OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this lesson you will be able to:
- Describe the source of water supply system.
- Define “Fire Hydrant”.
- Describe the two types of Fire Hydrants.
- Elaborate Fire Hydrants Design Locations installation, its parameters & Recognition.
- Describe the Hydrant operation.
- Describe the inspection and maintenance procedure of Fire Hydrant.
- Demonstrate fire hydrants operation, inspection and maintenance.
1 Source of Water Supply
- Rivers
- Canals
- Lakes
- Reservoirs
1.1 Groundwater Supply
- Water wells drilled into underground aquifers (a body of permeable rock which can contain or transmit groundwater)
- Water-producing springs
1.2 Direct Pumping Systems
- Most found in agriculture and industrial settings
- May be selected by rural fire departments as needed.
- One or more pumps draw water from primary source, transport to point of use.
- If for drinking/domestic purposes, pumped into filtration and treatment facility
- From there, pumped into distribution
1.2.1Disadvantage
Total dependence on pumps which will be driven by electricity.
1.3 Gravity Systems
- Use primary water source located at higher elevation than distribution system, deliver water without pumps.
- Gravity provides pressure to transport water.
- Gravity pressure adequate only when primary water source located more than100 feet (30 m) higher than highest point in system.
1.4 Combination Systems
- Combination of direct pumping, gravity systems.
- Water pumped from treatment facility to elevated storage tanks near point of use.
- Water stored in tanks and delivered by gravity pressure
- If storage capacity adequate relative to consumption, failure of additional pump will not affect reliability/availability.
- Many industrial facilities have their own combination supply systems.
2 Fire Hydrant
A Fire water hydrant system consists of a pressurized water piping, distributed all around a facility with a high-pressure pumping system, for purpose to provide abundant and frequent water to firefighting. Usually made of cast iron with working parts of Bronze. It must open & close slowly to prevent damage through water pressure.
The water main is provided with a branch or T-piece to which the hydrant is attached either directly or short length of pipe inserted. The hydrant is situated in a chamber or pit of bricks work or other suitable material which is covered with a hinged cover, usually of cost iron.
2.1 Dry-Barrel Hydrants
- Installed in areas where prolonged periods of subfreezing (marked by temperature below freezing point) weather are common.
- Its main valve located below frost line that prevents water from entering hydrant barrel.
- Must be completely open or closed to prevent leaking.
- When shutting down, verify that water left in hydrant barrel is draining out.
- In some areas, hydrants must be pumped out after each use to prevent water contamination.
- If water is bubbling out of ground, broken component in barrel is allowing water to get earlier drain opening.
2.2 Wet-Barrel Hydrants
- Installed in warmer climates where prolong periods of subfreezing weather uncommon. Horizontal compression type valve usually at each outlet.
- Always filled with water while flow rate from individual hydrants varies due to several reasons.
3 Design, Location, Installation, Parameters and Recognition
3.1 Design of Fire Hydrant:
- While selecting the design of fire hydrant, the given below issues should be considered.
- How much water is needed for firefighting?
- How many hose connections are required?
- Which size of hose connection is required?
- Current and future configuration of fire apparatus.
- Issues of clearance and visibility.
- Operating characteristics of hydrant.
- Pressure available in lines (How much).
- What are climate conditions?
- Hydrant outlet threads (coupling) should meet the regional standards for compatibility among all fire vehicles.
- Shape and access of fire hydrant.
- Position of valve and outlets should be clear and visible.
- Valves and outlets should be simple, reliable to connect and operate.
- Discharge valve should be specified to open by turning counter clock wise and close by turning clock wise.
3.2 Location of Fire Hydrant:
- Standard practice for fire hydrant is to install at every 500 feet.
- Minor deviations in this space may be appropriate as per situation.
- Sufficient number of hydrants should be provided for required fire flow and high hazard areas.
- Safe minimum distance of fire hydrant should be from the protected/ involved structures.
- Competent authority of fire wing/ department must be consulted to ensure the operational and practical issues, involved
- Hydrants spacing should be accessible and should not create any obstruction.
