Chapter 13.08
FIRE HYDRANTS AND WATER MAINS
Sections
13.08.010 Definitions.
13.08.020 Residential buildings.
13.08.030 Installation requirements – New/replacement.
13.08.040 Installation requirements – Generally.
13.08.050 Commercial buildings.
13.08.060 Fire flow criteria.
13.08.070 Building construction classifications.
13.08.080 Building permit – Issuance, occupation.
13.08.090 Violation – Penalty.
13.08.010 Definitions.
(1) Use of Words and Phrases. As used in this chapter, unless the context or subject matter clearly requires otherwise, the words or phrases defined in this section shall have the indicated meanings.
(2) “Dead-end main” is a main over 50 feet long and not being fed from both ends at the time of installation.
(3) “Fire department” means the fire authority normally responsible for the fire protection in the area, presently Fire District 26.
(4) “Fire flow” means the flow of water required for firefighting at a specific building or within a specific area.
(5) “Fire marshal” means the fire chief of King County Fire District 26 or his appointee.
(6) “Flush-type hydrant” is a hydrant installed entirely below grade.
(7) Hydrant. Hydrants shall have a five-and-one-quarter-inch main valve opening with a six-inch inlet and a minimum of 2 two-and-one-half-inch ID hose outlets, and 1 four-inch ID pumper port outlet. All outlet ports shall be approved by the fire department. Special purpose adapters may be used with approval of the fire department.
(8) “Private hydrant” is a fire hydrant situated and maintained to provide water for firefighting purposes with restrictions as to use. The location may be such that it is not readily accessible for immediate use by the fire department for other than certain private property.
(9) “Public hydrant” is a fire hydrant so situated and maintained as to provide water for firefighting purposes without restriction as to use for the purpose. The location is such that it is accessible for immediate use of the fire department at all times.
(10) “UBC” means the Uniform Building Code as adopted by the city.
(11) “UL” means Underwriters’ Laboratories, Inc.
(12) “Water authority” means the water department, water district or other body legally supplying water in the area. [Ord. 461 § 1, 1979.]
13.08.020 Residential buildings.
All residential buildings constructed in the incorporated areas of the city shall be served by water mains and fire hydrants installed as required by this chapter. Such water mains and fire hydrants shall be served by a water district, city, or by other adequate means as approved by the fire marshal. [Ord. 461 § 2, 1979.]
13.08.030 Installation requirements – New/replacement.
All fire hydrants and water mains newly installed or replaced shall meet the requirements of this chapter. [Ord. 461 § 3, 1979.]
13.08.040 Installation requirements – Generally.
(1) Areas already platted shall install operational hydrants and mains with water in accordance with this chapter when building construction commences.
(2) Areas to be platted shall meet the requirements of this chapter.
(3) New or replaced water mains shall be a minimum of eight inches in diameter for dead-ends where serving fire hydrants, and six inches in diameter for circulating mains. Hydrant leads less than 50 feet may be six inches in diameter. Such mains shall have hydrants installed to conform with this chapter.
(4) Maximum spacing of public fire hydrants shall be 600 feet in single-family zoned areas and 300 feet in commercial, industrial, apartment areas, duplexes, churches, and schools. Hydrants shall be located at street intersections, except when necessary to meet required spacing, hydrants may be located between intersections.
(5) Hydrants installed per this chapter shall meet the Seattle Standard Specifications and American Water Works Association (AWWA) Standards. Copies of the specifications and standards shall be on file at the City Hall, 21630 - 11th Avenue South, Des Moines, Washington.
(6) Hydrants and mains shall be installed to meet the standard specifications for municipal public works construction as prepared by the Washington State Chapter of the American Public Works Association as presently constituted or as may be subsequently amended. Copies of the specifications shall be on file at the City Hall. There shall be an auxiliary gate valve installed, sufficient to permit the repair and replacement of the hydrants without disruption of water service.
(7) Hydrants shall stand plumb and be set to the finished grade. The bottom of the lowest outlet of the hydrant shall be no less than 18 inches above the finished grade. There shall be 36 inches of clear area about the hydrant for operation of a hydrant wrench on the outlets and on the control valve. The pumper port shall face the street. Where the street cannot be clearly defined or recognized, the port shall face the most likely route of approach and location of the fire truck while pumping, as determined by the fire marshal.
