Chapter 9.20
FIRE HYDRANTS
Sections:
9.20.030 Installation – Required.
9.20.040 Installation – Requirements.
9.20.050 Prohibited installation.
9.20.060 Maximum distance between hydrants.
9.20.070 Special requirements.
9.20.080 Specifications standards.
9.20.090 Hydrant accessibility and visibility.
9.20.110 Fire flow requirement.
9.20.010 Definitions.
For the purposes of this standard, the following words, terms, phrases, and their derivations shall have the meaning given in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates. When not inconsistent with the context, words used in the present tense include the singular number, and words in the singular number include the plural number. The word “shall” is always mandatory.
(1) “Approving authority” is the fire chief of the city, or his appointee.
(2) “Fire flow” is the measure of the sustained flow of available water for firefighting at a specific building or within a specific area at 20 pounds per square inch residual pressure.
(3) “Flush-type hydrant” is a hydrant installed entirely below grade.
(4) “Municipality” or “quasi-municipality” is any county, city, town, water district, sewer district, public utility district, or other governmental subdivision agency of the state.
(5) “Private hydrant” is a fire hydrant situated and maintained to provide water for firefighting purposes with restrictions as to use. The location may be such that it is not readily accessible for immediate use by the fire department for other than certain private property.
(6) “Public hydrant” is a fire hydrant situated and maintained to provide water for firefighting purposes without restriction as to use for that purpose. The location is such that it is accessible for immediate use of the fire authority at all times.
(7) “UBC” is the Uniform Building Code as adopted, including amendments, by the city.
(8) “Water authority” is the Washington Water Power, or any other municipal or quasi-municipal entity distributing water to fire hydrants within the city. [Ord. 795 § 1, 1977.]
9.20.020 Compliance.
Public buildings, buildings available for public use, or buildings open to the public by invitation classified under the UBC shall conform to the requirements and standards contained in this chapter for buildings or structures in commercial, industrial and apartment use district zones. [Ord. 795 § 4, 1977.]
9.20.030 Installation – Required.
All buildings constructed within the city shall be served by fire hydrants installed in accordance with the requirements of this chapter. In addition, presently existing fire hydrants which do not conform with the requirements and standards of this chapter when replaced shall be replaced with hydrants which do conform to the standards and requirements of this chapter. All fire hydrants shall be served by a municipal or quasi-municipal water system, or as otherwise approved by the fire chief. All hydrants shall be subject to testing, inspection and approval by the fire department. [Ord. 795 § 2, 1977.]
9.20.040 Installation – Requirements.
The installation of all fire hydrants shall be in accordance with sound engineering practices. In addition, the following requirements shall apply to all building construction projects:
(1) Two copies of detailed plans or drawings, accurately indicating the location of all valves and fire hydrants to be installed shall be submitted to the fire chief prior to the commencement of any construction.
(2) All construction of the fire hydrant installation and its attendant water system connection shall conform to the design standards and specifications promulgated by the appropriate water authority and fire department.
(3) Fire hydrant placement shall be adequately protected against vehicle damage and be designed to allow the free flow of pedestrian travel. The specific placement and setback requirements for each hydrant installation shall be determined by the fire chief. The fire chief may require the relocation of an installed hydrant if the hydrant’s location is not in compliance with this section. If the fire chief orders the relocation of a fire hydrant installed after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this section, the abutting property owner shall be responsible for the costs of relocation.
(4) An auxiliary gate valve shall be installed at the main line tee to permit the repair and replacement of the hydrant without disruption of water service.
(5) All hydrants shall stand plumb, be set to the finished grade with the lowest outlet of the hydrant no less than 18 inches above the grade, and have no less than 36 inches in diameter of clear area about the hydrant for the clearance of hydrant wrenches on both outlets and on the control valve.
(6) The pumper port shall face the street. Where the street cannot be clearly defined or recognized, the port shall face the most likely route of approach and location of the fire truck while pumping, all as determined by the fire chief.
(7) The lead from the service main to the hydrant shall be no less than six inches in diameter. Any hydrant leads over 50 feet in length from water main to hydrant shall be no less than eight inches in diameter.
(8) All hydrants newly installed in single-family residential areas shall be supplied by not less than eight-inch mains and shall be capable of delivering 1,000 gpm fire flow over and above average maximum demands at the farthest point of the installation. Hydrant leads up to 50 feet long may be six inches in diameter.
(9) All hydrants shall meet city fire hydrant specification standard.
(10) The maximum distance between fire hydrants in commercial, industrial and apartment (including duplex) use district zones shall be 400 feet.
(11) Lateral spacing of fire hydrants shall be approved by the fire chief, and predicated on hydrants being located at street intersections.
(12) The appropriate water authority and the fire department shall be notified in writing of the date the fire hydrant installation and its attendant water connection system will be available for use.
