Water Flow Test For Fire Hydrants

Conduct the flow test a.

Water flow test for fire hydrants.

Many fire departments and water utilities do not know how to flow a fire hydrant properly. A hand held pitot pressure gauge is used to measure the residual pressure while the hydrants are flowing. This information is extracted from nfpa 291 2016 for the recommended practice for fire flow testing and marking of hydrants as interpreted by the prosper fire marshal s office. Open flow hydrant fully c.

Hydrant flow test procedures 4. Regular fire hydrant testing ensures the ability to provide water at an acceptable pressure and flow rate for public health and firefighting operations. Measure record i d. The hydrant test equipment should not restrict the flow of water from the hydrant.

Fire hydrant flow test determine the flow rate and pressure in any location through out a water company s or water authority s underground water distribution system. Take readings simultaneously after pressure at the residual hydrant has stabilized d. A cap pressure gauge is placed on one hydrant to record the static pressure. One person at residual hydrant one at the flow hydrant b.

A fire hydrant flow test must be obtained prior to engineering the building s domestic and fire water services for the building. According to tdec there is no state regulation on how to flow a fire hydrant but tdec recognizes the american water works association awwa pamphlet m 17 as the recognized standard for testing fire hydrants. The mechanical electrical plumbing engineer uses this information to complete the meter sizing worksheet and booster pump form. Most jurisdictions also require hydrant flow tests to design fire sprinkler systems for commercial or residential structures.

A fire flow test is performed for a specific area by using three fire hydrants. The remaining two hydrants are opened to allow water to flow out as fast as possible. The following are the minimum requirements for flowing fire hydrants to obtain water supply information for the calculation of sprinkler suppression systems. 1 3 as these tests are to ascertain the volume of water available for fire fighting purposes the hydrant test equipment should attach to the standpipe using fittings in use by the fire service for fire fighting.