NFPA standards require that all public fire hydrants be inspected on a regular basis. There are a number of outside factors that can affect fire hydrant operation, including regular wear-and-tear, vandalism, accidental damage, mechanical function and even the errors of careless contractors. If your New Jersey, Delaware or Philadelphia building's fire hydrant needs inspection, call Confires Fire Protection today. Our certified trained technicians can make sure your fire hydrant is up to code and so that it will be able to protect you and your business in the event of a fire.

At Confires Fire Protection, our fire hydrant inspection process is designed to ensure that your building's fire hydrant meets all proper fire safety codes. Our fire hydrant inspection process begins with an external inspection where we check the fire hydrant chains, caps and paint, making sure that the hydrant can be easily opened and is recognizable to the fire service (different colors signify different things).

Following the external inspection, Confires Fire Protection Service will lubricate the fire hydrant with either a white mineral oil or a special food machinery grease, depending on the type of lubricant needed. After this is done, the flushing process can begin.

During the flushing process, a Confires Fire Protection Services technician will slowly open the fire hydrant and drain it until the water becomes clear and no objects, such as rocks, flow out of it. The hydrant will then be closed again and a small amount of grease will be applied to the nozzles and nozzle caps.

If the fire hydrant fails to shut off after flushing, it will be opened back up until the obstruction is removed. If this does not work, the fire hydrant will be taken apart and, if necessary, the main valve and hydrant seal will be replaced.

If the fire hydrant does not drain, it will be opened again and kept open until it starts draining. If necessary, it will be pumped.

After the fire hydrant inspection process is complete, the hydrant must be closed carefully to avoid the following events:

Water Hammer
Water hammer is the result of swiftly flowing water being forced to stop abruptly. It occurs when a valve is shut down too quickly and has the same effect on your fire hydrant as a fast moving car slamming against a brick wall has.

Since water is incompressible, it does not absorb any of the energy from a high velocity impact – instead, it transfers the force of the impact to the pipes, fire hydrant body and ground, which can lead to cracking or total destruction of the fire hydrant. At Confires Fire Protection, we are careful to ensure that your fire hydrants are kept safe from water damage during inspection.

Brown Water
Brown water is caused by a sudden change in the amount of water in a water main which can occur when opening a fire hydrant. As the water starts flowing faster, it kicks up the sediment that usually stays on the bottom of the pipes and moves it with the water. While the sedimented water is still perfectly safe to drink, at Confires Fire Protection we work hard to keep the brown water out of your pipes and faucets during our fire hydrant inspections.

Is your New Jersey, Delaware or Philadelphia building’s fire hydrant ready for inspection? Call Confires Fire Protection today to make sure your hydrant is up to code and able to protect you in the event of a fire.