Fire Hydrant System | Firefighting (Explained)

Do you know Fire hydrants can save your life and save you from big tragedies? I am here to share my knowledge about a Fire hydrant system. Why do we install a fire hydrant system? What are the essential components of the fire hydrant system? With years of experience in project execution and Firefighting, I gained enough knowledge about the Fire hydrant system and fire fighting.

Let me help you to share my knowledge with you.

Check this out:

What is the fire hydrant system?

A fire hydrant system is a firefighting system that helps firefighters to fight Fire effectively and quickly. Fire hydrants are the points of connection from firefighters connecting hose nozzles and their pipes to get pressurized water. A fire hydrant system is an emergency safety system that is around the outside of the building. There are many types of fire hydrants systems we will also discuss in detail.

In fact:

Whenever an emergency of Fire happens in the building, this system will help fight a fire without any complications. It supplies a large amount of water with relevant pressure according to the condition of an emergency fire. The fire hydrant system is known as the backbone of the fire fighting system. Its primary purpose is to provide water in an emergency to save from vandalization.

Why is the hydrant system used and installed?

When the word “fire hydrant” comes to our minds, the question blows up in our minds.

Question is:

Why do we need to use and install it?

It is not a device or any small apparatus or instrument; it is a hydrant system that is only used in emergency cases to provide vast amounts of water according to emergency conditions. That’s why we have to install it. It is specially designed for rapid access to water to overcome emergencies.

One of the central potentials of this system is to fight the Fire from a high or long distance because of the significant piping mechanism. The fire hydrant system consists of an interconnected pipeline that provides water to each hydrant outlet all around the building. This system is installed outside and all around the building to overcome any fire emergency.

The Components help the fire hydrant system.

To know more about the fire hydrants system and how the fire hydrants system works? We must learn about its components.

So let’s check this out…

1.  RESERVOIR TANK

The Reservoir tank is the primary source of water. When we need water for an emergency from fire hydrants, the water comes to each hydrant from the reservoir tank to all around the building. Its size depends on the building requirement.

2.  FIRE PUMPS

Water transfers from the Reservoir tank to each hydrant with the help of pumps. Here are the main three pumps with their control system in the fire hydrant system.

(A) Electric Pump

The most commonly used pump is the fire hydrant system, an electric pump that maintains the required pressure of each hydrant. It takes input as an electric power supply.

(B) Jockey pump

A jockey pump helps to maintain the pressure of each hydrant in the fire hydrants system. We can use it when there is any minor leakage on the system.

(C) Diesel pump

A diesel pump is an alternative pump; when you don’t have an electric power supply, you can use a diesel pump to start an emergency mission of Firefighting. It will maintain the pressure all over the hydrants and fire hydrants system.

3. PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE WITH TEST CONE

Pressure relief valve usually used with diesel pump or electric pump. Diesel pump and electric pump process torque, so it generates more pressure to maintain starting pressure of diesel and electric pump with desirable pressure.

We usually use a pressure relief valve with a test cone to maintain the pressure according to the desired pressure of the hydrant system. The excessive water which we get is turned back into the reservoir tank through a pressure relief valve.

Note: We can install a pressure relief valve with centrifugal pumps in two cases, with a diesel engine fire pump and an electric variable speed pump as per NFPA-20.

4. FLOW-METER

Flow Meter is used to determine the flow of pumps for system testing. We use a flow meter to the discharge line of a pump.

5. FIRE HYDRANTS & VALVE CHAMBER

Fire hydrants are permanently installed outside of buildings to fight a fire with the help of water. Valve chamber mandatory with a fire hydrant installed with a wall box or wall chamber. Usually, we use wall boxes when hydrants or valves are on the road. If valves are not on the roadside, they are on the footpath side and always use a wall chamber with fire hydrants.

6. HOSE & NOZZLE CABINET

Firefighters connect Hose and Nozzle with hydrants. After connection, water comes through the pipes, and firefighters quickly tackle emergencies.

7. AUTO MODE PRESSURIZED SYSTEM

This system is automatic; It maintains pressure according to the setting, which is a controller of a pump. The transducer helps to sense the pressure of water and provides a vital force automatically.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

What should be the working pressure in the Fire hydrants system?

In a Fire hydrants system, working pressure should not be less than 150 psi. It should be between 100psi to 180psi.

How much distance do we have to keep between Hydrants?

The distance between each hydrant should be 50meters.

What should distance to keep Hydrant to Building?

Fire hydrant located not less than 40ft (12.2m) from the buildings to be protected

Conclusion

A fire hydrants system is essential for safety purposes. It helps us save lives and keeps us relaxed that we have a system that can protect us. Fire hydrants installed outside of the building helped firefighters to fight the Fire. It maintains the required pressure with a pump control system by using a transducer. We can use electric, diesel, and jockey pump to overcome emergencies.

Share your thoughts about the fire hydrants system or ask questions, if you want to know more about this topic.

Watch the following videos regarding fire hydrants. These are in Urdu / Hindi language: