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Copyright by National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). NFPA 54 is licensed,

by agreement for individual use. No other reproduction or transmission in any
form permitted without written permission of NFPA. For inquires or to report
unauthorized use, contact [email protected].

E Flow of Gas Through Fixed Orifices

This annex is not a part of the requirements of this NFPA document but is included for informational purposes only.

E.​
1 Use of Orifice Tables.

E.​
1.1 To Check Burner Input Not Using a Meter.
Gauge the size of the burner orifice and determine flow rate at sea level fromTable E.​ 1.1(a), Utility Gases (cubic feet per hour), or from
Table E.​ 1.1(b), LP­Gases (Btu per hour). When the specific gravity of the utility gas is other than 0.60, select the multiplier from Table
E.​1.1(c) for the specific gravity of the utility gas served and apply to the flow rate as determined from Table E.​ 1.1(a). When the altitude
is above 2000 ft (600 m), first select the equivalent orifice size at sea level using Table E.​ 1.1(d), then determine the flow rate from
Table E.​ 1.1(a) or Table E.​1.1(b) as directed. Having determined the flow rate (as adjusted for specific gravity and/or altitude where
necessary), check the burner input at sea level with the manufacturer’s rated input.

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Table E.​
1.1(a) Utility Gases (cubic feet per hour at sea level)
Orifice
or Pressure at Orifice (in. w.c.)
Drill
Size 3 3.5 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
80 0.48 0.52 0.55 0.63 0.69 0.73 0.79 0.83 0.88
79 0.55 0.59 0.64 0.72 0.80 0.84 0.90 0.97 1.01
78 0.70 0.76 0.78 0.88 0.97 1.04 1.10 1.17 1.24
77 0.88 0.95 0.99 1.11 1.23 1.31 1.38 1.47 1.55
76 1.05 1.13 1.21 1.37 1.52 1.61 1.72 1.83 1.92

75 1.16 1.25 1.34 1.52 1.64 1.79 1.91 2.04 2.14

74 1.33 1.44 1.55 1.74 1.91 2.05 2.18 2.32 2.44
73 1.51 1.63 1.76 1.99 2.17 2.32 2.48 2.64 2.78
72 1.64 1.77 1.90 2.15 2.40 2.52 2.69 2.86 3.00
71 1.82 1.97 2.06 2.33 2.54 2.73 2.91 3.11 3.26
70 2.06 2.22 2.39 2.70 2.97 3.16 3.38 3.59 3.78
69 2.25 2.43 2.61 2.96 3.23 3.47 3.68 3.94 4.14
68 2.52 2.72 2.93 3.26 3.58 3.88 4.14 4.41 4.64
67 2.69 2.91 3.12 3.52 3.87 4.13 4.41 4.69 4.94
66 2.86 3.09 3.32 3.75 4.11 4.39 4.68 4.98 5.24
65 3.14 3.39 3.72 4.28 4.62 4.84 5.16 5.50 5.78
64 3.41 3.68 4.14 4.48 4.91 5.23 5.59 5.95 6.26
63 3.63 3.92 4.19 4.75 5.19 5.55 5.92 6.30 6.63
62 3.78 4.08 4.39 4.96 5.42 5.81 6.20 6.59 6.94
61 4.02 4.34 4.66 5.27 5.77 6.15 6.57 7.00 7.37

60 4.21 4.55 4.89 5.52 5.95 6.47 6.91 7.35 7.74

59 4.41 4.76 5.11 5.78 6.35 6.78 7.25 7.71 8.11
58 4.66 5.03 5.39 6.10 6.68 7.13 7.62 8.11 8.53
57 4.84 5.23 5.63 6.36 6.96 7.44 7.94 8.46 8.90
56 5.68 6.13 6.58 7.35 8.03 8.73 9.32 9.92 10.44
55 7.11 7.68 8.22 9.30 10.18 10.85 11.59 12.34 12.98
54 7.95 8.59 9.23 10.45 11.39 12.25 13.08 13.93 14.65
53 9.30 10.04 10.80 12.20 13.32 14.29 15.27 16.25 17.09
52 10.61 11.46 12.31 13.86 15.26 16.34 17.44 18.57 19.53
51 11.82 12.77 13.69 15.47 16.97 18.16 19.40 20.64 21.71
50 12.89 13.92 14.94 16.86 18.48 19.77 21.12 22.48 23.65
49 14.07 15.20 16.28 18.37 20.20 21.60 23.06 24.56 25.83
48 15.15 16.36 17.62 19.88 21.81 23.31 24.90 26.51 27.89
47 16.22 17.52 18.80 21.27 23.21 24.93 26.62 28.34 29.81
46 17.19 18.57 19.98 22.57 24.72 26.43 28.23 30.05 31.61
45 17.73 19.15 20.52 23.10 25.36 27.18 29.03 30.90 32.51
44 19.45 21.01 22.57 25.57 27.93 29.87 31.89 33.96 35.72
43 20.73 22.39 24.18 27.29 29.87 32.02 34.19 36.41 38.30

