Hydrants and water supplies for firefighting

Question 1

Hydrants and water supplies for firefighting PN317

What are you actions if you discover a missing or defective DRM?

Answer 1

• Inform local FS team via your SM by completing a ‘Station notification of fire safety information to fire safety’ form
• Report problem to PDA along with request for additional resources
• Report it using ‘Report it’ tool on your desktop
• Record on IMPD (When completing incidents attended)

(Ops news 25)

Question 2

Hydrants and water supplies for firefighting PN317

What are you actions if you discover a missing or defective hydrant ?

Answer 2

Report it to the ‘Water office’

Record on IMP Database (if discovered at an incident)

Question 39

Hydrants and water supplies for firefighting PN317

What are the requirements of a standard screwdown hydrant?

Answer 39

• 65mm Round thread outlet
• Minimum flow of 2000lit per min
• Minimum pressure of 1.7 bar
• Open Anti-clock wise

(BS 750)

Question 40

Hydrants and water supplies for firefighting PN317

What are the 3 main types of hydrant found in London?

Answer 40

The principal types of hydrant found in the London area are sluice valve and screw-down, with new through bore design hydrants gradually being introduced.

(Policy 317, 2.1)

Question 41

Hydrants and water supplies for firefighting PN317

What type of hydrant is this and how is it normally opened?

Answer 41

This is a Sluice valve hydrant

This type of hydrant is a legacy design that is no longer installed but still prevalent in Greater London. This hydrant usually runs off a short branch from the water main, the water flowing horizontally past the valve

Unless converted, these hydrants open clock wise

(Policy 317, 2.2 & 2.3 )

Question 42

Hydrants and water supplies for firefighting PN317

What type of hydrant is this and how is it normally opened?

Answer 42

This is a screw-down hydrant

This type of hydrant may be attached directly to the main or a short branch running off it, which is provided at the chosen point with a vertical extension pipe having a flange to which that of the hydrant is bolted

These hydrants open anti clockwise

(Policy 317, 2.4)

Question 43

Hydrants and water supplies for firefighting PN317

What type of hydrant is this ?

Answer 43

This is a Through-bore hydrant

Through bore hydrants operate in the same manner described for sluice valve and screw down hydrants, but have a different internal construction for the valve and operating mechanism. This allows water from the water main or supply pipe to flow directly through the hydrant unimpeded and with minimal frictional loss, There for improve flow

(Policy 317, 2.5)

Question 44

Hydrants and water supplies for firefighting PN317

What is a frost valve?

Answer 44

Where the valve of a hydrant is closed after use, a certain amount of water is trapped in the body of the hydrant between the valve and the outlet. In cold weather, this may freeze and prevent the valve opening. In extreme circumstances it may crack the hydrant body. To prevent this happening, water is drained away from the hydrant by way of either a hole drilled into a gunmetal plug (screw down hydrant) or an automatic valve called the frost valve (sluice valve hydrant).

(Policy 317, 2.6)

Question 45

Hydrants and water supplies for firefighting PN317

What are the 3 categories (not types) of hydrant found in London and where would you expect to find them?

Answer 45

• Statutory; found throughout London
• City; found within the City of London
• Private; found on building land that occupy extensve sites.

(Policy 317, 4.1)

Question 46

Hydrants and water supplies for firefighting PN317

How frequently should any given fire hydrant be tested?

Answer 46

LFB operates a rolling three yearly hydrant inspection process. This means that approximately one third of the hydrants within each station ground are inspected by fire crews in year one

(Policy 317, 6.2)

Question 47

Hydrants and water supplies for firefighting PN317

What months do we normally test hydrants in London?

Answer 47

March to August

(Policy 317, 6.4)

Question 48

Hydrants and water supplies for firefighting PN317

Can you use a hydrant for operational use if you discover a water authority device fitted to it?

Answer 48

If a fire hydrant fitted with a device is required for operational use, the device should be removed carefully in line with the information provided on hotwire. As a precaution, the operator should not stand directly above the device whilst removing it.

(Policy 317, 7.2)

Question 49

Hydrants and water supplies for firefighting PN317

Can you test a hydrant if you discover a water authority device fitted to it?

