03/10/2026
🔥 FIRE PROTECTION PSA – THIS IS NOT CODE COMPLIANT 🔥
Today we observed a fire hydrant being opened and discharged directly at a company van with no diffuser, no proper discharge device, and no controlled flow setup.
This is NOT how hydrants are supposed to be used during inspections or testing, and it can violate several fire protection standards and safety practices.
🚒 Applicable Codes & Standards
NFPA 25 – Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems
Requires proper inspection and testing procedures for private fire protection water supplies and equipment.
NFPA 291 – Recommended Practice for Fire Flow Testing and Marking of Hydrants
Provides the proper procedure and equipment required when flowing a hydrant, including measuring pressure and using appropriate discharge devices.
NFPA 291 flow tests are meant to determine available water supply and hydrant capacity, not to simply open a hydrant and discharge water without control or measurement.
Annual hydrant inspections verify operation and reliability — they are not intended to blast water at vehicles or structures.
⚠️ Safety & Professional Concerns
Opening a hydrant without proper equipment can create multiple problems:
• Erosion and property damage from uncontrolled high-velocity water
• Undermining pavement or soil
• Damage to vehicles or nearby property
• Unsafe pressure discharge
• Water system contamination risk if done improperly
Hydrant flow testing should use proper equipment such as:
✔ Diffuser / hydrant diffuser
✔ Flow measurement device
✔ Pitot gauge (when required)
✔ Hose or discharge control
✔ Proper drainage management
These procedures exist because hydrants can flow hundreds or even thousands of gallons per minute, and uncontrolled discharge is unsafe and unprofessional.
🚨 Bottom Line
Opening a hydrant and shooting water at a van is not a legitimate annual inspection procedure and does not follow NFPA recommended practices for hydrant testing.
Fire protection professionals should follow:
• NFPA 25
• NFPA 291
• Local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) requirements
• California fire code and municipal water authority policies
Fire protection is about life safety and professionalism, not shortcuts.
If you’re performing hydrant inspections or flow testing, do it correctly and safely.
🔥 Respect the codes. Respect the system. Respect the profession.
