Fire Hydrants Get a Facelift for First Time in 100 Years

June 4, 2014— -- George Sigelakis, a 15-year veteran New York City firefighter, has given fire hydrants a facelift. His design, the Sigelock SPARTAN Hydrant, features strong coating, robust interiors and tight security access.

The new model is made of a mixture of stainless steel and ductile iron. Its power coating makes it resistant to rust and corrosion. The model is impenetrable without the Sigelock opening tool, which prevents unauthorized uses of the hydrant.

Chris Windle, superintendent of the Long Beach Water District in New York, said a Sigelock hydrant was submerged in saltwater for more than eight hours during Superstorm Sandy in 2012, but “it was sparkling after the water subsided.”