The following has been created to assist the design professional, the installation contractor, and the property owner with the design, installation, and acceptance testing of new fire service main systems and the testing, inspection, and maintenance of existing fire service main systems and fire hydrants. Although not all-inclusive this document provides highlights of the requirements of the Division of Fire Prevention.

General Information & Definitions

 All new installations, modifications to existing systems, and inspection, testing, and maintenance of existing systems shall follow the current local laws, codes, and reference standards and requirements in effect at the time of permit.

Florida Fire Prevention Code:

NFPA 24, Standard for the Installation of Private Fire Service Mains and Their Appurtenances

NFPA 25, Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems

NFPA 291, Flow Testing and Marking of Hydrants

NFPA 1142, Standard on Water Supplies for Suburban and Rural Fire Fighting

American Water Works Association: Manual of Water Supply Practices, Installation, Field Testing, and Maintenance of Fire Hydrants.

Fire service main system: A system shall include but not be limited to: fire hydrant(s), piping, unions, turns (22.5° 45°, 90°), reduce pressure zone valves (RPZ), backflow prevention devices, check valves, sectional valves, control valves, and pumps.

Fire Sprinkler service main system: A system shall include but is not limited to: all piping, check valves, etc. extending from the connection to the water main system (public or private) to the base of the fire sprinkler riser.

Permit required:  Permit is required from the Suwannee County Fire Rescue, Division of Fire Prevention through the Building Department for the installation, addition, modification, or repair to, a fire service main system and fire sprinkler service mains. A permit is not required for annual testing, inspection, and maintenance of existing systems.

Guard Post – Protective barriers constructed of steel and concrete to provide vehicle impact protection.
Fire Flow –The flow rate of a water supply, measured at 20 pounds per square inch (psi) residual pressure, that is available for firefighting purposes.
Fire Protection Water Supplies – A system of water mains and appurtenances that supply firefighting and/or fire protection systems.
Public Hydrant – Fire hydrant installed and maintained by a water purveyor.
Private Hydrant – A fire hydrant that is located within the property line and is usually privately owned and maintained. Note: There are instances where onsite hydrants are publicly owned and maintained by a water purveyor.
Type of Construction – Determined by Florida Building and Fire Prevention Code.
Water Purveyor – The City of Live Oak Water Department, Wellborn Community Water Plant, Town of Branford Water Department, Dowling Park Community Water Plant, and Suwannee County Water Plant.

 Requirements for the Plan Review & Installation of Fire Service Main

 Submission Requirements: All submissions will be in compliance with the above-listed codes, local laws, reference standards and shall include the following:

Suwannee County Fire Rescue, Division of Fire Prevention Permit Application

Property owner authorization affidavit.

One (1) copy of the installers Contractor License

Fee is $50.00

Two (2) sets of plans, bearing the stamp/seal of a Florida licensed design professional.

Hydraulic calculations shall be provided in a standard worksheet format, i.e. gpm, psi, elevation, pipe length, equivalent pipe length, etc., and include a summary sheet, and graph sheet. All submissions shall bear the stamp/seal of a Florida State licensed design professional.

Manufacturer’s documentation for all components of the system, including but not limited to; piping, unions (22.5°, 45°, 90°, etc.) valves, RPZ, check valves, etc.

Submissions shall depict in detail the method to be used for the installation of all components of the system.

Submissions shall depict the method, in detail to be used for joint restraint of all system components, where required i.e. thrust blocking, roding, etc.

Submissions shall include a statement indicating the occupancy hazard classification and the construction classification, indicating the required minimum gallon per minute of water flow, as reference in NFPA 1142, an approved site plan.

Submissions shall include proposed streets, driveways, access roads, fencing, gates, and barriers.

Installation Requirements: All installations shall be completed in compliance with the applicable NFPA standards, Florida Fire Prevention Code, Approved site plan requirements, and Division of Fire Prevention requirements.

New Hydrant Specs: Hydrants installed in the right away and/ or maintained by       Suwannee County must meet the following specifications; AVK hydrant model number 2780 with a 5 ¼ inch barrel with a 5-inch storz and (2) 2 ½ inch outlets. Hydrants maintained/serviced by private owners must install an equivalent hydrant with a 5 ¼ inch barrel with a five-inch storz and (2) 2 ½ inch outlets. Outlet threads must match those used by the fire department.

Hydrants shall be located not more than 12 feet from the access road and shall be faced to be accessible to fire apparatus.

Hydrants in or adjacent to parking areas shall be provided with marking, curbing, stanchions or bollards to prevent the parking of vehicles within ten feet in any direction.

