OG 4003 Use of Fire Hydrants

Issued By: OPERATIONS (B. Gray)
Approved By: D. Trussler, Chief Director
Date of Issue: 1997/02/11    
Revision Date: 1998/09/15; 2000/12/01; 2004/02/12; 2005/11/24; 2005/12/01; 2009/05/07; 2012/03/13; 2012/06/26

PURPOSE: 

To provide a procedure to notify the Halifax Regional Water Commission when the Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency (HRFE) will be causing a fluctuation in the water pressure, and why.

OBJECTIVE:

To identify fire hydrants having different size connections and their locations. To identify the proper steps when wrapping a fire hydrant in preparation of a forward lay.

SCOPE:

This operating guideline applies to career and volunteer members of HRFE. 

PROCEDURE: 

Fire hydrants in the Halifax Regional Municipality are owned and maintained by the Halifax Regional Water Commission. They are for the express use of the Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency for firefighting, emergency operations and training.

Training Sessions – Crews must obtain prior approval from a Supervisor of Halifax Regional Water Commission, by contacting the appropriate region, to access a hydrant for training or any other purposes other than emergency operations and the Knightsridge Training Grounds by 
contacting the following:

Emergency Operations & Knightsridge Fire Station Training Grounds- Officers are to ensure through Dispatch that the Water Commission is contacted every time a hydrant is opened by members of the service for any reason. This includes firefighting operations as well as training sessions conducted at Knightsridge Fire Station training grounds ii. This is extremely important in the cold months to avoid hydrants from freezing up after use. If any damage occurs to the hydrant during use or if any damage is noticed, contact the Water Commission and advise them of its location.

Fire hydrants must be opened fully when used. Opening and closing should be done SLOWLY to reduce the potential of water hammer on either the water system or fire apparatus.

The hydrant should be opened counter-clockwise and closed clockwise. The hydrant should be flushed for a few seconds prior to hooking up the hoses. In closing the hydrants, caps should not be replaced until the water has drained from the barrel.

Connections:

There are two (2) sizes of steamer connections on hydrants in the core area. Halifax, Sackville, Bedford, and 2 North Preston and all have the same size thread connections known as HFX, and Dartmouth, Eastern Passage and Cole Harbour all have the same size thread connections but are different from the above and are known as DART. The threads on the 2.5" outlets in both Halifax & Dartmouth are the same. Coloured coded adapters located on the apparatus are:

DART-     Red
HFX -    Orange

North Preston: 

The water system is for domestic water and does not have the capacity for prolonged fire use. The hydrants are to be used only for a short emergency situation while setting up an alternative water source.

Department of National Defence Properties:

Shearwater:

The steamer connections of the hydrants located on Shearwater property are two different sizes. 4 The steamer connections located on the harbour side of Pleasant Street now have both threads sizes HFX and DART. On the opposite side of Pleasant Street the thread size is the same as that which is used in Dartmouth. The 2.5" outlets are all storz connections.

Dockyard & Bedford Magazine:

•    The hydrant connections at the Dockyard and the Bedford Magazine have storz connections and these are compatible with our large diameter hose.

N.A.D., Willow Park & Windsor Park:

•    The hydrants at N.A.D., Willow Park and Windsor Park have standard HFX threads.

Dartmouth Imperial Oil Refinery:

•    The steamer connections on the hydrants at this location have a different thread size than ours. Adaptors are on Engine 13, Engine 15 and there is a spare one on the first responding unit at Imperial Oil. The 2 1\2" outlets are compatible with our hose.

Note: Hydrants on the waterside of Imperial Oil contain sea water, so all pumps and hoses must be flushed after use. The eastside of Pleasant St. Imperial (Tank Field) contains fresh water. See OG- 4004 Response to Imperial Oil Refinery.

Wrapping the Hydrant

When wrapping a hydrant for a forward lay, the firefighter at the hydrant shall:

1.    Remove an appropriate amount of large diameter hose along with the proper Fire Hydrant Adapter and Hydrant Key.

2.    Pull 6 feet of hose past the hydrant and fold back upon itself.

3.    Wrap the fold ¾ or 270 degrees around the barrel from the direction of travel.

4.    Place inside foot against hydrant holding loop, facing apparatus.

Signal driver to proceed. (Hose deployed from truck at 510 mph or 816 km).

5.    Once the apparatus stops, or enough hose has been laid to conclude hose deploying properly and it is safe to proceed (approximately 500ft), unwrap hydrant and lay hose connection to front of large port.

6.    Tighten caps not being used with tool or gloved hand.

7.    Loosen the large port cap, and remove. Standing behind the hydrant and flush for 23 seconds, open and close slowly.

8.    Connect the adapter to hydrant and then the hose to adapter. Manage first 1020 feet of Large Diameter Hose (LDH) hose to prevent kinks before charging. Contact the pump operator, and wait for the call for water.

9.    Open hydrant slowly positioned behind hose outlet. Continue until the hydrant is fully opened (approximately 14 turns) and then back off ¼ to ½ turn.

10.    Remove all kinks as you return to apparatus.

Disconnecting and Draining Hydrant

When given the order to close hydrant do so slowly. Close the hydrant all the way and wait for pressure in LDH to be reduced. Remove 2 ½ side port and drain off water. Remove LDH and Cap large port. Wait until no suction from 2 ½ port then replace cap.

RELATED POLICIES/ OEPRATING GUIDELINES:

•    OG 4004 Response to Imperial Oil Refinery

OPERATING GUIDELINE REVIEW:

This operating guideline shall be reviewed when/if there are changes/amendments to the procedure followed for the use of fire hydrants.