What role does a standpipe play in firefighting operations?

• A. It provides lighting in stairwells.
• B. It controls building ventilation.
• C. It supplies water to hose teams for firefighting throughout the building.
• D. It acts as a fire alarm control panel.

Answer: (C)

Standpipes provide a water source for firefighter hose teams inside a building, enabling rapid suppression from floor to floor without having to haul water from outside. They consist of vertical piping with hose outlets on each floor and are fed by a building pump or a fire department connection, and can be either water-filled (wet) or require water to be supplied (dry). This makes interior firefighting more efficient and reachable, especially on higher floors, while not providing lighting, controlling ventilation, or serving as the fire alarm control system.