Hydraulic Institute Engineering Data Book -

The selection of appropriate materials and the design of piping systems are crucial for system longevity and safety.

| Pipe Material | Assumed C-value (Hazen-Williams) | HI Data Book’s “After 5 Years” C-value | Efficiency loss | |---------------|----------------------------------|----------------------------------------|------------------| | Steel (new) | 140 | 110–120 | 8–12% | | HDPE | 150 | 145 (stable) | <2% | | Aged cast iron| 100 | 65–80 | >25% |

However, as the engineering field has become more digital, the Hydraulic Institute recognized the need to evolve. The static data and manual calculations of the print edition, while reliable, could not easily be updated, limiting its utility in a fast-paced industry.

Water is the standard against which most pumps are rated. The book provides exhaustive tables for the physical properties of water across a wide temperature range.

In the modern era, the data within the book has been digitized:

This article will explore the book's rich history, the wealth of engineering data it contains, and how the digital tools have expanded and modernized its utility for engineers and system designers.

The Data Book provides the definitive exposition of the Affinity Laws, which govern the relationship between speed, impeller diameter, flow, head, and power.

In the complex world of fluid dynamics and rotating equipment, precision is not a luxury; it is a necessity. For decades, the Hydraulic Institute (HI) has served as the authoritative voice for the pump industry in North America and beyond. While HI is famous for its pump standards (ANSI/HI Standards), its Engineering Data Book remains one of the most practical and widely utilized resources in the engineer’s toolkit.

Proper application of the data prevents catastrophic system over-pressurization and mechanical seals failure.

Published by the itself—an organization founded in 1917 and now recognized for developing over thirty ANSI/HI pump standards—this book has served for more than 50 years as the starting point for generations of engineers seeking to understand and solve problems related to fluid transfer. It serves as a vital companion to the more formal and exhaustive HI Standards, offering practical, ready-to-use information that facilitates day-to-day engineering tasks.