While urban dwellers may view the plugs installed on nearly every sidewalk as permanent occupiers of scarce parking spaces, hydrants provide far more than a source of ticket revenue for cities. When disaster or accident results in a conflagration, they often make the difference between destruction and survival. Fire hydrant training helps keep users current on new technology, maintenance practices, and safety requirements.
Two hundred years ago most municipal water supplies were rudimentary compared to modern systems, and when a conflagration broke out neighbors helped extinguish the flames as best they could using bucket brigades and small horse-drawn engines. As city fire departments became better established, they were capable of reaching a conflagration quickly, but needed a source of water with enough pressure to completely douse the flames.
Hydrants became an integral part of regular construction planning, and today consist of two primary designs called wet and dry barrel. Wet barrel models are most useful in areas of the country that rarely experience freezing temperatures because they can remained filled with water. In more northerly regions, dry barrel varieties are most common because they can be turned off, drained, and shut down to prevent freezing.
Many communities today support volunteer firefighters who are given the same instructions for hydrant upkeep and use that are provided to full-time departments. Videos and other instruction material build a level of understanding of how to keep the vital water flowing during an emergency. This information also includes specific instructions detailing how to connect hoses safely and quickly.
Also included are the latest techniques demonstrating how to flush and test an outlet, as well as ways to guarantee that the flow will have enough pressure and volume to complete the job. Inspections that are delayed due to common budget considerations can result in problems that only become visible during emergencies. As populations increase, hydrants with chronically low flow must be updated.
Without training specifically emphasizing maintenance and other forms of upkeep, several common issues emerge. Hydrants opened without permission place nearby structures in jeopardy if water pressure falls below critical levels. Attached caps and nozzles become difficult or impossible to use when damaged, and using these outlets for reasons other than firefighting can also result in damage.
During the coldest months leaking outlets repeatedly freeze and thaw, gradually causing deterioration. To ensure easy access, nearby overgrowth should be trimmed back, and street debris from storms or other sources must be cleaned up to allow rapid setup during a fire. Some older equipment still in place may have threading that does not readily fit modern equipment, and random vandalism is responsible putting many out of commission.
In general, local residents should not activate hydrants without proper instruction. In some urban locales, water sources are placed under immense pressure that can cause serious injury or death when opened without precautions. Some can be officially used as cooling centers during the summer, but most should not be turned on without permission. Areas featuring private hydrant systems are usually serviced by companies most familiar with local requirements.
Two hundred years ago most municipal water supplies were rudimentary compared to modern systems, and when a conflagration broke out neighbors helped extinguish the flames as best they could using bucket brigades and small horse-drawn engines. As city fire departments became better established, they were capable of reaching a conflagration quickly, but needed a source of water with enough pressure to completely douse the flames.
Hydrants became an integral part of regular construction planning, and today consist of two primary designs called wet and dry barrel. Wet barrel models are most useful in areas of the country that rarely experience freezing temperatures because they can remained filled with water. In more northerly regions, dry barrel varieties are most common because they can be turned off, drained, and shut down to prevent freezing.
Many communities today support volunteer firefighters who are given the same instructions for hydrant upkeep and use that are provided to full-time departments. Videos and other instruction material build a level of understanding of how to keep the vital water flowing during an emergency. This information also includes specific instructions detailing how to connect hoses safely and quickly.
Also included are the latest techniques demonstrating how to flush and test an outlet, as well as ways to guarantee that the flow will have enough pressure and volume to complete the job. Inspections that are delayed due to common budget considerations can result in problems that only become visible during emergencies. As populations increase, hydrants with chronically low flow must be updated.
Without training specifically emphasizing maintenance and other forms of upkeep, several common issues emerge. Hydrants opened without permission place nearby structures in jeopardy if water pressure falls below critical levels. Attached caps and nozzles become difficult or impossible to use when damaged, and using these outlets for reasons other than firefighting can also result in damage.
During the coldest months leaking outlets repeatedly freeze and thaw, gradually causing deterioration. To ensure easy access, nearby overgrowth should be trimmed back, and street debris from storms or other sources must be cleaned up to allow rapid setup during a fire. Some older equipment still in place may have threading that does not readily fit modern equipment, and random vandalism is responsible putting many out of commission.
In general, local residents should not activate hydrants without proper instruction. In some urban locales, water sources are placed under immense pressure that can cause serious injury or death when opened without precautions. Some can be officially used as cooling centers during the summer, but most should not be turned on without permission. Areas featuring private hydrant systems are usually serviced by companies most familiar with local requirements.
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