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Fire hydrant system MCQ: 43 questions on wet risers, pumps and hose reels, every answer cited

This bank holds 43 multiple-choice questions on internal fire hydrant systems, in four sets: systems, tanks and the pump house; pumps, power and pressure; hydrant fittings, hose and hose reels; and testing with fire water supplies. Every answer names the clause of IS 3844:1989 or IS 9668:1990 that decides it.

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By Flamekite Editorial Desk · facts checked against official sources on 2026-10-26

Part 1

Study notes

Overview

This bank holds 43 multiple-choice questions on internal fire hydrant systems, in four sets: systems, tanks and the pump house; pumps, power and pressure; hydrant fittings, hose and hose reels; and testing with fire water supplies. Every answer names the clause of IS 3844:1989 or IS 9668:1990 that decides it.

IS 3844:1989 is the code of practice for installing and maintaining internal hydrants and hose reels. IS 9668:1990 covers the water supplies that feed them. Both were reaffirmed in 2020. Figures such as a 3.5 m tank depth limit, a 2.75 m pump room headroom and a 200 to 300 l/min jockey pump come from them.

The 1989 text has gaps a quiz must respect. The tank and pump table, the main size table and a few pressure and spacing figures could not be read with confidence, so no question asks them. The traps section marks the mix-ups that remain.

Every question and answer rests on a clause of IS 3844:1989 or IS 9668:1990, read on 26 October 2026, and on no other source. The questions are Flamekite's own, not past papers, and no exam notice read for this site lists hydrants as a printed syllabus topic. The codes set minimum practice; a local authority or a design may require more.

Fire hydrant system MCQ bank at a glance: 8 facts

The bank is built from IS 3844:1989 and IS 9668:1990, read on 26 October 2026.
WhatThe ruleSource
Installation codeIS 3844:1989, first revision, reaffirmed 2020: internal hydrants and hose reels on premisesBIS, IS 3844:1989
Water supply codeIS 9668:1990, first revision, reaffirmed 2020: provision and maintenance of fire water suppliesBIS, IS 9668:1990
Systems coveredDry riser, wet riser, wet-riser-cum-down-comer and down-comer (cl. 5.0); this revision generally treats only the wet riser (foreword)BIS, IS 3844:1989
ExtinguishersPortable extinguishers are in IS 2190, not these codes (foreword)BIS, IS 3844:1989
Questions43 in 4 sets, answer positions mixedBIS, IS 3844:1989
Question typeSingle best answer from 4 options, with the clause in the explanationBIS, IS 3844:1989
Not askedTank and pump table, main size table, riser spacing and pressure reducer settings: not confirmedBIS, IS 3844:1989
Where to read the codesA free BIS copy after registration; the explanations paraphrase and cite clause numbersBIS, IS 9668:1990

Fire hydrant system MCQ numbers to memorise from IS 3844

Eight figures that decide many hydrant and wet riser questions, each with its clause in the sets above.

Fire hydrant system MCQ: how Flamekite's exam pages treat the topic

Neither exam notice read for this site prints a hydrant syllabus, so this bank is practice for the job, not a paper prediction.

Telangana Fire Fighter, 2026
Flamekite's page on this exam lists hydrants and hose reels as a study area linked to IS 3844. The notice's own syllabus items are on that page; check them before you plan. TSLPRB notice 189/2026
AAI Junior Assistant (Fire Services)
The notices print no topic-wise syllabus, number of questions or marks per subject, so hydrants cannot be claimed as tested. Flamekite's topic map lists them as a study area only. AAI NR 01/2025
How to use the bank
Treat it as job knowledge for a fire officer or a candidate preparing for an interview, and check a notice's own syllabus first. BIS, IS 3844:1989

Fire hydrant system MCQ: 6 common traps and the clause that settles each

Six mix-ups that cost marks, each answered by one clause.

  • You may have read

    Hydrants and landing valve controls sit at the same height.

    Myth

    What the sources say

    Cl. 5.2.2 gives 0.75 m to 1 m for the hydrant and cl. 5.9 gives 1 to 1.2 m for the landing valve control line. The clauses differ, so answer from the one the question names. BIS, IS 3844:1989

  • You may have read

    The code sets a weekly or monthly hydrant test.

    Myth

    What the sources say

    IS 3844 gives no weekly, monthly or quarterly hydrant interval. Its care clauses cover periodic checks, locked-open valves and a yearly reel run-out. Weekly and monthly intervals in IS 9668 are for static tanks. BIS, IS 3844:1989

  • You may have read

    The main pump stops by itself once pressure is back.