- Hydrants proximity to structures protected.
- Fire hydrant must not be isolated by a fence, gate or obstruction
- Parking of vehicles should be at a safe distance form hydrant.
- Vehicles and hoses connected must not block critical access way.
- Walls, gates and fences should appear on preliminary development plans and adjustment to the additional fire hydrant should be considered, if these improvements affect the use of proposed fire hydrant.
3.3 Hydrant Installation:
- Comparison and monitoring of preliminary grading design and final grading.
- Co-ordination among all parties involved at the building site in fire hydrant installation details.
- Co-ordination with utility companies for ensuring non-interference of utility poles, vaults, cabinet’s, sewerage lines and encroachments etc.
- As a general rule, no equipment or facility should be within 3 feet of the fire hydrant body.
- Plants, walls, landscaping and other materials must be kept outside the fire hydrants clearance space.
3.4 Installation Parameters:
- All hydrants must be of pillar type, with two delivery outlets and blanking caps for each outlet.
- The pressurized fire hydrant system shall be maintained at 3-5 bar pressure every time.
- Each delivery outlet must have instantaneous female end of 2.5-inch diameter.
- Every delivery outlet should preferably have a separate shut-off-valve.
- The diameter of main Hydrant line must be 4 inches (minimum). However, smaller diameter lines may be considered, if 4 inches diameter lines are not available.
- The main Hydrant line should preferably be metallic, however, if metallic lines are not available, PVC lines may consider as alternate.
- Main hydrant line must have an isolation valve near the Fire Hydrant.
- Suitable draining mechanism for hydrant should also be provided. Industrial areas, densely populated residential areas, High rise buildings, Sensitive areas and high security Government Buildings may be selected for the suitable hydrant points. • Commercial areas & busy markets must also be selected for a hydrant point.
- Narrow streets in old residential areas and commercial markets, where fire vehicle access is not possible, fire hydrants may be installed.
3.5 Fire Hydrant Recognition:
- Fire hydrant should be immediately recognizable to firefighting agencies and general public.
- Standard color coding must be adopted throughout the region.
- According to NFPA, non-municipal hydrants can be painted a color that distinguishes them from municipal hydrants.
- Fire Hydrants must be painted with visible color.
- Indication should be provided for permanently and temporarily nonoperative Fire Hydrants
4 Fire Hydrant Operation:
4.1 Turning On:
Fire fighters must be proficient in operating a fire hydrant. These steps should be considered while opening a hydrant;
- Check that remaining outlets blanking caps are snugly attached.
- Attach the hose to the hydrant outlet.
- Place hydrant wrench on stem-nut & check opening arrow direction.
- When instructed to do so by your officer or the pump operator, start the flow of water. Turn the wrench to fully open the valve.
- Open the hydrant slowly to avoid a pressure surge, once the flow of water has begun, you can open valve more quickly
4.2 Turning Off/ Shut Down a Hydrant:
- Turn the hydrant’s stem-nut slowly with wrench until valve is closed.
- Slowly and carefully disconnect the hose from outlet.
- Re-place the hydrant’s outlet’s blanking cap.
- Re-place the hydrant’s outlet’s blanking cap.
5. Inspection and Maintenance of Fire Hydrants:
5.1 Inspection of Hydrant System
- Hydrants should be checked physically & operationally.
- Frequently but at least once a year.
- Valves, blanking caps couplings, main stop valves & main line must be checked periodically.
- Hydrant should not be hidden by tall grass, brush, fences, debris, or any other obstruction.
- Check and ensure that all blanking caps are present.
- All the inspection record of every periodical inspection must be documented.
5.2 Maintenance of Hydrant System
- Check the gasket in the caps to make sure they are not cracked, broken or missed, if broken replace them with a new one.
- Lubricant any part of the hydrant if necessary or rusted.
- All the valves, delivery valve main stem nut valve, and main line valve must be repaired or replaced if broken cracked, missed or rusted.

Emma Lee, an expert in fire safety with years of firefighting and Rescuer experience, writes to educate on arescuer.com, sharing life-saving tips and insights.