Since hydrants are so crucial in fighting back against fires, they have to remain in optimal operating conditions at all times.
When a fire starts to blaze, quick response time is important in preventing serious damages. Firefighters rush to the scene of the fire with fire engines that hold plenty of water. However, since fire hoses can hold a limited amount of water per minute, a fire engine’s water supply will deplete quickly. A fire engine’s water supply limitation means that fire hydrants supply most of the water for significant fires. Since hydrants are so crucial in fighting back against fires, they have to remain in optimal operating conditions at all times. You could do a few different things as a business or property owner to keep your fire hydrant in good working condition. Read on to learn more!
Private or Public Fire Hydrants
A lot of fire hydrants are located on public land. Local governments are the ones responsible for maintaining public fire hydrants. This includes arranging for any regular inspections and keeping them free from obstructions. But what about fire hydrants located on private land? In these cases, landowners are responsible for taking care of these private hydrants, much like their plumbing systems. Fire safety companies or plumbing companies can specialize in checking out these hydrants. If you own a private fire hydrant, you can hire one of these services to come inspect your fire hydrant, but make sure you’re still aware of the procedures and steps required for an inspection.
How Often Do My Fire Hydrants Require Inspection?
It is recommended to have your fire hydrants inspected at least twice a year. No more than six months can pass in between inspections. Because of cold weather in certain times of the year, these inspections are best performed during the fall and spring. Typically, the inspection in the spring is a visual inspection, and the fall one is a more detailed and thorough maintenance inspection. Private landowners should make sure to keep a record of each fire hydrant inspection. These records will provide proof of inspection for fire commissioners, an inspector, an authority with jurisdiction, or our professional plumbing team.
What Happens During an Inspection?
No matter which kind of inspection is taking place, the fire codes in each spot that require an inspection include specific steps. The following parts are checked during inspection:
- Caps, including any cap threads
- Drain valves
- Main valves
- Barrels
- O-ring seals or gaskets
A RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL PLUMBING COMPANY YOU CAN TRUST
Alpha Plumbing is a full-service plumbing and contracting company serving the Baltimore and Annapolis metro area with expertise in all aspects of plumbing. We’re family-owned and operated since 1991 from our office in Pasadena. We offer quality plumbing services at reasonable rates in a timely fashion. Our trucks are equipped with GPS systems to ensure we’re prompt and on time. No job is too large or too small! We maintain a fleet of well-stocked trucks and also own and operate our own backhoes for jobs requiring excavation.
For more information and to get a free no-obligation estimate, you can contact us on our website, send us an e-mail, or give us a call at (410) 255-5998.