How quickly will water flow through your fire hose - and at what rate? Fire hydrant valves deliver this degree of control. Connecting your hose to the hydrant or a pump, the valve opens to provide a consistent, unobstructed stream.

As you think about where and how you source water to fight fires, learn more about what hydrant valves do and why they're essential for both fire departments and industrial facilities:

What Is a Hydrant Valve?

Also referred to as a hose valve, hydrant valves serve as a secondary line of defense. In managing a fire department, you generally turn to the water contained in your truck. Yet, this supply is limited: External sources, such as hydrants, provide a larger supply and are an essential lifeline for controlling the blaze, protecting civilians and reducing property damage.

As a water source, fire hydrants deliver water from a series of pipes or a larger distribution system. All your team has to do is connect a hose via a coupling to access this supply to put out the flames. Through a slow close or a quarter turn handle, the valve in this arrangement controls the water pressure and secures the plug to manage the flow. Once opened, the valve allows the hydrant to fill with water, which will then flow into the hose.

Adding a further degree of control, you have the option to modify your hydrant valve with a pressure gauge or air bleeder valve.

Types of Fire Hydrant Valves

Based on these functions, fire hydrant valves include the following standard types:

• Gate valves: As the most widely used type of fire hydrant valve, gate valves control the water flow and pressure with a crank handle. Their design is compatible with a broader range of hydrants - including new and older models - and is suited for use in cold temperatures.
• Butterfly valves: Never fully closed, butterfly valves feature a series of discs and a quarter-turn wheel that rotates to an open or closed position.
• Check valves: Opening in a single direction, check valves are designed to prevent backflow, which can potentially contaminate a community's water supply.
• Ball valves: Ball valves allow for quicker opening and closing of the hydrant.
• Plug valves: More common in waste management, plug valves apply greater force to prevent water from passing through the hydrant or pump.
• Wyes: Wyes split a single stream of water into two streams.

Browse all hydrant and hose valve types at Fire Safety USA before placing an order online, via our call center or through our direct fax line.