How To Connect To A Fire Hydrant

In most US areas, individuals who need temporary water may purchase permits to use hydrants. The permit will generally require a hydrant meter, a gate valve and sometimes a back-flow preventer.

Most fire hydrants have two 2.5 inch hose connection outlets with 7.5 threads per inch (TPI) and one 4.5 inch-pumper connection outlet with 4 threads per inch. National Hose (NH) or National Standard Thread (NST) is often referred to as “fire hose thread” as this is by far the most common thread in use today by fire departments.

Here is a list of major U.S. cities using NH / NST threaded fire hydrants - Click Here

Two Ways To Determine Hydrant Size

Individual should contact their local fire department, water services or public works to determine the specifications.

You may also count threads per inch (TPI) and/or measure the outside diameter of the male (ODM) outlet to help determine thread type.

How To Connect To A Standard 2 1/2" Hydrant With NH / NST Threads

Using 1" Hose

Products Needed:

• One fire hydrant wrench (SKU: 189 or K07)
• One adapter 2 1/2" Female NH / NST to 1" Male NH / NST (SKU: Aluminum N37-25F10F or brass HA2510F)
• 1" Single, double or rubber covered hose with NH / NST threads
• 1" NH / NST nozzle (SKU: NZ021, CFB100NST, or ST1530-PV)

Using 1 1/2" Hose

Products Needed:

• One fire hydrant wrench (SKU: 189 or K07)
• One adapter 2 1/2" Female NH / NST to 1 1/2" Male NH / NST (SKU: Aluminum AHA2515F or brass RHA2515F)
• 1 1/2" Single, double or rubber covered hose with NH / NST threads (Aluminum couplings recommended)
• 1 1/2" NH / NST nozzle (SKU: NZ011, CFB150NST, or S2510-PV)

Using 1 1/2" Camlock Hose

Products Needed:

• One fire hydrant wrench (SKU: 189 or K07)
• One adapter 2 1/2" Female NH / NST to 1 1/2" Male NPT (SKU: Aluminum AHA2515T or brass RHA2515T)
• 1 1/2" Single, double or rubber covered hose with two female NPSH couplings (Aluminum couplings recommended)
• One male NPT to male camlock (SKU: G150-F-AL Aluminum recommended)
• One female NPT to male camlock (SKU: G150-B-AL Aluminum recommended)
• 1 1/2" NPSH nozzle (SKU: NZ012 or CFB150S)

Using 2" Hose

Products Needed:

• One fire hydrant wrench (SKU: 189 or K07)
• One adapter 2 1/2" Female NH / NST to 2" Male NPT (SKU: Aluminum AHA2520T or brass RHA2520T)
• 2" Single, double or rubber covered hose with NPSH threads (Aluminum couplings recommended)
• 2" NPSH nozzle (SKU: CFB200S)

Using 2" Camlock Hose

Products Needed:

• One fire hydrant wrench (SKU: 189 or K07)
• One adapter 2 1/2" Female NH / NST to 2" Male NPT (SKU: Aluminum AHA2520T or brass RHA2520T)
• 2" Single, double or rubber covered hose with two female NPSH couplings (Aluminum couplings recommended)
• One male NPT to male camlock (SKU: G200-F-AL Aluminum recommended)
• One female NPT to male camlock (SKU: G200-B-AL Aluminum recommended)
• 2" NPSH nozzle (SKU: CFB200S)

Using 2" Camlock Hose

Products Needed:

• One fire hydrant wrench (SKU: 189 or K07)
• One adapter 2 1/2" Female NH / NST to 2" Male NPT (SKU: Aluminum AHA2520T or brass RHA2520T)
• One female NPT to male camlock (SKU: G200-A-AL Aluminum recommended)
• One male NPT to female camlock (SKU: G200-B-AL Aluminum recommended)
• 2" Single, double or rubber covered hose with two female NPSH couplings (Aluminum couplings recommended)
• One male NPT to male camlock (SKU: G200-F-AL Aluminum recommended)

Using 2 1/2" Hose

Products Needed:

• One fire hydrant wrench (SKU: 189 or K07)
• 2 1/2" Single, double or rubber covered hose with NH / NST threads (Aluminum couplings recommended)
• 2 1/2" NH / NST nozzle (SKU: HGCFB250NST, BN25F or S2510-PV)

Using A 2 1/2" Hydrant Ball Valve With A 2 1/2" Hose

Products Needed:

• One fire hydrant wrench (SKU: 189 or K07)
• Hydrant ball valve with 2 1/2" NH / NST female inlet by 2 1/2" NH / NST male oulet (SKU: HBV25)
• 2 1/2" Single, double or rubber covered hose with NH / NST threads (Aluminum couplings recommended)
• 2 1/2" NH / NST nozzle (SKU: HGCFB250NST, BN25F or S2510-PV2.5)