Is There Meaning Behind The Color Of A Fire Hydrant?

By Author: Dutco Tennant LLC
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What's a fire hydrant?

A fire hydrant is a point where firemen or people can be able to tap into the supply of water. Mostly, the fire hydrants are assisted by the fire fighters in diminishing fire. Connecting through a hose to the specific hydrant can gain access to the water supply to put down the fire in any burning place. The pressure though varies in accordance to various regions. It also depends on several factors like - location of water source and size. The users can split water into different streams.
Infrastructure Fire Fighting equipment along with fire hydrants help firemen to put down the fire in a burning place and save lives and properties.

Why do we require colour coding for fire hydrants?

Everyone knows fighting with fire is an extremely tough task to do. The work comes with many obstacles that fire fighters need to overcome to save people along with properties. The main obstacle is - water. We know that water is everywhere but the main point is finding the fire hydrant that is not so big to find. That is why colour-coding is needed to find the source of water too fast. ...
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Does the fire hydrants’ colour say something about the capacity that it holds?

As per the National Fire Protection Association 291, the body of public fire hydrants must be chrome yellow until another colour has been adopted by all as the standard for the fire fighters' community. A fresh and new fire hydrant from the factory is perfectly chrome yellow which makes it extremely visible to the firemen.

The scheme of colour-coding mainly becomes functional in the nozzle caps and top. It may also showcase the hydrant body's colour. Some of the examples of colour coding of fire hydrants are mentioned below. The colour shows the particular hydrant's water-flow capacity.

a) Red colour shows the capacity of water flow that is less than 500 gallons/minute (GPM). The red barrels are mainly recommended for a private fire hydrant that is situated on public property.
b) Orange colour shows the capacity of water flow that is of 500 - 999 GPM.
c) Green colour shows the capacity of water flow of 1,000 -1,499 GPM.
d) Blue colour shows the capacity of water flow of 1,500 or more than that GPM.
e) In a few places many fire hydrants are protected through a silver coloured cover but with a red top. It remains attached to grounds with bolts to avoid unauthorized usage.
Based on these colours, the firemen can easily determine the correct pump operations and strategies for that specific fire hydrant and even whether the different fire hydrants can give good water flow or not. We should remember that the standard chrome yellow colour of fire hydrants eventually does not provide any kind of information to the firemen about the pumping capacity.

What are some guidelines for fire hydrants?

The National Fire Protection Association encourages the usage of reflective paints for increasing the visibility of hydrants at night. It will help the firemen to differentiate the public hydrants from the private ones. The association also says that the private hydrants can be painted - Red just to distinguish them from the public hydrants.

Hydrants with a pressure rating of fewer than 20 pounds/square inch usually have ratings stamped in black colour on the top of the hydrant. Suppose if any hydrant is out of service temporarily then it must be covered by a black bag or just like that. It can indicate - No to be used anymore. Next comes the inoperative fire hydrants, which should be removed. All these recommendations are mainly designed for giving a clear view to the fire fighters with the information they require, fast and visually.

National Fire Protection Association is a guideline to be followed for better operations but is not law. Not every community follows this colour coding system. It is totally upon every community to adapt and determine how these colour coding can be used.

Few fire fighting professionals also feel that the colour coding is not so relevant as the fire hydrants are now easily accessible on mobile with the help of technology. Some people still think colour coding is necessary to convey information effectively and quickly. But still, the practice of colour-coding of fire hydrants is in use in some places.

Types of fire hydrants:

a) Wet barrel hydrants

Wet Barrel Hydrants are mainly designed to be hassle-free and easy to maintain the system. It is rated to work under the pressure of 200psi.

b) Dry barrel hydrants

The AVK dry Barrel hydrants are made with a traffic flange to get easily repaired after a collision.

Does colour coding work despite several schemes?

Yes, Colour coding works despite many schemes. The labelling and painting of fire hydrants caps and barrels provide firemen and officials with several pieces of data, mainly water source and water flow. The colour highly contributes to the regular maintenance as the older fire hydrants showcase fading that needs to be repaired. National Fire Protection Association adheres to jurisdictions though few municipalities do not adopt. Colour coding remains one of the precious systems to maintain fire protection and provide public safety to everybody.

Though, some colours always do not refer to GPM. Violet colour indicates water coming from a pond or a lake. While few people follow the above-mentioned colour coding of fire hydrants. Some municipalities select accordingly. In every way, colour is coded for receiving a better vision from firemen and people. Bright colours always help in getting noticed by everyone.

In conclusion, we can say that the colours of fire hydrants are very vital. Each colour defines something or the other. The most important part is - not to park in front of it. Fire fighters have to watch the colours and accordingly act to put down the fire and save lives. The necessity of colour coding of fire hydrants stands strong. Infrastructure Fire Fighting equipment can also help the fire fighters to diminish fire.

Dutco Tennant LLC offered solution and products for Pipes valves, potable water, waste water, water treatment sector, surveying equipment & services to the civil engineering market.