# Fire hydrant inspection checklist > Free fire hydrant inspection checklist and form: access, exterior, operation, flushing, drainage, valve and flow test record, with NFPA 291 color classes. Page: https://inspectial.com/resources/fire-hydrant-inspection-checklist ยท Updated 2026-10-12 A field checklist for public and private fire hydrants, following AWWA M17 for inspection and flushing, NFPA 25 for private hydrants and NFPA 291 for flow testing and color marking. It runs in visit order: access, exterior, operation and flushing, shutdown and drainage, valve, then the flow test record. ## What is a fire hydrant inspection checklist? A fire hydrant inspection checklist is a field form for confirming a hydrant will work when the fire department needs it. The inspector checks access and clearance, the barrel, caps, nozzles and paint, opens the hydrant fully to flush it, checks for leaks and proper barrel drainage, exercises the auxiliary valve, and records static pressure, repairs and the flow class. ## When to inspect AWWA M17 recommends inspecting public hydrants at least once a year, and manufacturers often suggest twice a year. NFPA 25 requires private hydrants to be inspected, flow tested and lubricated annually. Some states set their own cycle: New York requires every hydrant to be inspected every 3 years, with about a third done each year. Also inspect after each use by the fire department, after a vehicle strike and before winter in freezing climates. ## Header fields - Hydrant ID: ____ - Street and nearest address: ____ - GPS: ____ - Owner (public / private): ____ - Make and model: ____ - Year installed: ____ - Type (dry barrel / wet barrel): ____ - Main size (in): ____ - Auxiliary valve ID and distance: ____ - Current flow class color: ____ - Inspector: ____ - Date and time: ____ - Air temperature: ____ ## Location and access Check what a fire crew would see when they pull up. Answer: OK / Issue / N/A - [ ] Hydrant found at mapped location (record offset if not) - [ ] Visible from the street, not hidden by vegetation, fences or signs - [ ] Clear space around the hydrant (local fire code, often 3 ft) free of obstructions - [ ] Pumper nozzle faces the street or fire access road - [ ] No parked vehicles, dumpsters or snow banks blocking access - [ ] Hydrant marker, reflector or flag present where required - [ ] Ground around the base firm, no settlement, washout or ponding ## Exterior condition Answer: OK / Issue / N/A - [ ] Hydrant plumb, not leaning or showing signs of a vehicle strike - [ ] Barrel and bonnet free of cracks or damage - [ ] Breakaway flange or traffic coupling intact, bolts in place - [ ] Nozzle outlets at a workable height above grade (wrench and hose clear the ground) - [ ] All nozzle caps present, not cracked, and removable by hand wrench - [ ] Cap gaskets present and in good condition - [ ] Cap chains present and free to move, if used - [ ] Nozzle threads undamaged and match the local fire department thread - [ ] Operating nut not rounded, worn or damaged - [ ] Paint in good condition; barrel and cap colors match the owner's scheme - [ ] No sign of tampering or unauthorized use (missing caps, wrench marks, meter fittings) ## Operation and flushing Open slowly, fully, then close slowly to avoid water hammer. Direct flow away from traffic and property. Answer: OK / Issue / N/A - [ ] Static pressure recorded with a cap gauge before opening (psi) - [ ] Operating nut turns smoothly, no binding or excessive torque - [ ] Number of turns to fully open recorded and matches the make and model - [ ] Hydrant opens fully without leaking at the bonnet, stem or nozzles - [ ] Flushed until water runs clear (record minutes) - [ ] Flow appears normal for the main size, no sudden pressure drop - [ ] Dechlorination and erosion control used where the permit or local rules require ## Shutdown and drainage For dry barrel hydrants, the barrel must drain after closing or it can freeze and crack. Answer: OK / Issue / N/A - [ ] Hydrant closes fully, no water leaking past the main valve - [ ] Dry barrel drains after closing (hand over nozzle feels suction; record drain time) - [ ] Barrel empty of water and ice before leaving (pump out if drains are plugged) - [ ] Drain plugged or sealed where the water table is high (record and pump out) - [ ] Stem packing or O-rings not leaking at the operating nut - [ ] Caps replaced hand tight with gaskets seated - [ ] Threads and operating nut lubricated per manufacturer ## Auxiliary valve Most hydrants have a gate valve on the branch line between the main and the hydrant. Answer: OK / Issue / N/A - [ ] Valve box located, at grade and not paved over - [ ] Valve box lid present, not broken, and opens - [ ] Valve box clear of debris down to the operating nut - [ ] Valve exercised full cycle (record turns and direction to close) - [ ] Valve left fully open after exercising ## Flow test record (if tested) NFPA 291 method: static and residual pressure at a test hydrant, pitot pressure at one or more flow hydrants. Answer: Recorded / N/A - [ ] Test hydrant ID and flow hydrant IDs recorded - [ ] Static pressure at the test hydrant (psi) - [ ] Residual pressure at the test hydrant during flow (psi) - [ ] Outlet size and coefficient at each flow hydrant - [ ] Pitot pressure at each flowing outlet (psi) - [ ] Total observed flow (gpm) - [ ] Calculated available flow at 20 psi residual (gpm) - [ ] Flow class assigned and bonnet and cap color updated to match - [ ] Residual drop of at least 10 psi for a valid test, or test repeated with more outlets ## Follow-up Answer: Yes / No / N/A - [ ] Hydrant out of service; fire department notified and hydrant bagged or tagged - [ ] Repair needed (caps, nut, packing, drain, main valve or barrel) - [ ] Repainting needed - [ ] Access issue to report (obstruction, parking, landscaping) - [ ] Auxiliary valve repair or box adjustment needed - [ ] Inventory data corrected (ID, location, make, model or valve) ## Flow class and color (NFPA 291, at 20 psi residual) - **Class AA, light blue:** 1,500 gpm or more. Bonnet and caps painted light blue. - **Class A, green:** 1,000 to 1,499 gpm. Bonnet and caps painted green. - **Class B, orange:** 500 to 999 gpm. Bonnet and caps painted orange. - **Class C, red:** Less than 500 gpm. Bonnet and caps painted red. ## Photos to take 1. Hydrant from the street, showing clearance and access 2. Hydrant close-up, all nozzles and caps visible 3. Operating nut and bonnet 4. Breakaway flange at the base 5. Cap gauge reading (static pressure) 6. Flushing in progress, showing water clarity 7. Auxiliary valve box, lid open 8. Close-up of each defect, with a scale reference ## Field tips - Open and close slowly. Slamming a hydrant shut causes water hammer that can break mains and service lines nearby. - Feel for suction on the open nozzle as a dry barrel drains. No suction means the drain is plugged and the barrel will hold water. - In freezing weather, pump out any hydrant that does not drain and tag it for repair the same day. - Tell the fire department right away about any hydrant you leave out of service, and bag or tag it so crews skip it. - Notify customers before flushing; discolored water calls are the most common complaint from a flushing program. - Record turns to open and close for each make and model. A count that changes over time points to a worn stem or a stuck valve. - The barrel is usually chrome yellow on public hydrants; the bonnet and caps show the flow class. Keep color schemes consistent across the system. ## Standards and sources - [AWWA Manual M17, Fire Hydrants: Installation, Field Testing, and Maintenance](https://store.awwa.org/Installation-Field-Testing-and-Maintenance-of-Fire-Hydrants-M17-Fifth-Edition) - [NFPA 291, Recommended Practice for Water Flow Testing and Marking of Hydrants](https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/nfpa-291-standard-development/291) - [NFPA 25, Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems (private hydrants)](https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/nfpa-25-standard-development/25) - [Flint SOP 321, hydrant inspection, testing and maintenance (example utility procedure citing AWWA M17)](https://www.michigan.gov/documents/flintwater/SOP321_Hydrant_Inspection_Testing_and_Maintenance_FINAL_613060_7.pdf) - [16 NYCRR 503.6, New York hydrant inspection requirement](https://regulations.justia.com/states/new-york/title-16/chapter-v/subchapter-a/part-503/section-503-6/) - [MTAS, Flow test a fire hydrant (AWWA M17 method)](https://www.mtas.tennessee.edu/reference/flow-test-fire-hydrant) ## Questions ### How often should fire hydrants be inspected? AWWA M17 recommends inspecting public hydrants at least annually, and some manufacturers suggest twice a year. NFPA 25 requires private hydrants to be inspected and flow tested every year. Some states set their own rule, such as New York's 3-year cycle. Also inspect after every fire department use and after any vehicle strike. ### What do the colors on a fire hydrant mean? Under NFPA 291, the bonnet and caps show available flow at 20 psi residual: light blue for 1,500 gpm or more, green for 1,000 to 1,499 gpm, orange for 500 to 999 gpm, and red for less than 500 gpm. Public hydrant barrels are usually chrome yellow. Many cities use their own scheme, so check local rules. ### How is a fire hydrant flow test done? Attach a cap gauge to a test hydrant and record the static pressure. Open one or more nearby flow hydrants, measure pitot pressure at each outlet, and record the residual pressure at the test hydrant. Convert pitot readings to gpm, then calculate the flow available at 20 psi residual to set the hydrant's flow class. ### What is the difference between hydrant flushing and flow testing? Flushing opens a hydrant to clear sediment and stale water from the main and to prove the hydrant works. Flow testing measures pressures during flow to calculate how much water the system can deliver for firefighting. Flushing is usually part of every inspection; flow testing is done less often and needs at least two hydrants. ### How long should a dry barrel hydrant take to drain? After the main valve is closed, water in the barrel should drain out through the drain valve. Many municipal guides based on NFPA 25 use 60 minutes as the limit. A hydrant that holds water can freeze and crack, so pump it out and tag it for drain repair.