FIRE HYDRANTS

OBJECTIVE

Learning Outcome 7 Operate Fire Hydrants.

Assessment Criteria 7
7.1 State types of fire hydrant.

7.2 Describe fire hydrant constructions and marking

REFERENCES

a. Manual Of Firemanship Book 7.

b. Manual Of Firemanship Part 3: Hydraulics and Water Supplies.

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 FIRE HYDRANTS

INTRODUCTION

Couplings are used to connect individual lengths of fire hose together. Couplings are
also used to connect a hose line to a hydrant; to an intake or discharge valve on a engine; or
to a variety of nozzles, fittings, and appliances. A coupling is permanently attached to each
end of a section of fire hose.

TYPES OF HYDRANT

The principal features of the types of hydrant at present in use in

this country are as follows:

(a) Sluice-valve Hydrant.

This type of hydrant (Fig. 3) is not placed above the main, but alongside it on a
short branch, the water flowing horizontally past the valve, and not vertically as in the
screw-down type. It consists of three main castings, the inlet piece which is
connected to the pipe, the sluice valve itself, and the duck foot bend leading to the
outlet. The opening and closing of the waterway is effected by means of a gate
or wedge, having gunmetal faces, which seats on corresponding faces in the body of
the valve. Rotation of the spindle raises the wedge until it is clear of the waterway.
The spindle passes through the valve cover by means of the usual gland and stuffing
box. This hydrant is hydraulically very efficient, and, when the valve is open, gives a
full waterway with a negligible loss of pressure.

(b) Screw-down Hydrant.

This is probably the commonest type, being found in one or other of its forms in
most parts of the country. It is attached directlyto the which is provided at the chosen
point with a vertical branch having_a flange to which that of the hydrant is bolted. A
mushroom type valve (Fig. 4) closes on a seating in the base of the hydrant body
just above the inlet flange. The valve may have a leather, rubber or gunmetal face,
while the seating is of gunmetal. The valve is attached to the lower end of a screwed

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 stem, and is lifted from its seating by the rotation of a hollow spindle into which the
stem screws until it is clear of the waterway. A cover to the hydrant body carries the
stuffing box and gland through which the spindle passes. The outlet is bolted to the
upper end of a bend leading from the valve seating. The hydraulic efficiency of this
type varies greatly with the design of valve and outlet bends.

(c). On the Land. Installed ready to be known as the 'Pillar' (columns).

Figure 5 :The Pillar of Fire Hydrant.

CONSTRUCTION

Underground hydrant types located in a room made of brick or etc., and its position
above or adjacent channels at close to the water main cover made of steel designed to
prevent damage when through heavy machinery.

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HYDRANT EQUIPMENTS

Divided into three sections, namely:

a. False Spindle

b. Small Tools:

(1) Key closing the opening tap.

(2) Hydrant Key.

(3) Hydrant Bar.

Figure 3: Small gearvusedcin connection with hydrants: (A) hydrant cover key,
(B) water iron, (C) hydrant key, (D) hydrant bar

.
c. Hydrant Pit and Cover.

Cover Hydrant Pit

Figure 4: Hydrant Pit and Cover

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SYMPTOMS OF FIRE HYDRANT

There are three (3) mark hydrants, namely:

a. Signage from the shelf board / Metal:

(1) yellow colored background.

(2) The letter 'H' and the number of black color.

(3) Installed Near Fire Hydrant.

(4) The number of letters indicates the size of the H side of the
pipe (size in inches).

(5) Number in the letter H at the bottom shows the distance to

the hydrant fire (size distance).

b. Sign of the Stone:

(1) yellow color.

(2) High stone 2 feet 6 inches from ground level.

(3) The letter 'H' colored black.

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 c. Marking On the Road / Pedestrian Path. line a yellow measuring 8
feet (2.4 m) long and 4 inches (10.2 cm) wide with two bar at the end of the
arrow measuring 1 foot (30.6 cm) long and 4 inches (10.2 cm) wide at
the end of an arrow pointing to the tap.

INSPECTION AND TESTING OF HYDRANTS

Where by agreement with the water undertakers local authority brigades carry out the
inspection and testing of hydrants the latter should be inspected at least twice and where
possible four times a year. Inspections should not be undertaken in frosty weather,
which would allow water to freeze, and thus constitute a possible danger to pedestrians or
traffic.

