In the context of fire control, what does 'hydraulic calculations' determine?

Hydraulic calculations play a crucial role in fire protection engineering, specifically in determining the quantity of water needed at a specific location. This involves analyzing various factors including the layout of the sprinkler system, the type of occupancy, and the hazard level of the area being protected. The objective is to ensure that enough water is delivered to suppress a fire effectively at the needed location, which is critical for safety and compliance with fire codes.

These calculations consider the flow rates through different sizes of pipes, elevation changes, and potential obstructions to ensure that the system can deliver adequate water where it is needed, particularly at the most hydraulically demanding sprinkler head. This is vital for the design and installation of an efficient sprinkler system that can operate effectively during a fire event.

The other options address different aspects of fire control, such as water supply and system design, but they do not focus specifically on the determination of water quantity at a targeted location within the fire protection system.