Does a fire line need a backflow preventer?

Fire services almost always require an approved backflow assembly. The type required is set by the authority based on the system design.

Can the fire line share the domestic tap?

Requirements vary by jurisdiction and system size. We confirm whether a combined or separate service is allowed at your address.

Do you do the sprinkler system inside the building?

We handle the tap, the service line, the vault, and the assembly. Interior suppression piping is the fire protection contractor's scope.

Can you tell me my tap fee amount over the phone?

We can tell you which fees apply to your project type and who charges them. The dollar amounts come from the authority with jurisdiction, and we confirm them for your specific address rather than quoting from memory.

Fire Line Tap and Installation

An independent, licensed plumbing contractor. Not affiliated with Denver Water or the City and County of Denver.

A fire line tap is a dedicated water connection sized for fire suppression. Denver Sewer and Water is a private contractor, not Denver Water. The utility and the fire authority approve the service. We install it.

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Dedicated fire service connections.
Two approving authorities, not one.
Backflow assembly requirements.
Vault and valve installation.
Private contractor, not the utility.

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Family Owned and Operated, Not the City Utility

Licensed and Insured

Second-Generation Specialists

Fast Response Across the Denver Metro

What a Fire Line Tap Is

A fire line tap is a separate, larger connection from the water main dedicated to a building's fire suppression system. It is not the domestic water service and it is not metered the same way.

Fire service work usually involves a larger tapping sleeve and valve at the main, a dedicated service line, a backflow prevention assembly, and a vault or room where that assembly lives.

Fire lines carry a second layer of review. Both the water utility and the fire authority having jurisdiction have a say in what gets installed and how it is tested.

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When a Fire Line Tap Applies

New commercial construction with a sprinkler system.
A building adding fire suppression during a change of use or remodel.
An existing fire service that has failed or is undersized for a new system design.
Sites adding a private hydrant.
Properties where domestic and fire service must be separated.

Excavator digging a deep shored trench for a storm drain and fire line at a Denver commercial site — Commercial scale excavation for storm drains, fire lines, and taps.

How We Diagnose It

Who Authorizes the Tap and Who Performs the Tap

Denver Sewer and Water is a private, family owned and operated contractor. We are not Denver Water or the City and County of Denver. We do not issue permits, set fees, own the mains, or approve service. The utility or municipality with jurisdiction does all of that.

The water utility approves the tap at the main and the service configuration. The fire authority having jurisdiction reviews the suppression system design and the required protection.

Denver Sewer and Water performs the tap, the service line, the vault work, and the assembly installation under those approvals.

The authority authorizes. The licensed contractor performs. Below is the split for this type of work.

Are You Denver Water? No. Here Is the Difference.

Authority Side and Contractor Side

Authority: Water utility approves the tap size, location, and backflow requirement.
Authority: Fire authority reviews the suppression design and acceptance testing.
Authority: Both set their own fees and inspection requirements.
Denver Sewer and Water: Coordinates requirements from both authorities before construction.
Denver Sewer and Water: Taps the main and installs the dedicated fire service line.
Denver Sewer and Water: Sets valves, vaults, and the backflow assembly.
Denver Sewer and Water: Supports acceptance testing and inspection.
Denver Sewer and Water: Restores the site after sign-off.

How a Fire Line Tap Project Runs

1
Design Coordination
We work from the fire protection design so the service size and assembly type match what the system actually needs.
2
Dual Approval
Requirements from the water utility and the fire authority are confirmed before anything is ordered or dug.
3
Tap and Install
We tap the main, run the dedicated line, and set the valve, vault, and backflow assembly.
4
Test, Inspect, Restore
The assembly is tested and reported, the work is inspected, and the site is restored.

Contractor reviewing utility permit plans on a work truck tailgate with locate marks on the pavement — Locates, permits, and the right authority get handled before the first cut.

Work With a Contractor Who Handles the Paperwork Side Too

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Fees on a Fire Line Project

Fire service projects can carry fees from two authorities: the water utility for the tap and service, and the fire authority for plan review and acceptance. Both are property owner obligations.

Contractor cost is driven by tap size, service length, vault requirements, depth, and surface restoration.

We do not publish fee amounts. Tap fees, plant investment fees, permit fees, and inspection fees are set by the authority with jurisdiction and change on their schedule, not ours. We confirm the current figures in writing with that authority for your address before work is scheduled.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fire Service Tap Coming Up?

We coordinate the water utility side and the fire authority side before construction starts.

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