For years on my code calls I have asked the Authority Having Jurisdiction what the maximum distance the nearest hydrant is allowed to be away from a building's fire department connection. I get answers that range from 50 feet to 400 feet or even more.
I was looking into the code basis behind this question, and the only applicable section that I found is the International Fire Code, Section 507.5.1.1 that addresses hydrant locations for standpipe systems: "Buildings equipped with a standpipe system installed in accordance with Section 905 shall have a fire hydrant within 100 feet (30 480 mm) of the fire department connections. Exception: the distance shall be permitted to exceed 100 feet (30 480 mm) where approved by the fire code official." Is there any relevant requirement for hydrants near fire department connections for sprinkler-only systems? Posted anonymously for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe
19 Comments
Dan Wilder
5/20/2019 10:16:24 am
NFPA 14 - 19' Edition states in 6.4.5.4 the the maximum distance is 100' between the FDC and the nearest fire hydrant unless allowed by the AHJ to be further.
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JEN
5/20/2019 10:32:21 am
Dan, I think the person who posted is looking for a distance from FDC to hydrant for a sprinkler system only (NFPA 14 I understand is only for standpipe FDC's).
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Clifford Schulze
5/20/2019 10:40:21 am
There is no reason to believe that the distance would be any different for a sprinkler system only vs a standpipe system. The distance is related to the amount of hose the fire department needs to run to make the connection.
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Jimmy Landmesser, Jr.
5/20/2019 11:03:50 am
Good afternoon,
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Nimal Tissa Wijetunga
5/20/2019 11:06:45 am
Fire Hydrant shall be positioned minimum of 6 meters and the maximum of 30 meters the facility it is going to be protected.
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MODERATOR
5/20/2019 11:09:22 am
Nimal, please provide references when you cite requirements. It benefits everyone to discuss based on codes and standards. Thank you!
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Nimal Tissa Wijetunga
5/20/2019 11:52:53 am
Pls refer Chapter 2 Section 6.3 and Chapter 2 Table 2.3 of UAE Fire and Life safety code of practise - 2011 edition. and NFPA 24 - Chapter 4 & 7 for information.
PETE
5/20/2019 12:34:37 pm
I would like to comment on something here that for those who are aware or are reviewing plans should be obvious, but it isn't obvious if you're inspecting a physical site or if you're just new to the industry. My comment is not meant to be patronizing.
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Pat
5/3/2023 10:47:18 am
Pete I am dealing with a similar situation. I have a high rise building and the private hydrant that is serving the FDC is boosted by the buildings fire pump. Are you aware of a code reference of NFPA standard that does not allow the hydrant serving the FDC be boosted by the fire pump? It makes perfect sense to not allow it, what if the fire pump fails, now how do we supply the standpipe.
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Jon Nisja
5/20/2019 02:13:28 pm
These comments are from an AHJ perspective. Without sounding too flippant, the answer to this and almost any code question is "it depends".
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JAMES
5/20/2019 02:19:23 pm
Well said Jon! Not sure where your jurisdiction is, but that's a very thorough and well-thought answer to an answer that can feel arbitrary to designers. This is very helpful information to help foster quality discussions with AHJs in the future.
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Jon Nisja
5/20/2019 03:15:40 pm
Thanks for your feedback, James. I am with the Minnesota State Fire Marshal Division. We are presently conducting research on our 1,100 + sprinkler saves in recent years (similar to the research studies that NFPA does on sprinkler saves). Hopefully that data will be published within a few months. Our preliminary data appears positive and we are happy to share our data with interested parties. [email protected]
sean
5/20/2019 03:14:26 pm
I agree with most of what you said.
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Chris Ferguson
5/21/2019 07:28:25 am
One thing I would like to add for those working in IFC locations, if the jurisdiction has adopted appendix C, the 400' and 600' distances can get altered. It will also give a more definitive amount of hydrants needed + spacing requirements. Sometimes it is a pain to apply however.
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Nimal Tissa Wijetunga
5/21/2019 10:07:34 am
The question asked is the distance from FDC or Breaching inlet to the nearest Yard Fire Hydrant.
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Jim Ramsay
7/31/2020 03:48:18 pm
How's this for an obscure code reference?
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Jason Burnett
10/5/2020 05:15:04 pm
Located with in the Seattle area, I am a LVL U installer and not a designer. We do employ designers for new systems, yet I specialize in cross connection control retro fits of double check valve assemblies on the fire system, which most are located below ground in vaults to be relocated above ground ( in enclosures ) due to the submersion in vaults below ground. ( It rains here, a little )
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Ninetta Violante
6/9/2022 02:41:13 pm
glad you found that.
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CHRIS R
11/5/2020 11:21:16 am
From the time i used to work with Insurance Advisory Organization in Ontario, I can tell you that we were enforcing 150ft.(45m) from hydrant to the F.D.C. and max. 500ft.(15m) from the hydrant to any point on the perimeter of a building.
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