SB 591 — An Act amending Title 74 (Transportation) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for installation of dry hydrants.

PRINTER'S NO.   599

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                        SENATE BILL
                        No. 591
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY DUSH, STEFANO AND FARRY, APRIL 9, 2025

     REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION, APRIL 9, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 74 (Transportation) of the Pennsylvania
 2      Consolidated Statutes, providing for installation of dry
 3      hydrants.
 4      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 5   hereby enacts as follows:
 6      Section 1.    Title 74 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
 7   Statutes is amended by adding a chapter to read:
 8                                CHAPTER 97
 9                       INSTALLATION OF DRY HYDRANTS
10   Sec.
11   9701.   Definitions.
12   9702.   Dry hydrant installation required.
13   § 9701.   Definitions.
14      The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
15   shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
16   context clearly indicates otherwise:
17      "Bridge."    A State-owned, new or existing bridge under the
18   jurisdiction of the department.
19      "Department."    The Department of Transportation of the
 1   Commonwealth.
 2      "Historic resource."     A building or structure, including a
 3   covered bridge, which:
 4             (1)   has been in existence for more than 100 years,
 5      including partial or complete reconstruction of a building or
 6      structure originally erected at least 100 years ago; or
 7             (2)   has been listed on the National Register of Historic
 8      Places or the Pennsylvania Register of Historic Places.
 9      "Occupied structure."     Any structure, vehicle or place
10   adapted for overnight accommodation of an individual or for
11   carrying on business within the structure, vehicle or place,
12   whether or not an individual is actually present.
13   § 9702.    Dry hydrant installation required.
14      (a)    Requirement.--If a bridge that crosses a body of water
15   is built, modified or rehabilitated, the department shall
16   install a dry hydrant if an installation site exists that meets
17   all of the conditions specified under subsection (b).
18      (b)    Conditions.--The requirement imposed on the department
19   under subsection (a) shall only apply if all of the following
20   conditions are met:
21             (1)   The body of water in which the dry hydrant will be
22      installed is able to provide 250 gallons per minute for a
23      continuous two-hour period during a 50-year drought or freeze
24      at a vertical lift of 18 feet.
25             (2)   The dry hydrant will be located within 25 feet of an
26      all-weather roadway and will be accessible to fire protection
27      equipment.
28             (3)   The dry hydrant will be located within 800 feet of
29      at least one inhabited, occupied structure or historical
30      resource.

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 1            (4)   The installation of the dry hydrant would improve
 2      the fire prevention or fire suppression capabilities of the
 3      community as determined by the Fire Suppression Rating
 4      Schedule or a similar criteria on the effective date of this
 5      paragraph.
 6      (c)   Multiple locations.--If there are multiple locations
 7   that meet all of the conditions specified under subsection (b),
 8   the department shall install the dry hydrant at the location
 9   which is closest to the roadway.
10      Section 2.    This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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