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42 23.10 24.95 26.50 29.50 32.50 35.24 37.63 40.07 42.14
41 24.06 25.98 28.15 31.69 34.81 37.17 39.70 42.27 44.46
40 25.03 27.03 29.23 33.09 36.20 38.79 41.42 44.10 46.38
39 26.11 28.20 30.20 34.05 37.38 39.97 42.68 45.44 47.80
38 27.08 29.25 31.38 35.46 38.89 41.58 44.40 47.27 49.73
37 28.36 30.63 32.99 37.07 40.83 43.62 46.59 49.60 52.17
36 29.76 32.14 34.59 39.11 42.76 45.77 48.88 52.04 54.74
35 32.36 34.95 36.86 41.68 45.66 48.78 52.10 55.46 58.34
34 32.45 35.05 37.50 42.44 46.52 49.75 53.12 56.55 59.49
33 33.41 36.08 38.79 43.83 48.03 51.46 54.96 58.62 61.55
32 35.46 38.30 40.94 46.52 50.82 54.26 57.95 61.70 64.89
31 37.82 40.85 43.83 49.64 54.36 58.01 61.96 65.97 69.39
30 43.40 46.87 50.39 57.05 62.09 66.72 71.22 75.86 79.80
29 48.45 52.33 56.19 63.61 69.62 74.45 79.52 84.66 89.04
28 51.78 55.92 59.50 67.00 73.50 79.50 84.92 90.39 95.09
27 54.47 58.83 63.17 71.55 78.32 83.59 89.27 95.04 99.97
26 56.73 61.27 65.86 74.57 81.65 87.24 93.17 99.19 104.57
25 58.87 63.58 68.22 77.14 84.67 90.36 96.50 102.74 108.07
24 60.81 65.67 70.58 79.83 87.56 93.47 99.83 106.28 111.79
23 62.10 67.07 72.20 81.65 89.39 94.55 100.98 107.49 113.07
22 64.89 70.08 75.21 85.10 93.25 99.60 106.39 113.24 119.12
21 66.51 71.83 77.14 87.35 95.63 102.29 109.24 116.29 122.33
20 68.22 73.68 79.08 89.49 97.99 104.75 111.87 119.10 125.28
19 72.20 77.98 83.69 94.76 103.89 110.67 118.55 125.82 132.36
18 75.53 81.57 87.56 97.50 108.52 116.03 123.92 131.93 138.78
17 78.54 84.82 91.10 103.14 112.81 120.33 128.52 136.82 143.91
16 82.19 88.77 95.40 107.98 118.18 126.78 135.39 144.15 151.63
15 85.20 92.02 98.84 111.74 122.48 131.07 139.98 149.03 156.77
14 87.10 94.40 100.78 114.21 124.44 133.22 142.28 151.47 159.33
13 89.92 97.11 104.32 118.18 128.93 138.60 148.02 157.58 165.76
12 93.90 101.41 108.52 123.56 135.37 143.97 153.75 163.69 172.13
11 95.94 103.62 111.31 126.02 137.52 147.20 157.20 167.36 176.03
10 98.30 106.16 114.21 129.25 141.82 151.50 161.81 172.26 181.13
9 100.99 109.07 117.11 132.58 145.05 154.71 165.23 175.91 185.03
8 103.89 112.20 120.65 136.44 149.33 160.08 170.96 182.00 191.44
7 105.93 114.40 123.01 139.23 152.56 163.31 174.38 185.68 195.30
6 109.15 117.88 126.78 142.88 156.83 167.51 178.88 190.46 200.36

5 111.08 119.97 128.93 145.79 160.08 170.82 182.48 194.22 204.30

4 114.75 123.93 133.22 150.41 164.36 176.18 188.16 200.25 210.71
3 119.25 128.79 137.52 156.26 170.78 182.64 195.08 207.66 218.44
2 128.48 138.76 148.61 168.64 184.79 197.66 211.05 224.74 235.58
1 136.35 147.26 158.25 179.33 194.63 209.48 223.65 238.16 250.54

3 3
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For SI units, 1 Btu/hr = 0.293 W, 1 ft3 = 0.028 m3, 1 ft = 0.305 m, 1 in. w.c. = 249 Pa.

