Ever notice the different colors on fire hydrants? They’re not random paint jobs—they’re part of the NFPA 291 standard, which helps firefighters instantly gauge how much water is available during an emergency.
Each color signals the hydrant’s flow rate in gallons per minute (GPM):
🔴 Red – Less than 500 GPM (rural or low-supply areas)
🟠 Orange – 500–999 GPM (residential neighborhoods, small commercial zones)
🟢 Green – 1,000–1,499 GPM (industrial parks, shopping centers, medium risk areas)
🔵 Blue – 1,500+ GPM (airports, chemical plants, large warehouses, dense urban zones)
This simple system helps crews make critical decisions in seconds, ensuring the right resources are deployed where they’re needed most.
For those working internationally, the same numbers convert to:
• Red: < 1,900 L/min
• Orange: 1,900–3,800 L/min
• Green: 3,800–5,700 L/min
• Blue: 5,700+ L/min
It’s a great example of how thoughtful standards can save lives.
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