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As part of providing water main design services, Kapur routinely upgrades connections to municipal fire hydrants. Whether you’ve wondered why they come in different shapes, sizes, and colors, or how realistic Hollywood’s portrayal of people easily opening them is, project engineer Chris Sberna has overseen countless reconstruction projects across his 10-year career and knows the answers to these burning questions.
Why are some fire hydrants flush with the ground, while others may be slightly above with extra piping showing?
Hydrants are usually replaced in conjunction with a new watermain installation, and they only come in 6-inch bury depth increments—from the bottom flange of the hydrant to the bottom of the hydrant lead. So, depending on the bury depth of the hydrant and the ground elevation at the base of the hydrant, the amount of “extra piping” can vary. There’s a built-in tolerance as to how much can be exposed; it most often has to do with the height of the hydrant nozzle relative to the ground.
What determines where a fire hydrant gets placed?
State statutes require that hydrants be placed at street intersections or intermediate points between intersections so that the spacing is no more than 600 feet apart. Based on that, depending on the municipality, location, and roadway type, hydrants are typically placed at or near property lines rather than in the middle of a property. That said, some municipalities require hydrants to be placed closer than the 600-foot spacing due to the local fire department’s standard hose lengths.
From red to yellow to green, what determines the color of a fire hydrant?
The municipality or utility owner’s preference determines the color; the color doesn’t actually mean anything. Traditionally, hydrants are red, but they can also vary in color. For instance, the City of Plymouth uses yellow hydrants, and the Village of Fox Point is currently transitioning from silver and green to the more traditional red. Also, if you look around Fiserv Forum, which Kapur provided site design for, the hydrants are painted cream-colored with basketballs on top to match the Bucks’.
When a fire hydrant is marked as out of service, what determines if it will be reinstated?
Hydrants are usually marked as out of service if they are down for repair or replacement or are connected to a new water main system that has not yet been fully tested and approved to be connected to the larger system. In this case, the hydrant will be reinstated once all testing is completed, and the drinking water meets safety standards.
What determines the shape of a fire hydrant? Who picks them out, buys, and orders them?
State statutes mandate the size of fire hydrant nozzles. However, minor shape differences depend on the hydrant's type/model/manufacturer. Each municipality/utility owner has its own preferred hydrant type/model/manufacturer, and they are the ones who pick them out. When it becomes necessary to install them, a contractor will order/buy them from a supplier.
Do engineers need to know anything about fire hoses to design the fire hydrant?
No, state statutes require hydrant nozzles to be a certain size/configuration, so fire hoses are also sized accordingly. Everything is universal. There are times, though, when we will space the hydrants depending on the hose length carried by a specific municipality’s fire department.
Who is responsible for maintaining fire hydrants?
The municipality or utility owner.
Are fire hydrants always filled with water? Can they freeze?
Fire hydrants don’t have water in them 24/7. At the very top of the hydrant is a bolt that opens a valve at the base when water is needed. Water main piping, including the pipe that connects to the hydrant, is installed at least 6 feet below the ground level, below the traditional frost line in Wisconsin. This helps with the potential for freezing in the wintertime. However, in extremely cold winters, water mains could still potentially freeze. Still, it becomes less of a concern when water continuously flows through the pipe, which is why you hear people recommend turning a faucet in your house to a drip in deep freezes.
How easy is it to open a fire hydrant?
Because the top bolt is not a traditional hexagonal bolt, a special “hydrant key” is needed to open it, which helps prevent anyone without a “key” from gaining access to the water supply.
Fire hydrants may not be the flashiest part of city life, but they represent a critical link in our emergency response infrastructure. By thoroughly addressing them when providing water main design, Kapur ensures they remain a cornerstone of community safety and are ready to help us when needed most.
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