(8) Hydrants shall not be obstructed by any structure or vegetation or have the visibility impaired for a distance of 50 feet in the direction of vehicular approach to the hydrant.
(9) Hydrants are to be accessible to fire department pumpers over roads capable of supporting such fire apparatus.
(10) Fire hydrants located in areas subject to regular, private, commercial, or industrial motor vehicle traffic shall be protected against vehicle damage by curbs, space separation, grade level changes, guard posts, or other means acceptable to the fire marshal.
(11) The installation of flush-type hydrants is prohibited without approval of the fire marshal.
(12) All hydrants shall be subject to testing and inspection by the fire department.
(13) A hydrant shall be located no further than 300 feet from a newly constructed single-family residence or platted lot when located in a platted area, and no more than 150 feet from a commercial building or additions thereto.
(14) The location of all water mains, fire hydrants, and valves to be installed shall be properly and accurately marked on identifiable plans or drawings, one copy of which shall be furnished to the fire marshal and one copy to the public works director and one copy to the water department or district with service jurisdiction. The water authority shall notify the fire marshal when the system is available for use. [Ord. 461 § 4, 1979.]
13.08.050 Commercial buildings.
(1) All commercial buildings and additions shall be provided with water mains and fire hydrants capable of supplying the required fire flow. Hydrants and mains shall be operational when building construction commences.
(2) Commercial buildings and additions so located that a portion is more than 200 feet from a street property line as measured by vehicular travel shall have mains extended to them, with fire hydrants, capable of supplying the required fire flow.
(3) Commercial buildings with a ground floor area of over 20,000 square feet or a group of buildings with a required fire flow of more than 3,000 gallons per minute shall require fire hydrants properly located around the building or group of buildings. Other buildings may have fire hydrants located only on one side, but the required number of hydrants shall be located within 150 feet of the building.
(4) The number of fire hydrants required shall be determined on an average of 300 feet, computed on an imaginary perimeter that is parallel to and 50 feet from the building or group of buildings.
(5) The fire marshal shall determine the location of fire hydrants depending on utility, topography and building location. Hydrants shall be a minimum of 50 feet out from the building except when it is impractical due to topography or property lines. [Ord. 461 § 5, 1979.]
13.08.060 Fire flow criteria.
Required fire flows determined by the fire marshal shall be based on criteria set forth in the Guide for Determination of Required Fire Flow, 1974 Edition, published by the Insurance Services Office, and the following fire flow criteria taken from the NFPA Handbook:
Gallons per Minute | Duration Hours |
| |
1,000 | 2 |
1,250 | 2 |
1,500 | 2 |
1,750 | 2 |
2,000 | 2 |
2,250 | 2 |
2,500 | 2 |
3,000 | 3 |
3,500 | 3 |
4,000 | 4 |
4,500 | 4 |
5,000 | 5 |
5,500 | 5 |
6,000 | 6 |
7,000 | 7 |
8,000 | 8 |
9,000 | 9 |
10,000 | 10 |
11,000 | 10 |
12,000 | 10 |
[Ord. 601 § 1, 1984: Ord. 461 § 6, 1979.]
13.08.070 Building construction classifications.
The Insurance Service Guide, published by the Insurance Services Office, and the Uniform Building Code as adopted by the city council, which provide classifications of all buildings by types of construction, as shown below, shall be used in calculating fire flow.
| |
Insurance Services Guide | Uniform Building Code |
Fire resistive | I - II |
Ordinary | III |
Heavy timber | III HT |
Noncombustible | IV |
Wood frame | V |
[Ord. 461 § 7, 1979.]
13.08.080 Building permit – Issuance, occupation.
The enactment of this chapter is necessary for the protection of health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Des Moines. No building permit shall be issued until plans, that are in compliance with this chapter have been submitted and approved. Construction involving combustible materials shall not begin until water is available in accordance with approved plans. [Ord. 461 § 8, 1979.]
13.08.090 Violation – Penalty.
(1) No person shall violate or fail to comply with this chapter or rules promulgated under this chapter.
(2) A violation of or failure to comply with this section is a class 1 civil infraction. [Ord. 1009 § 54, 1993: Ord. 461 § 9, 1979.]