diff --git a/api/s11_patterns.py b/api/s11_patterns.py
index 8099abf..615736a 100644
--- a/api/s11_patterns.py
+++ b/api/s11_patterns.py
@@ -94,14 +94,22 @@ def delete_pattern(name: str, cs: ChangeSet) -> ChangeSet:
 
 
 #--------------------------------------------------------------
-# [EPANET2][IN][OUT]
+# [EPA2][IN][OUT]
 #   ;desc
 #   id  mult1  mult2 .....
 #--------------------------------------------------------------
+# [EPA3][IN][OUT]
+#   id  FIXED (interval)
+#   id  factor1  factor2  ...
+#   id  VARIABLE
+#   id  time1  factor1  time2  factor2  ...
+#--------------------------------------------------------------
 def inp_in_pattern(section: list[str]) -> ChangeSet:
     descs = {}
     patterns: dict[str, list[float]] = {}
 
+    variable_patterns: list[str] = []
+
     count = len(section)
     for i in range(0, count):
         if section[i].startswith(';'):
@@ -113,10 +121,22 @@ def inp_in_pattern(section: list[str]) -> ChangeSet:
             continue
 
         tokens = section[i].split()
+
+        # for EPA3, ignore time of variable pattern...
+        if tokens[1] == 'VARIABLE':
+            variable_patterns.append(tokens[0])
+            continue
+        elif tokens[1] == 'FIXED':
+            continue
+
         if tokens[0] not in patterns:
             patterns[tokens[0]] = []
-        for token in tokens[1:]:
-            patterns[tokens[0]].append(float(token))
+        if tokens[0] not in variable_patterns:
+            for token in tokens[1:]:
+                patterns[tokens[0]].append(float(token))
+        else:
+            for token in tokens[1::2]:
+                patterns[tokens[0]].append(float(token))
 
     cs = ChangeSet()
     for id, factors in patterns.items():