Steps to Maintain A Fire Hydrant System

A fire hydrant system is considered to be an efficient device when it comes to handle a fire, and hence, it’s important to keep a fire hydrant system in a sound condition, so that it can perform all the functions properly as and when needed. No matter whether you are responsible for keeping a business premise secure or you are in charge of the safety of an entire society, you must be careful enough about the maintenance of the fire hydrant systems. Do you see hydrants that are outdated and old and left in an inoperable condition? If yes, this is the high time to take care of these systems and maintain these properly. Not keeping the fire hydrants of your community in a sound condition may turn out to be fatal at times. Here are some important information that will help you maintain a fire hydrant system properly –

• Paint it properly – Hydrants that have been installed before2009, should be painted in such colours that will make these visible under adverse weather conditions and light. In case the hydrants have been installed after 2009, you need to follow the process of coating. Since 2010, the manufacturers of fire hydrants system started to coat these with a double polyurethane enamel paint. This is applied on the hydrants following a hydrostatic process as it ensures a durable and long lasting finish. This paint is quite hard and is resistant to light. In fact, these paints can’t be recoated. In order to recoat these, one needs to clean and sand the surface and remove the glossy appearance. 
• Check the functionality – In order to keep the fire hydrants in a functional condition, it’s important to check the flow of the system. Make sure you open and close the auxiliary gate valves of the hydrant at regular intervals. This will help provide a reliable source of water as and when needed. By checking the flow of water, you will also get an indication of the total amount of flow and pressure available in each of the hydrants. This information is extremely beneficial for the local fire authority and the water service planners. 

These are the two most important tasks that you should perform in order to keep a fire hydrant in a sound condition. There are certain things that you should keep in mind while performing the flow test of a fire hydrant. Here are the things that you must do –

• First off, choose a safe and vast area where the water can flow directly. This is important as the water that flows out of a hydrant can damage the vegetation, landscapes, structures and the private properties of the area. 
• Establish a fixed schedule for testing the fire hydrants every year. 
• Open and close the valves of the hydrant to prevent water hammer. This can also cause breaks in the water mains.  

Since it’s quite costly to replace fire hydrants, it’s crucial to follow a proper maintenance system and follow the exact schedule of check-ups. This ensure proper functioning of these equipment, when needed most.

(Article Source: http://www.loopdesk.com/article/9729/how-can-you-maintain-a-fire-hydrant-system-properly )

Basic Details To Know About A Fire Hydrant System

A fire is a very common disaster that can occur all of a sudden, at any given place, and the consequences of a disaster are quite obvious. This is why industry experts recommend to install proper fire protection systems at every premise. Installing the right firefighting device is of crucial importance as it helps save lots of lives and avoid damage to properties. In order to ensure maximum possible security for all the occupants, it’s essential to follow fire prevention programs and install the right firefighting device. A fire hydrant system is one of the most reliable and active measures to prevent fire. This device is also referred to as a connection point using which the firefighting professionals can use water supply.

The fire hydrant system is considered to be the backbone of an entire firefighting device. It’s basically a water distribution system that consists of suction piping, water tank, a distributed piping system and fire pumps. A thorough connectivity is established throughout the building with the help of a water distribution system. The entire system is interconnected through nozzles, hoses and hydrants. The main purpose of a fire hydrant system is to act as a source of water to any of the points, throughout the building. It should be readily available so that it can be instantly used as and when needed. This helps control a fire during emergency situations.

Whenever a fire breaks out, it’s essential to ensure fast response time as this is what helps prevent the major damages. A fire hydrant system helps do the same. Although every firefighting device is equipped with water supply, it might be limited at times. In situations like these, the fire hydrants must supply a vast amount of water so that major fires can be put out easily. Make sure the fire hydrant system functions optimally at all times as this is one of the major elements of the entire firefighting process.

There are both private and public fire hydrant systems. Fire hydrants that are placed on public land are referred to as public fire hydrant. Usually, the local respective governments are in charge of the maintenance of these devices. They have to arrange regular inspections and also keep the hydrants free from any kind of obstacles. Fire hydrants that are placed on private lands are considered as private fire hydrants. The respective landowner is responsible for taking care of these devices. Apart from these, there are fire safety companies in each country that are specialized in checking the fire hydrants.

If any user owns a fire hydrant privately, he can consider hiring a specialized fire safety expert to inspect the device at frequent intervals. However, even if you hire the professional help, it’s advisable to be aware of the procedures and steps that are usually followed in an inspection process. If you are wondering how frequently a fire hydrant should be inspected, you should be aware of the fact that the industry experts are of the opinion to get a fire hydrant checked at least twice a year.

(Article Credit: http://articles.pubarticles.com/how-to-know-important-details-about-fire-hydrant-system-1448361429,1587743.html)