I do property surveys for clients. I always check that there is a supply of water for fire fighting nearby. I occassionally see that the nearest public hydrant is not marked up - i.e. it has no marking plate.
When I see this, I consider that while the local brigade might know where the hydrant is, a brigade that were called in might not, likewise would the military if a fire occued while fire fighters were striking.
I always ask for my client to request that the brigade mark up the hydrant.
My question is, do brigades also check these things? Are they likely to possitivly respond to my clients when they ask the FRS to mark up a hydrant? In reality how often are hydrants inspected by the fire service?
i have served operationally for 10 years, in london the hydrants are checked each year. each station has a list of all hydrants split into 4, one list for each watch, which are all tested in the summer months. when a new hydrant(not one being replaced) is installed the water authority inform us it is then added to the list. if we find one that is removed we remove it from the list.
we report the condition of every hydrant in different grades. for example, either usable, defective but usable (ie hydrant plate missing) or unusable,
the local water authority is responsible for maintenance and repair, and as far as i am aware alos the cost as it is part of their network.
if a hydrant is on private land it is their reponsibility to test and maintain
