NFPA 291-2022 PDF

Full title and description

NFPA 291, Recommended Practice for Water Flow Testing and Marking of Hydrants — 2022 edition. Provides recommended procedures for conducting hydrant flow tests, classifying hydrant capacities, and color‑coding/marking hydrants to indicate available fire service water supply and identify deficiencies for corrective action.

Abstract

This recommended practice establishes field methods and classification systems for measuring available water flow at hydrants and for marking hydrants to communicate their capacity to fire departments, designers, and authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs). The 2022 edition updated definitions, equipment lists, gauge and discharge-device guidance, and added a new single‑hydrant evaluation test method.

General information

• Status: Published standard / recommended practice (2022 edition); later revised by a 2025 edition (see FAQ).
• Publication date: January 2022.
• Publisher: National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
• ICS / categories: Protection against fire — Fire‑fighting (ICS 13.220.10).
• Edition / version: 2022 edition (document number NFPA 291).
• Number of pages: Generally listed as 24–28 pages in print/PDF listings (many sellers list 28 pages for the 2022 softcover); format-dependent.

Scope

Applies to both public and private fire hydrants. Covers procedures for conducting flow tests to determine available fire service water supply at specific locations, methods for classifying hydrant capacities, guidance on marking/color‑coding hydrants to indicate capacity, and recommendations to identify and document system deficiencies that could affect firefighting operations. The document is a recommended practice intended to be used by fire protection engineers, AHJs, municipal water suppliers, and contractors.

Key topics and requirements

• Definitions and classification of hydrant types and classes.
• Required equipment and field procedures for flow testing (including pitot measurements and pressure gauges).
• Methods for measuring static and residual pressures and calculating flow rates.
• New (2022) single‑hydrant evaluation test method and updated test procedures and annex guidance.
• Color‑coding and marking conventions to indicate hydrant capacity for quick field recognition.
• Recording, reporting, and mapping hydrant test results to support planning and corrective actions.

Typical use and users

Used by fire protection engineers, municipal and private water utility personnel, fire marshals, authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs), contractors performing hydrant testing/installation, facilities managers, and insurance or risk‑assessment professionals. Typical uses include routine hydrant flow surveys, pre‑incident planning, system acceptance testing, code compliance reviews, and prioritization of hydrant maintenance or water‑system upgrades.

Related standards

Commonly referenced with other NFPA and industry documents addressing water supplies and hydrant equipment (for example NFPA standards on water‑based fire protection and related installation/maintenance guides) and with AWWA standards for hydrant manufacture, installation, and field testing practices. Jurisdictions may adopt or reference NFPA 291 alongside local codes and water‑utility standards.

Keywords

hydrant, flow testing, fire flow, pitot, residual pressure, water flow testing, hydrant marking, color coding, AHJ, fire protection engineering, NFPA 291, water supply

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: NFPA 291 is a recommended practice titled "Recommended Practice for Water Flow Testing and Marking of Hydrants" that provides procedures for flow testing hydrants and for marking/classifying hydrant capacities to inform firefighting operations.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers field test methods (pressure and flow measurements), equipment and gauge recommendations, calculation procedures, classification of hydrant capacity, color‑coding/marking schemes, data recording/reporting, and guidance to identify distribution system deficiencies. The 2022 edition added definitions, expanded equipment lists, clarified gauges/discharge devices, and introduced a single‑hydrant evaluation test method.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Fire protection engineers, fire departments, water utility staff, contractors who install or test hydrants, fire marshals/AHJs, facilities managers, and insurance or risk professionals responsible for community and facility fire‑water supply planning and maintenance.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The 2022 edition was published in January 2022. NFPA has a subsequent 2025 edition (NFPA 291‑2025) listed as the newer revision in standards catalogs and in some jurisdictional adoptions; jurisdictions and users should confirm which edition their authority having jurisdiction has adopted.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: NFPA 291 is part of NFPA’s family of fire protection and water‑supply guidance documents and is routinely used together with other NFPA standards and AWWA (American Water Works Association) manuals addressing hydrants, water mains, and fire‑water supply practices.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Hydrant flow testing, hydrant marking, fire flow testing, pitot tube, residual pressure, hydrant classification, color coding, water supply for firefighting, AHJ, NFPA 291.