Almost spot on, Speedway. This is in fact a primitive, Victorian charged dry riser (or wet riser, depending on whether you’re talking to a fireman or a building inspector – a dry riser is kept empty and a charged dry riser [wet riser] is kept full and pressurised, usually in high-rise buildings or over long lengths). Your typical beefy hunk of a fireman can just about manage to keep control of a forty-five yard hose when it’s pumping at full pressure, so forty-five yards is what we call maximum safe hose length (the actual hose is longer but it takes bends into account). What happens in the event of a fire is the tender arrives at the building and – while a secondary team run to the nearest fire hydrant (a maximum of ninety yards from any building’s riser inlet - or two linked hose lengths), the primary team connect one end of a hose to the tender’s water tank and the other end to a dry riser inlet valve on the outside of the building (you’ll see them in red boxes with a glass panel over here in England). This leads, via pipes inside the building, to outlets like the one in the photo. There have to be sufficient outlets to allow access to within forty-five yards of any part of the building so a fireman can run in and connect a rolled hose to the outlet and fight the fire at its source. Before the tender’s tank is pumped dry the secondary team should have connected the hydrant to the tender’s inlet valve to take over from the tender’s supply. Spiffy, huh? Next time you’re taking photos of those gorgeous, chromed tenders at your local firehouse (and those gorgeous hunky firemen) I’d be curious to know what the differences are over on your side of the Pond. Do they use different terminology? It’ll be a good excuse to chat up a fireman. Hee hee. One of the most frequently asked questions we get hassled with from cheapskate clients (and I got asked it again this very morning) is “Do we really need all those risers?” “Yes, you asshats, you really do! … and while you’re at it, vote more money for your local fire department.”
Darn tootin' Pea! We're down on gang members at the moment as Tony and Terri are in London, but Phil and I will be in the comfy chairs (with the Guardian Sports and Book Review sections respectively) in the Pret opposite Top Shop on Gentleman's Walk. Get there around nine and breakfast is on me (or hopefully on a plate, but you never know).
Thank you for the explanation, Dive. I think I will go around to the fire house one day soon, dragging this picture and you comment with me. I think the words I was looking for are "stand pipe."
Like Katherine, I thought about robots, too, at first. They do remind me a bit of early Star Wars. And maybe T.R. is on to something -- robots that serve communion. Especially helpful in large parishes...
Speedway, over here a standpipe is a temporary water supply for residents while the main is shut down for repair; it doesn't (mercifully if you're trying to fill a kettle) come out at full pressure. I can't wait to hear about your next encounter with the firemen.
Todd, the very thought of communion wine gushing out at firehose pressure is going to keep me chortling for ages.
Ms.M. Thank you so much for the bizarre image of C3PO serving communion wine. It ties in nicely with the next post.
Oh, and do I have risers, possibly both "wet" and "dry," for you. Damn system was so big I couldn't get them in one shot, I found them, two systems in one building, at the Fair.
14 comments:
"Danger, Will Robinson! Danger!"
(Do you know what I am alluding to? Probably very tacky-American of me to associate your art with a 1960's space robot.)
Woah! AWESOME lookalike spotting there, Katherine. That one will keep me grinning all day. Boy, I loved that cheesy programme.
Fire hydrant? I say that because it appears to have threaded spigots(?) to attach hoses. And would it extinguish the fiery flames of hell?
Almost spot on, Speedway. This is in fact a primitive, Victorian charged dry riser (or wet riser, depending on whether you’re talking to a fireman or a building inspector – a dry riser is kept empty and a charged dry riser [wet riser] is kept full and pressurised, usually in high-rise buildings or over long lengths).
Your typical beefy hunk of a fireman can just about manage to keep control of a forty-five yard hose when it’s pumping at full pressure, so forty-five yards is what we call maximum safe hose length (the actual hose is longer but it takes bends into account). What happens in the event of a fire is the tender arrives at the building and – while a secondary team run to the nearest fire hydrant (a maximum of ninety yards from any building’s riser inlet - or two linked hose lengths), the primary team connect one end of a hose to the tender’s water tank and the other end to a dry riser inlet valve on the outside of the building (you’ll see them in red boxes with a glass panel over here in England). This leads, via pipes inside the building, to outlets like the one in the photo. There have to be sufficient outlets to allow access to within forty-five yards of any part of the building so a fireman can run in and connect a rolled hose to the outlet and fight the fire at its source. Before the tender’s tank is pumped dry the secondary team should have connected the hydrant to the tender’s inlet valve to take over from the tender’s supply. Spiffy, huh? Next time you’re taking photos of those gorgeous, chromed tenders at your local firehouse (and those gorgeous hunky firemen) I’d be curious to know what the differences are over on your side of the Pond. Do they use different terminology? It’ll be a good excuse to chat up a fireman. Hee hee.
One of the most frequently asked questions we get hassled with from cheapskate clients (and I got asked it again this very morning) is “Do we really need all those risers?” “Yes, you asshats, you really do! … and while you’re at it, vote more money for your local fire department.”
I love your caption, and i enjoyed the building regs lecture too :)
Do you still do your Sat morning trips into the city? I'll be across your way this weekend and if you're free that might be a nice way to meet up?
Darn tootin' Pea! We're down on gang members at the moment as Tony and Terri are in London, but Phil and I will be in the comfy chairs (with the Guardian Sports and Book Review sections respectively) in the Pret opposite Top Shop on Gentleman's Walk. Get there around nine and breakfast is on me (or hopefully on a plate, but you never know).
Thank you for the explanation, Dive. I think I will go around to the fire house one day soon, dragging this picture and you comment with me. I think the words I was looking for are "stand pipe."
And here I thought this was how the communion wine got delivered.
Dang, wrong again.
Very interesting! Thanks for the explanation.
Like Katherine, I thought about robots, too, at first. They do remind me a bit of early Star Wars.
And maybe T.R. is on to something -- robots that serve communion. Especially helpful in large parishes...
Speedway, over here a standpipe is a temporary water supply for residents while the main is shut down for repair; it doesn't (mercifully if you're trying to fill a kettle) come out at full pressure.
I can't wait to hear about your next encounter with the firemen.
Todd, the very thought of communion wine gushing out at firehose pressure is going to keep me chortling for ages.
Ms.M. Thank you so much for the bizarre image of C3PO serving communion wine. It ties in nicely with the next post.
Oh, and do I have risers, possibly both "wet" and "dry," for you. Damn system was so big I couldn't get them in one shot, I found them, two systems in one building, at the Fair.
Now there's an offer a man doesn't hear every day …
Yeah? Well, I'll just come dragging the plumbing with me, dressed in nipple pink taffeta and lace. And wearing disgusting blue eye shadow.
Hahahahahaha!
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