Hydrants shall be located away from the building at a minimum distance of 40ft.

Hydrants shall be connected “upstream” of all fire department connections for fire sprinkler or fire standpipe systems.

A minimum of 36” circumference around the hydrant shall be maintained clear of any obstructions, including but not limited to, plantings, signposts, bollards, stanchions, etc.

Height of the hydrant(s) in relation to grade, measuring from the horizontal midline of the hydrant pumper connection, a minimum of 18” and a maximum of 36” to final grade/ground shall be maintained at a minimum.

All valves serving Back Flow Prevention Device / RPZ shall be electronically monitored or chained.

Acceptance Testing / Inspection Requirements: A Fire Inspector from Suwannee County Fire Rescue, Office of Fire Prevention shall witness the following:

All piping, valves, elbows, tees, etc. (prior to backfilling) Joint Restraint (prior to backfilling).

Hydrostatic test of all components of the system, in compliance with NFPA 24

10.10.2.2 – Hydrostatic Test. Hydrostatic testing shall be done prior to backfilling, unless the contractor acknowledges responsibility for excavation to locate any and all leaks.

Flushing of all components of the fire service mains. Minimum flow rates for flushing shall comply with NFPA 24, 10.10.2.1.3 Flushing of Piping. Flushing shall be conducted prior to making connection to the building and/or fire protection systems, i.e. fire sprinkler systems, fire pumps, etc.

Operating test: All fire hydrants, valves, etc. shall be operated in compliance with NFPA 24 10.10.2.4 – Operating Test.

Backflow Prevention Assemblies: Shall be tested in compliance with NFPA 24

10.10.25.5 – Backflow Prevention Assemblies.

Flow Testing: A flow test will be conducted by an accepted method and documented.

The installation contractor shall submit an approved version of an Underground Piping Certificate (fully completed and signed)

Note: All portions of the acceptance testing be conducted in the presence of a Fire Inspector from this Division. Any and all portions of the system not visually inspected prior to backfilling WILL be required to be excavated to expose the portions not previously inspected.

Please Note: It shall be the responsibility of the contractor/property owner to ensure that all necessary precautions are taken to safeguard the property from damage due to excessive water flow, such as flooding of structures, damage to landscaping, etc.

Fire Hydrant Marking & Identification

Fire Hydrant Marking:

• Fire hydrants shall be classified according to NFPA 291, Flow testing and marking of

• Fire hydrants shall be classified as to the rated capacity of available water flow with a 20 psi

• Fire hydrants shall be classified and color-coded in the following manner:

• Color marking shall be applied to the fire hydrant bonnet.

• Remainder of the fire hydrant shall be painted Yellow for public hydrants and Red for private hydrants.

Fire Hydrant Identification: All fire hydrants will be identified and tagged by scfr.

Fire Hydrant/Fire Service Main Accessibility 

Obstructions: Posts, fences, vehicles, vegetation, trash, storage, and other materials or objects shall not be placed or kept near fire hydrants, in a manner that would prevent fire hydrants from being immediately discernible. The fire department shall not be deterred or hindered from gaining immediate access to fire hydrants.

Clear space around fire hydrants: A minimum of 36” of clear space shall be maintained around the circumference of fire hydrants except as otherwise required or approved by the Fire Marshal.

Physical Protection: Where fire hydrants are subject to impact by a motor vehicle, guard posts, or other approved means shall be utilized at the discretion and approval of the Fire Marshal.

Ground Conditions: A level surface shall be maintained to allow access to and operation of fire hydrants. No vegetation/ground cover shall obstruct or cause a trip hazard while accessing fire hydrants.

Fire Hydrant Height: The center of pumper outlet shall not be less than then18 inches and not more than 36 inches above final grade. (see diagram).

Suwannee County Fire Rescue uses hydrants, water plants, and water storage containers throughout the county to provide water for firefighting operations. The effectiveness of fire suppression is directly related to the proper installation and maintenance of a fire department water supply systems. The following information details the installation and maintenance of a fire department water supply system. 

 Water Supply Requirements

Fire Flow

Fire flow calculations per Fire Code shall be provided.  A reduction in fire flow of up to 50 percent is permitted for buildings with an approved fire sprinkler system. The required fire flow will determine the number and placement of hydrants on the property per the FL Fire Prevention Code.

Fire flow data can be requested from the water treatment facilities.

