(a) SPECIFICATIONS AND PERMITS: Plans showing the location, size and connections of the yard system shall be submitted to the Bureau of Fire Prevention and Investigation for approval. The plans shall be to scale and include the details necessary to indicate clearly all apparatus and its arrangements. The plans shall be accompanied by specifications covering the character of the material and features relating to the installation in detail.
(b) HYDRANT SYSTEM: Whenever the ground area of the premises of an industrial plant, tank farm, storage area, shopping center, apartment building or other occupancy involving the use of large ground area exceeds 15,000 square feet and such premises are so located or arranged that efficient fire fighting cannot be carried on from existing public hydrants, yard hydrants shall be provided. Yard hydrants shall be required if the distance from any portion of a building to a public hydrant is more than 300 feet in the direction of travel as determined by the Bureau of Fire Prevention.
(c) NUMBER AND LOCATION REQUIRED: When yard hydrants are required, such hydrants shall be located not more than 10 feet from a driveway or parking area and spaced not more than 300 feet apart. For average conditions, hydrants should be placed approximately 50 feet from the buildings or structures to be protected. Where it is impractical to place them at this distance, they may be placed in other locations provided they are not more than 150 feet from the buildings or structures to be protected and provided they are not located where the chance of injury by falling walls, smoke or heat is great.
(d) TYPES OF HYDRANTS AND FITTINGS: All hydrants shall be a minimum of 8 inches in size, with triple connections, and shall have an approved underground shut-off valve located not more than 10 feet from the hydrant.
When deemed necessary by the Bureau of Fire Prevention and Investigation, or when required by this Fire Prevention Code, suitable siamese connections and check-valves shall be installed in the yard system main at the junction with the public main. Not less than 8-inch diameter pipe shall be installed underground in yard systems for mains or branches. In large installations, a loop system may be required in view of its larger carrying capacity. The size of the pipe supplying the yard system shall be approved by the Bureau of Fire Prevention and Investigation, with due consideration being given to the construction and occupancy of the yard system and to the volume and pressure of available water. Yard hydrants and post indicator valves shall be maintained and painted as required by the Bureau of Fire Prevention and Investigation.
(e) HOSE HOUSES: When deemed necessary by the Bureau of Fire Prevention and Investigation, or when required by this Fire Prevention Code, an adequate supply of 2-1/2 inch approved rubber lined hose, arranged or packed within a hose house ready for use at any time, shall be installed and maintained. Such hose shall be fitted with a suitable adjustable nozzle with a shut-off. Hose houses shall be painted with the words "Fire Hose" in letters 6 inches high on the door.
(f) WATER SUPPLY: Where adequate pressure and capacity exist, yard hydrants shall be connected to the public water supply. Where the public water supply is deemed inadequate by the Bureau of Fire Prevention and Investigation, such yard hydrants shall be supplied from a gravity tank of not less than 60,000 gallons capacity, elevated so that the bottom of the tank is at least 75 feet above the highest grade level within the area protected, or at least 25 feet above the highest structure in the area, or from a fire pump or pumps with a capacity of not less than 1,000 gallons per minute drawing from a storage tank of not less than 60,000 gallons capacity, or from some other approved source which will provide an adequate supply of water for fire-fighting purposes.
If the water supply is taken from a well, stream, lake or other source, no cross-connection between a public water main and the water drawn from other sources shall be permitted.
(g) FLUSHING AND TESTING: All new yard piping shall be flushed thoroughly to remove foreign materials which may have entered the underground piping during the course of installation, and shall be tested hydrostatically at not less than 200 pounds static pressure for 2 hours. Such flushing and testing shall be conducted with a member of the Bureau of Fire Prevention and Investigation present.
(h) SHUT-OFF VALVES: All mains or branches shall have cut-off valves every 800 feet or where, in the opinion of the Bu