NFPA recommends hydrants flowing 1,500 gpm or greater be color coded as which color?

• A. Red
• B. Light Blue
• C. Green
• D. Orange

Answer: (B)

NFPA uses color coding on hydrants to convey their water supply capacity at a glance, so firefighters can quickly assess whether a hydrant can meet high-flow demands. For hydrants capable of delivering 1,500 gpm or more, the recommended color is light blue. This shade is chosen to be clearly distinguishable from colors used for lower flow ranges, allowing rapid identification of a strong water source during operations and helping crews decide on hose size and staging. The other colors correspond to different flow ranges and would not indicate the 1,500 gpm+ capability, which is why light blue is the correct choice.