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TITLE : Op/Plan/16 Hydrant Inspection Testing and Maintenance SECTION : Operations CONTACT MANAGER : Area Manager, Operational Policy and Assurance DATE OF ORIGIN : May 2010 LAST REVIEWED : Feb 2016 FUTURE REVIEW DATE : Controlled by eDocs

OTHER REFERENCE DOCUMENTS : Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 Integrated Risk Management Strategy National guidance document on the provision of water for fire fighting January 2007 3rd edition. Water Industry Act 1991 Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2010 Water and Sewerage Services (Customer Service Standards) Regulations 2008. New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 OP/Plan/15 Site Specific Risk Information edoc 1132

RISK ASSESSMENT NUMBERS : 1878 Hydrant Testing and Inspection. SOP 1.7 Driving Service Vehicles

POLICY STATEMENT Cheshire Fire Authority has a statutory duty under the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 to take all reasonable measures for securing that an adequate supply of water is available for use in the event of fire. This document sets out the Service’s framework for the inspection, testing and maintenance of hydrants to enable the Service to effectively discharge its statutory duties.

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KEY INFORMATION 1 Introduction 2 Responsibilities 3 Hydrant Risk Profile 4 Hydrant Inspections 5 Hydrant Inspection recording and defect procedure 6 Hydrant Requirements 7 Performance and Audit 8 Review Supporting Information ANNEX A Inspection Standard ANNEX B Hydrant Spacing ANNEX C Defect Reporting ANNEX D Method of accessing hydrant fittings and attaching equipment ANNEX E Post Inspection administration on Firecore

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1. Introduction 1.1 The Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 imposes conditions on a fire

and rescue authority to make provision for the purposes of extinguishing fires and protecting life and property in the event of fires in its area. Part 5 of that act - Water supply (sections 38 to 43): imposes duties on fire and rescue authorities and water undertakers to ensure an adequate supply of water for fire-fighting activities.

1.2 The objectives of Fire and Rescue Services and Water Undertakers in relation

to fire hydrants are:

To ensure that there is access to water for firefighting purposes

To maintain hydrants efficiently at minimum costs.

To minimise, if not eliminate, the risk of disruption and discoloration of water supplies.

1.3 The primary source for the supply of water for fire fighting purposes is

from hydrants. Water shortage can prevent the implementation of effective fire fighting tactics, increase the risk of substantial fire losses and draw into question the adequate discharge of the authority’s legal duty.

1.4 The Service addresses the obligations of the Fire and Rescue Services

Act 2004 via its Corporate Plan and Integrated Risk Management Plans with its key aim of Responding effectively to emergency incidents and to identify the risks facing local communities and ensure plans and resources are in place to respond.

1.5 There is a balance between risk and cost in the provision and

maintenance of hydrants on a distribution system. The Service may therefore trade off the benefit of easy access to water in the event of a fire against the ongoing costs of providing and maintaining the hydrant. Water Undertakers carry the risks of interruption or discoloration of supplies, but weighs them against the benefit to society of the Service being able to fight fires.

1.6 This document provides:

An overview of the principles of Hydrant Management

Levels of responsibility for specific areas of Hydrant Management

Definition of standards for hydrant inspection and testing

Guidance in recording and reporting of hydrants and defects

1.7 The Service is part of the Regional Service Level Agreement between the six Northwest Fire and Rescue Services and the regional water undertaker (United Utilities Water PLC).

1.8 This agreement is inline with best value and best practice as stated in the National Guidance on the Provision of Water for Firefighting 3rd Edition 2007.

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2. Responsibilities

Policy Issue Responsibility

Policy Implementation Area Manager Operational Planning and Assurance.

Hydrant Management Internal Planning Manager, Hydrant Technicians and operational staff.

Hydrant Inspection, testing and maintenance

Internal Planning Manager Service Delivery Managers Station Managers – Service Delivery Watch Managers Hydrant Technicians

Water undertakers Liaison Internal Planning Manager Hydrant Technicians

Water schemes Internal Planning Manager Hydrant Technicians

Monitoring and Reviewing Group Manager Operational Policy & Assurance Internal Planning Manager Service Delivery managers Service Delivery Station Managers Watch Managers Hydrant Technicians

3. Hydrant Risk Profile 3.1 The Service has in the region of 17,000 hydrants; this profile consists of

High Risk Hydrants, Strategic Hydrants, Standard Hydrants and Referenced Hydrants.

3.2 Site Specific Risk Hydrants (SSRH) - aligned to SSRI premises.

3.3 Strategic Hydrants - 225mm and greater diameter (to be identified in a different colour on the Mobile Data Terminal) Consideration will be given to using Strategic Hydrants when completing dynamic risk assessments at operational incidents even if they are a greater distance from the incident as these hydrants will deliver a greater volume of water.

