A fire hydrant

MAFCO-Manufacturer of Fire Hydrant Valve, Fire Hose Nozzles, Fire Hose Couplings • HOME • ABOUT US • PRODUCTS • Hydrant valves • Hose Nozzles • Fire sprinkler system • Fire vehicle equipment • Accessories • Fire hose couplings and fittings • RESOURCE • FAQ • Testing Equipment • Certificate • NEWS/ BLOG • CONTACT US What is fire hydrant? Many of us have the experience of hearing loud horns honking and shrieking of sirens when fire trucks rushed to tackle a blaze. The fire trucks pass by and respond to a nearby office building caught on fire with giant plumes of smoke. You might start wondering how firefighters do their job and put out the fire with adequate water supply coming from nowhere. Obviously, the fire truck does not have that big a water tank to deliver all the water needed. How could firefighters get the water as if by magic? As a matter of fact, the firefighters do not pull a rabbit out of a hat because the water source is right in your own neighborhood. These water supply points around you are rarely noticed by you, or you just take them for grated without giving them a second thought when seeing them. And those magic water supply points all around us are FIRE HYDRANTS we are going to talk about. The inventor of modern fire hydrant is known to be the then Chief Engineer on the Philadelphia Water Works named Mr. Frederick Graff, Sr. Around 1801, Mr. Graff came up the first post or pillar type of fire hydrants. What he invented was considered a “wet-barrel” design...

Highlights • A private fire hydrant typically runs between $3,000 and $7,000. • Private fire hydrants are built on private property and are owned and maintained by property owners. • The hydrant’s classification is based on how many gallons per minute it can handle. • You’ll need to hire a pro to install and connect your private fire hydrant. Find pros In most cases, you’ll find private fire hydrants on private property that’s been developed for large-scale uses like apartment complexes, condominium structures, and business parks. They’re usually placed in areas where the distance between the buildings or other structures and the closest public fire hydrant makes firefighting difficult. Firefighters use both public and private hydrants to help protect buildings and property from fire damage. The cost to install a private fire hydrant on your property ranges from $3,000 to $7,000, including labor for installation. National Average Cost Minimum Cost Maximum Cost $5,000 $1,250 $7,000 Cost of a Private Fire Hydrant Near You The cost of purchasing, installing, and maintaining a private fire hydrant on your property probably won’t vary much from one geographic area to another within the U.S. However, you may run into larger costs for property that’s situated in a rural area than for city property due to the larger distances water supply lines must travel to reach buildings. Private Fire Hydrant Cost by Class The cost of installing a private fire hydrant on your property may vary...

Andy Soccodato examines the variables that affect a fire hydrant’s rated flow capacity. By Andy Soccodato Fire hydrants are responsible for providing a water supply for a large percentage of fire departments in the United States. Firefighters are introduced very early on in their recruit training to how to perform basic connections to these invaluable water sources. This usually involves learning how to “wrap,” flush, connect, and charge the hydrant with a single supply line attached. But what about those larger scale or “once-in-a-career” fires that require the full flow potential of the hydrant? These fires will almost always require the pump operator to perform a heavy hydrant hookup to maximize the full flow potential of the fire hydrant (photo 1). This process, also known as “dressing the hydrant,” involves connecting large-diameter hose (LDH) to multiple ports on the fire hydrant. Over this two-part article, we will examine what effect heavy hydrant hookups have on the availability of water to the supply pumper and why it is so important for maximizing the water available for large-scale firefights. Part 1 of this series will focus on identifying the variables that affect a hydrant’s rated capacity, while Part 2 will focus on tactics that fire departments can employ to achieve the full rated capacity of a hydrant. The 20-PSI Rule National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 291, Recommended Practice for Water Flow Testing and Marking of Hydrants, assigns a color marki...

