the "I learned something new today" thread

[OGC]

I learned this today...

Why are fire hydrants painted different colors?

Currently, there is no law regulating the color-coding of fire hydrants, but the National Fire Protection Association has suggested standards that most municipalities follow to some extent. They suggest that the best color for the body of the hydrant is chrome yellow, but if an area has already designated another color, then it should be consistent (no polka dots on one, stripes on another).

Traditionally, hydrants connected to municipal water systems are painted yellow, while those that operate from a private system are red. Hydrants that pump non-potable water are either painted violet or have at least one violet cap. The bonnets and caps on the hydrants should also be painted to indicate the available water pressure. Red indicates the lowest pressure (less than 500 gallons per minute at 20 psi), followed by orange, green and ultimately light blue, which pumps 1500 GPM or more.

[keithy_19]

I learned to stop repainting fire hydrants.

[Fallon]

Ours are yellow and black.

Fugly.

[PapaBear]

I learned that the total nut case that I used to work with, is such a nut because he's schizophrenic and bi-polar. I know this, because it was in the local paper. He recently held up a fireman with a fake gun and tried to steal his fire truck. Fucking hilarious!

[Chigworthy]

I learned that the total nut case that I used to work with, is such a nut because he's schizophrenic and bi-polar. I know this, because it was in the local paper. He recently held up a fireman with a fake gun and tried to steal his fire truck. Fucking hilarious!

Too bad you didn't know when you worked with him, you could have really fucked with him. Like facing completely away from him when talking to him, or constantly pretending like your hiding something behind your back. Or lighting and smoking a paperclip like a cigarette. Or covering one eye as you walk sideways past him. Or leaving him phone messages on his phone pretending to be him calling from the future. Or taping strange wires inside his vehicle. Or pouring salt in the shape of a pentagram on his doorstep. Or signing him up for an Alex Jones newsletter. What I'm getting at is that the mentally ill can be really entertaining.

[PapaBear]

I learned not to leave my bag of honey roasted peanuts on the kitchen counter, or my dog will steal them and eat them.

[Chimee]

I learned that the total nut case that I used to work with, is such a nut because he's schizophrenic and bi-polar. I know this, because it was in the local paper. He recently held up a fireman with a fake gun and tried to steal his fire truck. Fucking hilarious!

Was this when he learned about fire hydrant colors?

[sailor]

I learned this today...

Why are fire hydrants painted different colors?

Currently, there is no law regulating the color-coding of fire hydrants, but the National Fire Protection Association has suggested standards that most municipalities follow to some extent. They suggest that the best color for the body of the hydrant is chrome yellow, but if an area has already designated another color, then it should be consistent (no polka dots on one, stripes on another).

Traditionally, hydrants connected to municipal water systems are painted yellow, while those that operate from a private system are red. Hydrants that pump non-potable water are either painted violet or have at least one violet cap. The bonnets and caps on the hydrants should also be painted to indicate the available water pressure. Red indicates the lowest pressure (less than 500 gallons per minute at 20 psi), followed by orange, green and ultimately light blue, which pumps 1500 GPM or more.

on a related note, the water connections outside buildings are color-coded (their caps) based on the fire suppression system involved. standpipes are red while automatic sprinklers are green:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/159/359350940_48d4c75bc5.jpg?v=0



combination systems are yellow:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1056/1088048977_c653b5da8a.jpg



non-automatic sprinklers are aluminum, but i couldn't find a good pic.

[Snoogans]

today i learned that 1 vicodin 7.5 and 1 perc 5 works better than 2 vicodin 7.5's but not as good as 2 perc 5's

[usoilworker]

O.o.... Mix and match eh...

[Fallon]

on a related note, the water connections outside buildings are color-coded (their caps) based on the fire suppression system involved. standpipes are red while automatic sprinklers are green:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/159/359350940_48d4c75bc5.jpg?v=0



combination systems are yellow:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1056/1088048977_c653b5da8a.jpg



non-automatic sprinklers are aluminum, but i couldn't find a good pic.

Why color code if you're just gonna have a sign next to them?

[OGC]

Why color code if you're just gonna have a sign next to them?

because we'd be racist if we expected firemen to be able to read english.

[sailor]

redundancy and rapid identification? i also was reading that some people, being ignorant of the coding, will just repaint them all red when they're touching up their building.

[Chigworthy]

Why color code if you're just gonna have a sign next to them?

Way to discriminate against the colorblind.