During high-rise operations, what discharge pressure should the operator maintain?

• A. 150 psi
• B. 100 psi
• C. 200 psi
• D. 125 psi

Answer: (A)

In high-rise operations, the key idea is to deliver water to the furthest point in the hose lay while accounting for elevation and friction losses. The discharge pressure should be high enough to push water up to the top floors and through long hose runs so the nozzle at the farthest outlet has adequate pressure for effective application. But it should not be set so high that hose and fittings are overstressed or that nozzle control becomes difficult from excessive nozzle reaction. The best practice is to maintain a discharge pressure that reliably provides the needed nozzle pressure at the most remote point, balancing reach with safety and equipment limits.

Low pressure would fail to reach upper floors with sufficient force, while excessively high pressure can cause damage and make the stream hard to control.