Water hydraulics
Static head to pressure
- where
- static pressure (Pa; the calculator shows bar)
- fluid density (kg/m³)
- gravitational acceleration (m/s²)
- vertical head (m)
Explain this equation
Works out the pressure produced by a column of fluid of a given height. Use it to find static pressure at the bottom of a system, or from a cistern.
ρ is the fluid density. g is gravitational acceleration, 9.80665 m/s². h is the vertical height of the column.
The weight of fluid above a point pushes down on it. That weight per unit area is density × g × height. The calculator works in pascals and shows bar.
Sense check: 10 m of water gives about 0.98 bar, close to 1 bar per 10 m, or 0.1 bar per metre. Double the height and the pressure doubles.
Watch out: use vertical height only, not developed pipe length. In a closed filled circuit the pump does not have to lift water against the building height.
Enter your values to see the result.
Good to know
Vertical elevation only, not developed pipe length. A closed filled circuit does not require a circulating pump to overcome the building height continuously.
Sources
Results are arithmetic only. Worked examples are not recommended design settings. This library does not provide automatic gas pipe selection, live gas tightness tests, purging procedures, combustion acceptance limits, installation approval or commissioning certification. Manufacturer data and the applicable current method remain essential.