Chapter 16.36
FIRE HYDRANTS

Sections:

16.36.020    Building construction commencement.

16.36.030    General requirements and regulations.

16.36.040    Hydrant specifications.

16.36.050    Installation requirements.

16.36.060    Hydrant accessibility and visibility.

16.36.070    Dead-end mains

16.36.080    Violations -- Misdemeanor -- Gross Misdemeanor -- Civil Infraction.

16.36.090    Alternatives to requirements.

(Ord. 6310 §33, 2004).

16.36.020 - Building construction commencement

Building construction cannot commence until plans required under this chapter have been submitted and approved in accordance with the provisions contained in this chapter and Development Guidelines and Public Works Standards. When water mains and hydrants are to be installed by the developer, such facilities and access roadways serving same shall be installed and made serviceable prior to and during the time of construction. Water mains will not be considered serviceable until all mains and appurtenances are tested and a satisfactory bacterial analysis is received and all proper documents are recorded. When alternate methods of protection, as approved by the chief or his designee, are provided, this requirement may be modified or waived. No building shall be occupied until hydrants and mains installed for its protection are placed in service and accepted.

(Ord. 5799 §24 1998; Ord. 5028 §12, 1989; Ord. 4057 §2, 1977).

16.36.030 - General requirements and regulations

Fire hydrants shall be 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 the city water system or as otherwise approved by the fire department. All hydrants shall be subject to testing, inspection and approval by the fire control division of the Olympia Fire Department.

(Ord. 4057 §3, 1977).

16.36.040 - Hydrant specifications

Fire hydrant specifications shall be as follows:

A.    Main valve opening of hydrants will be a minimum of 5".

B.    The area of the hydrant barrels is to be a minimum of 120 percent of main valve opening.

C.    A drip valve of noncorrosive material will be provided for draining the hydrant.

D.    Hydrants will have no less than two 2-1/2" outlets and one pumper connection of 4-1/2".

E.    Threads for the two 2-1/2" outlets will be national standard and threads for the one 4-1/2" pump port shall be Olympia standard threads.

F.    The installation of flush-type hydrants is prohibited unless approved by the fire department.

(Ord. 5028 §13, 1989; Ord. 4057 §4, 1977).

16.36.050 - Installation requirements

The installation of all fire hydrants shall be in accordance with sound engineering practices and supplied by mains as prescribed under this chapter. In addition, the following requirements shall apply to all water main construction:

A.    Five copies of the detailed plans or drawings, accurately indicating main size, the location of all valves, fire hydrants and thrust blocks to be installed, shall be submitted to the engineering department and fire department prior to the commencement of any construction.

B.    All fire hydrants must be approved by the water superintendent or his designee prior to installation.

C.    All construction of the fire hydrant installation and its attendant water system connection shall conform to the APWA standards or as amended by the city.

D.    Fire hydrant installations shall be adequately protected against vehicular damage, in accordance with standards and specifications promulgated by the engineering department.

E.    An auxiliary gate valve shall be installed and connected to the hydrant, in accordance with standards and specifications promulgated by the engineering department to permit the repair and replacement of the hydrant without disruption of water service.

F.    All hydrants shall stand plumb, be set to the finished grade with the lowest outlet of the hydrant no less than 18" or more than 24" above the grade and have no less than 36" in diameter of clear area about the hydrant for the clearance of hydrant wrenches on both outlets and on the control valve.

G.    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 engine while pumping, all as determined by the fire department. The hydrant shall be installed within 15’ of the street or access roadway.

H.    The hydrant lateral from the water main shall be no less than 6" in diameter when less than 50’.

I.    Hydrant spacing of 300’ shall be required in commercial areas.

J.    Hydrant spacing of 300’ shall be required in areas of multiple-family structures of three or more units and for single-family and duplex units built continuous with less than 10’ of clearance between units.

K.    Hydrant spacing of 600’ shall be required for single-family and duplex residential when there is ten or more feet of clearance between units.

