This article covers NFPA, OSHA, and American Water Works guidelines, while offering illustrative examples of how local practices in color-coding may change the meaning of each color. It is possible to make some generalizations about color, however, because NFPA’s recommendations are commonly used. The result of NFPA 291, other guidelines, and local jurisdictional choices and laws is an imperfect system that requires specific training on hydrant color coding for every fire district. NFPA 291 : Recommended Practice for Fire Flow Testing and Marking of Hydrants covers labeling and hydrant colors, but this document can ultimately act only as a guideline rather than a definitive handbook of all hydrant color meanings.
At the same time, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the American Water Works Association suggest additional national color water safety recommendations. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has defined hydrant color coding, yet many jurisdictions have also developed specific color-code charts and rules of their own. Knowledge of hydrant colors communicates key information that allows snap decision-making before hooking up a fire hose, but this highly codified color system is not uniform across the United States. The standardization of fire hydrant colors If you are looking for fire hydrant caps, Storz fire hydrant caps, Storz adapters for hydrants, or pitot gauges used to test GPM, QRFS has them. In this article, we put some meaning behind fire hydrant colors. The hydrant is the tip of the iceberg, signifying through its color what lies beneath the surface in terms of functionality. How much water will be available, and how quickly? Is the hydrant water potable? Are there precautions when opening and closing the hydrant? Will there be enough water pressure? Fire hydrant colors and markings can answer all of these questions.įire hydrant colors are actually less descriptive of the hydrant than they are revealing of the machinations humming below ground: the pipe, the main, and the flow. Many people are unaware, however, that the paint color and select markings on a specific hydrant convey key information to aid in firefighting and safety. Fire hydrants are painted different colors to win the trifecta of maintenance, safety, and precise communicationįire hydrants are reservoirs for life-saving water.
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