The Fire Department Connection is used to provide an external water supply to augment the building’s water supply.

• A. To monitor internal piping
• B. To allow firefighters to connect water to the system
• C. To release air from the system
• D. To regulate sprinkler head temperature

Answer: (B)

Providing an external water supply to augment the building’s water supply is the core purpose of the Fire Department Connection. When a fire is in progress and the building’s pumps and supply can’t keep up, firefighters connect hoses to the FDC and pump water into the standpipe or sprinkler system, increasing both the pressure and the available flow to help suppress the fire quickly. The FDC is typically a Siamese connection on the outside of the building, designed for firefighters to attach multiple hoses with ease. It isn’t used to monitor internal piping, release air from the system, or regulate sprinkler head temperature—its job is simply to provide external water to support the fire suppression system.