Professional Documents
Culture Documents
5 Yearly Hydrant Service Testing Document 2020
5 Yearly Hydrant Service Testing Document 2020
View Our Hydrant Booster 5 Yearly Flow Testing Explanatory Video on YouTube
Figure 1 - 3: A 10-year-old, defective check valve removed from a fire hydrant system
AS1851-2012 (Table 4.4.4) nominates two tests:
Difference between Annual Water Supply Proving & the 5 Yearly Booster Flow Test
Annual water supply proving verifies each water supply (town’s main, fire pumps, tanks etc) provide the
required flow and pressure at the most hydraulically remote hydrant. This test does not encompass the
fire brigade booster and the pump bypass – the 5 yearly booster flow tests does. See Figure 4 below
depicts the difference between the Annual Water Supply Proving Test & 5 Yearly Booster Flow Testing.
Figure 4: AS1851-2012 (Table 4.4.4) Five-Yearly Service Schedule Fire Hydrant Systems
Figure 5: Difference between the Annual Water Supply Proving Test & 5 Yearly Booster Flow Testing.
Why are these tests important?
Failure of the hydrant system during a fire emergency could be catastrophic. Over time the hydrant
system will deteriorate internally & restrictions do result. We have found many systems with badly
corroded/obstructed piping and valving. Water damage caused by a hydrant system piping failure can be
substantial.
[The system] Was found to be capable of performing to a standard no less than that to which the
measure was originally designed & implemented.
After a fire or a system failure, if it is found the system has not been serviced & tested to the recognised
standard, then insurance issues and other litigation may result. The same principal is applied to the 5
yearly scheduled servicing of extinguishers & sprinkler alarm valves etc. The test is required by AS1851-
2012 and should be conducted within the scheduled year.
We now have two ex-Fire Brigade appliances and drawing on the expertise of our staff we offer a
comprehensive package for this service.
Many fire companies cannot offer this service - we happily offer the use of our “Flow Test
Unit” to other fire companies.
STUDY 2
Case Study 1 – 5 Yearly Hydrant Testing
Medium Rise Residential Building in Sydney, March 2014
AFT Fire performed the 5 yearly “Fire Brigade Hydrant Test” within a medium rise residential building in
Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
We attempted to pressurise the system to the required 1.5 times the working pressure – 975kPa.
The test was aborted at a maximum of 650kPa. At this pressure the check valve on the booster assembly
failed – water was then being pumped back into the town’s main. The stop valve on the booster
assembly also failed to close.
The system was flow tested via the booster assembly. The system achieved the required pressure and
flow rates (same as the annual test) at the most hydraulically remote hydrant.
AFT Fire performed the 5 yearly “Fire Brigade Hydrant Test” within a high-rise commercial building in the
Sydney CBD. AFT were engaged by a mainstream fire protection services company. The highest
hydrant valve is at 81m above ground level and the hydrant system has two pressure zones which are
serviced by a Fire Brigade relay pump.
The 2nd test was conducted as follows and PASSED. The system was flowed via the boosters to feed
the relay pump on level 6 to achieve the required flow and pressure at the most hydraulically remote
hydrant. To prevent the relay pump from over pressurising the system the stop valves above the
pressure relief valves were closed. This ensured the pump did not feed itself and relied solely on water
fed from the boosters in the driveway. The measured system working pressure was 700kPa at the
boosters to achieve the required pressure at the inlet of the Fire Brigade relay pump on L6. The relay
pump provided the most hydraulically remote hydrants (L19) with 20l/s @ 700kpa. The L6 hydrant valve
(fed off the tank and PRV station) was flow tested and achieved the required flow/pressure.
Conclusion of Findings
The System Failed the Test
The system had been generally installed to the requirements of AS2419.1 (2005). The original
installation could not have been commissioned to the requirements of AS2419.1 (utilising the boosters) –
the deficiencies encountered during our testing would have been identified at that time.
The Fire Brigade could not effectively operate the relay booster system, in its current state, without
manipulating certain isolation valves in a specific sequence.
Recommendations
1) Seek Fire Brigade approval to post instructions at the boosters and in fire control centre detailing the
required boosting procedure and the sequence of valve closers required to operate the boosting
system via the relay pump.
OR
2) Install additional piping and reconfigure the water supply pipework servicing the relay booster pump.
This would avoid the need for complicated valve manipulation during boosting by the Fire Brigade.
Additionally:
Installation of a pressure gauge above the pressure relief valve (relay pump) to show the true system
pressure when boosting as per AS 2419.1-2005. Provide a working pressure sign that states “working
pressure of 700kPa -when boosting with the onsite relay pump running”
CASE STUDY 1