Use Fire Hydrant Inspections

The Fire Hydrant Inspections solution delivers a set of capabilities that help you inventory fire hydrants, conduct routine inspections, monitor hydrant inspection programs, and share operating status with firefighters.

In this topic, you will learn how to use the solution by assuming the role of a user and performing the following workflows.

Note:

Use your organization's data or configured apps to follow these workflows.

Assign Inspections

Note:

This workflow is optional and does not need to be completed to work with the solution.

Fire hydrant inspections are assigned on an annual basis or can be conducted by canvassing streets or areas within the community. To assign inspections on an annual basis use, the Fire Hydrant Inspections Notebook app. The Fire Hydrant Inspections Notebook app uses the Fire Service District layer and Fire Hydrant layer to make assignments based on station, shift, inspection due date, and the inspection type.

Note:

To run an ArcGIS Notebooks notebook and complete the following steps, you must be assigned an Administrator role or a custom role that includes the privilege to create and edit notebooks.

In these workflows, you will assume the role of a fire analyst who will use the ArcGIS Notebooks app to set the assignment type, assigned station, assigned shift, and assignment due date for each hydrant.

1. Verify that you are signed in to your ArcGIS organization and browse to the Fire Hydrant Inspections Notebook app.
2. From the item page, click Open Notebook.
3. Click Run and choose Run All Cells.

   The notebook runs and a new dialog box appears.

4. In the dialog box, choose the assignment due date.

   By default, the end of year is configured.

5. Choose the type of hydrant inspection to be completed.

   The default is set to randomly assign both flush and flow tests.

6. If you are assigning both flush and flow tests, choose the minimum number of years between flow tests.

   Tip:

   The minimum number of years between flow tests is set to four years by default, which ensures that every hydrant is flow tested every five years. This default aligns with NFPA 291, which states that flow tests should be conducted every five years.

7. If you are assigning both flush and flow tests, choose the percentage of hydrants that will be assigned a flow test.

   The default is that 33 percent of hydrants will be assigned a flow test.

8. Click Setup Annual Hydrant Inspection Assignments.
9. Click the FireHydrant_firehydrants layer, and then click the Data tab and verify that the Assignment Type, Assignment Due, Assigned Station, and Assigned Shift fields have values.

After the Fire Hydrant Inspections Notebook app has run, you must update the Fire Hydrant Inspections map symbology to reflect the assignments by station and shifts.

1. Verify that you are signed in to your ArcGIS organization and browse to the Fire Hydrant Inspections map.
2. From the item page, click Open in Map Viewer.
3. In the Layers pane, click the Fire Hydrants layer to select it, if necessary.
4. On the Settings (light) toolbar, click Styles .
5. In the Pick a style section, click Style options.
6. Next to Unassigned, click the options button and click Select all values.
7. Click Move to group and choose the untitled group above.
8. Optionally, configure the symbol colors and edit the group name.

Collect new hydrant

In some cases, fire departments may access hydrant data maintained by a water utility to use for inspections. In other cases, hydrant data may not exist, and a field assessment may be used to capture hydrant locations and their operational status.

In this workflow, you will assume the role of a firefighter who needs to collect a new fire hydrant in the community.

1. Download ArcGIS Field Maps onto your mobile device.
2. Open ArcGIS Field Maps and sign in to your ArcGIS organization.
3. Tap the Fire Hydrant Inspections map to open it.
4. Tap Search and type an address in the search field, use the Location button, or browse to the collection location.
5. Tap Collect Here.
6. Tap Update Point.
7. Swipe up and complete the Fire Hydrants form.
8. Tap Notes to enter any observations noted in the field.
9. When you are finished, at the upper right, tap the check mark or Submit.

   Note:

   Your interface may vary depending on the type of mobile device that you use.

10. Repeat these steps for each additional fire hydrant.

Perform flush inspection

Flushing fire hydrants is often an annual workflow that ensures fire hydrant operability, ease of access, and recycles the water in the distribution pipes. When exercising the operability of a hydrant, firefighters often need to note physical characteristics and any required maintenance of the hydrant while in the field.

In this workflow, you will assume the role of a firefighter who needs to perform a flush inspection on an existing fire hydrant.

1. If necessary, open ArcGIS Field Maps on your mobile device and sign in to your ArcGIS organization.
2. Tap the Fire Hydrant Inspections map to open it.
3. Tap Search and type an address in the search field, use the Location button, or browse to the collection location.
4. Tap a fire hydrant to select it.
5. In the form, tap Related.
6. Tap Add.
7. Swipe up on the inspection form, tap Station Completing Inspection, and choose a value.
8. Tap Inspection Type and choose Flush.

   The Operability section is now visible on the inspection form.

9. Tap Is the hydrant operable and choose Yes.
10. Tap Flush complete and choose Yes.
11. Tap Flow duration and enter a value.
12. Tap to open the Maintenance section, and then tap any question to choose a value.
13. When you are finished, at the upper right, tap the check mark or Submit.

    Note:

    Your interface may vary depending on the type of mobile device that you use.

Perform flow test inspection

Fire hydrant flow tests are often performed to evaluate water pressure capabilities under various distribution-system flow conditions. The resulting pressure readings inform responding crews of the operational capabilities of the hydrants within proximity to the emergency. When performing a flow test, there are typically five variables that crews record from the field to inform the water flow capabilities.

In this workflow, you will assume the role of a firefighter who needs to perform a flow test inspection on an existing fire hydrant.

1. If necessary, open ArcGIS Field Maps on your mobile device and sign in to your ArcGIS organization.
2. Tap the Fire Hydrant Inspections map to open it.
3. Tap Search and type an address in the search field, use the Location button, or browse to the collection location.
4. Tap a fire hydrant to select it.
5. In the form, tap Related.
6. Tap Add.
7. Swipe up on the inspection form, tap Station Completing Inspection, and choose a value.
8. Tap Inspection Type and choose Flow Test.

   The Operability section is now visible on the inspection form.

9. Tap Is the hydrant operable and choose Yes.
10. Tap to open the Maintenance section, then tap any question to choose a value.
11. Tap Pitot Pressure and enter a value.
12. Tap Discharge Coefficient and enter a value.
13. Tap Outlet Diameter and enter a value.
14. Tap Static Pressure and enter a value.
15. Tap Residual Pressure and enter a value.

    The inspection form automatically calculates Flow Rate (GPM) and Available Fire Flow (GPM) by using the Q formula and Hazen-Williams formula as outlined in NFPA 291.

16. When you are finished, at the upper right, tap the check mark or Submit.

    Note:

    Your interface may vary depending on the type of mobile device that you use.

Monitor fire hydrant inspection program

Fire hydrant inspection programs are run on a recurring interval, typically annually. During the inspection cycle, fire command staff can reference the status of the inspection program to make informed decisions.

You will now assume the role of fire command staff and will use the Fire Hydrant Inspections Dashboard to monitor the progress of fire hydrant inspections.

1. Verify that you are signed in to your ArcGIS organization and browse to the Fire Hydrant Inspections Dashboard app.
2. From the item page, click Open dashboard.
3. Review the high-level metrics of the dashboard, including total inspections, out of service hydrants, and inspections by station and type.
4. In the header panel, use filters to explore inspections by type, station, date, and lifecycle status. By default, the dashboard shows inspections from year to date.

   Note:

   Dashboard charts are linked. If you click a bar in the Inspections completed by station chart or a slice in the Inspections by type chart, related details are filtered and updated in other elements in the dashboard.

5. In the hydrant list, click a hydrant to zoom to its location and see its inspection status.