Unit – 1

Lesson 3 – Fire Hydrant System / Sprinkler System

1. What are the important components of a Fire Hydrant System? Name them and
explain their purpose?

The main components of a well-designed hydrant system are

a. Water Reservoir (Gravity / Static Tanks or Sumps).

b. Main Pump
c. Jockey Pump
d. Ring Main
e. Hydrants
 Single Hydrants
 Double Hydrants
f. Riser Mains

a. Water Reservoir (Gravity / Static Tanks or Sumps)

Tank capacity ranging from 110 Kiloliters to 225 kiloliters recommended depending upon the
risk to be covered. These should be located between 60 to 200 meters from the risk. Proper
approach roads of at least 3.6 meter width should be provided.

Arrangement of these tanks should be made divide in two compartments such that one
compartment is always available for service and other will be for cleaning and maintenance
purposes.

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 b. Main Pump (Fire Pump)

In the main pump section, there will be 2-Pumps, one electric and the other diesel driven (stand
by). The purpose of this pump is to provide water to the piping system at a pressure of 7 to 10.5
kg/cm. The capacity of the pump shall be 2750 liters/minute.

It is preferable to make them start automatically once the pressure drops, below the minimum
required value. Both pumps can be electrically driven, provided the source of power supply is
from different sources.

c. Jockey Pump

The purpose of this pump is maintaining pressure in the piping network. The capacity of the
pump shall be 500 liters/minute. If the pressure drops to 6.5 kg /cm², this pump starts
automatically and raise the pressure to the system pressure of 7.0 or 10.5 kg /cm², and then
stopping by itself. In case, the pressure drops below the set pressure of 3.5 kg / cm the main
pump starts automatically.

d. Ring Mains

It is the piping network laid underground. Where underground laying is feasible, these can be
laid through above ground. For the stability of pipes, sufficient supported shall be installed at an
interval of one support at every 10 feet. These are laid in ring pattern along the side of the roads
/ passages.
e. Hydrants

The hydrants are located between 2 - 15 meters from the building to be protected in
nonhazardous areas and 30 meters from the edge of the building accommodating hazardous
stores.

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Hydrants are installed on a 150 mm mains pipe reduced to 100 mm pipe, where it is meant to
feed a single hydrant. However, the size of mains is decided such that the pressure available at
the hydraulically remotest point shall not be less than 5.25 kg/cm² through a nozzle of 150 - 20
mm diameter.

Pipe material used for mains pipe connection is normally cast iron, as this is anticorrosion and
cheaper. Mild steel can also be used, but this must be coated with good quality of anticorrosion
point and suitably wrapped.

Hydrants are installed in such a way that the risk is protected from two independent sources of
water supply.

 Single Hydrants:
These are the points from where fire hoses are connected for drawing water. Single outlet is
fixed with 63 mm diameter instantaneous female coupling with a wheel type control valve called
the “landing valve” coupled to 80 mm diameter standpipe through a bend. It is erected 1 meter
above the ground level.

f. Double Hydrants:

In this case, the stand post diameter is 100 mm, provided with a “T” at the top and a landing
valve is fixed to each end of the “T”.

g. Riser Mains:

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These are provided where the hydrants are provided on upper floors of the building. These have
one main isolation valve at the ground level. The diameter of such mains is 150 mm reduced to
100 mm at the top.

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