3.4 Standard Hydrants - Remaining Service Hydrants 3.5 Referenced Hydrants - as a result of the hydrant rationalisation

process, referenced hydrants have been identified as no longer being required for the purpose of supplying water for firefighting. Due to the cost implications of removal by the Water Undertakers the Service will defer the removal of these hydrants until the refurbishing of the water main, at this time there is no cost to the Service.

3.6 This risk categorisation of hydrants does not prevent the requirement on

occasions to re-categorise specific hydrants in any location through a risk assessed approach.

3.7 For example, a hydrant situated in the pavement of a residential urban area will only require an inspection on a 4 yearly basis, whereas a hydrant set in

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a country lane that has regular farm traffic driving over it, may need inspecting more frequently to ensure it is clear of mud, etc.

3.8 Private Hydrants these are hydrants that are inspected and maintained by

the owners and occupiers of sites that have them installed on their land. Operational crews are able to use these for fire-fighting purposes but should not inspect or test them.

Private hydrants should be inspected and tested on a periodic basis and it

is good practice for operational crews to check with occupiers and owners that this has been done during SSRI inspections. A check of the hydrants eastings and northings should also be undertaken to ensure accuracy of location via appliance MDTs.

4. Hydrant Inspections 4.1 This document incorporates the recommendations from the National

Guidance Document on the provision of water for fire-fighting (2007) 3rd edition jointly published by the Local Government Association, Water UK and in liaison with Fire and Rescue Services. The Service has adopted this guidance as part of its hydrant management process.

4.2 Hydrants will be visually inspected on a risk assessed basis of:

Annually - SSRH (aligned to SSRI inspections) and strategic hydrants.

4 yearly - Standard risks. 4.4 The hydrants should be inspected in line with procedures as stated in

the Hydrant Risk Assessment

EDOCS-1878 Hydrant Testing and Inspection 4.5 A wet test should therefore only be carried out if there is reason to doubt

the hydrant’s integrity. 4.6 Visual Inspection 4.7 Hydrants will be visually inspected periodically and after use and as

follows:

SSRH/Strategic hydrants (Wholetime areas) – to be inspected by operational crews when delivering the annual SSRH inspection programme.

SSRH/Strategic hydrants (On Call areas) – to be inspected by Hydrant Technicians when delivering the annual inspection programme

Standard risk – to be inspected by the hydrant technicians when delivering the 4 yearly inspection programme and any recorded wet testing by operational crews, with reference to operational/post incidents.

4.8 Visual inspections will be carried out to the standard outlined in the

National guidance document and included on page 10 of this document.

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4.9 Wet test . 4.10 A schedule of hydrant examination has been developed which includes

where necessary wet testing on a risk assessed basis; this schedule ensures that hydrants are monitored and minimises the risk of contamination and interruption to water.

4.11 Therefore the Service will NOT conduct wet tests as a matter of course,

but may do so in response to a specific issue i.e. if there is reason to doubt the hydrant’s integrity and when accepting new hydrants following a request made by CFRS for new installations.

4.12 The use of hydrants at operational incidents or for refilling appliance

tanks will constitute a wet test and must be recorded as such by operational crews.

4.13 Wet tests will be carried out to the standard outlined in the national guidance document and as per guidance on page 11 of this document.

Flow Rate Tests

4.13 Flow rate tests will only be carried out by the Water Companies in

accordance with their guidance. Service personnel will not conduct flow rate tests

4.14 Risk Assessment of Hydrants when completing SSRI inspections 4.15 As part of the SSRI risk assessment process, service personnel will give

consideration to the amount of water that would be required to successfully deal with a fire involving the premises concerned.

From this perspective personnel will consider:

Size of the Main

Distance in hose lengths

Hydrant location, grid reference and address

Consider the use of Strategic Hydrants

Where possible hydrants should be utilised from separate mains to provide genuine separate supplies.

Size of the premises. 4.16 If there are private hydrants on the site details of their locations must be

sent to the hydrant technicians email inbox stating the eastings and northings. This will ensure they appear on the MDTs in their correct locations.

4.17 During SSRI inspections crews must check with owners/occupiers that the private hydrants are being maintained on a 12 monthly basis by asking to see and certification that will prove this.

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4.18 Hydrant Loggers 4.19 Hydrants will sometimes be fitted with a ’logger’. This is a device installed

by the Water Companies to log the water flow in the main. A ’logger’ appears as a grey metallic box approximately 100mm x 100mm x 230mm with a black plastic tube attached.

