DISCLAIMER: This is the personal blog of Alexa L. Barnett and does not reflect any position of her employer.
Conducting bi-annual fire hydrant inspections is one of my favorite responsibilities as an assistant property manager.
Did you know private fire hydrants need to be professionally inspected and have preventative maintenance completed bi-annually to ensure they're maintaining the correct amount of pressure. Per Section 15.68.030 of Metro Codes, this must be completed by the Metro Water & Sewer Department, who has contracted out the inspections to TKO Fire Protection. TKO is the only vendor currently authorized to submit inspection reports to the Davidson County Fire Marshalls Office.
Color coding varies by county, but the color of the barrel indicates if it's a public or private hydrant. The caps and dome (also called a "bonnet") indicate the water pressure or PSI (pounds per square inch) that will be deployed.
In the above video you will see me turn the valve on a private hydrant in Davidson County. Since it is private, it has a silver barrel. The caps and dome are orange because it has a PSI of 36+, which means it deploys over 1,000 GPM (gallons per minute).
Davidson County Color Coding Policy to denoting Rate of Flow
PRIVATE HYDRANTS
Alexa L. Barnett is the Assistant Property Manager at Baker Storey McDonald Properties, Inc.