Firefighters Around the World Show How Different Fire Hydrants Work

When we hear the term 'fire hydrant', the familiar red figure standing on the roadside comes to mind, but in reality, the design of this system varies incredibly from country to country. In some countries, turning a handle is enough, while in others, it is impossible to access water without attaching a special tool.

Firefighters from different countries shared a video that vividly illustrates this disparity. The compilation of footage from all over the world revealed that the method of opening fire hydrants in each country is entirely distinct from one another. Viewers were surprised to see that even such a simple piece of equipment could vary so drastically from country to country.

In the video, the process is extremely straightforward in the US, which is the first example. As soon as the firefighter manually turns a single valve on top of the hydrant, water gushes out with great pressure within seconds. In contrast, in the Turkish example, the firefighter first attaches a hose connection to the side of the hydrant, then turns the valve on top to let the water flow through this hose. The system in France, however, is much more layered. Initially, a protective cover on top of the hydrant is opened, then a special tool is attached and turned on the valve, and finally, a bucket-like collection piece is placed on the outlet where the water will flow. In Algeria, the hydrant is almost entirely at ground level. The only visible thing on top is a small cover, and a special key is needed to open it.

There are several fundamental reasons for the different design, operation mechanism, and connection types of fire hydrants in different countries. In regions where the weather gets very cold in winter (for example, some states in the US or Northern Europe), 'dry barrel' hydrants are used to prevent the water in the pipe from freezing and bursting. In these hydrants, the valves are located underground, and a long key is used to open the valve. While some countries open the valve on top of the hydrant by directly turning it, some countries like France prefer protective cover systems, or in the case of Brazil, water flow is provided by inserting special keys into the valve under the ground. Each country has its own fire standards and industrial history. Since hose connection heads vary from country to country, hydrant outlets are designed accordingly. Moreover, local regulations and city infrastructure, such as the pressure of the city water network, the position of the hydrant on the sidewalk, and protection designs against possible impacts and vandalism, also determine these differences.