What Are Fire Hydrants And Why Are They So Important?

There are hundreds of thousands of fire hydrants all over the UK, but what exactly are they and why are they so important? Find out more in this post!

In case you didn’t know, the concrete posts marked with a large, black letter H that are dotted around the streets indicate the location of fire hydrants.

They’re crucial pieces of equipment, used mostly by fire and rescue services in the event of a fire to help keep local communities safe.

They are owned and maintained by the fire and rescue service, water companies, and, in some circumstances, private land owners/occupiers.

But what exactly do they do, and why are they so important?

In this post, our experts at Total Pipeline Systems explain everything you need to know about fire hydrants.

What are fire hydrants and how do they work?

In the event of a fire, it’s vital that the fire and rescue services have immediate, unrestricted access to a water supply to eliminate the danger and keep people safe.

Fire hydrants provide just this, used by firefighters across the globe to supply or refill tanks within firefighting appliances.

They are typically buried in a chamber deep under the surface of the road or path within 24 meters of a water main.

They can be found on your road or street under a cover that looks a bit like a drain, labelled with a large black letter H and a pair of numbers.

So, why are fire hydrants so important?

There are many reasons why fire hydrants are such essential pieces of equipment, including:

• Rapid water supply

In the event of an emergency, fire and rescue crews can tap into the local water supply quickly to combat fires and eliminate the danger without any delays.

• Coverage and accessibility

There are hundreds of thousands of fire hydrants strategically located throughout the UK, with over 115,000 in London alone, meaning fire and rescue crews can access them pretty much anywhere whenever they need to put out a fire.

• Reliability

Since they’re regularly inspected and professionally maintained, fire hydrants are incredibly reliable.

Routine tests ensure that they’re fully functional, and firefighters can always count on them in an emergency when they need a large volume of water quickly.

Can fire hydrants be used for anything else?

Though they’re mostly used by fire and rescue services, fire hydrants actually have a range of other uses, such as supplying water for commercial construction projects, sewer cleaning, street construction, and street cleaning.

Only authorised professionals can access water from fire hydrants, and doing so without authorisation is a criminal offence – unless, of course, it’s your own private fire hydrant.

Purchase high-quality fire hydrants and accessories at Total Pipes

Whether you need more information about fire hydrants or would like to find out more about our collection of hydrants and accessories here at Total Pipeline Systems, our experts are here for you.

Give us a call today on 01254 382 000 or email us at sales@totalpipes.co.uk and we’ll be in touch with further details shortly.

Alternatively, you can browse our collection online, adding everything you need to your basket and heading over to our secure checkout – all orders worth over £300 are eligible for FREE UK delivery!