What should be installed when hooking up to a hydrant and expecting additional lines?

When connecting to a hydrant and anticipating the use of additional lines, installing a gate valve on the smaller hydrant discharge is essential. The gate valve allows for controlled management of water flow to those additional lines. By using a gate valve, firefighters can isolate different sections of the water supply, enabling them to manage water distribution efficiently without disrupting the entire flow to the hydrant. This is particularly important in fire responses where multiple hoses may be deployed to tackle various aspects of a fire or to support multiple firefighting teams.

While other options provide useful functionalities in certain scenarios, they do not serve the specific purpose of managing water flow to additional lines in the same efficient way as a gate valve does. A check valve on the hydrant can prevent backflow but does not allow for flow control. A hose reel aids in accessibility, but it does not directly affect water management when connecting to a hydrant. A pressure gauge is useful for monitoring and ensuring appropriate pressure levels but does not assist in the actual distribution of the water supply to other lines. Therefore, the installation of a gate valve directly contributes to the operational efficiency of connecting and managing water supply from a hydrant in firefighting situations.