Hydrants should never be taken below what PSI?

The correct standard for hydrants indicates that they should never be taken below 20 psi. This threshold is important because maintaining a minimum pressure is essential for ensuring that sufficient water flow is available during fire emergencies. When hydrants operate below 20 psi, it can lead to inadequate water supply, which jeopardizes firefighting efforts and can compromise safety during operations.

In practice, pressures lower than this can result in insufficient flow rates, making it difficult for firefighters to effectively combat fires. Water supply systems are designed with this baseline to ensure operational reliability, and various fire codes and standards typically recommend maintaining this minimum pressure during use.

This emphasis on a minimum pressure helps to safeguard against scenarios where the pressure might drop more significantly during high-demand situations, allowing for adequate response times and effective firefighting capability.