The Franklin Electric VR Series is a vertical multistage centrifugal pump line for clean-water duty where a single-stage pump cannot build enough pressure: building and booster-station pressure boosting, reverse osmosis and filtration feed, boiler feed, cooling towers, washdown, car wash and irrigation. Stages stack on one shaft, so one compact in-line footprint covers nominal flows from 5 GPM (1VRL) to 450 GPM (95VR) and heads up to 750 ft. It suits contractors, plant engineers, OEM skid builders and facility teams who want a pump that installs in-line and services with standard NEMA motors.
We supply U.S. 60 Hz builds of all 20 models in this collection, each with a Baldor ODP or TEFC motor in single- or three-phase voltages. Send us your flow, required pressure and inlet conditions and our engineering-led sizing team will select the size, stage count and motor and confirm it against the Franklin curve. Call 1-888.510.4036 or email sales@watermainsupply.com. Genuine Franklin Electric equipment, factory-new in original packaging — sold and supported by Watermain Supply, an independent industrial supplier.
VR Stainless vs VR Cast Iron vs VRL
How the three groups in this collection differ, from the Franklin VR Series Catalog and written specifications.
| Feature |
1VR–20VR |
30VR–95VR |
VRL (all sizes) |
| Speed |
3600 RPM (2-pole) |
3600 RPM (2-pole) |
1800 RPM (4-pole) |
| Sizes |
1VR, 3VR, 6VR, 10VR, 15VR, 20VR |
30VR, 45VR, 65VR, 95VR |
1VRL through 95VRL |
| Nominal BEP flow |
10 to 110 GPM |
160 to 450 GPM |
5 to 225 GPM (half of VR) |
| Stage range |
1 to 25 |
1 to 8 |
1 to 37 |
| Motor HP (nameplate) |
1/2 to 20 |
5 to 60 |
1/3 to 15 |
| Casing |
316 SS, laser-welded (N) |
Cast iron A48 Class 35 (G) |
Matches size: N on 1–20, G on 30–95 |
| Impellers, diffusers |
AISI 316 |
AISI 316 |
AISI 316 |
| Shaft |
AISI 316 |
AISI 329 |
Matches size |
| Floating neck ring |
PPS |
PTFE |
Matches size |
| Connection size |
1.25 or 2.00 in |
2.50, 3.00 or 4.00 in |
Matches size |
| Max working pressure |
375 psi (round flange) |
230 psi PN16; 360–460 psi PN25/40 |
Matches size and flange |
| Companion flanges |
Order separately (kit) |
Two rotatable DIN/ANSI flanges included |
Matches size |
| Standard seal |
Type 1 cartridge: SiC/graphite/EPDM |
Type 1 cartridge: SiC/graphite/EPDM |
Type 1 cartridge: SiC/graphite/EPDM |
| Liquid temperature |
+14 to +248 °F |
+14 to +248 °F |
+14 to +248 °F |
| Certification |
NSF/ANSI 61 and 372 |
NSF/ANSI 61 and 372 |
NSF/ANSI 61 and 372 |
| All-316 option |
Standard |
On request (N version) |
Matches size |
Quick rule. Start from flow: choose the size whose nominal BEP is closest to your design GPM, VR or VRL. Where two sizes overlap, compare both speeds: a 55 GPM duty sits at the 10VR nominal of 60 GPM and exactly at the 20VRL nominal of 55 GPM — the 10VR builds more head per stage, the 20VRL runs at half the speed with more stages. Cast iron (G) is standard only from 30VR up; specify the all-316 N version when the fluid chemistry calls for it.
How to Size a Vertical Multistage Pump
Two numbers pick the pump: flow in GPM and total dynamic head (TDH) in feet. Get these right and the curve does the rest.
1. Work out total dynamic head
TDH = static lift + friction loss + required pressure × 2.31 ft/psi. Static lift is the vertical rise from the water level (or pump) to the highest outlet. Friction loss covers pipe, fittings and valves at design flow. Required pressure is what you need at that highest outlet. Water weighs 0.433 psi per foot of column, so 1 psi equals 2.31 ft of head. On a booster with a pressurized supply, subtract the minimum inlet pressure (× 2.31) because the pump only has to add the difference.
Worked example. A building needs 60 GPM with 45 psi at a top-floor fixture 45 ft above the pump. Friction through the riser and fittings is 18 ft at 60 GPM.
Required pressure as head: 45 psi × 2.31 = 103.95 ft.
TDH from a tank at atmospheric pressure: 45 + 18 + 103.95 = 166.95 ft, about 167 ft (167 × 0.433 = 72.3 psi).
From a city main holding 35 psi minimum: 35 × 2.31 = 80.85 ft of credit, so the pump adds 166.95 − 80.85 = 86.1 ft (about 37 psi).
60 GPM is the nominal BEP of the 10VR, so that is the family to start with; the stage count comes from the 10VR curve at 60 GPM. For reference, Franklin’s own catalog example selects a 10VR05 for 60 GPM at 70 psi. We confirm the final model against the manufacturer curve.
2. Check suction (NPSH)
Available NPSH must exceed the pump’s required NPSH at the maximum flow it will see. Franklin’s catalog gives maximum lift as H = Ho − NPSHr − Hf − Hv − Hs (atmospheric head, NPSH required, suction friction, vapor pressure, safety margin of at least 0.5 ft, 3.95 ft suggested). Their worked example: sea level (33.95 ft), 10VR05 with 10 ft NPSHr, 4.78 ft suction losses, 65 °F water (0.72 ft) and a 3.95 ft margin gives 14.5 ft maximum lift. A negative result means the pump must sit below the water level. Hot water cuts this margin fast.
3. Apply the 70% step-up rule
If your required TDH is more than about 70% of a model’s maximum (shut-off) head, step up one stage count or one size. That keeps the duty point near the middle of the curve, leaves room for aging pipe and future demand, and avoids running near shut-off. Then confirm inlet pressure plus shut-off head stays within the flange rating.
4. Read the model code
The part number is the full configuration. Example from the VR catalog, available in this collection: 30VR032AGF1A-K6E3.
| Code |
Meaning |
Options |
| 30VR |
Size and speed |
1, 3, 6, 10, 15, 20, 30, 45, 65, 95; VR = 2-pole, VRL = 4-pole |
| 03 |
Number of stages |
Always two digits |
| 2A |
Impeller trim |
00 = no trim, 1A = one stage trimmed, 2A = two stages trimmed |
| G |
Casing / hydraulics |
G = cast iron / 316 SS, N = 316 SS / 316 SS |
| F |
Connection |
F = round flange (T = oval, V = grooved in the catalog) |
| 1 |
Seal |
1 = graphite/SiC EPDM (standard); SiC, WC and FKM options in the catalog |
| A |
Motor type |
A = NEMA |
| K |
Motor frame and HP |
K = 250TC 15 HP (A through T letters in the catalog table) |
| 6 |
Speed |
6 = 3600 RPM, 8 = 1800 RPM (60 Hz) |
| E |
Enclosure |
D = premium ODP, E = premium TEFC |
| 3 |
Voltage |
1 = 115/230 1Ph, 2 = 230 1Ph, 3 = 230/460 3Ph, 5 = 575 3Ph |
Install it right
Mount vertically with the motor above the pump on a level concrete base, with at least 4 in of clearance, a gate valve and check valve in the discharge line and an airtight suction line rising at 2° or more toward the pump. Keep supply voltage within 6% of the motor rating and ambient at or below 104 °F. Prime before start, confirm rotation, and never run the pump dry. Have a curve question first? See our Pump Curve 101 guide.
