San Jose commercial & Residential
fire sprinkler & Standpipe licensed contractor
San Jose fire sprinkler & standpipe licensed contractor

San Jose – 
fire hydrant inspections

Some of the properties we SERVICE in the Silicon Valley…

Adequate water supply can mean the difference between life and death

In the event of a fire, the availability of an adequate water supply to suppress and extinguish a fire is crucial and can mean the difference between life and death if it’s not available.  This is where fire hydrants come in. They provide the water for San Jose fire department hoses to put out a fire.

Simply having fire hydrants installed in strategic locations is a good first step, but they must also maintain their effectiveness during emergencies. For that, it is important to regularly inspect and test fire hydrants to help keep them operational.

fire hydrant test
Chris performing a fire hydrant test in San Jose

Keep San Jose fire-safe. Don’t skip annual fire hydrant inspections.

Annual fire hydrant inspections check that hydrants are in proper working condition and verify that they are operational when they are needed. Some things that are checked during an annual inspection include:

  • Open and close each operating valve
  • Replace gaskets and lubricate valve stem for easy operation
  • Inspect to make sure caps are in place
  • Check for the correct above-ground hydrant height
  • Paint the hydrant
  • Flow test to get available water supply PSI and GPM*
  • Operate the street key (control valve) to ensure it operates

*Hydrant Flow Tests

Fire hydrant flow tests are performed to determine the pressure and rate of flow available at various locations. These tests measure the static and residual pressure as well as the gallons per minute (GPM) flow discharge. The data from flow tests allow our team to evaluate if a main water supply valve is closed or if there is blockage in the underground main.

Before After

Why paint fire hydrants? California code requires all hydrants to meet the AWWA Standard Specifications. All exterior surfaces shall be thoroughly cleaned and thereafter painted with two coats of primer and a finish waterproof coat, the color of which shall be in accordance with the city code of color (in this example, it’s San Jose). 

Better safe than sorry. Schedule a fire hydrant inspection today.

A fire hydrant inspection by our technicians here at Norcal Fire Prevention will include all of the above and more in search of any hidden risks that may exist in the fire hydrant at your location in San Jose. We will then provide recommendations for any improvements and/or repairs if needed so as to help mitigate the devastating effects of fires and safeguard the well-being of occupants and property.

Fire hydrant inspections in San Jose should be performed annually to be sure all is in working order and to prevent problems down the road.  Don’t wait until it’s too late. Schedule your fire hydrant inspection today.  And while you’re at it, we can inspect your fire sprinklers and fire pump if you have that as well.

Fire sprinkler risers
Risers need to be maintained as well

Silicon Valley's full-service fire protection contractor

Cities we serve

San Jose
Campbell
Santa Clara
Sunnyvale
Cupertino
Mountain View
Palo Alto
Menlo Park
Redwood City
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