    Myth

    What the sources say

    Cl. 4.2.2 lets the main pump be stopped only by a manual push button. BIS, IS 3844:1989

  • You may have read

    Dry risers are the usual choice in tall Indian buildings.

    Myth

    What the sources say

    Cl. 5.1 limits dry risers to cold regions and Group A buildings of 15 to 24 m; the revision generally covers wet risers. BIS, IS 3844:1989

  • You may have read

    Water supply rules and hydrant rules are one code.

    Myth

    What the sources say

    IS 3844 covers the internal installation. IS 9668 covers the water source: distance, jets, tanks and their upkeep. BIS, IS 9668:1990

  • You may have read

    Every fire inlet has the same number of connections.

    Myth

    What the sources say

    Cl. 5.2.3 and 5.5 give 2 x 63 mm for a 100 mm riser and 4 x 63 mm for a 150 mm riser. BIS, IS 3844:1989

Fire hydrant system MCQ: 10-point revision checklist

Ten items to tick before you attempt the 43 questions again.

  • Systems: dry riser, wet riser, wet-riser-cum-down-comer, down-comer; the revision generally covers wet risers. BIS, IS 3844:1989
  • Tank: 3.5 m deep at most, 1 in 100 fall, gate valves between compartments, two manholes, road for 18 tonnes. BIS, IS 3844:1989
  • Pump house: 6 m clear outside, or first floor or basement with 2 hour wall and 1 hour door. BIS, IS 3844:1989
  • Pump room: 1 m front and back for pumps over 2,280 l/min, 2.75 m headroom, manual stop only. BIS, IS 3844:1989
  • Power: two automatic pumps, one standby, different sources, interlocked; diesel generator or separate sub-station. BIS, IS 3844:1989
  • Pressure: 400 kPa orifice flange limit, air release above the highest outlet, jockey 200 to 300 l/min. BIS, IS 3844:1989
  • Fittings: hydrant 0.75 to 1 m, landing valve 1 to 1.2 m, inlet 2 x 63 mm for 100 mm, letters 75 mm. BIS, IS 3844:1989
  • Hose: 30 m of 63 mm Type A or two 15 m, 10 percent spares, 2 mm steel box with glass front. BIS, IS 3844:1989
  • Reels: 37 mm socket, IS 884 Type A, nozzle 900 mm up, 0.5 l/s at the yearly run-out. BIS, IS 3844:1989
  • Supplies: within 1 km, 600 l/min per jet, 50 percent static, 2.5 m depth, SWT plate, daily level, open tanks cleaned every 6 months. BIS, IS 9668:1990

Fire hydrant system MCQ: where to read the rule behind each answer

Four Flamekite pages teach the topics in these 43 questions.

Fire hydrant system MCQ: what is not confirmed

Four points a reader may expect are not settled in the text read, so no question tests them.

  • If Tank and pump capacity by occupancy and height (Table 1) and main sizes (Table 2)

    The tables could not be read with confidence, so no figure from them is asked or published. BIS, IS 3844:1989

  • If Maximum spacing of risers and the setting of the pressure reducer

    The figures in cl. 5.2.2 and 5.9 were not confirmed, so no question asks them. Read the standard before a design. BIS, IS 3844:1989

  • If Town supply rates beyond the first 50,000 population

    The add-on rate in IS 9668 cl. 4.1.2 is not fully legible, so it is left out. BIS, IS 9668:1990

  • If Any state's own hydrant rules or an amendment to either code

    The BIS listing read shows no amendment and no superseding standard. State and NBC requirements are not tested here. BIS, IS 3844:1989

Part 2

Free practice and mock test

16 free questions from the 43-question bank. Practise one at a time with the answer and its clause shown as you go, or sit a timed mock and see your score, accuracy and weak topics at the end. Your progress stays in this browser only.

Question 1 of 16Systems, tanks and pump house

Which riser system does the 1989 revision of the hydrant code generally deal with?

Pick an option to see the answer and the clause behind it.

Part 3

16 free questions with cited answers

The free sample on one page, for revision: open “Show answer” under any question.

Fire hydrant MCQ: systems, tanks and pump house (10 questions)

Ten questions on the four riser systems, the water tank and where the pump house may stand, from the foreword and clauses 4.1, 4.2.1 and 5.0 to 5.1 of IS 3844:1989. Pick an answer, then open "Show answer".

