Info:
Departments should reference NFPA 291: Recommended Practice for Fire Flow Testing and Marking of Hydrants when conducting and documenting hydrant flow tests.
Purpose Statement
To explain how to document a Hydrant Flow Test in First Due. Hydrant flow testing allows departments to measure water flow capacity, verify hydrant performance, and ensure accurate water supply data for operational planning.
Background Information
Hydrant flow testing measures the available water supply within a distribution system and helps fire departments determine the gallons per minute (GPM) available for firefighting operations.
Documenting flow tests in First Due provides several benefits:
Maintains a historical record of hydrant performance
Supports pre-incident planning and water supply planning
Helps identify hydrants that require maintenance or service
Automatically calculates flow rates based on test inputs
Generates printable reports for documentation and compliance
Flow tests typically involve a residual hydrant (used to measure pressure) and one or more flow hydrants used to discharge water and calculate flow rates.
Required Permissions
Users must have permissions that allow them to access hydrants and record hydrant testing activities. This typically includes permissions such as:
Hydrants – View
Hydrants – Edit
Hydrant Service / Flow Test – Create
Hydrant Module Access
Permissions may vary by agency configuration.
Video
Step-by-Step Guide
Navigate to Hydrants → Hydrant List.
Locate the hydrant you wish to test using the search or filter tools at the top of the list.
On the right side of the hydrant record, click the three-dot menu and select Start Flow Test.
In the Information section enter the following:
(1) Date of Flow Test
Select the date the test was conducted. This may be today's date or a previous date.(2) Personnel
Select one or more members of your organization who conducted the test.(3) Assisting Agency/Vendor (if applicable)
Select any outside agencies or vendors that assisted with the test.(4) Other
Enter any additional notes to be included in the flow test report.
In the Residual Hydrant section enter the following data:
(1) Measured Static Pressure
Enter the static PSI reading taken from your gauge.(2) Target Pressure Differential %
This defaults to 25% in First Due but may be customized by your agency.(3) Measured Test Residual Pressure
Enter the residual PSI reading from your gauge during the test.The Maximum Test Residual Pressure will automatically calculate.
If you are using the Test Hydrant as the Flow Hydrant, move the Use as Flow Hydrant slider to the On position to reveal the data fields used to calculate the hydrant flow. Then click the pencil icon to enter the gauge readings.
In the Outlet Size dropdown, select the diameter of the hydrant outlet used during the test.
Enter the Coefficient of the Hydrant using the chart below.
Important: All coefficient values must begin with 0.XXX.
Values entered as .XXX will not be accepted by the system.
Enter the Residual PSI on the Pilot Gauge from the discharge port.
The hydrant Flow Rate (GPM) will automatically calculate.
If you do not reach the desired 25% pressure drop, you can add another discharge by selecting Add Discharge and entering the same data described in Step 8.
If you are not using the test hydrant as the flow hydrant and will use a different hydrant:
Ensure the Use as Flow Hydrant slider remains Off
Select Add another flow hydrant
A hydrant map will appear:
(A) The Residual Hydrant will appear blue
(B) Hydrants available for flow testing appear red
(C) When you select a hydrant it will change from red to green indicating it has been selected as the flow hydrant
Click Save, then enter the gauge readings using the pencil icon as described in Step 8.
Once all data has been entered, select Save and Complete to finalize the flow test.
Best Practices
Follow NFPA 291 guidelines when conducting hydrant flow tests.
Verify gauge calibration before performing tests to ensure accurate readings.
Record all personnel involved in the testing process for accountability.
Ensure the correct outlet size and coefficient values are used for accurate flow calculations.
Use additional discharges or hydrants if necessary to achieve the recommended pressure differential.
Troubleshooting & FAQs
Flow rate is not calculating.
Ensure all required fields have been entered including outlet size, coefficient, and pilot gauge pressure.
Coefficient value will not save.
The value must begin with 0.XXX (for example: 0.90). Values starting with just .90 will not be accepted.
I cannot select another hydrant on the map.
Verify the Use as Flow Hydrant slider is turned off before adding another hydrant.
Can I generate a report of the flow test?
Yes. After completing the test, a printable report can be generated from the flow test record.