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Water Supply and Fire Hydrants

Water Supply and Fire Hydrants

The Rules

C.R.S. 42-4-1204. Stopping, standing, or parking prohibited in specified places.
No person shall stand or park a vehicle, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or an official traffic control device; within fifteen (15) feet of a fire hydrant; within twenty (20) feet of the driveway entrance to any fire station or, on the side of a street opposite the entrance to any fire station, within seventy-five (75) feet of said entrance when properly signposted.

IFC 507.5.4 Obstruction. Unobstructed access to fire hydrants shall be maintained at all times. The fire department shall not be deterred or hindered from gaining immediate access to fire protection equipment or fire hydrants.

IFC 507.5.4.1 Unlawful. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, corporation, private or public agency to deny or delay access by the fire department to any water source that can be used for the suppression of fire or other emergency to include refiling of fire apparatus during or immediately after a fire or other emergency event that requires the use of water.

IFC 507.5.5 Clear space around hydrants. A 3 foot (914 mm) clear space shall be maintained around the circumference of fire hydrants, except as otherwise required or approved.

IFC 507.5.6 Physical protection. Where fire hydrants are subject to impact by a motor vehicle, guard posts or other approved means shall comply with Section 312.


Water Supplies Fire Protection Guidance Document - Requirements for the design and location of fire hydrants per Chapter 5, Appendices B & C of the International Fire Code. This document includes required plan submittal information for submitting to CFFD for review and approval signatures.
Vehicle Impact Protection - Details on designing vehicle impact protection system for fire hydrants, store fronts, propane cages, above ground storage tanks, and more.
Water Plan Submittal Application 


Fountain Fire Department preferred hydrant for emergency operations is the American AVK Series 2780 Nostalgic-Style


What colors mean what for Fire Hydrants?
Here within the City of Fountain we have about five water districts and private water systems on properties. To help firefighters out when responding to fire emergencies we follow the NFPA Guidelines for marking and color coding Fire Hydrants.

The NFPA Code 291 recommended practice for Fire Flow Testing and Marking Hydrants is as follows.

Section 5.1 Classification of Hydrants. Hydrants should be classified in accordance with their rated capacities [at 20 psi (1.4 bar) residual pressure or other designated value] as follows:
1. Class AA - Rated capacity of 1500 gpm (5700 L/min) or greater
2.  Class A - Rated capacity of 1000-1499 gpm (3800-5699 L/min)
3. Class B - Rated capacity of 500-999 gpm (1900-3799 L/min)
4. Class C - Rated capacity of less than 500 gpm (1900 L/min)

Section 5.21.2 The tops (the bonnet) and nozzle caps should be painted with the following capacity-indicating color scheme to provide simplicity and consistency with colors used in signal work for safety, danger, and intermediate condition:
1. Class AA - Blue
2. Class A - Green
3. Class B - Orange
4. Class C - Red

Section 5.2.5.2 When private hydrants are located on public streets, they should be painted red or some other  color to distinguish them from public hydrants.
Fountain Fire Department requires all private hydrants on private water system to be painted red with the exception of tops/bonnet to match the color scheme as described above.


What paint to be used for Fire Hydrants?

Rust-Oleum, High Performance 7400 System DTM Alkyd Enamel (450)
- High-glass finish; one-cost coverage; dries tack-free in 2-4 hours
- Resists chipping, fading, weathering
- Protects against mild chemicals-ideal for moderate to slightly severe industrial environments
- Two-year rust-proof guarantee-maximum corrosion protection
- Meets USDA requirements for incidental food contact; accepted for use in federally registered food facilities; <450 VOCs

Yellow - 944402 (safety yellow)
Red - 964402 (safety red)
Blue - 925402 (safety blue)
Green - 933402 (safety green)
Orange - 956402 (safety orange)
Black - 634402 (high gloss black) *only for dry hydrant bonnet and caps

Class AA - 1500 gpm (5700 L/min) or greater
Blue
Public Hydrant with Blue Bonnet   Private Hydrant with Blue Bonnet
Municipal Private


Class A - 1000-1499 (3800-5699 L/min)
Green
Public Hydrant with Green Bonnet   Private Hydrant with Green Bonnet
Municipal Private


Class B 500-999 gpm (1900-37900 L/min)
Orange
Public Hydrant with Orange Bonnet   Private Hydrant with Orange Bonnet
Municipal Private

Class C - less than 500 gpm (1900 L/min)
Red
Public Hydrant with Red Bonnet   Private Hydrant with Red Bonnet
Municipal Private


Dry Barrel Hydrant, Pond or Lake Supply
Blue Hydrant, with Black Bonnet and Caps

Dry Barrel
Dry Barrel