How to enforce nfpa 1142 regarding maintenance of dry hydrants?

[Christopher Paluch]

Howdy y’all! Maybe I’m overlooking something simple here, but here’s the issue.

We have a few places around our township that have underground tank /dry hydrant setups, likely deemed necessary by the building department, or for their insurance rates (even though we are tanker shuttle accredited).  A few of them are not being maintained very well at all (fd access, signage, proper fittings on them).

The only place I see NFPA 1142 referenced in the code is part 3, so it doesn’t apply to these buildings (1 is a school, the other is a church, and the other a small factory).

How would you friendly folks handle this situation?

[Robert King]

Morning, You don’t need to enforce NFPA 1142, the Ontario Fire Code gives you what you need;

SECTION 2.5  FIRE DEPARTMENT ACCESS TO BUILDINGS

Subsection 2.5.1.  General

Application

2.5.1.1.  (1)  This Section applies to fire access routes

(a)   required to be constructed under the Building Code,

(b)   required by municipal by-law, or

(c)   required by this Code.

Maintaining access free of obstructions

2.5.1.2.  (1)  Fire access routes and access panels or windows provided to facilitate access for fire fighting operations shall not be obstructed by vehicles, gates, fences, building materials, vegetation, signs or any other form of obstruction.

(2)  Fire department sprinkler and standpipe connections shall be clearly identified and maintained free of obstructions for use at all times.

Maintenance

2.5.1.3.  Fire access routes shall be maintained so as to be immediately ready for use at all times by fire department vehicles.

Signs

2.5.1.4.  Approved signs shall be displayed to indicate fire access routes.

SECTION 6.6  WATER SUPPLIES FOR FIRE PROTECTION

Subsection 6.6.1.  General

6.6.1.1.  Private and public water supplies for fire protection installations shall be maintained to provide the required flow under fire conditions.

Tank inspections

6.6.2.1.  An annual inspection shall be made of tanks for fire protection, tank supporting structures and water supply systems, including piping, control valves, check valves, heating systems, mercury gauges and expansion joints, to ensure that they are in operating condition.

Subsection 6.6.4.  Hydrants

Hydrants

6.6.4.1.  Municipal and private hydrants shall be maintained in operating condition.

6.6.4.2.  Hydrants shall be maintained free of snow and ice accumulations.

6.6.4.3.  Hydrants shall be readily available and unobstructed for use at all times.

 

The Ontario Building Code (OBC) does require Part 3 (OBC) buildings to have a water supply for fire fighting, and to determine the amount of water supply the Appendix provides great details as to how an Engineer determines the amount of water required.

 

[Christopher Paluch]

Thanks Rob, I was thinking I could get them in 2 and 6, but I wasn’t sure if there was something that specifically referenced 1142, I really wanted to have some leverage to have the owners install storz connections onto the tanks.

 

Much appreciated!

[Robert King]

Chris, If your department uses Storz connections for hydrant ‘hits’ then in order to maintain hydrants in operating use and ready for fire department use I think you should be able to utilize Part 6, or if you prefer, write an Inspection Order under Section 21 of the FPPA using 21 (1)(b) or (f) which seem to be the logical clauses to address the issue.

It would be interesting to know how your department pursues this case for future reference.

Good Luck!

[Michael Roess]

Ontario Fire Code 213/07

Owner’s responsibility

1.2.1.1. Unless otherwise specified, the owner is responsible for carrying out the provisions of this Code

Owner means any person, firm or corporation having control over any portion of the building or property under consideration and includes the persons in the building or property.

 

6.6.1.1. Private and public water supplies for fire protection installations shall be maintained to provide the required flow under fire conditions.

Inspection, testing and maintenance

6.6.1.5.  (1)  Compliance with the inspection, testing and maintenance provisions of NFPA 25, “Standard for the Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems”, for tanks is deemed to satisfy the requirements of Subsection 6.6.2.

(2)  Compliance with the inspection, testing and maintenance provisions of NFPA 25, “Standard for the Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems”, for fire pumps is deemed to satisfy the requirements of Subsection 6.6.3.

(3)  Compliance with the inspection, testing and maintenance provisions of NFPA 25, “Standard for the Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems”, for hydrants is deemed to satisfy the requirements of Subsection 6.6.5

Tank inspections

6.6.2.1. An annual inspection shall be made of tanks for fire protection, tank supporting structures and water supply systems, including piping, control valves, check valves, heating systems, mercury gauges and expansion joints, to ensure that they are in operating condition

Water level in gravity tanks

6.6.2.8. The water level in gravity tanks shall be inspected monthly.

 

 

NFPA 25;

4.1 Responsibility of the Owner or Occupant.

4.1.1* The owner or occupant shall provide ready accessibility to components of

waterbased fire protection systems that require inspection, testing, or maintenance.

 

4.1.2* The responsibility for properly maintaining a waterbased fire protection system shall

be that of the owner of the property.

 

7.2.2.4 Dry Barrel and Wall Hydrants. Dry barrel and wall hydrants shall be inspected

annually and after each operation with the necessary corrective action taken as shown in

Table 7.2.2.4.

 

7.4.3 Hydrants.

7.4.3.1 Hydrants shall be lubricated annually to ensure that all stems, caps, plugs, and

threads are in proper operating condition.

7.4.3.2* Hydrants shall be kept free of snow, ice, or other materials and protected against

mechanical damage so that free access is ensured.

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