Chapter 10.10
FIRE HYDRANTS
Sections:
10.10.020 Fire hydrants required—Testing.
10.10.030 Submission of plans and approved installation required.
10.10.050 Fire hydrant type and installation requirements.
10.10.060 Fire hydrant water supply requirements.
10.10.070 Fire hydrant location and number requirements.
10.10.080 Additional fire hydrant location and number requirements for certain buildings.
10.10.010 Purpose of chapter.
This chapter is enacted to provide minimum requirements for installation of fire hydrants designated or approved by the code administration manager in the exercise of his duties pursuant to Sections 507, Appendix B, and Appendix C of the 2021 Edition of the Washington State Fire Code. (Ord. 2024-007 § 2, 2024; Ord. 93-65 § 5, 1993: Ord. 2354 § 15, 1979: Ord. 2176 § 1, 1978: Ord. 1764 § 9 (part) 1975).
10.10.020 Fire hydrants required—Testing.
A. All buildings constructed or located within the city of Yakima after the effective date of this chapter, also including structures or dwellings within travel trailer courts, mobile home parks and planned developments, shall be served by fire hydrants, installed in accordance with the provisions of the International Fire Code (IFC) as adopted by the city of Yakima.
B. Fire hydrants installed prior to 1979, which do not conform with the requirements of the IFC as adopted by the city of Yakima shall, when replaced, be replaced with fire hydrants conforming to the requirements of the IFC.
C. All city and water district public fire hydrants within the city shall be subject to inspection and testing annually. Said test data shall be maintained by the water/irrigation division.
D. All private fire hydrants within the city shall be subject to inspection and testing every six months. The results of the inspections and testing will be provided to the code administration and planning division.
E. All private fire hydrants shall be completely painted red and have the proper port and orientation in regards to the port. Private fire hydrants shall be installed based on current guidelines for hydrant installation as set forth in YMC 10.10.050. (Ord. 2006-07 § 61, 2006: Ord. 2354 § 16, 1979: Ord. 1764 § 9 (part), 1975).
10.10.030 Submission of plans and approved installation required.
A. Two copies of detailed plans and specifications accurately indicating the location of all proposed fire hydrants, valves and attendant water lines, shall be submitted to and approved by the code administration and planning division and city engineer prior to commencement of construction thereon.
B. All required hydrants and mains shall be placed in service prior to issuance of a building permit or commencement of building construction relative to any new structure, or alteration of or addition to any existing structure, unless an alternate method of protection acceptable to the code administration manager is furnished during construction; provided, in any event, all required hydrants and mains shall be placed in service prior to occupancy or use of any new structure. (Ord. 2006-07 § 62, 2006: Ord. 2912 § 1, 1985: Ord. 2354 § 17, 1979: Ord. 1764 § 9 (part), 1975).
10.10.040 Plans and installations to conform to specifications and standards—Adoption of standards by reference.
A. Fire hydrants, connecting pipelines, valves and appurtenances, including plans and installation details not specifically regulated by this chapter, shall conform to design standards and specifications promulgated by the owner of the attendant water system, to specifications of the city of Yakima’s code administration manager and city engineer and to accepted standards of sound engineering practices.
B. Fire hydrants, connecting pipelines, valves and appurtenances further shall conform to the specifications and standards published in the following publications which are adopted and incorporated as fully as if set out in full herein:
1. Guide for Determination of Required Fire Flow, published by the Insurance Service Office of the Municipal Survey Service;
2. Washington State Department of Health Water System Design Manual;
3. The following AWWA Standards, published by the America Water Works Association:
Standard C104, Ductile Iron Pipe;
Standard C105, Ductile Iron Pipe Encasement;
Standard C110, Ductile Iron Pipe Fittings;
Standard C111, Ductile Iron Pipe Gaskets;
Standard C115, Ductile Iron Pipe Flange;
Standard C150, Ductile Iron Pipe Design;
Standard C151, Ductile Iron Pipe Design;
Standard C502, Hydrants;
Standard C509, Valves;
Standard C600, Ductile Iron Pipe Installation;
Standard C651, Disinfection of Water Mains. (Ord. 2024-007 § 2, 2024; Ord. 2006-07 § 63, 2006: Ord. 2730 § 1, 1983: Ord. 2354 § 18, 1979: Ord. 2226 § 1, 1978: Ord. 1764 § 9 (part), 1975).
10.10.050 Fire hydrant type and installation requirements.
A. All public fire hydrants, which shall include those hydrants situated on a street right-of-way or public utility easement and maintained by the city or a water district, and all private fire hydrants, which shall include those hydrants situated on private property for firefighting purposes, shall be restricted primarily to use for firefighting purposes and shall be maintained accessible for immediate use for such purposes at all times pursuant to IFC Section 507.
