When someone talks about fire hydrants, you might be forgiven for thinking about the red ones you see on the side of the street in America. In the UK, you may have noticed that we don’t have those sort, and instead opt for ones which are underground.
To access them, we use standpipes to bring the water up to ground level for the fire service to attach their hoses to.
For those of a certain age, standpipes bring back memories of water rationing during the draught of 1976. But they’re handy to have to protect your business from a fire, or if you have permission to use water direct from the mains.
What Size Do I Need?
Well, there is a fire hydrant standpipe size that connects to the main water supply.
This means that most standpipes will fit the 64mm (2.5 inch) valve on an underground hydrant.
You then have the option of what type of connector you want on the top end, which depends on what you want it for.
If you have it for firefighting purposes, then you will need one that the fire brigade can fit their hoses onto. This will fit a coupling connection which is also 64mm in diameter.
Or if you have permission to use them for another purpose, such as for cleaning graffiti, you will need a contractor standpipe. This then allows you to connect equipment that uses the standard 19mm size pipework, such as a hose.
How Do You Use and Find A Fire Hydrant?
Unless you’re using it to tackle a fire, you will need permission to use a standpipe from the water board. Using a standpipe inappropriately can result in you getting a fine.
It is also important to note that some water companies, such as Thames Water, only allow you to use standpipes rented from them.
You will often find fire hydrants by the side of the road, at quite regular intervals.
An easy way to find them is to look for the yellow signs with a large ‘H’, as those markers alert you that one is nearby.
The top number tells you the size of the main’s water pipe, which supplies the hydrant. The bottom number tells you how far away from the marker you will find the hydrant.
Once you’ve located the hydrant and screwed in the standpipe, you will need to turn the hydrant on.
You could try to reach down the hole, but using a hydrant key is easier as it does the reaching for you.
But don’t go thinking it’s free water to wash your car with. Make sure you have correct permissions and equipment if you’re wanting to use it for commercial purposes.
And if you’re making sure you can protect your business as best as possible in the event of a fire?
Ensure you know where your nearest fire hydrant is, and that you have a standpipe and key ready to react quickly.