Fire Hydrant Sign

Fire Hydrant Sign – FS0023

This IMO fire control sign identifies the location of a fire hydrant, shown in the pictogram as a red and green hydrant valve marked with a “W” for water. The fire hydrant sign marks a fixed connection point to the ship’s fire main where a hose can be coupled directly, providing a high-volume, high-pressure water supply independent of any reel or cabinet-stored equipment.

Where this fire hydrant sign is used

Fire hydrants are positioned at fixed points on open decks, in cargo holds and pump rooms, and at key locations in machinery spaces, spaced so that any point on the vessel can be reached by a hose run from at least one hydrant. This fire hydrant sign is fixed directly above or beside each hydrant valve, letting crew and shore fire parties locate a water connection point quickly, which matters especially when external assistance boards during a serious incident.

Because a hydrant must remain accessible for a hose coupling to be attached quickly under pressure, the deck or bulkhead space around it needs to stay clear of mooring equipment, containers, or stores that could block access. This fire hydrant sign helps confirm the hydrant has not been obstructed since its last inspection, which matters most on cargo decks where deck cargo and lashing equipment can accumulate around fixed fittings.

During weekly and monthly fire equipment inspections, crew confirm that the hydrant valve opens and closes smoothly, that its coupling threads are undamaged and match the vessel’s standard hose coupling, that there is no leakage past the valve seat, and that this sign remains legible at the location. A hydrant found seized, leaking, or fitted with a non-standard coupling should be reported and corrected immediately, since hydrants are often the connection point used by shore-side fire brigades responding to a vessel alongside.

This sign is checked during SOLAS fire safety surveys, where the surveyor confirms that hydrants are correctly spaced to give full coverage of the vessel with the hose lengths carried, fitted with standard couplings, correctly signed, and demonstrably able to deliver the required pressure and flow. A vessel with well-maintained, clearly signed hydrants shows that its fire main can be brought to bear at any point on board, not just where hose reels happen to be fitted.

New crew are shown this sign during fire safety inductions, since connecting a hose to a hydrant under pressure requires understanding coupling technique and bracing against the reaction force once the valve is opened, skills that differ slightly from operating a pre-connected hose reel. This sign is commonly ordered alongside other core fire-fighting equipment signage, such as the fire hose reel sign used for hoses that stay permanently connected to the fire main.

Because international hose coupling standards can differ between fleets and ports, many vessels also carry an international shore connection to adapt a hydrant to a shore-side coupling, and this fire hydrant sign helps crew and visiting fire crews quickly find the fixed connection points that adaptor will need to be fitted to.

Hydrant valves are periodically opened under flow to confirm delivery pressure and to flush any sediment from the fire main, a check that should be logged alongside the vessel’s other active fire-fighting equipment records. A hydrant that delivers poor pressure or fails to shut off fully is one of the more serious findings during external fire safety audits, so this fire hydrant sign is also a useful prompt for crew to confirm the flow test schedule for each hydrant is current.

Technical specifications:
SKU: FS0023
IMPA: 33.6815
ISSA: 47.568.15
Compliant: IMO Resolution A.1116(30)

• Fire-retardant marine-grade material
• Available in non-glow vinyl, general purpose glow, or DNV Wheelmark certified Class C / Class D photoluminescent film
• Waterproof and saltwater resistant
• Glossy wipe-clean finish
• Peel-and-stick installation, no tools or drilling

Supplied ready to apply directly to a clean, dry surface at the hydrant location. Available in the standard sizes shown above to suit different compartment layouts.

This sign is produced to IMO fire control symbol specifications for consistent recognition across international fleets. Need a different size? Contact us for a quote.