(13) The fire chief shall be notified when all newly installed hydrants or mains are placed in service.
(14) After installation of the fire hydrant and with the approval of the fire chief, a certificate of occupancy permit for the building will be issued by the building department. [Ord. 1258 § 1.0, 1997; Ord. 822 §§ 1, 4, 1978; Ord. 795 § 5, 1977.]
9.20.050 Prohibited installation.
The installation of flush-type hydrants is prohibited unless approved by the fire chief. [Ord. 795 § 3, 1977.]
9.20.060 Maximum distance between hydrants.
(1) The maximum distance between fire hydrants in commercial, industrial and apartment (including duplex) use district zones shall be 400 feet.
(2) Any portion of said building extending beyond 400 feet of vehicular traffic from the nearest fire hydrant requires installation of a fire hydrant. Location of placement shall have the approval of the fire chief.
(3) Buildings having required fire flow of less than 2,500 gpm may have fire hydrants on one side of the building only. [Ord. 822 § 2, 1978; Ord. 795 § 11, 1977.]
9.20.070 Special requirements.
The requirements of this section apply to all building construction projects in which buildings are located or are to be located such that any portion is more than 200 feet in vehicular travel from a street property line, except detached single-family dwellings:
(1) Buildings having required fire flow of more than 2,500 gpm shall have fire hydrants installed on more than one side. Installation shall be in accordance with the required fire flow. Location of hydrant installation shall have the approval of the fire chief.
(2) When the required fire flow is over 2,500 gpm, the fire hydrants shall be served by a main which loops around the building in a complex of buildings and reconnects back into a distribution supply main.
(3) The number of fire hydrants shall be determined on an average spacing of 330 feet computed on an imaginary line parallel to and not less than 50 feet from the structure. All hydrants are to be accessible to fire department pumpers over roads capable of supporting such fire apparatus. The fire chief shall determine the location of the hydrants based upon a determination of utility, topography and building location. Hydrants shall be a minimum of 50 feet away from the buildings or structure; minor deviations may be granted by fire department approval of written requests. [Ord. 822 § 3, 1978; Ord. 795 § 7, 1977.]
9.20.080 Specifications standards.
(1) Fire Hydrant Specifications.
(a) Hydrants shall be compression type with minimum five-and-one-fourth-inch main valve opening size with one-and-one-fourteenth-inch pentagon operating nut.
(b) Direction of opening will be counterclockwise.
(c) Dry top bonnet shall be of completely sealed dry top design with oil reservoir for permanent lubrication.
(d) Bonnet section shall have not less than two “O” ring seals.
(e) Hydrants shall be furnished with one four-and-one-half-inch steamer port and two two-and-one-half-inch ports.
(f) Threads shall be National Standard Threads.
(g) Pumper and hose nozzles shall be breech-locked nozzles.
(h) Threaded-in nozzles will not be acceptable.
(i) All hydrants shall meet 300 psi pressure and shall be mechanically jointed.
(j) Hydrants shall be breakaway design.
(k) Shoe connection shall be six-inch flange and shall have a minimum of two bronze lined drain holes.
(l) Hydrant shall be five feet zero inches bury.
(m) All hydrants shall match current hydrants and meet latest AWWA specifications.
(n) Hydrant cap shall have a pentagon opening not with chains.
(2) Approved Materials and Equipment. Wherever in these specifications definitely named materials or manufactured products are called for, such names are specified to establish a standard of quality, and it will be presumed, unless specifically excepted, that the installation includes the materials or articles so named. It is, however, not the purpose of these specifications to eliminate other materials or manufactured products equal to the standard specified.
(3) Gate Valve. Gate valves shall be six-inch flanged type: Refer to Uniform Fire Code Sections 13.301(a), 1976. [Ord. 795 § 12, 1977.]
9.20.090 Hydrant accessibility and visibility.
Hydrants shall not be obstructed by any structure or vegetation, or have the hydrant visibility impaired within a distance of 150 feet in any direction of vehicular approach to the hydrant. [Ord. 795 § 8, 1977.]
9.20.100 Dead-end mains.
Provisions shall be made wherever appropriate in any project for looping all dead-end or temporarily dead-end mains. A minimum 10-foot easement shall be required. Construction plans must be approved by the appropriate water authority prior to the commencement of construction. [Ord. 795 § 9, 1977.]
9.20.110 Fire flow requirement.
The fire flow requirement applied by the fire chief under the provisions of this chapter shall be based upon criteria established in the “Guide for Determination of Required Fire Flow” as published by the Insurance Services Office of the Municipal Survey Service, 160 Water Street, New York, New York 10038. [Ord. 795 § 10, 1977.]
9.20.120 Violation – Penalty.
A violation of any section or provision of this chapter is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $500.00 for each offense. Each day upon which a violation occurs or continues constitutes a separate offense. [Ord. 795 § 14, 1977.]