Fire Hydrant Systems (AS 2419.1)

A fire hydrant system is a network of pipes, valves, and water storage facilities designed to provide Fire & Rescue services with a high-capacity water supply. In Australia, these systems are mandatory for any building with a total floor area exceeding 500m², as dictated by the National Construction Code (NCC).

1. External Fire Hydrants

External hydrants are located outside the building and are often the first point of attack for firefighters.

• Standard Coverage: Under AS 2419.1, all parts of a building must be within 60 metres of an external hydrant (based on a 30m hose + 30m hose or a 60m “lay-on-ground” distance).
• Location: These must be visible, accessible, and protected from vehicle impact by bollards if necessary.
• Feed Hydrants: Often located near the street, these provide the initial water source to the fire truck’s pump.

2. Internal Fire Hydrants (Attack Hydrants)

Internal hydrants are located within the building, typically inside fire-isolated stairs or near exits.

• Standard Coverage: Every point on a floor must be within 30 metres of an internal hydrant valve.
• Fire-Isolated Stairs: In multi-storey buildings, Fireshift ensures hydrants are located within the “safe zone” of the stairwell so firefighters can connect hoses without being exposed to smoke.

3. Fire Brigade Booster Assemblies

The Booster Assembly is arguably the most critical component of a modern hydrant system. It is a specialized manifold, usually located at the property boundary in a red cabinet.

• Function: It allows the Fire Brigade to “boost” the building’s water pressure and volume by pumping water from their truck into the building’s internal pipework.
• Signage: Must have a block plan and a sign stating the Test Pressure and Boost Pressure required for that specific site.

Technical Performance Standards

To meet AS 2419.1:2021 requirements, a hydrant system must achieve specific hydraulic targets:

• Minimum Flow Rate: Generally 10 Litres per second (L/s) for a single hydrant, increasing depending on the building size and hazard level.
• Residual Pressure: The system must maintain a minimum pressure (typically 700 kPa for the “most disadvantaged” hydrant) to ensure effective firefighting streams.
• Water Supply: If the street mains cannot provide enough volume, the site must include a Fire Water Storage Tank (often 4-hour capacity) and a Fire Pumpset.

Identification & Signage

Fireshift strictly follows the AS 2419.1 signage requirements:

• Identification: Standard red cabinets or plates.
• Street Markers: “Blue Cat’s Eyes” on the road or yellow “H” markers on paths to indicate street hydrant locations.
• Internal Signs: “FIRE HYDRANT” in white lettering (at least 50mm high) on a red background.

Maintenance & Testing (AS 1851)

Because hydrants are high-pressure systems, they require rigorous testing to ensure pipework hasn’t corroded or blocked:

• Six-Monthly: Visual inspection of valves, caps, and accessibility.
• Annual Flow Test: A physical test using a flow meter to prove the system can still deliver 10 L/s at the required pressure.
• 5-Yearly Hydrostatic Test: The entire system is pressurized to 1.5 times its working pressure for 2 hours to check for hidden leaks or pipe bursts.
• 5-Yearly Booster Flow Test: Testing the booster assembly to ensure it can actually take water from a fire truck and distribute it throughout the building.

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Comparison: Hydrant System Components

Component	Primary Function	Relevant Standard
Attack Hydrant	Point where firefighters connect hoses	AS 2419.1
Booster Assembly	Point where Fire Brigade adds pressure	AS 2419.1
Landing Valve	The actual 65mm tap inside the building	AS 2419.1
Fire Pump	Increases water pressure automatically	AS 2941
Block Plan	Diagram showing the layout for firefighters	AS 2419.1