L.    The Fire Department connection (FDC) shall be located to within 40 feet of the nearest fire hydrant.

M.    A maximum of 1,000’ from hydrant to building will be allowed where no more than two group R division 3 or M occupancies, as specified in the Uniform Building Code, are being developed and there is ten or more feet of clearance between units.

N.    All mains servicing fire hydrants shall be a minimum of 6" in diameter when looped and 8" when said main is dead ended. Engineering calculations showing fire flow capabilities of the proposed mains at 20 psi residual must accompany all plans.

O.    All hydrants, pipes, valves and related components shall meet the requirements of the Director of Public Works or his designee, using AWWA standards as a minimum.

P.    The Director of Public Works or his designee and the fire department shall be notified in writing of the date the fire hydrant installation and its attendant water connection service will be available for use.

Q.    The fire department shall be notified when all newly installed hydrants or mains are placed in service.

(Ord. 6310 §34, 2004; Ord. 5799 §25, 1998; Ord. 5028 §14, 1989; Ord. 4057 §5, 1977).

16.36.060 - 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’ in any direction of vehicular approach to the hydrant.

(Ord. 4057 §6, 1977).

16.36.070 - Dead-end mains

Provisions shall be made wherever appropriate in any project for looping all dead-end or temporarily dead-end mains and interconnected to the nearest city water main. A minimum ten-foot easement shall be required. Construction plans must be approved by the city engineer prior to the commencement of construction.

(Ord. 5799 §26, 1998; Ord. 4057 §7, 1977).

16.36.080 - Violations -- Misdemeanor -- Gross Misdemeanor -- Civil Infraction

A.    Any person, firm, or corporation who knowingly violates or fails to comply with any term or provision of this chapter shall be deemed to have committed a misdemeanor, and if found guilty, shall be subject to a fine not to exceed One Thousand Dollars ($1,000), and/or to imprisonment not to exceed ninety (90) days or to both such fine and imprisonment. Each day shall be a separate offense. In the event of a continuing violation or failure to comply, the second and subsequent days shall constitute a gross misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000) and/or imprisonment not to exceed three hundred and sixty-five (365) days or both such time and imprisonment. Continuing violation shall mean the same type of violation which is committed within a year of the initial violation.

B.    As an additional concurrent penalty, it shall be a civil infraction for a person, firm, or corporation to violate or fail to comply with any term or provision of this chapter. Each day shall be a separate infraction. A person, firm, or corporation found to have committed a civil infraction shall be assessed a monetary penalty as follows:

1.    First offense: Class 3 ($50), not including statutory assessments.

2.    Second offense arising out of the same facts as the first offense: Class 2 ($125), not including statutory assessments.

3.    Third offense arising out of the same facts as the first offense: Class 1 ($250), not including statutory assessments.

See also OMC Chapter 4.44, Uniform Code Enforcement.

(Ord. 6081 §54. 2001; Ord. 5028 §15, 1989; Ord. 4057 §9, 1977).

16.36.090 - Alternatives to requirements

A.    If because of extended distances from an existing water main it is impractical to extend the municipal water system, for fire protection purposes, to serve an R3 premises, the chief may, in his discretion, accept alternative methods of fire protection for the structure to these required by this chapter; provided, however, that the spirit of this chapter and public safety shall be maintained. It is intended that this section apply only to "in filling" development of R3 units which may occur on unplatted land or land which is subject to an old, preexisting plat. It is not intended to apply to a current subdivision proposal.

B.    In approving an alternative fire protection method, the chief shall require the owner of the property in question to execute a power of attorney, in a form provided by the Public Works Department. The power of attorney shall authorize the Director of Public Works to commit the property to a petition for a local improvement district covering extension of the municipal water system to the property for fire protection purposes when same becomes feasible.

(Ord. 5799 §27, 1998; Ord. 5028 §16, 1989; Ord. 4284 §1, 1981).