Different Types of Fire Hydrants
Different types of fire hydrants are available as they are excellent fire fighting equipment. The fire hydrant is a point that is visible to the firefighters, for getting water to extinguish the fire. It is connected to a water supply in a predetermined area.
The fire hydrants should be installed in the:
1- Buildings.
2- Car parking.
3- Roadsides.
4- Mines.
5- Industries.
And many other places.
They provide water supply to the firefighters so that they can counter the fire outbreaks and knock them out. Earlier in the 18th century underground fire hydrants were in use, and 19th century above-ground pillar-type fire hydrants became common. A fire hydrant is a pipe with a valve that supplies water for extinguishing fires.
The fire hydrants are the oldest yet the most effective firefighting equipment. It can be recognized as the backbone of the whole firefighting system so it should be well-designed and will-laid. The system consists of a heavy-duty above-ground and underground network of pipes and accessories.
At every sensitive point, fire and escape hydrant points are present. A fire hydrant is a vent that allows the water to flow through it, coming from the main water in the direction of the valve. The systems help in extinguishing the fires spread on large scales. They are capable of continuing their work even if any of the structural units fails.
Although the working of fire hydrants is the same as that used to extinguish the fire, they are divided into two types to get the most effective results.
Types of Fire Hydrants
Different types of fire hydrants are designed to cater to the different needs of various fire situations and areas. Mainly there are two types of fire hydrants: wet barrel fire hydrants and dry barrel fire hydrants. The main difference between both types is that the wet barrel fire hydrant allows steady water flow, and the dry barrel fire hydrant requires a valve.
The fire hydrants are designed to access the water immediately in case of a fire incident. Approval is required from the authorized companies, for installing the fire hydrants. The different types of fire hydrants are explained below:
1- Wet Barrel Fire Hydrants
There are different regions in the world with varied climates, some are extremely cold, some are moderate and some are extremely hot regions. In the colder regions, the water may freeze in the pipes during winter. Wet barrel fire hydrants are not suitable for the colder regions.
In such areas, fire hydrants are sensitive to freezing. The wet barrel fire hydrant systems are suitable for regions where freezing is not a risk. If these hydrants are well maintained, they can stay functional even over 100 years. In this case, all the mechanical components are above ground, and the water runs near the surface, therefore there is a chance of freezing.
2- Dry Barrel Hydrant Systems
In dry barrel hydrants, the water is stored in the underground reservoir. When the firefighters have to use these systems, they open the valve and tap into the water supply. The underground temperature is always greater than the surface of the Earth, when water is stored underground there is no risk of freezing.
When the firefighters want to use the dry fire hydrants, they open the valve present at the top of the hydrant and attach the hoses with them. As a result, the drain valve within the fire hydrant becomes open. Hence, allowing the water to enter the hydrants and flow through the pipes to extinguish the fire.
There are three types of mechanisms used in dry barrel fire hydrant systems:
1- Slide gate.
2- Compression.
3- Toggle.
The hydrant water valve is present at the base of the dry fire hydrant. It provides the benefit of using the whole water available for the firefighting process. After this, there remains no water in the hydrant systems. During the maintenance of the hydrant system, it is checked whether there is any water in the hydrant. The presence of moisture is an indication of the malfunctioning of the drain valve.
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Difference Between a Wet Barrel Hydrant and Dry Barrel Hydrant System
There are differences between the wet barrel hydrant system and the dry barrel hydrant system. Those differences are mentioned below:
Properties of Wet Barrel Hydrant System
1- Wet hydrant systems are suitable for places where freezing is not a risk.
2- The water is present above ground in this hydrant system.
3- Such fire hydrants are cheaper and easy to build.
4- Wet barrel systems are easily accessible and maintenance is also easier.
Properties of Dry Barrel Fire Hydrant Systems
1- In the regions where the temperature falls and there is a risk of freezing, dry barrel fire hydrant systems are best to install.
2- The water is present below ground to avoid freezing.
3- These systems are expensive and complex to install.
4- Their maintenance is also tough.
Color Coding of the Fire Hydrants
The fire hydrants are colored, some of them have meaning but others do not. They are mostly colored red or safety green, which makes them prominent even from far away. That visibility helps the firefighters to find fire hydrants instantly. Sometimes, the colors represent how much water is available in the hydrant for use.
The nozzle caps of fire hydrants are also colored, which employs a meaning. Generally, the red color means that the fire hydrant is available to be used in the process of firefighting, white means the water utility of the hydrant and yellow means that the water is on mains with high pressure. The violet color means that the water is not portable and it’s coming from a lake or a poem.
Working of The Fire Hydrant System
Different types of fire hydrants have various valves and connecting points. These systems are present in certain areas. In an emergency, the firefighters quickly reach the fire hydrants, remove their nozzles, attach the hoses to get water, and start firefighting. Highly pressured water comes out of the hydrants. The firefighters need a special pentagonal wrench to remove the valve cover. After removing the cover, the firefighters open the valve so that the water can flow through the hoses.
The firefighters use a nut bolt to turn on the flow after connecting the hose. The fire hydrant is mainly the connections that are connected to a main water supply source. The hydrant valve is connected by the underneath water with the help of a riser pipe. It may sound simple, but the overall mechanism and the construction are a bit complex.
Conclusion
The fire hydrant systems are the connections that are connected to the water source. These systems provide water to carry out the process of firefighting. The firefighters remove the valve cover with the help of a pentagonal wrench and attach the hoses to get the water attacking the fire and suppressing it.
There are different types of fire hydrants, wet barrel fire hydrants and dry barrel fire hydrants. Both have their different applications. The wet barrel fire hydrants are suitable for the warmer regions as there is no risk of freezing in those areas. The Dry barrel fire hydrants are ideal for the colder regions since there is a risk of water freezing.
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