Home - News - Industry News - What are the precautions for the maintenance and upkeep of fire hydrants?
April 21, 2025
The maintenance and upkeep of fire hydrants are crucial for ensuring their proper functioning during a fire and are related to the safety of lives and property. Maintenance and upkeep should strictly follow the norms, and many key points need to be noted.
Appearance Inspection: Conduct an appearance inspection at least once a month. Check whether the fire hydrant box door can be opened and closed normally and whether there is any deformation or damage. Check whether the equipment inside the box, such as the fire hydrant, fire hose, and fire nozzle, is complete and whether there is any damage or loss. Check whether the surface coating of the fire hydrant box and the equipment inside the box is intact and whether there is any rust or corrosion.
Valve Inspection: Inspect the valves of fire hydrants quarterly to ensure they can be opened and closed easily. For underground fire hydrants, check for water accumulation or debris in the valve well. Additionally, ensure that the valve opening wrench is in good condition and easy to operate.
Pressure Inspection: Regularly test the pressure of the fire hydrant system. This can be done using the pressure gauge on the fire hydrant or with professional pressure testing equipment.
Box Cleaning: Regularly clean the dust, dirt, and debris inside and outside the fire hydrant box to keep the box surface clean and tidy. Wipe the glass on the box door with a clean, wet cloth to ensure its transparency so that the equipment inside the box can be seen in case of an emergency.
Equipment Cleaning: The fire hose should be aired regularly to prevent mildew and decay. After airing, it should be neatly coiled and placed in the fire hydrant box. The metal parts, such as the fire nozzle and fire hydrant, should be wiped regularly to remove the rust and water stains on the surface. Antirust oil can be applied appropriately to prevent rust.
Promptly Repair Damages: Once any damage is found to the fire hydrant box, fire hose, fire nozzle, valves, and other equipment, it should be repaired or replaced promptly. For minor damages, such as loose hinges of the box door and worn interfaces of the fire hose, simple repairs can be carried out. Equipment that is severely damaged and cannot be repaired, must be replaced with new ones to ensure the normal operation of the fire hydrant system.
Ensure the Completeness of Accessories: Check whether the accessories inside the fire hydrant box are complete, such as whether the rotating mechanism of the fire button and fire hose reel is flexible. If any accessories are missing, they should be replenished promptly to ensure the integrity and functionality of the fire hydrant system.
Fire Pump Maintenance: The fire pump in the fire hydrant system is a key piece of equipment and should be maintained regularly. This includes checking the lubricating oil level of the pump and the sealing condition of the pump. Start the fire pump regularly for a test run to ensure that it can be started and operated normally in case of an emergency.
Unobstructed Passageway: Keep the passageway around the fire hydrant unobstructed. It is strictly prohibited to stack debris, park vehicles, or set up obstacles around it to ensure that firefighters can quickly approach the fire hydrant and carry out firefighting work smoothly in case of a fire.
Appropriate Temperature: For outdoor fire hydrants in cold regions, effective anti-freezing measures should be taken, such as filling the fire hydrant well with thermal insulation materials to prevent the equipment from freezing and cracking. At the same time, also avoid exposing the fire hydrant to environments with high temperatures, humidity, or corrosive gases to avoid affecting its performance and service life.
The maintenance and upkeep of fire hydrants is a long-term and professional task. Only by strictly implementing various precautions and establishing a regular maintenance mechanism can the fire hydrants be ensured to be in good readiness at all times. This is not only the protection of fire protection facilities but also a solid guarantee for life safety, building a reliable defense line against fires for society.
