Chicago Fire Department Connection

Fire Department Connections and Dry Hydrants

The Fire Department Connection (FDC), also known as the Siamese Connection, is an important component found on most sprinkler and standpipe systems. When a sprinkler system activates, the fire department connects hose lines from a pumper truck to the fire department connection.

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The Fire Department Connection (FDC), also known as the Siamese Connection, is an important component found on most sprinkler and standpipe systems. When a sprinkler system activates, the fire department connects hose lines from a pumper truck to the fire department connection.

FDCs are required on nearly all sprinkler systems installed to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, 2007 and 2010 editions, and NFPA 13R, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in Residential Occupancies Up to and Including Four Stories in Height, 2007 and 2010 editions.

The FDC is intended to provide sprinkler systems with a means to receive supplemental water support from fire department pumping apparatus. In cases where buildings have been shut down or abandoned, we often find the utility water service removed even though such removal is generally prohibited in the model fire codes.

Events such as floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and similar events can interrupt utility-provided water either because of loss of power to pumping stations or damage to the water supply infrastructure piping. If these events were to interrupt the automatic water supply to a sprinkler system, then the only possibility of providing water to the sprinkler would be through the FDC. Fire departments are generally able to provide water supplies through tankers, shuttles, and drafting during such events long before the utility system is restored.

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