#53 - The Role and Components of Fire

Department Connections

Different parts of a fire department

connection play a role in getting water
to fire sprinkler or standpipe systems
Fire department connections (FDCs) ensure that certain fire
sprinkler and standpipe systems can quickly get the water they
need in an emergency. While some systems only need the FDC
as a last resort, others require an external supply of water.
Manual dry standpipe systems, for example, rely entirely on
water pumped through an FDC for the water firefighters need.

In this article, we'll look at the role of a fire department

connection in fire protection, and explain how different parts of
a fire department connection – from swivels to signs –make the
FDC's work possible.

If you already know everything you need to know, click here to

browse our selection of  fire department connections.

What are the parts of a fire department

connection?
Most discussions of fire department connections focus on the
inlet body, which contains all of the parts needed to connect a
fire hose to pipes supplying a fire sprinkler or standpipe system.
However, a complete and NFPA-compliant fire department
connection features three parts, two of which are placed out of
view:

 The piping to the sprinkler system riser or main

 A check valve, which prevents water from flowing in the

wrong direction

 The inlet body

The inlet body of a fire department connection consists of these

parts:

 Swivels, which connect fire hose to the FDC's inlets

 The inlets, which facilitate water's entry into the FDC body

 An outlet connecting the body to system piping

 The body, which connects these components

Fire department connection components vary slightly across
models. Some include clappers to direct the flow of water
through the FDC and prevent water from exiting through open
inlets. Fire department connections for Storz couplings may
feature only the inlet and the outlet, providing a considerably
more compact way to deliver a supply of water.

Most FDCs have a four-inch (4") or six-inch (6") outlet that

connects to the building’s internal piping. That piping has either
threaded ends – typically threaded with National Pipe Thread
(NPT) – or grooved ends. Some have ends that are compatible
with non-threaded Storz connections.

Open inlets have a tendency to gather dirt, dust, debris, and

garbage, clogging system piping. For that reason, NFPA-
compliant fire department connections also feature breakable
caps or combination plug and chain assemblies that protect the
FDC's inlets while the system is not in use.

What types of fire department

connection are used today?
Three kinds of FDCs serve today's fire protection systems:
exposed, freestanding, and flush.

Exposed FDCs are found on the outside wall of a building. The

body, inlets, and swivels remain exposed for easy access by
firefighters.
This exposed two-way FDC has no caps, allowing debris to accumulate in the
inlets.

Freestanding connections act as exposed FDCs but stand apart

from the building being supplied. Freestanding FDCs connect to
the building’s system through a buried pipe, creating a
convenient point of access for firefighters.

A freestanding fire department connection in New York City. Source: Wikipedia.

Flush connections install flush to the building’s wall, leaving only
the inlet couplings or swivels exposed. The body and outlets sit
behind the wall, fully concealed by an identification plate. Flush
FDCs are considered more aesthetically appealing, especially
when the building requires three or more inlets.

A flush fire department connection with two inlets. Source: Wikipedia.

Proper placement of fire department

connections promotes immediate
access for firefighters
An inaccessible or hard-to-find FDC can paralyze a fire sprinkler
or standpipe system. As such, an FDC's location should always
maximize accessibility for firefighters.

While local fire codes and the preferences of fire authorities

govern the exact placement of an FDC, it should be positioned
on the street side of the building and be easily recognizable.
Each fire department connection should be positioned
reasonably close to the nearest hydrant – 100 feet at most – but
not so close that fire trucks or fire pumps placed near the
hydrant lack clearance. Further, the engine and its hoses should
not obstruct access to the building once connected to the FDC.
Such obstructions can make it more difficult for firefighters
entering or exiting the structure. Poorly-placed hose can also
limit the positions available to firefighters who fight fires with
aerial ladders.

Required signage identifies the system

served by a fire department connection
NFPA-compliant FDCs require minimum signage that denotes
the system they serve such as “Automatic Sprinklers,”
“Standpipes,” “Standpipe & Auto-Sprinkler,” or “Test Connection.”
Most manufacturers provide rings to clearly label these
connections.