  1. Q1 Which riser system does the 1989 revision of the hydrant code generally deal with?

    1. Dry riser only
    2. Wet riser
    3. Dry riser and wet riser equally
    4. Down-comer only
    Show answer

    B. Wet riser. IS 3844:1989 foreword: the 1966 edition covered wet and dry risers, and this revision generally covers only the wet riser. BIS, IS 3844:1989

  2. Q2 Where does the code limit the dry riser?

    1. Cold regions, in Group A buildings 15 to 24 m high
    2. Hot regions, in buildings over 24 m
    3. Basements of any depth
    4. Factories of any height
    Show answer

    A. Cold regions, in Group A buildings 15 to 24 m high. IS 3844:1989 cl. 5.1 keeps the dry riser for cold regions and Group A buildings of 15 to 24 m. BIS, IS 3844:1989

  3. Q3 Which of these is NOT one of the four systems named in the code?

    1. Down-comer
    2. Wet riser
    3. Wet-riser-cum-down-comer
    4. Dry down-comer
    Show answer

    D. Dry down-comer. IS 3844:1989 cl. 5.0 names dry riser, wet riser, wet-riser-cum-down-comer and down-comer. There is no dry down-comer. BIS, IS 3844:1989

  4. Q4 What is the greatest depth allowed for an underground fire water tank?

    1. 2.5 m
    2. 3.5 m
    3. 4.5 m
    4. 6 m
    Show answer

    B. 3.5 m. IS 3844:1989 cl. 4.1.1 limits an underground tank to 3.5 m depth. BIS, IS 3844:1989

Wet riser MCQ: pumps, power and pressure (11 questions)

Eleven questions on pump room space, starting and stopping, standby power, relief of pressure and the jockey pump, from clauses 4.2 and 7 of IS 3844:1989.

  1. Q1 For a pump over 2,280 l/min, what clearance is left in front of and behind it?

    1. 0.60 m
    2. 0.75 m
    3. 1 m
    4. 1.5 m
    Show answer

    C. 1 m. IS 3844:1989 cl. 4.2.2 gives 1 m front and back for pumps over 2,280 l/min, and 0.75 m at the sides. BIS, IS 3844:1989

  2. Q2 What headroom does the code ask for in the pump room?

    1. 2 m
    2. 2.4 m
    3. 2.75 m
    4. 3.5 m
    Show answer

    C. 2.75 m. IS 3844:1989 cl. 4.2.2 sets 2.75 m headroom. BIS, IS 3844:1989

  3. Q3 How may the main pump be stopped?

    1. Automatically when pressure recovers
    2. Only by a manual push button
    3. By a timer after 30 minutes
    4. By the jockey pump
    Show answer

    B. Only by a manual push button. IS 3844:1989 cl. 4.2.2 lets the main pump be stopped only by a manual push button, so it cannot trip off during a fire. BIS, IS 3844:1989

  4. Q4 How does the terrace pump start?

    1. Only by hand at the terrace
    2. Automatically when pressure falls, with manual start and stop at the ground floor panel
    3. On a signal from the fire service inlet
    4. Once a day on a timer
    Show answer

    B. Automatically when pressure falls, with manual start and stop at the ground floor panel. IS 3844:1989 cl. 4.2.2.1 starts the terrace pump automatically on a pressure fall and gives manual start and stop at the ground floor panel. BIS, IS 3844:1989

Hydrant questions: fittings, hose and reels (10 questions)

Ten questions on the height of hydrants, the fire service inlet, hose, boxes and hose reels, from clauses 5 and 6 of IS 3844:1989.

  1. Q1 At what height above the floor is a hydrant fixed, under the clause on riser hydrants?

    1. 0.25 m to 0.5 m
    2. 0.75 m to 1 m
    3. 1.5 m to 1.8 m
    4. 2 m
    Show answer

    B. 0.75 m to 1 m. IS 3844:1989 cl. 5.2.2 puts the hydrant 0.75 m to 1 m above the floor. BIS, IS 3844:1989

  2. Q2 What is the control line of a landing valve above the floor, under the clause on landing valves?

    1. 0.5 to 0.75 m
    2. 1 to 1.2 m
    3. 1.5 to 2 m
    4. At floor level
    Show answer

    B. 1 to 1.2 m. IS 3844:1989 cl. 5.9 gives 1 to 1.2 m for the landing valve control line. The two clauses differ, so read the one the question names. BIS, IS 3844:1989

  3. Q3 How many 63 mm inlets does the fire service inlet of a 100 mm riser have?

    1. One
    2. Two
    3. Four
    4. Six
    Show answer

    B. Two. IS 3844:1989 cl. 5.2.3 and 5.5 give 2 x 63 mm for a 100 mm riser and 4 x 63 mm for a 150 mm riser. BIS, IS 3844:1989

  4. Q4 What size of letters marks the fire service inlet box?

    1. 25 mm high
    2. 50 mm high
    3. 75 mm high
    4. 150 mm high
    Show answer

    C. 75 mm high. IS 3844:1989 cl. 5.5 asks for a steel box with letters 75 mm high. BIS, IS 3844:1989

Fire hydrant MCQ: testing and water supplies (12 questions)

Twelve questions: four on testing and care of the installation (IS 3844:1989 cl. 8 and 9) and eight on fire water sources and tanks (IS 9668:1990 cl. 3 to 6).

