Chapter 13.08 FIRE HYDRANTS

For the purposes of this chapter, 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 future, words in the plural number include the singular number, and words in the singular number include the plural number. The word “shall” is always mandatory.

A. “AWWA” is the American Water Works Association.

B. “Fire department” is the Bellevue fire control division of the department of emergency and safety services or any agency handling fire protection services.

C. “Fire flow” is the measure of sustained flow of available water for firefighting at a specific building or within a specific area at 10 pounds per square inch residual pressure.

D. “Fire marshal” is the city of Bellevue fire marshal or his appointee.

E. “Flush-type hydrant” is a hydrant installed entirely below grade.

F. “Municipality or quasi-municipality” is any county, city, town, water district, sewer district, public utility district, or other governmental subdivision or agency of the state.

G. “UBC” is the Uniform Building Code as adopted, including amendments, by the city.

H. “Water authority” is the Bellevue department of utilities, or any other municipal or quasi-municipal entity distributing water to fire hydrants within the city of Bellevue. (Ord. 325 § 2, 1973)

13.08.030 Fire hydrant requirements.

All new plats developed 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 requirements and standards of this chapter. All fire hydrants shall be served by a municipal or quasi-municipal water system. All hydrants shall be subject to testing, inspection and approval by the fire department. (Ord. 325 § 3, 1973)

13.08.040 Prohibited installation.

The installation of flush-type fire hydrants is prohibited unless approved by the fire marshal. (Ord. 325 § 4, 1973)

13.08.050 Buildings open to the public.

Public buildings, buildings available for public use, or buildings open to the public by invitation or otherwise, including, but not limited to, schools, and buildings classified under the UBC within occupancy groups A, B, C, or D shall conform to the requirements and standards contained in this chapter for buildings or structures in B-1 business district zones. (Ord. 325 § 5, 1973)

13.08.060 Installation requirements generally.

The installation of all fire hydrants shall be in accordance with sound engineering practices. In addition, the requirements set out in CHMC 13.08.070 through 13.08.200 must also be met. (Ord. 325 § 6, 1973)

13.08.070 Approval.

All fire hydrants must be approved by the appropriate water authority prior to installation. (Ord. 325 § 6(1), 1973)

13.08.080 Conformance.

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. (Ord. 325 § 6(2), 1973)

13.08.090 Protection from vehicular damage.

Fire hydrant installations shall be adequately protected against vehicular damage, in accordance with standards and specifications promulgated by the appropriate water authority. (Ord. 325 § 6(3), 1973)

13.08.100 Auxiliary gate valve.

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. (Ord. 325 § 6(4), 1973)

13.08.110 Location.

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. (Ord. 325 § 6(5), 1973)

13.08.120 Pumper port.

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 marshal. (Ord. 325 § 6(6), 1973)

13.08.130 Lead from service main.

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. (Ord. 325 § 6(7), 1973)

13.08.140 Hydrants in single-family residential areas.

All new hydrants installed in new single-family residential areas, where new main installation is required, shall be supplied by not less than eight-inch mains and shall be capable of delivering 1,000 gallons per minute fire flow over and above the average maximum demands at the farthest point of the installation. Hydrant leads up to 50 feet long may be six inches in diameter. (Ord. 325 § 6(8), 1973)

13.08.150 Main valve opening.

All hydrants shall have at least a five-inch minimum main valve opening, “O” stem seal, two 2-1/2-inch National Standard Thread hose nozzles, one four-inch pumper nozzle with city of Seattle standard threads, and six-inch mechanical joint shoe connection. In addition, all hydrants shall meet AWWA standards for public hydrants. (Ord. 325 § 6(9), 1973)

13.08.160 Pipe specifications.

All pipe shall meet the appropriate AWWA standards. (Ord. 325 § 6(10), 1973)

13.08.170 Distance between hydrants.

A. The maximum distance between fire hydrants in B-1 business use districts shall be 400 feet.

B. The maximum distance between fire hydrants in R-1 single-family residential use districts shall be 700 feet.

C. Spacing of fire hydrants shall be predicated on hydrants being located at street intersections. (Ord. 325 § 6(11), (12), (13), 1973)

13.08.180 New plat developments.

In new plat developments, the owner or developer shall submit two copies each of detailed plans or drawings, accurately indicating the location of all valves and fire hydrants to be installed in conjunction with the plat, to the fire marshal, appropriate water authority, and the city. Letters of approval of the plans or drawing from both the fire marshal and water authority shall be submitted to the city prior to review of the final plat by the planning commission. (Ord. 325 § 6(14), 1973)

13.08.190 Notification of installation date.

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. (Ord. 325 § 6(15), 1973)

13.08.200 Notification of fire marshal.

The fire marshal shall be notified when all newly installed hydrants or mains are placed in service. (Ord. 325 § 6(16), 1973)

13.08.210 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 single-family dwellings:

A. Buildings having required fire flows of less than 2,500 gallons per minute may have fire hydrants on one side of the building only.

B. When the required fire flow is over 2,500 gallons per minute the fire hydrants shall be served by a main which loops around the building or complex of buildings and reconnects into a distribution supply main.

C. The number of fire hydrants shall be determined on an average spacing of 330 feet computed on an imaginary line parallel to the structure. All hydrants are to be accessible to fire department pumpers over roads capable of supporting such fire apparatus. The fire marshal 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 building or structure; minor deviations may be granted by fire department approval of written requests. (Ord. 325 § 7, 1973)

13.08.220 Accessibility.

Fire hydrant visibility and clear zone requirements shall be in accordance with the city of Bellevue utilities and fire department standards, rules, and regulations, as currently adopted or as subsequently amended. (Ord. 992 § 1, 2023; Ord. 325 § 8, 1973)

13.08.230 Dead-end mains prohibited.

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. 325 § 9, 1973)

13.08.240 Fire flow determination.

The fire flow requirement applied by the fire marshal 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, 10038. (Ord. 325 § 10, 1973)

13.08.250 Issuance of building permits.

No building permit shall be issued for buildings or structures, other than single-family residential dwellings and their related accessory structures, until plans indicating conformity with the requirements of this chapter have been submitted and approved by the fire marshal. A copy of the plans and a letter of approval from the fire marshal shall be submitted to the building official prior to issuance of the permit. No building falling under the requirements of this section shall be occupied until hydrants and mains are placed in service. (Ord. 325 § 11, 1973)

13.08.260 Violation – Penalty.

Inasmuch as this chapter is for the benefit of the life, health, welfare, safety and convenience of the inhabitants of the city and is passed under the power given to the city council by the State Constitution, it is hereby made a misdemeanor to violate any of the provisions of this chapter or any amendments thereto, and such violations shall be punished as provided by the Statutes of the state for the commission of a misdemeanor. (Ord. 325 § 13, 1973)