If you own or manage a building with private fire hydrants, those hydrants are your responsibility. Not the city’s. And the only way to know they’ll deliver enough water pressure when it counts is a documented fire hydrant flow test. Without one, you don’t have proof. And that’s a problem when the fire marshal or your insurance carrier comes asking.
Kauffman Co. provides fire hydrant testing, inspection, and underground fire main services for commercial properties across the Greater Houston area. We run the test and put the results in your hands. One contractor. One invoice.
Call (713) 937-4144 or contact us online to schedule service.
A fire hydrant flow test measures static pressure, residual pressure, and flow rate to confirm your water supply can support your fire protection system at the required GPM. NFPA 25 requires annual flow testing for private hydrants, and your fire marshal expects documented results.
We perform the test, record the data, and provide you a complete report. If the numbers come back low, we’ll tell you what’s going on and what needs to happen next.
Learn more: Fire Hydrant Services
Flow testing covers the pressure side. A fire hydrant inspection covers everything else: the hydrant body, caps, outlets, drainage, and whether it’s even accessible. We’ve seen hydrants buried behind dumpsters and blocked by overgrown landscaping. Some have been painted over so many times that the caps won’t budge. None of that helps when the fire department arrives.
Private hydrants are the property owner’s responsibility, not the city’s. That catches some building owners off guard. Kauffman Co. conducts annual fire hydrant inspections and keeps your records up to date. You’ll be prepared when the fire marshal comes through.
Your underground fire main is the private piping that connects the city water supply to your building’s fire protection system. It feeds your sprinkler system, standpipes, and hydrants. If that main has a corroded section, a bad valve, or a leak you can’t see, everything connected to it is compromised.
Kauffman Co. provides underground fire main installation, repair, flow testing, and inspection in accordance with NFPA 24 standards.
Learn more: Underground Fire Mains
Choose dependable fire protection services from Kauffman
A fire hydrant flow test tells you one thing: Can this hydrant deliver enough water to support your fire protection system? The test measures static pressure (the baseline with no water moving) against residual pressure (what’s left once water is flowing). The difference between those two numbers is what matters. It shows whether your water supply has the capacity to keep up during a real demand.
A hydrant can look fine from the outside and still fall short on pressure. Maybe the main feeding it is undersized. Maybe a valve upstream got left partially closed. A flow test puts a number on it so you’re not left wondering.
NFPA 25 requires annual flow testing of private fire hydrants by a licensed contractor. Here’s what the full maintenance schedule looks like:
FREQUENCY |
WHAT’S REQUIRED |
|---|---|
| Annually | Full flow test by a licensed contractor with documented results |
| Annually | Visual inspection: hydrant body, caps, outlets, drainage, accessibility |
| After any repair | Re-test to confirm restored performance |
Kauffman Co. tracks our clients’ testing schedules and delivers complete records after every visit. When your insurer or fire marshal asks, you’ll have what they need.
The complaint we hear most from new clients? Their last contractor ran the test, filed the report, and then became impossible to reach. That’s not how we work.
Every hydrant flow test and inspection is performed by a licensed inspector or technician.
Flow test results, inspection reports, and deficiency records – formatted and ready to hand over. No chasing down paperwork at the last minute.
Need fire hydrant testing and a sprinkler inspection on the same trip? We cover both. You’re not juggling three vendors for three different systems.
Fill out a form on our site and expect a callback within 24 hours. For emergencies, we’re available around the clock at (713) 937-4144.
Need more than fire hydrant service? Kauffman Co. is your single point of contact for complete fire protection: fire alarms, sprinkler systems, fire suppression, fire pumps, fire extinguishers, and more.
From the first flow test through every annual inspection down the road, Kauffman Co. is your single point of contact for fire hydrant and underground fire main service. We’re a licensed, family-owned fire protection contractor serving the Greater Houston area since 2006. 50+ years of combined experience across our team.
We serve Houston and the surrounding communities, including Galveston, Baytown, Beaumont, Conroe, Friendswood, Deer Park, Dickinson, Alvin, Angleton, Clute, Freeport, Galena Park, Humble, and Bellaire.
Walk-ins welcome Mon-Fri, 8 AM-5 PM at 13225 FM Road, Suite A, Houston, TX 77041.
Prefer to schedule online? Request service here.
A fire hydrant flow test measures how much water pressure and flow a hydrant can deliver. The results tell you whether your building’s fire protection system has enough supply to do its job. NFPA 25 requires annual flow testing for private fire hydrants.
Private fire hydrants require annual inspection and flow testing under NFPA 25. Visual inspections cover the hydrant body, outlets, caps, and drainage. Kauffman Co. tracks scheduling and delivers records after every service visit.
It’s the private piping connecting your building’s fire protection system to the city water supply. Your sprinklers, standpipes, and fire hydrants all feed from it. NFPA 24 covers the installation, inspection, and testing requirements.
The property owner. Public hydrants are maintained by the city or water district. Private fire hydrants on commercial or residential property are the owner’s responsibility. That includes annual flow testing, visual inspection, and maintenance.
