Fire hydrant is equipment that provides convenient fluid intake from the water supply network. Its main application is as a connection point for fire hoses used to fill the tank of a fire engine or to extinguish a fire. Also, this device is very often used for land reclamation. In the article below, you can find out what a fire hydrant is, the device and the principle of operation.
Varieties of Fire Hydrants
Devices of this type, which are used most often in suburban areas, can be of the following types:
- Elevated (no-well).
- Underground fire hydrant (device in the well).
The latter option is the most sought after. This is due to the fact that during a fire an uninterrupted supply of water will be provided.
Underground hydrant
The device of the fire hydrant in the well is as follows:
- The hydrant must be installed so that a tap is visible on the surface. Such a device is manufactured in accordance with GOST. The hydrant can be of various shapes and sizes.
- Equipment of this type, as a rule, is used if there is a liquid with a temperature of 5 to 50ºC in the cold water supply system. Using a hydrant at sub-zero temperatures is not possible. Water pressure should not be higher than 10 MPa.
- The hydrant and fire column in the well should only be installed in an upright position.
- For this equipment special stands are provided. Before installation, the hydrant must be flushed with well water. The height of the unit can be with an interval of 250-1250-3500 mm.
- With such dimensions, the valve opens by 24-30 mm. The design of hydrants provides holes for connecting hoses.
- When using hydrants, very often a fire line is built around the perimeter of the well. It consists of numerous plastic pipelines or hoses laid along the perimeter of strategic objects.
- There is a specific instruction for installing a fire hydrant of any type. It indicates how to make a fire hydrant device, its connection diagram and the sequence of actions during installation.
What should be a well
As a rule, detailing a well with a hydrant is done by professionals. However, if you know the specific requirements for using this type of equipment, you can build a well yourself.
- The well should not be located at great depths. Water should be supplied from the well. At the same time, water does not have to be cleaned of impurities, the main thing is that there are no stones in it.
- The width of the well should not be less than 800 mm. Such parameters will allow you to freely turn on and off the equipment.
- The well is made of large diameter plastic pipelines and reinforced concrete rings. It is not recommended to lower the equipment into a dug and unfinished well, since with a slight displacement of the soil it can simply fall asleep.
Overhead Hydrant
A fireless fire hydrant (the device and principle of operation are discussed below), in comparison with an underground installation, is a more complex design. Such units can be found in any terrain, they are installed on a special hatch or soil surface. A prerequisite is the presence of a water source in the immediate vicinity.
In winter, such equipment is very important to completely free from water. Otherwise, it will freeze and cannot be used.
Also, these devices are equipped with additional functions. Above ground hydrants are usually equipped with an automatic start or release from water.
Installation tips
- The height of this device can be different and when choosing it, it is necessary to take into account the depth of freezing. A column equipped with two nozzles is screwed onto the fire hydrant, providing uninterrupted water supply if necessary.
- There are modern models in which the function of automatic drainage of water as a result of using a fire hydrant is additionally provided.
- The operational life of this equipment is approximately 50 years. Thanks to innovations in production technologies, these devices can also be used externally. There are special devices for this. It should also be noted that when installing a fire hydrant (device on the pipeline), it is very important to take into account the degree of soil freezing.
- The design of this unit provides several bends for connecting hoses. They can work both individually and in parallel.
Installation requirements
The most important aspect that you should pay attention to during installation is the location of the hydrant. The following requirements are imposed on him:
- Fire hydrant (device and principle of operation below) may be placed on the road and at a distance from it no more than 2.5 meters.
- Installation should be carried out at a distance of 50-100 meters from the nearest building.
- It is forbidden to install a hydrant at a distance of less than 5 meters from the wall of the nearest building.
- It is forbidden to install this equipment at the branch of pipelines.
- In addition, the distance from the wall of the well hatch to the axis of the riser can not be less than 175 mm, and from the end of the riser to the hatch cover - 150-400 mm.
Appointment, fire hydrant device
Fire hydrant is, first of all, a guarantee of fire safety. A hydrant installed on time and in the right place will provide unhindered access of the population and firefighters to water in case of emergency. For this reason, the device of these units should imply a competent choice of location, and also fully comply with the requirements and standards established by the state.
Fire hydrant: device and principle of operation
This equipment is a water-folding crane, the design of which provides for three main parts: installation head, valve head and riser. The sizes of these parts vary depending on the hydrant model. Also, the type of this equipment may have a stand for elevated models, or an underground well in which the unit is installed.
The hydrant is actuated by means of a special key that rotates the bar. In turn, the rod actuates the valve and thereby opens access to water. A device of this type is able to function not only as a feed for fire engines, but also as an independent source of water.
Work procedure
The type of fire hydrant - underground or ground - depends on its installation, either it starts from a well, or from mounting a stand, respectively. After preparing the surface for the unit or preparing the shelter, a fire column is installed on the thread of the pipeline previously connected to the water supply system. Also, during the installation process, hydrant elements are treated with waterproofing and anti-corrosion compounds, which extend the operating life of the equipment.
Health Assurance
To ensure regular operational readiness of the unit, it is necessary to carry out its technical and service maintenance twice a year. The list of work that needs to be done includes:
- Ease of rotation of the valve.
- Tightness and integrity of the valve and gaskets.
- The presence of rainwater or leaked hydrant in the well.
- Checking the working elements of the device for the presence of a nipple, the integrity of the rod, cover, housing, thread, as well as for the presence of cracks and other damage.
- Check for tightness and integrity of the manhole.