A fire hydrant is a visible connection point placed in defined locations for firefighters to tap into a water supply. All buildings, parking areas, roadsides, mines, industrial areas, etc. must have fire hydrants with a connection to a water service network. They are designed to provide the water required by firefighters instantly to fight and extinguish a fire. Till the 18th century, underground fire hydrants were used. However, from the 19th century onwards, above-ground pillar-type fire hydrants become popular and mostly used. A fire hydrant is basically a pipe with the control of a valve through which water flows from a water main in order to put out a fire. • • Testing System: To test the hydraulic capacity of the distribution system, fire hydrants can be used. • Other Common uses: Fire hydrants are also frequently used as a water source for commercial construction work, sewer cleaning, street construction, street cleaning, etc. Working of a Fire Hydrant Fire hydrants with a variety of They usually have a connection point to hook up a fire hose and a nut or bolt to turn on which will start the flow. Every fire hydrant is essentially just an attachment to the main water line. Underneath that connects the hydrant valve through a pipe called a riser. However, normal hydrants don’t change the water pressure or flow in any way. They function as valves so firefighters can utilize the already present pressure in the water pipes. While all of this may sound simple the interna...

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases (at no added cost to you). OK, you’ve got a need for water and there’s this perfectly good fire hydrant nearby. Should you just crack it open and get the water flowing or is there another process that you need to follow? Well, you definitely don’t want to just open the hydrant, because that could get you into trouble, so, here’s what you want to do, instead. To open a fire hydrant, you need the proper tools. You also need to make sure you are allowed to open and use water from the fire hydrant, as in most areas, you will need a permit to do so. In this article, we will talk about how to open a fire hydrant legally, what you need to do to get a permit, how to open the hydrant safely without hurting you or anyone else, what tools you will need to open the fire hydrant, how to turn the hydrant once it is open, and how to shut down fire hydrant after use. Your # 1 priority is keeping your family safe. As a firefighter, I recommend everyone has updated smoke detectors that don’t require battery changes, like these ones from Kidde, a fire extinguisher, like this one from Amerex, and a fire escape ladder if you have bedrooms above the first floor, Also read: Is It Illegal To Open A Fire Hydrant? We need to be careful about this because the act of opening a fire hydrant may be either legal or The use of fire hydrants is usually subject to local ordinance rather than federal regulation, which means the exact circumstance of l...

The consistency of color coding is widely varied by localities and jurisdictional preferences. It is also governed by many national agencies like American Water Works Association (AWWA), Occupation Safety, Health Administration (OSHA), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the International Codes council (ICC) to name a few. Typically, there are three types of fire hydrants, public, private and yard. Those hydrants supplied by public mains and water supplies are referred to as public fire hydrants. These fire hydrants are classified by their rated flow as outlined in NFPA 291 Recommended Practice for Fire Flow Testing and Marking of Hydrants. The bonnet or top and the caps should be painted with capacity indicating colors designating class and flow. Class AA – Light – Blue Rated capacity >1500 gpm Class A – Green – Rated capacity 1000-1499 gpm Class B – Orange – Rated capacity 500-999 gpm Class C – Red – Rated capacity <500 gpm The recommendation also suggests that all barrels or bodies of fire hydrants be painted a reflective chrome yellow, unless other colors have been locally adopted. This marking is used for rapid identification of flow and class of fire hydrants. A public fire hydrant is supported and supplied by a public water supply and should be rated for flow, at 20 pounds per square inch of residual pressure. Most public water systems are designated as class A or B systems delivering on average 1000 gpm at 20 psi as a target flow. That residual pressure...

A fire hydrant is a water pipe used to extinguish fires or supply water for firefighting purposes. Fire hydrants are usually found near fire stations and other public areas. There are different types of fire hydrants, but all have a few things in common: they provide water to put out fires, and they are connected to a water main. They are designed to provide water for firefighting under high pressure. Types of Fire Hydrants There are different kinds of fire hydrants. Let’s take a look at some of them. Wet Barrel Hydrant Wet hydrants are the most common type. They have a valve at the top that is used to open and close the water flow. There is also a lever located near the ground that is used to open and close the hydrant’s nozzle. This type of hydrant usually has a flat-faced spigot on the side, which is what firefighters use to attach their hoses. Wet barrel hydrants are usually made of cast iron and they can be either painted red or left their natural color. Dry Barrel Hydrant Dry barrel hydrants don’t have a valve at the top. The water flow is controlled by a screw-on cap that is located on the top of the barrel. This type of hydrant usually has a threaded spigot on the side, which is what firefighters use to attach their hoses. Dry barrel hydrants are made of either cast iron or plastic and they come in different colors, including red, green, and yellow. Dry barrel hydrants are available in three varieties: slide-gate, toggle, and compression mechanisms. • Slide-Gate Me...