Water Regulations
Properties and developments must provide an adequate and reliable water supply for firefighting operations.
Water requirements depend on:
- Type and size of development
- Building use and occupancy
- Construction type
- Required fire flow
- Fire sprinkler protection
- Available water infrastructure
- Distance from an approved water supply
- Applicable adopted codes and standards
Projects in areas without a distributed water system may be required to provide an approved alternative water supply.
Black Forest Fire Rescue Protection District works directly with Colorado Springs Fire Department for all commercial building plans review and inspections. Visit Colorado Springs Fire Department Website for more information
This will give initial guidance for what will be required.
Black Forest will also follow NFPA 1142 (2015) Water supply for Rural Firefighting which will give guidance if building in an area with no distributed water supply.
Enhanced Rural Fire Water Regulations
This video provides an overview of new Enhanced Rural Fire Water Regulation for adoption by fire authorities. The regulation focuses on standardizing the availability of water for rural communities. It covers water supplies, such as cisterns, for individual properties, subdivisions, and commercial properties. It correlates with NFPA 1142 and IFC for general concepts. In addition to water for structural protection, the regulation provides water for wildland firefighting. The regulation can be adapted for different states / jurisdictions.
Cisterns and Dry Hydrants
A cistern or other approved firefighting water supply may be required when a property or development is not served by an adequate distributed water system.
BFFR provides requirements for fire department connections, piping, dry hydrants, access, and operational testing. BFFR does not design or construct private cistern systems.
Property owners and developers are responsible for:
- Hiring qualified professionals to design and install the system
- Providing the required water-storage capacity
- Installing the required piping and fire department connection
- Protecting the system from freezing and damage
- Keeping the system filled and operational
- Maintaining the cistern and related equipment
- Providing clear access for fire apparatus
- Coordinating an operational test with BFFR
Cisterns on private property remain the responsibility of the property owner or owners.
Black Forest Fire Rescue has developed this guide to help you with planning your development project. It provides you with the requirements that must be met for your project to comply with the BFFRPD standards. This guide includes essential information about water and cisterns that must be incorporated into your plan to ensure the safety of your property and the surrounding community.
Cistern and Dry-Hydrant Specifications .pdf
Please Note:
Black Forest Fire Rescue does not provide advice or assistance regarding the actual construction of cisterns. Our role is primarily focused on ensuring that developers are aware of the correct pipe connection specifications.
Typically, developers choose to purchase pre-made cisterns and engage excavators to dig the hole. Licensed plumbers are then responsible for installing the necessary piping. Once these steps are completed, the hole is backfilled before our team arrives to conduct an operational check.
It is essential to understand that cisterns are owned and maintained by the property owner(s) themselves. As a helpful tip, we advise property owners to ensure that their cistern systems are designed to retain water indefinitely and maintain a vacuum seal over time. This is crucial for the effective operation of the cistern and its readiness for any potential firefighting needs.
