Editing Fire hydrant (section)

==Signage==
In the [[United Kingdom]] and [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]], hydrants are located in the ground.<ref>BS 750: "Specification for underground fire hydrants and surface box frames and covers" (2012).</ref> Yellow "H" hydrant signs indicate the location of the hydrants and are similar to the blue signs in [[Finland]]. Mounted on a small post or nearby wall etc., the two numbers indicate the diameter of the water main (top number) and the distance from the sign (lower number). Modern signs show these measurements in millimetres and metres, whereas older signs use inches and feet.<ref>{{cite web|title=Good Stewardship for Schools Premises p. 18|url=http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/C39CB426-397F-43D0-8D3F-31637BE56C3E/0/GSGuidefoSchools2009.pdf|publisher=Cambridgeshire County Council|date=2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304173525/http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/C39CB426-397F-43D0-8D3F-31637BE56C3E/0/GSGuidefoSchools2009.pdf|archive-date=March 4, 2012}}</ref> Because the orders of magnitude are so different (6&nbsp;inches versus 150&nbsp;mm) there is no ambiguity whichever measuring system is used.

In areas of the [[United States]] without winter snow cover, blue [[raised pavement marker#Reflective raised pavement markers|reflectors]] embedded in the street are used to allow rapid identification of hydrants at night. In areas with snow cover, tall signs or flags are used so that hydrants can be found even if covered with snow. In [[rural]] areas tall narrow posts painted with visible colours such as red are attached to the hydrants to allow them to be found during heavy snowfall periods. The tops of the fire hydrants indicate available flow in gallons per minute; the color helps make a more accurate choice of what hydrants will be utilized to supply water to the fire scene.<ref name=trict>{{cite web|last1=Lamm|first1=Willis|title=Hydrant color codes and markings|url=http://www.firehydrant.org/info/hycolor.html |year=2001 |website=Fire hydrant.org|publisher=Water supply office|access-date=31 March 2015}}</ref>

*Blue: {{convert|1500|USgal/min|L/s|0}} or more; very good flow
*Green: {{convert|1000|-|1499|USgal/min|L/s|0}}; good for residential areas 
*Orange: {{convert|500|–|999|USgal/min|L/s|0}}; marginally adequate
*Red: below {{convert|500|USgal/min|L/s|0}}; inadequate

The hydrant bodies are also color-coded.

*Chrome Yellow: Municipal System
*Red: Private System
*Violet: Non-potable supply
 
These markings and colours are prescribed in ''[[National Fire Protection Association|NFPA]] 291: Recommended Practice for Water Flow Testing and Marking of Hydrants''. but most municipal water authorities do not actually follow these guidelines.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.muellercompany.com/sites/muellercompany.com/files/uploads/media/mueller_wp17303_paintingfirehydrants_f13807_v8.pdf |title=The Proper Painting of Fire Hydrants for Maintenance and Color Classification |access-date=August 14, 2022}}</ref>

In [[Australia]], hydrant signage varies, with several types displayed across the country. Most Australian hydrants are underground, being of a [[ballcock]] system (spring hydrant type), and a separate standpipe with a central plunger is used to open the valve. Consequently, hydrant signage is essential, because of their concealed nature.
* Painted markers{{snd}}Usually a white or yellow (sometimes reflective paint) triangle or arrow painted on the road, pointing towards the side of the road the hydrant will be found on. These are most common in old areas, or on new roads where more advanced signs have not been installed. These are almost always coupled with a secondary form of signage.
* Hydrant Marker Plates{{snd}}Found on power poles, fences, or street-signs, these are a comprehensive and effective system of identification. The plate consists of several codes; H (Potable water Hydrant), RH (Recycled/Non-Potable), P (Pathway, where the hydrant cover can be found), R (Roadway). The plate is vertically oriented, around 8&nbsp;cm wide, and 15&nbsp;cm high. It usually faces in the direction of the hydrant. Found on this plate, from top to bottom, are the following features:
** The codes listed above, Potable/Non-potable at the top, Path/Roadway on the bottom of the plate.
** Below this, a number giving the distance to the hydrant (in meters), then a second number below that giving the size (in millimeters) of the water main.
** A black line across the center of the plate indicates the hydrant is found on the opposite side of the road to which the plate is affixed.
** Plates for recycled water have a purple background, as well as the RH code, normal potable hydrants are white, with the H code.
* [[Raised pavement marker|Road markers]] or [[Cat's eyes (road)|Cat's eyes]]{{snd}}Almost exclusively blue, these are placed on one side or the other of the centre line of the road, to indicate on which side of the road the hydrant lies. They are visible for several hundred meters at night in heavy rain, further in clear conditions.

In [[Germany]] the hydrant marker plates follow the style of other marker plates pointing to underground installations. Fire hydrant marker plates have a red border. Other water hydrants may have a blue border. A gas hydrant would have a yellow background instead of a white one for fire hydrants. All of them have large central T with the installation identification on top of it{{snd}}an "H" or older "UH" is located in the ground, a "OH" is above ground, followed by the pipe inner diameter in millimeters (with a small 80&nbsp;mm in residential areas). The numbers around the T allow to locate the installation in reference to the plate's location{{snd}}the number left of the T is in meter left of the sign, the number right of the T is in meter right of the sign, and number below the T tells the distance in meter in front of the sign, where a negative number would point to a place behind the sign. The distance numbers are always given with a comma decimeter precision. If it is not a common fire hydrant type then another identification may be used, for example "300 m³" would point to a cistern usable to pump water from.

In [[East Asia]] ([[China]], [[Japan]] and [[South Korea]]) and former [[Socialism|Socialist]] countries of [[Eastern Europe]], there are two types of fire hydrants, of which one is on the public ground and the other inside a building. The ones inside a building are installed on a wall. They are big, rectangular boxes that also provide alarms (sirens), a fire extinguisher and, at certain times, emergency kits.

<gallery mode="packed">
File:1858 FC plaque.jpg|Hydrant sign in [[Cork (city)|Cork, Ireland]], dated 1858. The letters "FC" indicate the old name for a hydrant: ''[[Wiktionary:firecock|firecock]]''.
File:Fire hydrant UK (cropped).jpg|British fire hydrant and sign{{snd}}the sign indicates the hydrant is 100&nbsp;mm in diameter and 1 metre from the sign
File:Birmingham Fire hydrant cover - 2020-07-24 - Andy Mabbett.png|'[[Birmingham City Council|Corporation of Birmingham]]' hydrant cover, [[England]], circa 1920s
File:Fire hydrant in Korolyov.jpg|Underground hydrant in [[Russia]], marked with a plate and a red cone
File:Hydrantenschild_rot_und_blau.jpg|Red fire hydrant marker plate in [[Germany]], along with another blue special-purpose water hydrant marker plate{{snd}}The numbers indicate the diameter (80&nbsp;mm) and the location (2.8 meter in the back, 1.5 meter to the right).
File:Fire_Hydrant_and_blue_reflector.jpg|A blue reflector marks the location of the fire hydrant
</gallery>