Notes:

(1) Specific gravity = 0.60; orifice coefficient = 0.90.

(2) For utility gases of another specific gravity, select multiplier from Table E.​
1.1(c). For altitudes above 2000 ft, first select the
equivalent orifice size at sea level from Table E.​ 1.1(d).

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Table E.​
1.1(b) LP­Gases
(Btu per hour at sea level)
Orifice
or
Drill Size Propane Butane
0.008 519 589
0.009 656 744
0.010 812 921
0.011 981 1,112
0.012 1,169 1,326
80 1,480 1,678
79 1,708 1,936
78 2,080 2,358
77 2,629 2,980
76 3,249 3,684

75 3,581 4,059
74 4,119 4,669
73 4,678 5,303
72 5,081 5,760
71 5,495 6,230

70 6,375 7,227
69 6,934 7,860
68 7,813 8,858
67 8,320 9,433
66 8,848 10,031
65 9,955 11,286
64 10,535 11,943
63 11,125 12,612
62 11,735 13,304
61 12,367 14,020
60 13,008 14,747
59 13,660 15,486
58 14,333 16,249
57 15,026 17,035
56 17,572 19,921

55 21,939 24,872
54 24,630 27,922
53 28,769 32,615
52 32,805 37,190
51 36,531 41,414
50 39,842 45,168
49 43,361 49,157
48 46,983 53,263

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47 50,088 56,783
46 53,296 60,420
45 54,641 61,944
44 60,229 68,280
43 64,369 72,973
42 71,095 80,599
41 74,924 84,940

40 78,029 88,459
39 80,513 91,215
38 83,721 94,912
37 87,860 99,605
36 92,207 104,532

35 98,312 111,454
34 100,175 113,566
33 103,797 117,672
32 109,385 124,007
31 117,043 132,689
30 134,119 152,046
29 150,366 170,466
28 160,301 181,728
27 168,580 191,114
26 175,617 199,092

25 181,619 205,896
24 187,828 212,935
23 192,796 218,567
22 200,350 227,131
21 205,525 232,997
20 210,699 238,863
19 223,945 253,880
18 233,466 264,673

Notes:

Propane Butane

(1) Btu per cubic foot 2516 3280

(2) Specific gravity 1.52 2.01

(3) Pressure at orifice (in. w.c.) 11 11

(4) Orifice coefficient 0.9 0.9

(5) For altitudes above 2000 ft (610 m), first select the equivalent orifice size at sea level from Table E.​
1.1(d).

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Table E.​
1.1(c) Multipliers for Utility
Gases of Another Specific Gravity
Specific Specific
Gravity Multiplier Gravity Multiplier
0.45 1.155 0.95 0.795
0.50 1.095 1.00 0.775
0.55 1.045 1.05 0.756
0.60 1.000 1.10 0.739
0.65 0.961 1.15 0.722
0.70 0.926 1.20 0.707
0.75 0.894 1.25 0.693
0.80 0.866 1.30 0.679
0.85 0.840 1.35 0.667
0.90 0.817 1.40 0.655

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Table E.​
1.1(d) Equivalent Orifice Sizes at High Altitudes
(includes 4% input reduction for each 1000 ft above sea level)
Orifice Orifice Size Required at Other Elevations (ft)
Size at
Sea Level 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000 9000 10,000
1 2 2 3 3 4 5 7 8 10
2 3 3 4 5 6 7 9 10 12
3 4 5 7 8 9 10 12 13 15
4 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 14 16
5 7 8 9 10 12 13 14 15 17
6 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 16 17
7 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 18
8 10 11 12 13 13 15 16 17 18
9 11 12 12 13 14 16 17 18 19
10 12 13 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

11 13 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
12 13 14 15 16 17 17 18 19 20
13 15 15 16 17 18 18 19 20 22
14 16 16 17 18 18 19 20 21 23
15 16 17 17 18 19 20 20 22 24