The lettering on this identification plate indicates that an FDC serves a

combination fire sprinkler and standpipe system.

These signs help first responders quickly locate the connection

they need and know what they are connecting to. In addition,
FDCs often feature signs that list the specific part or parts of the
building that the fire sprinkler or standpipe system supplies.
Compatibility between the fire
department's hose connections and a
building's FDC couplings is paramount
The swivels on an FDC should always fit local fire hose couplings.
Mismatched hose threads can delay firefighting efforts or render
firefighters totally unable to supply water to a building's fire
protection system.

One of the most common FDCs, known as a Siamese or two-way

connection, has two 2 1/2-inch female swivel connections. NFPA
requires that all fire department connections use 2 1/2" National
Hose (NH) threaded female couplings unless the authority
having jurisdiction designates another specific connection type.

A two-way, or "Siamese," FDC.

The use of these female swivels distinguishes many FDCs from

other connections, including roof manifolds and fire pump test
connections, which feature male-threaded inlets.
Clappers guide water through fire
department connections
Pressurized water moving through fire department connections
can close built-in clappers. These clappers prevent water from
exiting through open inlets. On an FDC with two or more inlets,
clappers allow firefighters to add or remove hoses as needed. If
the flow of water to one hose stops (or a hose bursts) a clapper
will close to prevent backflow. In the meantime, other hoses can
continue to supply water through the other inlets.

Standard two-way FDCs may include either one or two clappers.

The clapper on a single-clapper model swings freely between
both inlets. Water pressure from one inlet causes the clapper to
block the unused inlet. When two hoses are used, the clapper
takes a position between the two inlets, permitting the passage
of water through both inlets. These models use less material and
are generally more affordable.

Viewed through the outlet of a single-clapper FDC: a lone clapper rests between
the two inlets, ready to swing closed as needed.

Double-clapper two-way fire department connections have one

clapper for each inlet. While they are more expensive, double-
clapper models offer added durability and an additional
safeguard against bursting hose lines.
Water-based fire protection systems
depend on fire department connections
Fire sprinkler systems rely on fire department connections for a
supply of water when other sources are exhausted or
unavailable. FDCs are also a key component for charging many
standpipe systems. These systems are designed to provide water
to servicing hoses in strategically placed locations inside a
building or structure.

Standpipe systems are most common in large buildings, where

areas of the facility are too far from an outside entrance, and
multistory buildings, where they eliminate the need for running
long lengths of hose in stairwells and on the ground. Manual wet
standpipe systems require external charging from outside
sources of water and thus rely on the fire department
connection for both their water and their water pressure. In both
cases, the FDC located at the ground level is the liaison between
built-in piping and an external supply of water.

How to choose a fire department

connection for your building
Before replacing an FDC, you want to check several things,
including the number of female inlets, the number of clappers,
and the thread type. If you’re replacing an FDC, the easiest way
to do this is to purchase the same model. FDCs for NFPA-
compliant systems should be selected and installed in
accordance with local fire code along with NFPA 13: Standard for
the Installation of Sprinkler Systems  and NFPA 14: Standard for the
Installation of Standpipe and Hose Systems.
QRFS offers durable fire department connection kits designed
for use as flush or exposed FDCs. Our selection of brass and
chrome-finished exposed FDCs includes two types: angled FDCs,
which feature an outlet at a 90-degree vertical angle to the inlets,
and straight FDCs, which place inlets and outlets at the same
vertical angle. All of our angled exposed FDCs are perfect for use
as freestanding fire department connections when coupled with
a metal freestanding sleeve.

This angled exposed FDC can be installed as a freestanding or exposed FDC.

Our selection also includes flush double-clapper, two-way fire

department connections in brass or chrome, available with NYC
or NST-threaded swivels.

A chrome flush fire department connection with two inlets.

QRFS makes it easy to add the signs, break caps, and plugs you
need—simply browse for the FDC you want and select your
accessories on the same page.