B. All fire hydrants shall have three total outlets: two outlets that are national thread standard hose outlets of two and one-half inches in diameter, and one five-inch Storz quarter-turn quick-connect outlet.
C. All fire hydrants shall stand plumb.
D. All fire hydrants shall be set to finished grade with the lowest outlet thereof no less than eighteen inches above grade and with no less than thirty-six inches of unobstructed area for the operation of hydrant wrenches on all outlets and the control valve nut pursuant with IFC 508.5.5. Flush-type hydrants, which hydrants are installed below grade, are prohibited except upon written approval of the code administration and planning manager and the fire chief pursuant to a showing of extreme necessity.
E. All fire hydrants shall be installed with the pumper port facing the nearest street, unless the code administration and planning manager designates a different public highway or direction as a more likely route of fire truck approach or location for pumping.
F. All fire hydrants shall be adequately protected against vehicular damage in a manner prescribed by IFC Section 508.
G. All fire hydrants shall be equipped with an auxiliary resilient seat gate valve installed between the service line and the hydrant to permit repair or replacement of the hydrant without disruption of water service.
H. All fire hydrant installations on dead-end mains or temporarily dead-end mains shall include provisions for looping, together with minimum easements of sixteen feet therefor, unless the city engineer and the water/irrigation manager approve for good cause a different installation design.
I. All private fire hydrants situated on private property for firefighting purposes which are connected to the city of Yakima’s or a water district’s water system shall be equipped with a backflow prevention device as required in YMC 7.68.070 and be subject to monthly service charges in accordance with YMC 7.68.275, 7.68.280 and 7.68.282. (Ord, 2024-007 § 2, 2024; Ord. 2006-07 § 64, 2006: Ord. 2730 § 2, 1983; Ord. 2354 § 19, 1979; Ord. 2176 § 2, 1978; Ord. 1764 § 9 (part), 1975).
10.10.060 Fire hydrant water supply requirements.
A. All fire hydrants shall be supplied by water of a municipal water system or a water district unless otherwise authorized by the code administration and planning manager and the water/irrigation manager.
B. All fire hydrants installed in residential zones after 1979 shall be supplied by eight-inch circulating mains. The city engineer and the water/irrigation manager may approve installation of six-inch mains for lines no longer than six hundred feet when connecting to existing six-inch mains.
C. All leads from service mains to fire hydrants shall be at least six inches in diameter. (Ord. 2006-07 § 65, 2006: Ord. 2354 § 20, 1979; Ord. 1764 § 9 (part), 1975).
10.10.070 Fire hydrant location and number requirements.
A. The distance between fire hydrants in single-family zones shall be pursuant to IFC Section 507 and IFC Appendix C.
B. The maximum distance between fire hydrants in other than single-family zones shall be pursuant to IFC Section 507 and IFC Appendix C.
C. The length of any fire hydrant lead shall not exceed one hundred fifty feet.
D. Not more than one fire hydrant shall be installed on a six-inch main between intersecting mains and not more than two fire hydrants shall be installed on an eight-inch line between intersecting mains. (Ord, 2024-007 § 2, 2024; Ord. 2006-07 § 66, 2006: Ord. 2354 § 21, 1979; Ord. 2176 § 3, 1978; Ord. 1764 § 9 (part), 1975).
10.10.080 Additional fire hydrant location and number requirements for certain buildings.
Notwithstanding other requirements of this chapter, the following additional regulations shall apply to all buildings of which any portion is more than one hundred fifty feet from the curb or edge of the nearest established street or public highway, except single-family dwellings:
1. The required number of fire hydrants shall be determined on an average of three hundred thirty feet computed on an imaginary line parallel to, and not less than fifty feet from, the structure.
2. Fire hydrants shall be a minimum of fifty feet away from a building or structure.
3. Buildings having a required fire flow of less than three thousand five hundred gallons per minute, as determined by the chief of code administration, may be permitted to have hydrants on one side of the building only.
4. Buildings having a required fire flow of two thousand five hundred or more gallons per minute, as determined by the chief of code administration, shall be serviced by fire hydrants with a main which loops around the building or complex of buildings and reconnects or extends to another grid system; provided, however, where the chief of code administration determines that the required fire flow can be achieved without a looped main, a looped main shall not be required.
5. All fire hydrants must be accessible to fire department trucks and fire apparatus over roads or ways capable of supporting same.
6. Location of fire hydrants shall be subject to approval of the chief of code administration, considering such factors as utility, topography and building location, who may pursuant to written request approve minor deviations from the provisions of this section. (Ord. 2927 § 1, 1985: Ord. 2354 § 22, 1979: Ord. 1764 § 9 (part), 1975).