• Hydrants shall be located such that no part of any building is more than 400 feet from a fire hydrant located along a fire apparatus access road, as measured by an approved route around the exterior of the building. The distance can be extended to 600 feet for Group R-3 and Group U occupancies.  The distance cannot be extended for buildings equipped with a fire sprinkler system in Suwannee County.
• Existing private hydrants on adjacent properties shall not be considered available unless fire apparatus access roads extend between properties and emergency access easements are established.
• Fire hydrants shall be located at least 40 feet from the building(s) to be protected. (NFPA 24 7.2.3)
• Access to fire hydrants shall not be obstructed; plan the location of landscaping, plants, and shrubs accordingly. Provide 3-foot clear space around the circumference of fire hydrants, which includes vegetation, fences, utility poles, bollards, and barricades.
• Parking shall be prohibited within 10 feet of a fire hydrant. Where fire hydrants are subject to impact by a motor vehicle, approved protection shall be installed.
• The average spacing of hydrants is reduced by 150 feet for dead-end streets or roadways.
• Where new water mains are extended along streets where hydrants are not needed for protection of structures or similar fire problems, fire hydrants shall be provided at spacing not to exceed 1,000 feet to provide for transportation hazards.

Hydrant Markers   

Blue reflective markers shall be provided on the roadway to identify fire hydrant locations. The markers shall be secured to the roadway perpendicular to the hydrant and as follows:

• On roadways without center stripes, the blue markers shall be set in the center of the roadway.
• On undivided, striped roadways, blue markers shall be set 6 inches to the hydrant side of the center stripe.
• On divided roadways, the blue markers shall be set 6 inches to the side of the lane striping that is closest to the hydrant.

Backflow Prevention

Installation shall comply with the Florida Fire Prevention Code and the Florida Building Code.

Fire Department Connection (FDC)

Location

• The FDC shall be located on the address side of the building unless otherwise approved by the fire code official and the inlets shall face the fire department apparatus access road.
• The FDC shall be located with respect to driveways so fire apparatus and hose connected to supply the system will not obstruct access to the building for other fire apparatus.
• The FDC shall be installed on the system side of the indicating valves. No shutoff valve shall be permitted in the piping from the FDC to the point that the FDC piping connects to the system piping. (NFPA 13 8.17.2.5.2, NFPA 14 6.4.1, NFPA 24 5.9.3.2)
• The FDC shall be located within 100 feet of a public hydrant, or private hydrant that is isolated from the FDC to prevent circular water flow.
• The FDC shall be located at least 40 feet from the building being protected.
  Exception: When FDCs cannot be installed with the required clearance, the code official may approve a reduced distance or approve a wall-mounted FDC.  ( NFPA 13 8.17.2.4.6, NFPA 24 5.9.5.1)
• A minimum of 3 feet of working clearance shall be maintained around a remote FDC. A minimum working clearance around a wall-mounted FDC shall be not less than 36 inches in width, 36 inches in depth, and 78 inches in height.
• The FDC shall be protected when placed in locations subject to impact by motor vehicles.

Design

• The number and size of FDC inlets shall be determined by the fire sprinkler and/or standpipe demand.
  
  • An FDC for a fire sprinkler system shall consist of two 2 1/2 inch connections.  (NFPA 13 6.7.1)
  • Standpipe systems shall be provided with one 2 1/2 inch inlet per every 250 gpm demand.  (NFPA 14 7.12.3)
• The pipe between the check valve and outside hose coupling shall have an approved automatic drip and shall be installed in a location that permits inspection and testing.  (NFPA 24 5.9.4.2)
• The FDC check valve shall be accessible. Check valves shall not be buried and vaults shall be of adequate size to allow for maintenance.  (NFPA 13 8.16.1.1.3)
• The FDC shall be located not less than 18 inches nor more than 48 inches above grade surface. (NFPA 14 6.4.6)
• Each FDC hose coupling shall be equipped with a Knox FDC Lock (see Knox Product Installations standard for detailed information).

Signage

• A metal sign with raised letters at least 1 inch in size shall be mounted on all FDCs and read AUTOMATIC SPRINKLERS OR STANDPIPES OR TEST CONNECTION or a combination thereof. (NFPA 13 8.17.2.4.7.1, NFPA 14 6.4.5.2, NFPA 24 5.9.5.3)
• Where the system demand pressure exceeds 150 psi, the sign shall indicate the required pressure. (NFPA 13 8.17.2.4.7.3, NFPA 24 5.9.5.4)
• Where an FDC serves multiple buildings or only a portion of a building a sign shall be attached indicating the buildings or portion of the building served.  (NFPA 13 8.17.2.4.5, NFPA 14 6.4.5.3, NFPA 24 5.9.5.5)