Fire Protection (C-16) · Lesson 3 of 6

Hydrant Count and Spacing: California Fire Code Appendix C

"Hydrant Count and Spacing: California Fire Code Appendix C" is lesson 3 of 6 in the Fire Protection (C-16) Learning Hub. It opens with "When Hydrants Are Required" and works through 5 short steps, then a worked example you can check yourself against.

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Steps in this lesson

  1. When Hydrants Are Required
  2. Read Table C102.1 by Fire Flow
  3. Adjust With the Table Footnotes
  4. Which Hydrants Count
  5. Standpipe Buildings, Clear Space and the Water Supply Test

The worked example in the course applies this lesson to a realistic job in 5 steps, from "Unsprinklered case" through "Check the standpipe rule".

What you'll be able to do

  • Explain the main idea of "Hydrant Count and Spacing: California Fire Code Appendix C" in plain language you can use on the exam.
  • Apply this step with confidence: "Adjust With the Table Footnotes".
  • Apply this step with confidence: "Which Hydrants Count".
  • Apply this step with confidence: "Standpipe Buildings, Clear Space and the Water Supply Test".
  • Test yourself on the worked example and the quick-check quiz inside the classroom.
Hydrant Count and Spacing: CFC Appendix CTABLE C102.1 (EXCERPT)Fire flow (gpm)HydrantsAvg ftMax ft1,750 or less15002503,251-4,00043502105,501-6,00062501507,001 or more8 or more200120Footnote f: spacing +50% if NFPA 13 (903.3.1.1)Footnote g: +25% if 13R or 13D (903.3.1.2, .3)Footnote a: avg spacing -100 ft, dead endFootnote d: max distance -50 ft, dead endFootnote e: 1 hydrant per 1,000 gpm at 7,001+80,000 SQ FT TYPE IIB OFFICEUnsprinklered fire flow 6,000 gpm6 hydrants, 250 ft avg, 150 ft maxNFPA 13 sprinklered flow 1,500 gpm1 hydrant, 500 ft avg, 250 ft maxFootnote f: 250 x 1.5 = 375 ft max507.5.1: building route to hydrant380 ft is not over 400 ft: no on-sitehydrant triggered by 507.5.1Standpipe: hydrant within 100 ft of FDCRow from required fire flow (Appendix B), then adjust by footnotes f, g, a and dHydrant count, average spacing and maximum distance all come from the same rowSprinklered: 1 hydrant, 375 ft max distanceUnsprinklered: 6 hydrants, 150 ft max distanceSource: 2025 CFC Appendix C, Table C102.1; CFC 507.5.1 and 507.5.1.1; fire flow from Appendix BCC
The diagram for this lesson, exactly as it appears in the Learning Hub.

The first steps of this lesson

Step 1: When Hydrants Are Required

CFC Section 507.5 says fire hydrant systems must comply with Sections 507.5.1 through 507.5.6 and Appendix C, or an approved method. Under 507.5.1, where any portion of a new building is more than 400 ft from a hydrant on a fire apparatus access road, measured by an approved route around the exterior of the building, on-site hydrants and mains are provided where the fire code official requires them. For Group R-3 and Group U occupancies equipped throughout with a sprinkler system under 903.3.1.1, 903.3.1.2 or 903.3.1.3, that distance is 600 ft. Appendix C itself is not mandatory unless the jurisdiction adopts it.

Step 2: Read Table C102.1 by Fire Flow

Take the required fire flow from the Appendix B lesson and find its row in Table C102.1. Each row gives the minimum number of hydrants, the average spacing between hydrants in feet, and the maximum distance from any point on the street or road frontage to a hydrant. For example, 1,750 gpm or less needs 1 hydrant at 500 ft average spacing and 250 ft maximum distance. 3,251 to 4,000 gpm needs 4 hydrants at 350 ft and 210 ft. 5,501 to 6,000 gpm needs 6 hydrants at 250 ft and 150 ft. 7,001 gpm or more needs 8 or more hydrants at 200 ft and 120 ft.

The remaining 3 steps, the worked example and the quiz are in the course. This is a preview. The full lesson, with the step-by-step explanations, a worked example and a quick-check quiz, is inside the classroom.

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