Answer 49

If a hydrant is encountered with a device fitted to it during routine hydrant inspections, the hydrant should not be inspected and the device left in situ. The inspection report for the hydrants should be annotated as ‘unsatisfactory - unable to inspect – device fitted’. A hydrant technician will visit the hydrant at a later stage.

(Policy 317, 7.2)

Question 50

Hydrants and water supplies for firefighting PN317

What should you do if you discover unauthorised or misuse of a hydrant?

Answer 50

Any case of unauthorised use brought to the notice of a local officer is to be reported immediately to the Water Officer by telephone or e-mail (address ‘Water Office’) giving the following information:

• The location of the hydrant.
• The date on which the hydrant was observed in use.
• The name, address, telephone number and vehicle registration number of the individual or company using the hydrant, if known.

(Policy 317, 8.2)

Question 51

Hydrants and water supplies for firefighting PN317

What is an open water supply ?

Answer 51

Where appropriate and available, crews may use an open water supply to supplement firefighting using water from an adjacent fire hydrant. Their use and method of extraction will be determined by the officer in charge at the incident. Open water supplies include rivers, lakes, ponds, swimming pools or similar. These are subject to inspection from time to time to ensure that they are still available for use.

(Policy 317, 9.1)

Question 52

Hydrants and water supplies for firefighting PN317

What does this icon depict when shown on the MDT ?

Answer 52

An operable fire hydrant that may have a minor defect.

(Policy 317, 10.3 )

Question 53

Hydrants and water supplies for firefighting PN317

What does this icon depict when shown on the MDT ?

Answer 53

An defective fire hydrant that will not supply water for firefighting.

(Policy 317, 10.3)

Question 54

Hydrants and water supplies for firefighting PN317

What does this icon depict when shown on the MDT ?

Answer 54

Open water supply.

(Policy 317, 10.3)

Question 55

Hydrants and water supplies for firefighting PN317

What does this icon depict when shown on the MDT ?

Answer 55

Operable fire hydrant

(Policy 317, 10.3)

Question 56

Hydrants and water supplies for firefighting

Should the ‘Water office’ be informed if you discover a defective hydrant in the station yard?

Answer 56

It should be noted that hydrants located in fire station yards should not be reported to the Water Office. Stations should instead place an order for repair direct with the appropriate contractor, in consultation if necessary with the Property Services Help Desk.

(Policy 317, 4.5)

Question 57

Hydrants and water supplies for firefighting

What’s the maximum distance are hydrants spaced apart in residential areas?

Answer 57

New hydrants in residential areas are normally spaced at a distance of 180 metres, although historically they have been installed at lesser distances . The only exception to this will be cul-de-sac or dead end locations where it is normally not necessary to install hydrants if the distance to the nearest hydrant in the adjacent road is 90 metres or greater.

(Policy 317. 5.1)

Question 58

Hydrants and water supplies for firefighting

What distances would you expect hydrants to be spaced apart in high risk areas?

Answer 58

In areas of high risk where shorter distances may be preferable, hydrants will normally be spaced at a distance of no less than 90 metres

(Policy 317, 5.2)

Question 59

Hydrants and water supplies for firefighting

What should your actions be if you discover the information about the useability of a hydrant on the MDT to be incorrect?

Answer 59

If any data displayed on MDT’s is found to be incorrect, staff should inform the Water Office as soon as possible so the information can be investigated.

(Policy 317, 10.1)

Question 60

Hydrants and water supplies for firefighting

What level of PPE should be worn when carry out testing of hydrants?

Answer 60

Personnel carrying out hydrant inspections are to wear work-wear uniform with cap and if appropriate, a fire tunic. Fire boots are to be worn instead of shoes. The driver of the appliance may wear shoes while engaged in driving.

(Policy 317, Part 2, 2.1)

Question 61

Hydrants and water supplies for firefighting

What is the testing process for a hydrant?

Answer 61

1. Outlet to be tested
2. Hydrant charged
3. Valves to tested
4. Frost valve

(Policy 317, Part 2, 2.2)

Question 62

Hydrants and water supplies for firefighting

If when carrying out testing of a hydrant you discover a missing false spindle, should you replace it?

Answer 62

False spindles are to be checked to ensure that they are securely fixed to the true spindles. However, missing false spindles should not be replaced or reported as a defect.

(Policy 317, Part 2, 2.4)