A new residential complex in Tbilisi or Batumi is not handed over until its external fire-water network passes inspection. Fire hydrants are the visible part of that network, and getting the specification right early saves redesign, delays and failed inspections. This guide is written for developers, general contractors and MEP engineers who need to choose, order and install hydrants for multi-block residential and mixed-use projects.
Above-ground or underground?
| Above-ground (pillar) hydrant | Underground hydrant |
|---|---|
| Standard | EN 14384 |
| Visibility | Easy to find, fast connection |
| Damage risk | Can be hit by vehicles; needs bollards |
| Frost | Self-draining models needed |
| Best for | Courtyards, parking edges, industrial sites |
| Extra items | Bollards, hydrant key |
In dense new districts, underground hydrants are usually preferred along roads and pavements, and above-ground hydrants are used where access and visibility matter more.
Key specification points
- Nominal size: DN 80 or DN 100 is typical for residential networks.
- Pressure rating: PN 10 or PN 16, matching the network design pressure.
- Body material: ductile iron GGG40/GGG50 with epoxy coating inside and out.
- Drainage: an automatic drain so water in the riser cannot freeze.
- Isolation: a gate valve on every hydrant branch, so a damaged hydrant can be isolated without shutting down the ring main.
- Surface box: for underground hydrants, a ductile-iron box (around Ø330 mm, ~23 kg) set flush with the finished surface.
- Accessories: standpipes, hydrant keys and marker plates for the fire service and the facility manager.
Installation checklist
- Install the hydrant on a concrete support block with a gravel drainage pit around the drain outlet.
- Fit the isolating gate valve and thrust blocks on the branch tee.
- Set the surface box flush with the final asphalt or paving level — not with the base course.
- Flush the line before commissioning, then test pressure and flow with the fire service if required.
- Mark each hydrant with a sign showing type, diameter and distance.
Maintenance after handover
Hand the building manager a simple routine: inspect twice a year, operate the valve, check the drain works, clear debris from surface boxes, and repaint above-ground hydrants. Most hydrant failures come from blocked drains and buried or paved-over surface boxes, not from the hydrant itself.
What to write in the BOQ
*"Underground fire hydrant DN 100, PN 16, to EN 14339, ductile iron GGG50 epoxy-coated, with automatic frost drain, on concrete support block with gravel drainage pit; isolating gate valve DN 100 on branch; ductile-iron hydrant surface box Ø330 set flush with finished surface; marker plate; standpipe and hydrant key supplied per [x] hydrants."* For above-ground hydrants, cite EN 14384 and add protective bollards.
Quick selector
- Residential block courtyard, ring main DN 150 → DN 100 above-ground hydrant + gate valve + bollards.
- District street, pavement location → DN 80/100 underground hydrant + surface box + marker plate.
- Municipal network upgrade → underground hydrant sets supplied as complete kits with all components.
GON project experience
GON supplied underground fire hydrants with all components and accessories for the Bolnisi fire-hydrant network, and hydrants, valves and PE100 pipe for the Banoja village water supply. We stock DN 80–100 hydrants (PN 10/16, 52–56 kg, GGG40/GGG50) and Ø330 mm hydrant surface boxes.
Related products: Above-ground hydrants · Underground hydrants · Hydrant surface boxes · Gate valves
Further reading: Gate or butterfly valve on distribution mains?
How far apart should hydrants be?
Spacing is set by the approved fire-safety design for the project. Your MEP designer should confirm it with the current Georgian fire-safety regulations.
Can one supplier deliver the whole hydrant set?
Yes. GON supplies the hydrant, surface box, gate valve, fittings and pipe together, so you can use one supplier for the full kit.
Do we need a separate fire-water main?
That depends on the design. Many residential projects combine domestic and fire supply in a looped main, sized for fire flow.
Get a project quote
Send your fire-water layout or BOQ to sales@gon.ge or call +995 595 818 800. GON delivers complete hydrant sets to sites in Tbilisi, Batumi and across Georgia.
GON supplies drainage, water, gas and road-infrastructure products to contractors, utilities and IFI-funded programmes across Georgia.