Fire Hydrants

Fire mains are provided to enable the fire and rescue services access to water for fire fighting purposes.

Rising mains are provided to serve floors above ground, or upwards from the level at which the fire and rescue service gains access to the building.

Falling mains serve the floors below ground, or below the fire and rescue service access level.

Dry rising or dry falling mains are normally empty and depend on the fire and rescue service charging the mains by connecting hoses from the fire tenders into the dry riser inlet at ground floor, and to run hoses out at each floor level from the landing valves.

Wet rising or wet falling mains are normally charged with water from permanent tanks and pumps within the building. These have the facility to allow the fire and rescue service to replenish the water supply using their own pumping appliances in case of emergency.