Hydrant Logger pictured above

Should a ’logger’ be found, the hydrant must not be tested and the Hydrant Technician informed. If the hydrant is required for operational purposes the ’logger’ can be removed following the steps below:

Turn off hydrant.

Disconnect flexible tube from “logger” to hydrant cap.

Remove slowly hydrant cap.

Hydrant is now ready for use.

4.19 Anti Vandal Security Caps

Pictured above is a typical Anti Vandal Security Cap.

Whilst inspecting hydrants, Anti Vandal Security Caps may be found, these are placed in on hydrants in areas that have suffered vandalism resulting in water being released from outlets under pressure. If crews come across such caps

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a defect should be recorded to ensure the hydrant technicians can make arrangement for its inspection.

Pictured above is the result of hydrant vandalism.

5. Hydrant Inspection recording and defect procedure 5.1 It is essential that the Service holds up to date records of hydrant

inspections and defects.

5.2 Records of the service’s hydrants and water mains are held on the Hydrant Management System (HMS) accessed via firecore. It is the responsibility of all HMS users to ensure the information entered on the system is accurate to allow the hydrants to be located quickly using the MDTs.

5.3 Hydrant Defects 5.4 Hydrant defects are responded to by Hydrant Technicians and fall into 2

categories;

Minor – repaired by the Hydrant Technicians. Major – repaired by the respective Water Companies

5.5 The following information is required to complete the hydrant database;

Hydrant Route Number Hydrant Number Hydrant Location - road/path/verge Size of Main Outlet type – metal/plastic Grid reference Inspecting Officer Date Satisfactory/defect

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6. Hydrant Requirements 6.1 The Service adopts a risk assessed methodology when determining its

hydrant requirements and takes into account the type of risk to protect when determining the locations of hydrants.

6.2 The risk based methodology is used by the Hydrant Technicians

who will consider the following when assessing the need to maintain a specific hydrant.

6.3 The Service’s approach involves;

Identifying the information relevant to the risks in the locality

Location of hydrant e.g. pavement, verge, which side of the road etc.

Distance between hydrant and risks considered. (see annex?)

Number of hydrants in the area

Other water supplies

Size of the main

Geographical location

Proximity to strategic hydrants

7. Performance and Audit 7.1 The performance management of hydrant inspection and defect reporting

will be measured via local performance indicators within the Station Managers Framework quarterly audit.

7.2 The Senior Hydrant technician will quality assure the standard of

recording on a monthly basis. 7.3 A Quarterly performance review and report will be produced by the Senior

Hydrant Technician and will be sent to; Area Manager Operational Policy and Assurance and Service Delivery Managers.

7.4 Hydrant Technicians will be performance managed and will be set hydrant

inspection targets through the appraisal system.

8. Review

The policy will be subject to a review on an annual basis by OPA Hydrant Technicians The Service has two Hydrant technicians based at Service Headquarters. There is a senior hydrant technician who is responsible for the performance of the team, planning the inspections and defect works. The senior hydrant technician will establish appropriate priorities on the basis of:-

Hydrant Inspections in ‘date priority’ order. (Routine testing)

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Hydrant defects reported by stations, water companies and the public.

Consultations with Water companies relating to hydrant requirements on proposed water schemes.

Inspections of new installations.

Reduction of the Service’s overall hydrant numbers by a risk assessed Methodology.

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ANNEX A - Inspection Standard Safety Precautions Hydrant inspection/testing are subject to the code of practice “Safety at Street Works and Road Works”. For short duration static works such as hydrant inspection/testing the following procedure will ensure compliance with the Code of Practice. Personnel must wear high visibility jackets and protective footwear, planned work should be carried out in good visibility and during periods of low risk. Appliances should have their hazard warning lights on when stationary. When using a non-emergency vehicle it must be fitted with amber beacons, these must be switched on when stationary. When inspecting a hydrant the pit should never be left uncovered when unattended. If a hydrant is in a dangerous location i.e. positioned on a busy road or near a bend in the road, arrangements should be made through the Internal Planning Manager, for the Service Hydrant Technicians to carry out the inspection; they carry a supply of relevant road signs and cones for warning traffic and have also received the appropriate training. Station personnel should be aware of road closures when it may be safer for personnel to inspect and test hydrants whilst closed off to vehicular traffic. Consideration should be given to Discarded Hypodermic Syringes, Hydrant Inspection and Testing Methodology Inspection and testing of hydrants should consist of one of the following examinations:

Visual Inspection (Above and Below ground inspection)

Wet pressure test Visual Inspection Above Ground Inspection This will involve a visual inspection of the hydrant frame, cover, surface surrounding the hydrant and the hydrant indicator plate. The period between inspections should be risk assessed and take into account such likely factors of area location and risk, hydrant position, age, material, previous history, etc. Below Ground Inspection This will involve the visual inspection of the hydrant pit and the hydrant itself. Wherever necessary earth silt and debris must be removed to leave a clean pit with no hazards, fully exposing the outlet and spindle (see pictures below) Defects, which would affect the ability to deliver water for firefighting purposes or create a hazard, should be reported immediately. The period between

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inspections should be risk assessed and take into account area, location and risk, hydrant position, age, material, previous history, etc.

