Which component connects a building's water supply to external firefighting equipment, enabling water delivery to the standpipe system?

• A. Hydrant
• B. Water main
• C. Fire department connection (FDC)
• D. Standpipe riser

Answer: (C)

The Fire Department Connection provides the interface between external firefighting water supply and the building’s standpipe system. It’s the external point where a fire engine can pump water into the building’s standpipe, feeding water to hose outlets on multiple floors. The connection is designed to accept attack lines from outside (often via siamese inlets with proper couplings) and, through internal valves and sometimes a pump, deliver water into the standpipe for use by firefighters.

Hydrants and the water main are external water sources, not direct links into the building’s standpipe. The standpipe riser is the internal vertical piping that carries water up through the building; it relies on the Fire Department Connection to receive water from outside.