Standpipe and Hose System
Standpipe and Hose System – Standpipe and hose system provide a means for the manual application of water to a fire within areas of buildings. The source of water for this type of firefighting system may include pressure tanks, gravity tanks and fire pumps connected to the public water system. Standpipe and hose systems are a piping system that connects the public water system to hose connection within a building. The potable water from the public water system enters the standpipe and hose system when the valve at the hose station is opened. The hose connections that are located through the building are for building occupants or the fire department to use during a fire. Standpipes are required to have an approved fire department connection with hose connections at each floor level above or below the lowest level of fire department access.
There are four types of standpipe systems.
- Wet Standpipe System – the public water system is directly connected to the standpipe and there is water in the standpipe at all times. The public water system pressure maintains the water pressure in the standpipe.
- Dry Standpipe System Automatic Valve– the public water system is directly connected to the standpipe but there is no water in the standpipe. An automatic valve is keeping the public water system water for flowing into the standpipe. Water will enter the standpipe through the automatically controlled valve activated when the hose valve opens. Air or nitrogen can be also introduced into the standpipe system holding back public system distribution water at the swing check valve installed on the public water distribution system service connection to the standpipe. Water will be introduced into the standpipe when a hose connection is opened.
- Dry Standpipe System Manual Valve – the public water system is directly connected to the standpipe but there is no water in the standpipe. A manual operated remote valve is keeping the public water system water for flowing into the standpipe. Water will enter the standpipe when the manual operated remote valve is opened.
- Dry Standpipe System – the public water system is not directly connected to the standpipe system and there is no water in the system. Water can only be introduced into the standpipe through the fire department connection.