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UK underground fire hydrant.
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Previously:
Fire hydrant cutaway - photo
Fire hydrant wrench - photos
Fire hydrant wrench and flow meter - GIF
Fire hydrants pulled from the ground - photo
Firefighter blown away by fire hydrant pressure - GIF
Flushing a fire hydrant - GIF
The whole city would burn to the ground before the firemen can get water out of the hydrant
It looks awkward and inefficient, not to mention having to service the valve.
Probably a system designed by one of those "literary science studies" graduates.
Underwater basket weaving. DEI.Quote:
Originally Posted by mklotz
I don't see how poor preventative maintenance relates to DEI.Quote:
Originally Posted by Floradawg
A lot of Australian hydrants are sorta similar (as in underground) but there are some key differences.
#1 - the hydrant connection (standpipe) is a simple 90 degree turn with bayonet hooks - not the multi-turn system show in the video
#2 - they are more often located in the footpath or front yard (chainage) rather than under the road surface
#3 - they are often checked on a 24 month cycle (if not sooner) for operation and access.
we still have to use a key to operate the valve, and we ALWAYS flush the hydrant before connecting the lines.
I've had to break the rust seizing a hydrant cover once, and I've been cut once clearing broken glass out of a pit. If you work in an area which often floods, or has significant runoff, finding the pits filled with sludge(what appears to be the case in the photo) is common - thanks fully I never faced it outside of training.
Some councils used to run "adopt a hydrant" community awareness programs to help resident keep the areas around hydrants clear of shrubs, etc, and to ensure the pits never filled with sand or runoff. The council/volly brigade would maintain the street markers (blue cats-eye reflector, white paint markers on lid and curb, and signage if near pole) where I was - I'm not sure about other council areas.
It was a reference to what mklotz said. And by the by, I wouldn't consider a fire hydrant buried under the road to be poor preventive maintenance. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend the liberals out there. Or maybe I did:)Quote:
Originally Posted by bob_3000
I was thinking preventative maintenance would mean the poor guy would have to hand clean bunch of muck out while the place burned.Quote:
Originally Posted by Floradawg
Right. It may be a UK thing. If not I can't imaging why it is like that. It was a joke that a diversity hire would probably know nothing about what he/she is supposed to be the head of and allowing something like that to happen. Kind of like pete buttgig (incorrect spelling intentional) knowing absolutely nothing about being over the U S Dept. of Transportation as he has so expertly demonstrated over the last 4 years.Quote:
Originally Posted by bob_3000
What's wrong with having above ground hydrants?
can't speak for anyone else, but when I look as US above ground hydrants I see a few things different from the below ground hydrant used in parts of Australia... namely:Quote:
Originally Posted by nova_robotics
#1- above ground used to counteract the effects of freezing - not an issue in a lot of Australia
#2 - takes up real estate above ground (limits where people park, etc)
#3 - seems that other people can access the hydrants (movies often show kids playing in the water from hydrants) - my local council would be quite cranky if people were accessing mains pressure water free of charge
#4 - the above ground hydrant would require regular servicing at a higher level and cost than the simple valve and hook assembly of a below ground unit - the high wear component (where the hose line attaches) is carried in the truck and inspected regularly - cheap to replace, and only need 1-2 per truck, not one every x distance along every street
#5 - no above ground hazards for traffic interactions,(I imagine hitting a hydrant would be like hitting a bollard - wreck the car (and driver), and probably damage the hydrant
#6 - allows the hydrant to be placed in a variety of locations (street, footpath/chainage, front yard) - whereas an above ground hydrant would need a branch line before it could be moved due to road widening/alignment
All that said, there are above ground hydrants in Australia here and there - they are basically a 75-150mm (3-6") pipe connected the water mains, controlled with a valve at the end, and fitted with a BIC female connector (or more than one in a manifold) immediately after the valve - the Pump truck can run a line to that and operate the same as a standard below ground hydrant. These are typically seen built into the side of large city buildings, but can also be free-standing with "protection" around them (bollards, etc) -
We only have above ground hydrants here in Canada and this whole country freezes up cock stiff every winter. I don't think that's an issue.Quote:
Originally Posted by desbromilow
I'm not sure about the servicing either. I don't recall seeing anyone ever service a hydrant. I'm sure it happens at some crazy long interval, but I've never witnessed it. There are some antique looking ones here in Halifax. For 3 months of the year every car on the road is white. Not because they're white, but because they're caked in road salt. I'd be much more worried about the below-asphalt ones binding up solid from a constant soaking in road salt. And the snow plows absolutely shred the asphalt. If you had to get one of those little hatches open after being hit 30 or 40 times by a snow plow blade it might be a challenge to get it open.
as said - I can't speak for anyone, but it's my understanding that countries with freezing weather bury their water mains deeper, and so use the above ground hydrant model to bring the water up from below the frost line. Issues like road salt, and snowplows just aren't something I see here.. but would be part of the equation for countries which use them.Quote:
Originally Posted by nova_robotics
Combine the hydrant idea with some of those pop up vehicle barrier posts.
Below ground hydrants would really frustrate the dogs.