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 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. Show
Purpose and Uses of Fire HydrantsThe primary purpose of fire hydrants is to supply water for suppressing fire. However, they can be used for several secondary purposes like:
Fire hydrants with a variety of valves and connection points are seen in many places. In the event of a fire breakout, firefighters locate the fire hydrants, connect their hoses and then pump a large volume of pressurized water to put out the fire. A special pentagonal wrench is used to remove the valve cover of the hydrant. Then after attaching the hoses, the firefighters open the valve for the water to flow. They usually have a connection point to hook up a fire hose and a nut or bolt to turn on what 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, the 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 internal mechanics of a fire hydrant are a little more complex and can vary by region. Types of Fire HydrantsThere are two types of Fire Hydrants; Wet hydrant and Dry hydrant. Wet HydrantWet hydrants are widely used in places where there is no problem of freezing. In such types of fire hydrant systems, the water in the main supplies the hydrant close to the surface. So, in cold weather conditions, it is susceptible to freezing. Dry HydrantA dry hydrant system stores the water below ground. The Earth’s temperature is usually higher than the cold environment temperature in cold regions. So, the possibility of freezing can be prevented by this arrangement. When the dry hydrant system is required to be used, firefighters open a valve on top of the hydrant and engage their hose in it. This causes the drain valve to open inside of the hydrant. This allows the water to come through which the firefighters use against the fire. Difference between Wet barrel Hydrant and Dry barrel HydrantThe main differences between a wet hydrant and a dry hydrant are mentioned below:
Components of a Fire Hydrant SystemThe main components that constitute a fire hydrant system are:
Color Coding of Fire HydrantsFollowing NFPA standards, all fire hydrants are color-coded. These colors indicate the expected flow during the operation. Usually, the top caps of the fire hydrants are painted. The following table provides the common colors according to the flow.
Codes and Standards of Fire HydrantsThe codes and standards that are used as guidelines for designing fire hydrant systems are:
Fire Fighting System Online CoursesTo learn more details about the fire fighting systems, their operation, application, etc you can join the following online in-depth video courses:
What are the parts of fire hydrant?The main components that constitute a fire hydrant system are:. Fire Fighting Pumps & Accessories.. Piping.. Panels.. Landing Valves.. Hoses.. Couplings.. Hose Reel.. Branch Pipes & Nozzles.. What is the fire hydrant system?A fire hydrant is a pipe that allows water to flow from a water main with the control of a valve in order to put out a fire. Fire Hydrant Protection System is designed to fight fire of huge proportions, in all classes of risks. It is designed to be in operation even if a part of the affected structure collapses.
What are two types of hydrant connections?For most intents and purposes, there are two types, wet and dry barrel hydrants, in addition to standpipes. These have a different structure and mechanism depending on the surrounding conditions.
What is the function of hydrant?Hydrants are devices for extracting water from pipelines and water distribution systems. In the event of a fire outbreak, a fire hydrant can assure fast water supply. The connections to the pipes are tapped with so-called hydrant wrenches and hydrant standpipes and are further connected to the fire trucks.
|