1. Selecting sprinkler heads continued
Large rotors – In large open areas like turf or large ground covered areas. Slopes with sprinklers set at the proper angles
Pop–up Spray heads: smaller areas with tighter perimeters. Work well in many current residential sized lots. Use VAN nozzles for curvilinear borders and odd angles. Use Flat spray nozzles (FLT series) to reduce overspray near walkways and patios in small areas. Also to spray under the foliage of larger hedges or shrubs where regular arched nozzles would hit foliage
Flood bubblers: in very narrow strips, roses, areas that have some type of containment. Not good for uneven soil topography
Drip irrigation: Great for smaller shrub areas covered by mulch and left relatively undisturbed. Drip can be affected by activity like pets or kids or in areas prone to changes in plant material or occasional digging.

2. Grouping Sprinklers

3. The Order of Things Site Considerations
Establishing the point of connection (POC)
Selecting sprinkler heads
Circuiting (grouping) sprinkler heads
Pipe routing/Balancing circuits
Sizing pipe and valves
Doing a system check (Friction loss study)

4. What would Influence Sprinklers to be Grouped Together?
Lawn vs. Shrub areas. – Different watering requirements
Sun vs. Shade areas – Different plant types as well as ET (Evapotranspiration)
Slopes – Drainage considerations
Soil type differences – Usually raised beds have a separate planter mix
Like sprinkler types – Group similar precipitation rates together (MPR)
Overall GPM availability at the POC – After investigating the 3 restrictive rules.

5. Example Design #1
- Full sun all areas
Lawn all areas
We will base the design on 3 selected sprinkler types with known GPM demands
1st we put the sprinkler heads in the appropriate locations
After investigating the 3 restrictive rules we have a 18 gpm value
House
Lawn
Sidewalk

6. Total GPM at the point of connection 18 GPM
Sprinklers:
TQ = 1.5gpm
H = 1.0gpm
Q = .5gpm
Q = gpm
H = gpm
Q = gpm
Total
House
Lawn
6.0gpm
16.0gpm
3.0gpm
From this we can see that we could run all areas with just one valve
8.0gpm

7. Considerations
We could potentially run all sprinklers at once and use one valve with an 18gpm availability and only 16 gpm total needed for for the system.
This would be simple and potentially the cheapest way to go
However if the clients decided to change the side area to shrubs or the parkway area to ground cover instead of lawn, then the system would not be able to adjust to the new plant material’s watering needs
Take Away: The irrigation designer should always try to balance cost savings and systems potential flexibility over time

8. Example #2 Total GPM at the point of connection 11 GPM Sprinklers:
TQ = 1.5gpm
H = 1.0gpm
Q = .5gpm
Q = gpm
H = gpm
Q = gpm
Total GPM 16gpm
House
Lawn
How would you group these sprinklers?

9. Example #2 Grouping sprinklers
Would you group parkway and big lawn area together?
What would be the benefits of leaving the side yard on its own valve

10. Route the pipe on larger lawn
(roll up the screen)
House
Lawn
Lawn

11. Balancing Circuits when Routing Pipe
Where would you tie into the lateral line to balance the circuit?
Valve

12. Balancing Circuits when Routing Pipe
Equal flow demand on either side of the T
Valve

13. Balancing Circuits
Valve

14. Balancing Circuits
Valve

15. Routing Pipe around Existing Trees
Valve
NO!

16. Routing Pipe around Existing Established Trees
Roots spread way out past the drip line of the trees at least 2 times the width of the tree in any direction
Valve

17. Routing Pipe around Existing Trees
We try to not cross the
Area of roots with a lateral trench.
Only enter the root area from outside the area to protect existing roots.
Valve
Yes!

18. Things to remember when routing pipe
Use as few turns as possible in a lateral line
Use
Reduce the amounts of pipe cutting across open spaces
Reduce
Try to run pipe close to hardscaped areas like sidewalks and patios
Try
Balance circuits when possible
Balance

19. Sizing pipe
Once we have our desired circuits established we begin sizing the pipe
We try to use the smallest pipe to do the job (reducing materials cost)
We always start from the farthest sprinkler head on a circuit and work back towards the valve
We use our pipe flow charts in the back of the Rainbird manual once we have decided on the type of pipe to use for our lateral lines

20. Each sprinkler head needs 2gpm
Each sprinkler head needs 2gpm. Starting from the farthest sprinkler head from the valve work backwards to the valve sizing the pipe based on the heads it supplies
Using Class 200 pipe
6gpm
4gpm
2gpm ¾” ¾” ¾” ¾” ¾”
Size the pipe based on the GPM demand that section of pipe is servicing down stream without going into the darker shaded areas

21. Each sprinkler head needs 2gpm
Each sprinkler head needs 2gpm. Starting from the farthest sprinkler head from the valve work backwards to the valve sizing the pipe based on the heads it supplies
Using Schedule 40 pipe
10gpm
8gpm
6gpm
4gpm
2gpm 1” 1” ¾” ½” ½”
Size the pipe based on the GPM demand that section of pipe is servicing down stream without going into the darker shaded areas

22. 1” ½” 1”
Valve 1” ½” 1” 2” 1” ½”
Size the pipe using schedule 40 pipe . Each sprinkler heads requires 4gpm

23. Sizing valves is pretty straight forward: The valve should be matched to the largest nominal size of pipe being used on the circuit or no more than one size smaller than the largest pipe on the circuit.
Sizing Valves

24. Sizing Valves 1” ½”
What should be the size of the valve on the circuit to the left?
What would be the minimal size of the valve you could use for the circuit to the left? 1”
Valve 1” ½” 1” 2” 1” ½”
Schedule 40 Pipe sizes: ½”, ¾”, 1”, 1 ¼”, 1 ½”, 2”, 2 ½”, 3”, 4”