What is a siamese connection and how does it work?

What is a siamese connection and how does it work?

Inspired by the Y-shaped Siamese twins, a Siamese connection is a Y shaped fire department connection with two female inlets through which firefighters can attach two hoses and refill standpipes or sprinkler systems with water. The siamese connection is alternatively called FDC (Fire Department Connection).

What is the difference between a Siamese and gated wye?

Gated wye: one female inlet to two or more male outlet. Siamese: two or more male inlet to one female outlet.

What are fire department connections used for?

When a sprinkler system activates, the fire department connects hose lines from a pumper truck to the fire department connection. This connection allows the fire department to supplement the fire protection system in the event of a fire.

What is a Siamese appliance?

Siamese appliances consist of two or more hoselines brought into one hose line, typical siamese appliance has two or three female connections coming into the appliance and one male discharge. May be equipped with or without a clapper valve. Commonly used to overcome the problems caused by friction loss in hose lays.

Where is siamese connection located?

Siamese connections are most commonly located on the side of buildings, but may also be located remote from the building. These are know as “freestanding” or “sidewalk” FDCs.

Where are FDC required?

A Fire Department Connection (FDC) is “A connection through which the fire department can pump supplemental water into the sprinkler system, standpipe, or other system, furnishing water for fire extinguishment to supplement existing water supplies.” FDCs are required on all standpipe systems per NFPA 14, Standard for Jan 8, 2016

What is the difference between a wye and a Siamese?

A 3 inch going to two 1 3/4..a Siamese is 2 smaller diameter hoses going into 1 larger one. Two into one siamese, one into two wye. A wye takes a larger hose line and breaks it down into smaller hose lines And the Siamese takes two or more smaller hose lines and turns it into a larger diameter hose.

What is the purpose of a standpipe?

Standpipe Systems consist of piping, valves, outlets, and related equipment designed to provide water at specified pressures and installed exclusively for the fire department or trained occupant use for the fighting of fires.

What are two types of hydrant connections?

For most intents and purposes, there are two types, wet and dry barrel hydrants, in addition to standpipes. These have a different structure and mechanism depending on the surrounding conditions.

Why is it called a siamese connection?

A siamese connection or splitter in fire protection engineering is a pipe fitting that allows two or more fire hoses to be connected to a single standpipe riser at the same general location. It is so-called due to the visual similarity to siamese twins.