16 17 18 18 19 19 20 22 23 25
17 18 19 19 20 21 22 23 24 26
18 19 19 20 21 22 23 24 26 27
19 20 20 21 22 23 25 26 27 28
20 22 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

21 23 23 24 25 26 27 28 28 29
22 23 24 25 26 27 27 28 29 29
23 25 25 26 27 27 28 29 29 30
24 25 26 27 27 28 28 29 29 30
25 26 27 27 28 28 29 29 30 30

26 27 28 28 28 29 29 30 30 30
27 28 28 29 29 29 30 30 30 31
28 29 29 29 30 30 30 30 31 31
29 29 30 30 30 30 31 31 31 32
30 30 31 31 31 31 32 32 33 35

31 32 32 32 33 34 35 36 37 38
32 33 34 35 35 36 36 37 38 40
33 35 35 36 36 37 38 38 40 41
34 35 36 36 37 37 38 39 40 42
35 36 36 37 37 38 39 40 41 42

36 37 38 38 39 40 41 41 42 43
37 38 39 39 40 41 42 42 43 43
38 39 40 41 41 42 42 43 43 44

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39 40 41 41 42 42 43 43 44 44
40 41 42 42 42 43 43 44 44 45
41 42 42 42 43 43 44 44 45 46
42 42 43 43 43 44 44 45 46 47
43 44 44 44 45 45 46 47 47 48
44 45 45 45 46 47 47 48 48 49
45 46 47 47 47 48 48 49 49 50

46 47 47 47 48 48 49 49 50 50
47 48 48 49 49 49 50 50 51 51
48 49 49 49 50 50 50 51 51 52
49 50 50 50 51 51 51 52 52 52
50 51 51 51 51 52 52 52 53 53

51 51 52 52 52 52 53 53 53 54
52 52 53 53 53 53 53 54 54 54
53 54 54 54 54 54 54 55 55 55
54 54 55 55 55 55 55 56 56 56
55 55 55 55 56 56 56 56 56 57

56 56 56 57 57 57 58 59 59 60
57 58 59 59 60 60 61 62 63 63
58 59 60 60 61 62 62 63 63 64
59 60 61 61 62 62 63 64 64 65
60 61 61 62 63 63 64 64 65 65

61 62 62 63 63 64 65 65 66 66
62 63 63 64 64 65 65 66 66 67
63 64 64 65 65 65 66 66 67 68
64 65 65 65 66 66 66 67 67 68
65 65 66 66 66 67 67 68 68 69

66 67 67 68 68 68 69 69 69 70
67 68 68 68 69 69 69 70 70 70
68 68 69 69 69 70 70 70 71 71
69 70 70 70 70 71 71 71 72 72
70 70 71 71 71 71 72 72 73 73
71 72 72 72 73 73 73 74 74 74
72 73 73 73 73 74 74 74 74 75
73 73 74 74 74 74 75 75 75 76
74 74 75 75 75 75 76 76 76 76
75 75 76 76 76 76 77 77 77 77
76 76 76 77 77 77 77 77 77 77
77 77 77 77 78 78 78 78 78 78
78 78 78 78 79 79 79 79 80 80
79 79 80 80 80 80 0.013 0.012 0.012 0.01
80 80 0.013 0.013 0.013 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.011

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For SI units, 1 ft = 0.305 m.

E.​
1.2 To Select Correct Orifice Size for Rated Burner Input.
The selection of a fixed orifice size for any rated burner input is affected by many variables, including orifice coefficient, and it is
recommended that the appliance manufacturer be consulted for that purpose. When the correct orifice size cannot be readily
determined, the orifice flow rates, as stated in the tables in this annex, can be used to select a fixed orifice size with a flow rate to
approximately equal the required rated burner input.

For gases of the specific gravity and pressure conditions stipulated at elevations under 2000 ft (600 m), Table E.​
1.1(a)(in cubic feet
per hour) or Table E.​
1.1(b)(in Btu per hour) can be used directly.

Where the specific gravity of the gas is other than 0.60, select the multiplier from Table E.​
1.1(c) for the utility gas served and divide the
rated burner input by the selected factor to determine equivalent input at a specific gravity of 0.60, then select orifice size.

Where the appliance is located at an altitude of 2000 ft (600 m) or above, first use the manufacturer’s rated input at sea level to select
the orifice size as directed, then use Table E.​
1.1(d) to select the equivalent orifice size for use at the higher altitude.

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