Chapter 13.05
FIRE HYDRANTS
Sections:
13.05.010 Purpose of provision.
13.05.020 Requirements generally.
13.05.030 Approval of plans required.
13.05.040 Compliance with specifications--Adopted by reference.
13.05.050 Installation standards.
13.05.060 Water supply requirements.
13.05.070 Location and number requirements--Generally.
13.05.080 Location and number requirements--Certain special buildings.
13.05.090 Fire hydrant--Operation.
13.05.100 Fire hydrant--Contractor use.
13.05.110 Fire hydrant--Tampering prohibited.
13.05.010 Purpose of provision.
This chapter is enacted to provide minimum requirements for installation of fire hydrants designated or approved by the fire chief of the city in the exercise of his duties pursuant to Subsection 13.301 of the Uniform Fire Code, 1979 Edition. The duties under the fire code shall be deemed changed automatically when future editions of the Uniform Fire Code are amended. (Ord. 1257 §1V, 2011: Ord. 895 (part), 1990)
13.05.020 Requirements generally.
A. All buildings or additions to buildings constructed or located within the city after April 1, 1990, 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 Wapato Municipal Code.
B. Fire hydrants installed prior to April 1, 1990, which do not conform to the requirements of this chapter, shall, when replaced, be replaced with fire hydrants conforming to the requirements of the Wapato 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 by the fire chief and/or the director of public works. (Ord. 1257 §1W, 2011: Ord. 895 (part), 1990)
13.05.030 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. 895 (part), 1990)
13.05.040 Compliance with specifications--Adopted 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 the following publications, of which not less than three copies 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 full in this chapter:
1. Guide for Determination of Required Fire Flow, published by the Insurance Service Office of the Municipal Survey Service, dated June, 1972;
2. The following AWWA Standards, published by the American Water Works Association:
a. Standard C100--Iron pipe,
b. Standard C200--Steel pipe,
c. Standard C300--Concrete pipe,
d. Standard C400--A-C pipe,
e. Standard C500--Valves,
f. Standard C600--Pipe laying.
3. Uniform Fire Code currently adopted edition Appendix III-A, fire flow requirements for buildings. (Ord. 895 (part), 1990)
13.05.050 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 at all times.
B. All fire hydrants shall have two national standard thread hose outlets of two and one-half inches in diameter and one outlet of at least four inches in diameter with five-inch stortz type adapter.
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 eighteen inches above grade and with no less than thirty-six 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 the 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, deadened mains or temporarily deadened mains shall include provisions for looping, together with minimum easement of sixteen 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. All two-and-one-half-inch caps, four-inch caps and hydrant tops shall be color coded with paint to indicate fire flow, conforming with N.F.P.A. No. 291, 1980 Edition, as amended. (Ord. 1257 §1X, 2011: Ord. 895 (part), 1990)
13.05.060 Water supply requirements.
A. All fire hydrants shall be supplied with water from a municipal water system.
B. All fire hydrants installed in residential zones after April 1, 1990, 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 six hundred 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. 1257 §1Y, 2011: Ord. 895 (part), 1990)
13.05.070 Location and number requirements--Generally.
A. The maximum distance between fire hydrants in single-family zones shall be six hundred 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 four hundred feet, with hydrants being located as nearly as possible at street intersections.
C. The length of any hydrant lead and six-inch deadened service main shall not exceed five hundred 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 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 twenty feet with a vertical clearance of thirteen feet six inches. (Ord. 895 (part), 1990)
13.05.080 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 one hundred fifty feet from the curb or edge of the nearest established street or public highway:
A. Fire hydrants shall be a minimum of fifty feet away from a building or structure, unless as determined by the fire chief, a longer minimum distance is needed for the safety of fire fighters and fire vehicles using the hydrant.
B. Buildings having a required flow of two thousand five hundred or more gallons per minute shall be serviced 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 two thousand five hundred 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. 895 (part), 1990)
13.05.090 Fire hydrant--Operation.
No person other than an employee of the public works department or fire department shall operate fire hydrants or interfere in any way with the city water system without first obtaining authority so to do from the public works department. (Ord. 1257 §2A, 2011)
13.05.100 Fire hydrant--Contractor use.
Contractors and others who temporarily desire to use city water through a fire hydrant may do so at the regular meter rates by first making application to the water department, who will coordinate with the fire chief, in the regular manner for the installation of a meter and by making a deposit with the city clerk/treasurer to cover costs of installation and deposit as provided for in Section 13.04.280. In case a connection to a fire hydrant is permitted the connection shall be made with a regular hose connection and a short length of two-inch pipe and a gate valve shall be installed between the hydrant and the meter for turning on and turning off water, and the water user shall in no case open or close the hydrant. (Ord. 1258 §2, 2011: Ord. 1257 §2B, 2011)
13.05.110 Fire hydrant--Tampering prohibited.
It is unlawful for any person, except in case of fire on the premises, to break or disturb any seal placed by the water department or to open any fire gate, or to use water through any fire connection unless permission has first been secured from the water department. (Ord. 1257 §2C, 2011)
13.05.120 Violation--Penalty.
Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof be punished by a fine of not exceeding one thousand dollars or by imprisonment for a period not exceeding ninety days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. (Ord. 1257 §2D, 2011)