area
S – distance in feet of sprinklers on a row
of coverage from one sprinkler is supple- A total of 9.6 gpm is applied to the area.
mented by the surrounding sprinklers. L – distance in feet between sprinkler rows
Head-to-head spacing, or sprinklers IN/HR – average inches per hour To calculate the PR for this area:
spaced at 50% of the sprinkler’s diameter,
is most common to ensure uniform PR = 96.3 x 9.6 gpm = 924.48
coverage. (see figure 2) = 1.75 in/hr
Matched Precipitation Rates 22 X 24 = 528
Matched precipitation rate (MPR) refers
to sprinklers that apply water at the same
rate per hour no matter the arc of cover- The PR is 1.75 inches per hour (44.5 mm/hr).
age or part of a circle they cover. For Zoning and Rotor Spacing
instance, a full-circle sprinkler discharges
To avoid overwatering, designers should
twice the flow of a half-circle sprinkler and
never combine sprinklers in the same
a quarter-circle sprinkler discharges half
valve group if the sprinkler precipitation
of what the half-circle unit does.
rates are not matched (or have more than
MPR allows the same type of sprinklers, a 10% difference). Also avoid grouping
no matter what their arc, to be circuited sprinklers that are at different elevations.
on the same valve and to deliver the same For a rough estimate of the number of valve
PR rate. Spray heads have fixed arcs and zones needed, add the gpms (liters/sec)
are matched by the manufacturer, while for all sprinklers and divide the total by
rotors offer a choice of nozzles to match the maximum gpms (liters/sec) available
the designed arc pattern. (See figure 3) from the water source.
 Keeping the Rotor Ratio Correct Just remember, designers may have 15 EST
If spray heads are spaced correctly, to make adjustments to deal with
whether half-, quarter- or full-circle heads real-world situations. To keep the
are used, the designer can achieve MPR. application rate matched with rotors,
the designer has to look at the nozzles
The same can be accomplished with 12.5'
35'
rotors, but the designer must choose and spacing. For instance, in figure 4, if (10.67m)
(3.8m)

nozzles to keep the quarter-circles, the available flow is 10 gpm, the top row
half-circles and full-circles at a ratio of sprinklers could form one zone at 8
of one to two to four. (see figure 4) gpm, as could the bottom row. But the
middle row would exceed the flow 15 SST
available. The designer could renozzle
the half-circles to 2 gpm and the
full-circle to 4 gpm in the middle row, 12.5'
35'
which would still keep the 1-2-4 ratio (10.67m)
(3.8m)

within that zone. However, the run

time must then be doubled for zone 2
compared to zones 1 and 3 because it 15 SST
is covering twice the area with the same
flow rate. (see figure 5)
50'
Caution! Check to make sure going to
(15.2m)
35' 5004-PC
12.5'5004-P
6.0 GPM (22.
(10.67m)
(3.8m) (22.8 l/min)
the smaller nozzle will still provide the Half Circ
Circle
desired radius and coverage.
figure 4 15 SST
Checking Total System Operating
Time to Ensure Success
Here is an example of the 1 to 2 to 4 ratio.
All half circles are at 4 GPM and all
In addition to following the appropriate 12.5'
35'
quarter circles are at 2 GPM. spacing and zoning principles, designers (10.67m)
(3.8m)

should be sure to stop on a regular basis

throughout the design to check the total
system operating time. This should not 15 EST
exceed the daily time period available for 4'
(1.2m)
irrigation known as the water window
(i.e. 10 p.m. - 6 a.m.). To meet the water figure 7
window requirements, the available
system flow may need to be increased.

figure 6

12 Q 12 Q

12 H 12'
(3.7m)
12 H

24' 12 H 12 F
(7.3m)

figure 5 12'
12 H (3.7m)
By changing the nozzle sizes on zone 2, we
can obtain proper coverage and complete this
design using only 3 circuits, or zones. Here is 12 Q 12 Q
an example of the 1 to 2 to 4 ratio zoned and 24'
nozzled to handle existing flow conditions. (7.3m)
 Here are some possible solutions of sprinkler head layouts.

1804
15 H

15 H

15 H
figure 8 SERIES figure 10
SPRAY
5004

15 Q
HEADS
15 Q

15' SERIES
(4.6m)
15' 15' 15' 15' ROTORS
(4.6m) (4.6m) (4.6m) (4.6m) 5004-PC 5004-PC 5004-PC
3.0 GPM (11.4 l/min) 6.0 GPM (22.8 l/min) 3.0 GPM (11.4 l/min) 35'
60' (10.67m)
(18.3m) Quarter Circle Half Circle Quarter Circle

35' 35'
(10.67m) (10.67m)

70'
3504 (21.34m)

SERIES
ROTORS
figure 9

3504 3504 3504 3504 20'

1 GPM 2 GPM 2 GPM 1 GPM (6.1m) 7005 7005
(3.8 l/min)
(3.8 l/min) (7.6 l/min) (7.6 l/min) Half Quarter
20' 20' 20'
(6.1m) (6.1m) (6.1m)

60' 65'
(19.8m)
(17.5m)
(18.3m)

6504 SERIES ROTORS

6504 6504
7005 7005 Full 7005
Half Quarter Half
50'
(15.3m) 65'
(19.8m)
(17.5m)

6504 260'
6504 Full (79.2m)
Half
50'
(15.3m)
7005
7005 Full Half

65'
(19.8m)
(17.5m)
7005 SERIES ROTORS
200'
(61.0m)
6504
6504 Full Half
50' 7005 Full
(15.3m)

6504 Full

7005
Half

6504 65'
(19.8m)
(17.5m)
Half
50'
(15.3m)
6504 7005 7005
6504
7005 Quarter
Half Quarter Half
50' 50' 65' 65'
(15.3m) (15.3m) (19.8m)
(17.5m) (19.8m)
(17.5m)

100' 130'
(30.5m) (39.6m)

figure 11 figure 12