  1. Q1 During the pressure test, what drop in pressure is the most the code allows?

    1. 10 kPa
    2. 50 kPa
    3. 100 kPa
    4. No drop at all
    Show answer

    B. 50 kPa. IS 3844:1989 cl. 8.1 allows a drop of at most 50 kPa over the test of at least 30 minutes. BIS, IS 3844:1989

  2. Q2 In what position are the isolating valves of the system kept?

    1. Closed and locked
    2. Locked open
    3. Half open
    4. Open, with no lock
    Show answer

    B. Locked open. IS 3844:1989 cl. 9 keeps isolating valves locked open. BIS, IS 3844:1989

  3. Q3 What is done with an outlet found defective?

    1. Left in service
    2. Blanked off until repaired
    3. Painted over
    4. Hidden behind a cabinet
    Show answer

    B. Blanked off until repaired. IS 3844:1989 cl. 9.4 blanks off a defective outlet. BIS, IS 3844:1989

  4. Q4 What flow must a hose reel give when run out at its yearly test?

    1. At least 0.5 l/s
    2. At least 5 l/s
    3. At least 15 l/s
    4. No flow is needed
    Show answer

    A. At least 0.5 l/s. IS 3844:1989 cl. 9.7 asks for at least 0.5 l/s (30 l/min), at the highest reel on each riser at least. BIS, IS 3844:1989

Part 4

Get the full 43-question bank

The free sample is 16 of 43 questions. The full bank holds every question with its cited answer, set out as papers you can print and sit against the clock.

Questions about Fire hydrant system MCQ

How many questions are in this fire hydrant system MCQ bank?

43, in four sets: systems, tanks and pump house (10), pumps, power and pressure (11), fittings, hose and reels (10), and testing with water supplies (12).

Where do the answers come from?

Each answer cites a clause of IS 3844:1989 (internal hydrants and hose reels) or IS 9668:1990 (fire water supplies), both reaffirmed in 2020.

Are these fire hydrant questions and answers from past papers?

No. They are Flamekite's own questions written from the standards. Neither exam notice read for this site prints hydrants as a syllabus topic.

What is a wet riser?

A riser kept permanently charged with water, with a pressure switch that starts the pump (IS 3844:1989 cl. 5.2.1).

How many pumps does a wet riser need?

Two automatic pumps with one standby, on different power sources and interlocked so only one runs (cl. 4.2.5 and 7.3).

How often are hydrants tested under IS 3844?

The code gives no weekly, monthly or quarterly hydrant interval. It asks for periodic checks, locked-open isolating valves and a yearly hose reel run-out.

Does the bank cover extinguishers?

No. Portable extinguishers are in IS 2190; see the fire extinguisher bank.

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Sources

Each source was opened and read on the date shown. How Flamekite checks its sources

  1. Bureau of Indian Standards: IS 3844:1989, Code of Practice for Installation and Maintenance of Internal Fire Hydrants and Hose Reels on Premises (first revision, reaffirmed 2020); free download after registration; clause numbers cited on the page (opens in a new tab)checked 26 October 2026
  2. Bureau of Indian Standards: IS 9668:1990, Provision and Maintenance of Water Supplies for Fire Fighting, Code of Practice (first revision, reaffirmed 2020); free download after registration; clause numbers cited on the page (opens in a new tab)checked 26 October 2026
  3. Telangana State Level Police Recruitment Board (TSLPRB): Notification Rc No. 189/Rect./Rect-2/2026 dated 29 July 2026: SCT PC (Civil, AR, SAR CPL), SCT Constable SPF, Fire Fighter (post code 26) and Warder; vacancies, eligibility, selection scheme, Annexures I to III; page numbers cited are the notice's own (57 pages) (opens in a new tab)checked 26 October 2026
  4. Airports Authority of India: Advertisement 01/2025/NR: Junior Assistant (Fire Services), NE-4 (opens in a new tab)checked 24 October 2026
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