Chapter 8.24
FIRE HYDRANTS
Sections:
8.24.010 Purpose of provisions.
8.24.020 Requirements generally.
8.24.030 Approval of plans required.
8.24.040 Compliance with specifications – Adoption by reference.
8.24.050 Installation standards.
8.24.060 Water supply requirement.
8.24.070 Location and number requirements – Generally.
8.24.080 Location and number requirements – Certain special buildings.
8.24.010 Purpose of provisions.
This chapter is enacted to provide minimum requirements for installation of fire hydrants designed or approved by the Fire Chief of the City in the exercise of his duties pursuant to Article 9 of the Uniform Fire Code, 1997 Edition. The duties under the fire code shall be deemed changed automatically when future editions of the Uniform Fire Code are amended by the International Fire Code Institute. [Ord. 1960 § 2, 1998; Ord. 1336 § 1, 1981; Ord. 1172 § 1, 1978.]
8.24.020 Requirements generally.
A. All buildings or additions to buildings constructed or located within the City after July 10, 1978, including, without limitation, structures or dwellings within automobile trailer courts, mobile home parks and planned unit developments, shall install sufficient fire hydrants and/or water mains to provide the required fire flow as determined by the Fire Chief, which hydrants and mains shall be installed in accordance with the provisions of the Sunnyside Municipal Code.
B. Fire hydrants installed prior to July 10, 1978, which do not conform with the requirements of this chapter shall, when replaced, be replaced with fire hydrants conforming to the requirements of the Sunnyside Municipal Code and shall be subject to approval by the Fire Chief.
C. All fire hydrants within the City shall be subject to inspection, testing and approval of the Fire Chief and/or the Director of Public Works. [Ord. 1336 § 2, 1981; Ord. 1172 § 2, 1978.]
8.24.030 Approval of plans required.
A. Two copies of detailed plans and specifications, accurately indicating the location of all proposed fire hydrants, valves and attendant water lines, shall be submitted to and approved by the City Fire Chief and Director of Public Works prior to commencement of construction thereof.
B. All required hydrants and mains shall be placed in service prior to issuance of a building permit or commencement of building construction relative to any new structures to be serviced thereby. [Ord. 1172 § 3, 1978.]
8.24.040 Compliance with specifications – Adoption by reference.
A. Fire hydrants, connecting pipelines, valves and appurtenances, including plans and installation details not specifically regulated by this chapter, shall conform to design standards and specifications promulgated by the City.
B. Fire hydrants, connecting pipelines, valves and appurtenances further shall conform to the specifications and standards published in following publications, of which not less than three have been and now are on file in the office of the City Clerk and which are adopted by reference and incorporated herein as fully as if set out in this chapter:
The following AWWA Standards, published by the American Waterworks Association:
1. Standard C100 – Iron pipe;
2. Standard C200 – Steel pipe;
3. Standard C300 – Concrete pipe;
4. Standard C400 – A-C pipe;
5. Standard C500 – Valves;
6. Standard C600 – Pipe laying. [Ord. 1960 § 3, 1998; Ord. 1172 § 4, 1978.]
8.24.050 Installation standards.
A. All public fire hydrants, which shall include without limitation those hydrants situated on a street right-of-way or public utility easement and maintained by the City or a water district, and all private property for firefighting purposes shall be restricted primarily to use for firefighting purposes and shall be maintained accessible for immediate use for such purposes at all times.
B. All fire hydrants shall have two National thread standard hose outlets of two and one-half inches in diameter, and one outlet of four inches in diameter, with a five-inch Storz adapter and cap.
C. All fire hydrants shall stand plumb.
D. All fire hydrants shall be set to finished grade with the lowest outlet thereof no less than 18 inches above grade and with no less than 36 inches of unobstructed area for the operation of hydrant wrenches on all outlets and the control valve. Flush-type hydrants, which hydrants are installed below grade, are prohibited except upon written approval of the Fire Chief pursuant to showing of extreme necessity.
E. All fire hydrants shall be installed with the pumper port facing the nearest street, unless the Fire Chief designates a different direction as a more likely route of fire truck approach or location for pumping.
F. All fire hydrants shall be adequately protected against vehicular damage in a manner prescribed by the Fire Chief.
G. All fire hydrants shall be equipped with an auxiliary gate valve installed between the service line and the hydrant to permit repair or replacement of the hydrant without disruption of water service.
H. All fire hydrant installations on dead-end mains or temporarily dead-end mains shall include provisions for looping, together with minimum easement of 16 feet therefor, unless the Director of Public Works approves for good cause a different installation design.
I. All hydrants installed after the effective date of this section shall be painted yellow. The bonnet of the fire hydrant shall be painted in color code to indicate the available fire flow conforming with N.F.P.A. No. 291, 1980 Edition. [Ord. 2060 § 1, 2003; Ord. 1836 § 1, 1993; Ord. 1336 §§ 3, 4, 1981; Ord. 1172 § 6, 1978.]
8.24.060 Water supply requirement.
A. All fire hydrants shall be supplied with water from a municipal water system or a water district.
B. All fire hydrants installed in residential zones after July 10, 1978, shall be supplied by eight-inch circulating mains; provided, that the Director of Public Works may approve installation of six-inch mains for lines no longer than 600 feet between intersecting mains which complete a desirable gridiron.
C. All leads from service mains to fire hydrants shall be at least six inches in diameter. [Ord. 1172 § 7, 1978.]
8.24.070 Location and number requirements – Generally.
A. The maximum distance between fire hydrants in single-family zones shall be 600 feet, except that areas of single-family zones impressed with public buildings, including schools, shall comply with subsection (B) of this section.
B. The maximum distances between fire hydrants, in other than single-family zones, shall be 400 feet with hydrants being located as nearly as possible at street intersections.
C. The length of any hydrant lead and six-inch dead-end service main shall not exceed 500 feet for any fire hydrant.
D. Not more than one fire hydrant shall be installed on a six-inch main between intersecting mains, and not more than two hydrants shall be installed on an eight-inch line between intersecting mains.
E. All fire hydrant locations shall be subject to the approval of the Fire Chief, considering such factors as utility obstructions, topography, building location, and direct access for fire apparatus from the hydrant to the structure being served without any intervening impediments.
F. All fire hydrants and Fire Department connections shall be accessible to fire apparatus by an all-weather roadway capable of supporting the imposed loads of fire apparatus. The width of the roadway is to be no less than 20 feet with a vertical clearance of 13 feet, six inches. [Ord. 1411 § 1, 1983; Ord. 1336 § 5, 1981; Ord. 1172 § 8, 1978.]
8.24.080 Location and number requirements – Certain special buildings.
Notwithstanding other requirements of this chapter, the following additional regulations shall apply to all buildings, other than single-family or two-family dwellings, any portion of which is more than 150 feet from the curb or edge of the nearest established street or public highway:
A. Fire hydrants shall be a minimum of 50 feet away from a building or structure, unless as determined by the Fire Chief; a longer minimum distance is needed for the safety of firemen and fire vehicles using the hydrant.
B. Buildings having a required flow of 2,500 or more gallons per minute shall be served by fire hydrants with mains which loop around the building or complex of buildings and reconnect or extend to another grid system.
C. Buildings having a required fire flow of less than 2,500 gallons per minute may be permitted to have hydrants on one side of the building only.
D. Location of fire hydrants shall be subject to approval of the Fire Chief, considering such factors as utilities, topography, and building location. [Ord. 1411 § 2, 1983; Ord. 1172 § 9, 1978.]