Fire Hydrant Flow & Pressure Testing

We provide fire hydrant flow and pressure testing for clients across a broad range of sectors and industries. Hydrant testing is an important aspect in maintaining a reliable water network to ensure hydrants are ready in the event of a fire emergency.

SES carryout fire hydrant testing including flow and pressure testing in accordance with British standards BS9990. Using the latest flowmeter equipment and methods, we can establish the maximum sustainable flow rate of a hydrant and record static and residual pressures in the process.

Why is Hydrant Testing Required

Whether you’re hydrant testing for insurance renewal purposes or to confirm available flow and pressure for planning applications, SES offer the latest methods and certified equipment to meet your needs.

Fire hydrants should be tested on an annual basis to confirm they meets all the required standards. Some insurances policies can be declared null and void if business owners cannot demonstrate that the hydrant was tested to standard. Water networks can change over time and often experience upgrades, changes in use and deterioration that can reduce their efficacy in an emergency.

Hydrant Condition Assessment

As part of the test our Technicians carryout a condition assessment of each hydrant which covers all the key aspects of fire hydrant assessment including the condition of: Surface / Frame / Cover / Pit / Outlet Depth / Marker / Testing, During this assessment, we confirm if the hydrant is leaking and operating properly.0000

Additional Services

In some applications, 7-day pressure logging is required before flow testing can be carried out to confirm the time of minimum static pressure in the network. We provide pressure logging of hydrants and analyse the data to identify the time of the minimum static pressure over the logging period. We then flow test the hydrant at this time to mimic a worst case scenario in the pressure profile of the network.

Reporting

Following the field works, we then compile a report setting out the findings which include graphs and tables of the 7 day pressure logging, flow and pressure results, condition assessment results along with photographs of the hydrants for reference purposes. Our reports include a clearly labelled layout drawing of the hydrant locations and numbers described in the report. We can also provide recommendations for remedial works and provide a cost estimate for the upgrades.

SES can also confirm spacing and coverage of hydrant locations in Developments. Hydrants should be set out and located so that no house is more than 46 metres from a hydrant. Our team of Technicians and Engineers can carryout site checks and provide mapping to demonstrate the hydrant coverage for submission to Fire Authorities where required.

Examples of Fire Hydrant Testing Applications are given below:

For Local Authorities, Consulting Engineers and Developers:

  • Taking In Charge Process: Hydrant Testing is part of the Water Audit works to confirm the condition of the hydrants and the network.
  • Planning Applications: As part of any planning application for a development, flow testing is required to confirm available flow and pressure in the existing pipe network for future water connections.
  • Hydraulic Modelling: In conjunction with pressure logging, fire hydrant testing is carried out to determine the available flow in a pipe network which can be used to calibrate hydraulic models of water networks.

For Commercial, Industrial, Pharmaceutical, Healthcare & Educational Sectors:

  • Can be required when renewing some insurance policies
  • As part of your annual maintenance work (asset management).