![]() Although it could be tempting to leave your car directly in front of the building you’re going into, you could end up blocking a firefighter from accessing a hydrant that’s needed to save lives. But no matter the color of the hydrant, the most important rule to remember is to never park in front of one. This is just a tiny bit of information about fire hydrants and what each color means. Firefighters must determine the correct amount of water to use or else they could (1) not be able to put out the fire before it swallows a home or vehicle or (2) use too much water and cause water damage to the property. Water pressure is taken into account, as is the fire’s size and location. Because it is a chemical reaction, there are many factors that firefighters take into account when choosing a hydrant and the nozzle on the end of their hose. Putting out a fire is more than just spraying a ton of water on it. While this Italian pride hydrant looks neat, it’s definitely not helpful to firefightersįirefighters are also good at math - or at least, they should be. In fact, it makes it even harder for firefighters to distinguish whether or not they can use that hydrant to put out a fire. But if you decide to paint a fire hydrant in your yard to look like a Dalmatian or an American flag, you’re not really helping anyone. Other municipalities have their own color-coding systems that can contain things like roman numerals, standard stenciled numbers, and a wider range of colors. Stay Safe at All Times: Learn more about OnStar and what it could do for you If a hydrant is inoperable, it should be painted black, but if it’s only temporarily unusable, a black bag should be placed over it. However, if the fire hydrant isn’t connected to a public water supply and is accessing a private system shared by houses in a neighborhood, it should be painted an entirely different color to distinguish it from the public system. In this system, referred to as the NFPA 291, hydrants using public water supply systems should be painted chrome yellow and should have color-coded tops to denote the available GPM. While there’s not one set standard of fire hydrant color guidelines in the U.S., the most commonly used system was created by the National Fire Protection Agency. Water pressure (measured by PSI) is also a factor that’s considered when a firefighter chooses a hydrant.ĭid you know? If no fire hydrants are nearby, firefighters use “tankers” to carry water to the fire Some hydrants offer 500 GPM (gallons per minute) or less while others can provide up to 2,500 GPM. Depending on the set of guidelines being followed, the color of the hydrant lets the fire department know how much water is available for them to use. It turns out that fire hydrant colors are actually really important for firefighters and are not just an aesthetic choice made by your local neighborhood (most of the time). Recently Hit a Fire Hydrant? Here’s why you should service your vehicle at a dealership But why are fire hydrants different colors and what do they mean? ![]() Upon arriving home, 200 miles later, I confirmed that the fire hydrants in my apartment complex were, in fact, a pale yellow instead of an alarming red. ![]() “Aren’t the fire hydrants at home yellow?” I thought to myself. It seemed odd to me that it was so brightly colored, and something about it didn’t sit well with me. During a recent trip to Cleveland, something caught my eye while I was in the passenger’s seat of my girlfriend’s car - a freshly painted red fire hydrant. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |