Are Fire Hydrants on Private Land often Forgotten?
A fire hydrant is a point where firefighters can access and connect to a water supply. It may be underground or a pillar type above ground. Fire hydrants (FH) are used to access water directly from the local mains supply to provide water for firefighting and are an important component of active firefighting. Therefore, fire hydrants must not be obstructed and must be kept in good working order. However, many fire hydrants found on private land, such as industrial estates, often go unmaintained, which could delay and seriously affect the operational requirements of the attending fire crews. Often, these can slip through the net when it comes to fire risk assessments (FRA). This is simply because the person carrying out the FRA may identify the site as having fire hydrants but assumes that these are either being maintained by the local Fire and Rescue Service or the landlord, as it’s on common parts. However, the landlord may not even complete an FRA for the common parts if it’s just roadways and pathways for which they are responsible. This is where we can encounter a “grey area,” where someone thinks someone else is responsible for the maintenance.
On the highway and in towns, statutory fire hydrants are owned, installed, and maintained by the water companies. Private fire hydrants found on private water mains are not the responsibility of the Local Water Company or the Fire and Rescue Service. Therefore, owners of industrial and larger facilities need to be aware of their legal obligations because, since 1989, fire hydrants located on private property have remained the responsibility of the person who manages or owns that property, such as the property owner, landlord, or facilities manager. It is their legal responsibility to maintain the fire hydrant and keep it in working order.
As discussed, private fire hydrants located on private water mains are not the responsibility of the local water company or the Fire and Rescue Service. They should be installed in accordance with the appropriate British Standards and be compatible with fire and rescue service equipment. If you are responsible for private fire hydrants, it is your responsibility to ensure they are inspected, tested, and kept in good working order by a competent person. The hydrant installation and maintenance of privately owned fire hydrants are governed by British Standards and Building Regulations, in particular BS 9990:2015.
An above-ground post or marker plate indicates the location of a fire hydrant. Hydrant marker plates are rectangular yellow signs with a large black H and a pair of numbers, usually attached to a wall, lamp post, or short concrete post. The two numbers on the plate show the size of the water main and the approximate distance of the hydrant from the plate.
Fire hydrants on private land that are not properly maintained can be a risk to life. It’s important to remember that neglected fire hydrants can have serious consequences in a fire. If a fire hydrant is not maintained properly, it may not work when needed, which can result in a delay in putting out the fire. This delay can allow the fire to spread, causing more damage and potentially putting lives at risk. This can have implications for any insurance claims.
The first task is to check if you have a fire hydrant on your property, especially on industrial estates. Then, you need to determine who is responsible for its maintenance. You can call your local fire and rescue service for the necessary information. If responsible for the hydrant, you must conduct a Wet Pressure Test by attaching a standpipe to the outlet and partially opening the valve to allow a small amount of water to flow through. This test will ensure that everything is working correctly. After that, the hydrant should be pressure tested to check for any signs of leakage that could affect its ability to provide water in an emergency. It’s important not to neglect the maintenance of this critical equipment, as failure to do so can be costly.