Fire hydrant faq's

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Due to our weather, fire hydrants in the City of Calgary are Dry Barrel hydrants (also known as "Frostproof" hydrants). This type of hydrant should be inspected semi-annually (twice yearly) and flow tested annually. The City of Calgary outlines semi-annual inspections & annual flow tests as per the Testing Guidelines from the Director of Water Services which is enforced by the CofC Bylaw 40M2006. Additionally, the National Fire Code, 2019 Alberta Edition requires that hydrant test and inspection recording be in accordance with the NFPA Fire Protection Systems: Inspection, Test, and Maintenance Manual which instructs the same testing frequency.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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. The yellow hydrant in the image shown above has a six inch extension at its base to bring it to up to code. 

"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

Fines for violations of these regulations range between $100 and $250 per hydrant.