1 Del. Admin. Code § 703-3-3.0

Current through Reigster Vol. 28, No. 6, December 1, 2024

Section 703-3-3.0 - Flow Testing Criteria for Fire Hydrants

3.1 Flow tests of all areas within a water supplier's jurisdiction shall be updated every five (5) years with all information provided to the respective fire department. Flow tests will not include every hydrant within the water supplier's jurisdiction but rather provide representative samplings of all areas based on sound engineering determination.

3.2 This section shall not be legally binding if there are other State restrictions in effect such as due to water shortage conditions.

3.3 Additional specific hydrant flow test results requested by the fire department over and above those identified in § 3.1 shall be provided to that fire department within a maximum of three (3) months. Such requests shall be made by the fire department to the water supplier.

3.4 The State Fire Marshal may require a hydrant flow test to be performed by the water supplier within a five (5) working day period if the need is considered justified by the State Fire Marshal.

3.5 All fire hydrant flow testing for engineering purposes shall be performed in accordance with the Recommended Practice for Fire Flow Testing and Marking of Hydrants, NFPA 291, as adopted and/or modified by these Regulations, and shall include the following:

3.5.1 Date and time of test;

3.5.2 Specific location of pressure hydrant;

3.5.3 Specific location of flow hydrant;

3.5.4 Static pressure;

3.5.5 Pitot gauge reading at residual pressure;

3.5.6 Actual flow (GPM) at residual pressure;

3.5.7 Flow available at 20 psi residual pressure; and

3.5.8 Size (diameter) of the flow orifice and its coefficient of discharge.

3.6 Nothing in this Chapter shall prohibit an alternate method of flow testing if approved by the State Fire Marshal.

3.7 All fire hydrant flow testing for fire department planning purposes may be performed using only one hydrant with the following information provided:

3.7.1 Date and time of test;

3.7.2 Specific location of test hydrant;

3.7.3 Static pressure;

3.7.4 Residual pressure;

3.7.5 Actual flow (GPM) at residual pressure; and

3.7.6 Available flow at 20 psi.

3.8 Water suppliers shall bear the costs for any required or requested hydrant flow tests made under any of the provisions of this Chapter.

1 Del. Admin. Code § 703-3-3.0