Fire hydrant faq's
Keep Your Loved Ones Safe
Semi-Annual Inspections & Annual Flow Tests
Semi-Annual Inspections & Annual Flow Tests
Every second counts in a fire emergency. Keeping fire hydrants maintained helps to keep you safe.
Semi-Annual Inspections & Annual Flow Tests
Semi-Annual Inspections & Annual Flow Tests
Semi-Annual Inspections & Annual Flow Tests
Insurance companies want to know that your fire safety equipment has not been neglected.
Prevent Loss of Property
Semi-Annual Inspections & Annual Flow Tests
Prevent Loss of Property
A functioning hydrant could make the difference between minor damage and total loss.
commonly asked questions
Why do you recommend that hydrants be inspected semi-annually and flow tested annually?
The new National Fire Code, 2023 Alberta Edition requires that hydrants be inspected and flow tested annually as per NFPA25. However, we recommend that hydrants be inspected semi-annually. This is in consideration that due to our weather, fire hydrants in Alberta are dry barrel hydrants (also known as "Frostproof" hydrants). This type of hydrant is recommended to be inspected semi-annually (twice yearly) above the required annual flow test and inspection.
A wet barrel hydrant behaves as you might expect if a vehicle were to strike it—like in the movies, water would spray everywhere. In contrast, water would not spray out of a dry barrel hydrant in Canada if it were to be hit by a vehicle, unless the hydrant was in operation at the time of the strike as the water inside sits down below the frost line. Therefore, it's crucial to ensure that all dry barrel hydrants either fully drain on their own, or if there is a high water table, are pumped out after each use and before the end of the season.
Additional considerations to note: The City of Calgary outlines recommended semi-annual inspections & annual flow tests as per the Testing Guidelines from the Director of Water Services. This testing schedule is also recommended by the Fire Underwriters Survey (who are responsible for fire-related insurance underwriting in Canada), by most hydrant manufacturers (McAvity, Mueller, Terminal City, AVK, & Canada Valve), and by the AWWA (American Water Works Association).
Regular inspections are the first step in ensuring that your hydrants are being maintained in proper operating condition. The team at Clear Flow Services Ltd. is dedicated to providing you exceptional fire safety services that meets and goes above and beyond the minimum requirements.
Why can't hydrants be painted any colour?
Fire hydrants are fire safety devices. They must be easy to locate by Firefighters in case of emergency which means they must stand out visibly in all weather and lighting conditions. The City of Calgary Bylaw requires they be painted regulation colours based on type of use (red, yellow, or purple) using specialized paint to protect from corrosion.
As with all fire related issues, we recommend our clients contact their insurance providers for more information as insurance is often predicated on the state of their fire safety devices. The Fire Underwriters Survey strongly recommends that all hydrants be painted 1. in accordance with local requirements, and 2. that the paint be bright enough to be visible in low light conditions.
What do the different colours of hydrants mean in Calgary?
Yellow tells the Fire Department that the hydrant is self-draining. Most hydrants around the City of Calgary are yellow as our water table is fairly low.
Red denotes that the hydrant is not self-draining and the water inside the hydrant must be pumped out after each use. If the water is not pumped out, it will sit in the body of the hydrant and freeze up in the winter months, risking major damage and inoperability.
Purple indicates the hydrant contains non-potable water.
What about colour coding outside of Calgary?
Visit your municipality's website for information on hydrant colour coding or visit the links below. Don't see your city/town? Contact your local Waterworks or Fire Department for information.
Airdrie click here.
Canmore click here.
Chestermere click here.
Okotoks click here.
What is an isolation valve?
Isolation valves control the flow of water supply to fire hydrants from the water main. A Functioning isolation valve is required for comprehensive testing, repairs, and in the event of emergency. It is found in the ground near the fire hydrant and has a small circular cast iron lid. These valves must be accessible and their functionality maintained.
What are hydrant extensions for?
To use a fire hydrant, Firefighters must use a hydrant key to take the caps off and hook up their hoses. This key is specially for hydrant use and there must be proper unobstructed clearance for it to swing all the way around - this includes its distance to the ground as well as surrounding walls and landscaping.
Why can't I plant flowers, bushes, or tall grasses near a hydrant?
Can you spot the hydrant in this photo? Hydrants must be visible from the road and accessible for emergency responders and to perform maintenance, testing, & repairs.
"Obstructions such as hedges, shrubs, trees, fences and the accumulation of materials are not permitted near the hydrant. A two (2) meter clearance must be maintained on each side of a fire hydrant and a one (1) meter clearance must be maintained on the side of a fire hydrant farthest from the street. Nothing may be erected and only grass may be planted in this clearance area." Quoted from the City of Calgary Bylaw 40M2006
Fines for violations start at $1500 per hydrant.