In large buildings, hydrants should be fed by different water mains.

In large buildings, hydrants should be fed by different water mains.

• A. Fed by Different Water Mains
• B. Located on Opposite Sides of the Street
• C. Connected to the Same Water Main
• D. Sharing a Single Supply Line

Answer: (A)

Redundancy in the water supply is essential for large buildings. If hydrants or standpipes draw from two separate mains, the system can still deliver adequate flow even if one main is shut down, damaged, or under heavy demand. Relying on a single main or a single supply line creates a single point of failure—a disruption that could compromise fire attack. Simply placing feeds on opposite sides of the street doesn’t guarantee independence, since both feeds could be part of the same network or affected by the same event. Using feeds from different water mains minimizes this risk and helps ensure sufficient water flow during a fire.

Redundancy in the water supply is essential for large buildings. If hydrants or standpipes draw from two separate mains, the system can still deliver adequate flow even if one main is shut down, damaged, or under heavy demand. Relying on a single main or a single supply line creates a single point of failure—a disruption that could compromise fire attack. Simply placing feeds on opposite sides of the street doesn’t guarantee independence, since both feeds could be part of the same network or affected by the same event. Using feeds from different water mains minimizes this risk and helps ensure sufficient water flow during a fire.