Hydrants
Fire hydrants are essential components of urban infrastructure designed to provide a readily available water source for firefighters during emergencies. Typically located below ground or for FM global sites above ground, these brightly coloured fixtures allow fire departments to quickly access water when battling fires.
The hydrants are traditionally connected to the local authorities water supply and feature multiple outlets (nozzles) from which hoses can be attached. They come in various designs, but the basic function remains the same: to provide a high-pressure stream of water to fight fires. They’re usually marked with specific colour codes or numbers to indicate the flow rate or water pressure available.
Should water pressure be an issue dedicated fire hydrant water supplies can be designed and installed accordingly.
Internal Wet & Dry Risers
Wet and dry risers are part of a building’s fire safety system, designed to provide water to firefighters during a fire emergency, especially in high-rise buildings.
Wet Riser:
A wet riser is a vertical pipe system that is constantly filled with water and connected to fire hydrants and hose reels on each floor of the building. In the event of a fire, firefighters can use these to quickly access water, without the need for extra time to pump it to higher floors. Wet risers are commonly found in taller buildings, where the height makes it impractical to rely on a simple hose.
Dry Riser:
A dry riser, on the other hand, is an empty pipe system that is not filled with water. The system is typically pressurised with air and connected to an external fire hydrant. When needed, firefighters connect their hoses to the dry riser on the ground level and pump water through it into the building. This system is used when water pressure needs to be supplied from external sources and may be more suitable for buildings that are not very tall or those in locations where water supply may not be constant.
In summary:
Wet riser: Always filled with water, ready to use.
Dry riser: Empty until firefighters connect a pump to supply water.
Both systems ensure that firefighters can access water quickly and effectively in case of a fire.