Standpipes are part of the fire extinguishing system, directly connected either to the water supply system or to a water tank. Unlike water sprays, which function automatically, the standpipe is designed for human use and is divided into several classes depending on the design. These pipes deliver water to hard-to-reach places where a hose from a fire engine cannot reach, allowing getting a powerful source of high-pressure water right inside the building.
Their importance for the building and the fire services lies in the fact that a hose can be connected to them. Therefore, if it is necessary to extinguish a fire that automatic fire extinguishing systems cannot cope with, it is possible to connect to a pressurized water supply system to form a powerful water jet. Knowing where a standpipe is located in a building will allow firefighters to avoid having to pull a very long hose from outside the building. In addition, it will allow access to water in places high above the ground or deep below it, where there is no way to deliver water from a fire engine.