Pictured above is a hydrant pit and lid prior to inspection.

Pictured above is a hydrant pit and lid following inspection.

Wet Pressure Test The hydrant test is conducted by fitting a standpipe to the outlet and then partially opening the valve to allow a small amount of water to flow (equivalent to a domestic tap). A blank cap is then fitted in the standpipe head, or the valve in the head closed and the hydrant fully opened. Whilst under pressure, all joints are visually inspected for signs of leakage and only those leakage’s that would impair the hydrant for firefighting purposes, or cause a hazard, should be reported to Water Companies. The hydrant should then be turned off slowly and without excessive force and the standpipe removed. This test should only be carried our where there is reason to doubt the hydrant’s integrity or that it is at an interval recommended by the hydrant manufacturer Use of hydrants at operational incidents Following use at an operational incident or post incident to replenish the appliance tank a record of the hydrant number/location and any defects will be recorded on the HMS. This will instigate an auto generated email to the hydrant technician’s inbox who will render the appropriate remedial action or refer to the relevant water company.

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ANNEX B – Hydrant Spacing Guidance used when determining distances to premises from hydrants whilst consulting with water Companies.

Property Type Minimum Flow Hydrant Spacing

Distance to Building

Residential – semi/det up to 2 floors

480 Not more than 500m

Not more than 350m

Residential 3 floors or more

1200 Not more than 500m

Not more than 350m

Village Halls 900 Not more than 500m

Not more than 100m

Places of public entertainment

1200 Not more than 100m

Not more than 100m

Primary/secondary School/Colleges, health centres, Community facilities (not hospitals)

1200 Not more than 200m

Not more than 70m

Sports grounds 1500 Not more than 250m

Not more than 100m

Multi Storey car parks, service Stations

1500 Not more than 500m

Not more than 90m

Retail Parks, Large warehouses, laboratories

1500 Not more than 150m

Not more than 70m

Industrial Premises Up to 1 hectare Up to 2 hectares Up to 3 hectares Up to 4 hectares

1200 2100 3000 4500

Not more than 350m

Not more than 100m

Major Hospitals 4500 with 2 outlets open

Not more than 90m

Not more than 45m to appliance parking position

Shopping Complexes

4500 with 4 outlets open

Not more than 90m

Not more than 45m to appliance parking position

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ANNEX C – Defect Reporting Procedure

Hydrant Inspection

SSRH completed by Operational

Crews See E-Learning for

guidance

Satisfactory

Wet Test

Operational Crews

Incident /Post Incident

Confirm Accurate Information; enter onto HMS satisfactory/Defective

See E-learning for guidance

Hydrant technician repairs hydrant and updated HMS

PO number raised by OPA admin hub and forwarded to Water Company for repair.

HMS updated, Invoice paid, no further action.

Routine Inspections

Visual Inspection

Hydrant Technicians

CFRS receive invoice for repairs and Hydrant technician inspects

the work

Minor Major

Administration

Defects

Inspection

Defective

Update HMS, no further action required

Complete HMS Defect sections see e-learning for guidance

Automated email sent to Hydrant technicians

Hydrant technician inspects – can not repair

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ANNEX D – Method of accessing hydrant pit and attaching equipment.

Locate Hydrant

Tap cover with spindle key to

loosen if required

Lift out cover with Standpipe key if possible

Internal chamber view

Attached standpipe to outlet threads and key

to spindle

Or lift out cover with

Hydrant key

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Attach standpipe key to

spindle

Fit blank before opening

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ANNEX E – Post Inspection administration on Firecore

Click the Hydrant

Management tab

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Click on Search/Amend

Hydrant

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Click the Hydrant tab to open filter box

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Enter hydrant ID number in filter box

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Click on the hydrant bar to open the info

folder

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Open the Inspection tab

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Click on the New Inspection tab to

open

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Open dropdown tab to select

Satisfactory/Defective

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Tick boxes to indicate the

defects.

Click save, this well generate an automated email to the hydrant

technicians for action.