The following points should be watched while the inspections are being made:

(a) Care should be taken to see that the outlets of watertight pits are clear. If no
outlet is fitted the pit should be emptied with a hydrant pit cleaner or baled out, and
must be left dry and clean at the conclusion of the inspection.

(b) The frost valve, if fitted, should be inspected to see that it is working properly.
It is normally sufficient to check that when the hydrant valve is turned off the water
level falls in the outlet limb. If' the frost valve does not open, the hydrant elbow
should be tapped lightly, when the valve will probably loosen itself. If it still fails to
function it should be removed and a spare valve substituted.

(c) The valve spindle should be cleaned, and signs of excessive wear, including
leakage from the gland, should be reported. If the hydrant is of the type that
carries a false spindle, it should be checked this is in its place, and secured by
means of the pin. Using a blank cap on the standpipe, the valve should be
operated so that the
hydrant is fully open.

To make sure that the hydrant is fully charged after operating the valve, the
latter should be closed, the blank cap removed, and valve then partially operated to
release a small quantity of water through the hydrant, care being taken to direct the
water into the roadway to avoid damage to property.

It is desirable to use a blank cap fitted with some form of air release so that
any air trapped in the standpipe during testing can be released before the blank cap
is removed.

(d) The outlet should be tested by fitting the standpipe. The outlet cap, if one is
fitted, should then be replaced.

(e) If it be thought desirable to carry out flow tests of the main case of any doubt

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 as to its capacity, the water authority should be consulted in order that they may be
aware of the test and may make arrangements for the attendance of their officials if
they so wish. It will normally only be necessary to test mains of 6-in. diameter or
below, where the main is of considerable length. The water authority will give
information as to the situation of mains with a poor water supply, and these should be
borne in mind by officers in charge or fires in their neighbourhood. Discretion should
be used in the times at which flow tests are carried out.

(f) If a washer is used on the outlet it should be ascertained that this is neither
perished nor misplaced.

(g) The brickwork of the pit, the cover and its frame, and the state of the roadway
round the frame should all be examined with care, and a report made if any are
damaged. It should be borne in mind that a defective hydrant cover or frame may
cause injury to a member of the public and result in an action at law.

(h) When a ball hydrant still passes water after it has been closed the leak may be
due to damage to the covering of the ball. If the latter be pushed down with a broom
handle or similar object it will re-seat itself in a different position and a watertight
seating may result. The case of the sluice valve hydrant a piece of grit may
prevent the complete closing of the gate; in such a case the valve should be re-
opened, when the flow of water may clear away the obstruction.

(i) The paintwork of the indication markings on roadway and walls should be
inspected and renewed if necessary, the hydrant tablet cleaned, and any obscuring
vegetation cut away.

OPERATION OF HYDRANTS

Apart from the information contained in Part 2 of the Manual, Chapter 15, 'Practical
Pump Operation', the following simple rules should not be forgotten when getting to work
from a hydrant.

(a) Open the hydrant valve slowly, especially if the hose is connected directly to a
branch.

(b) Close the valve slowly to prevent water hammer and a possible burst main.

(c) After use see that the hydrant valve is properly closed so that no water leaks
out;that the frost valve works, and that the pit is left clean and in a condition in which
frost will not damage it.

(d) The valve of a hydrant should not be operated when the pit is flooded unless
standpipe or hose is first connected. Should the main be empty, opening the valve
might allow contaminated water from the pit to flow into the main and thus pollute the
supply when it is restored.

(f) The standpipe or hose should not be disconnected from a hydrant in which no
water is available or from which the flow has failed until the valve has been shut. This
will obviate the danger 'of the valve being left open with unfortunate consequences
when the supply is restored.

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 (g) To avoid the risk of contaminating the water supply every endeavour should
bemade to avoid collecting water simultaneously into one pump from a street
main and a dirty water, salt water or any other source of supply. Although
collecting heads are fitted with non-return valves, grit or other causes of defective
closing may allow dirty water to pass in the reverse direction and enter the street
mains.

CONCLUSION

With a deep extension of the fire hydrant will be able to complete tasks properly and
effectively.

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