A Retired Firefighter Reinvented the 100-Year-Old Fire Hydrant

Dogs love them. City kids in the summer love them. Drivers looking for a place to park hate them.

One retired firefighter from New York City has redesigned the fire hydrant — the first major redesign in 100 years.

George Sigelakis, cofounder of Sigelock Systems who was a New York City firefighter for 15 years, calls his redesign the Sigelock Spartan.

The need for a redesign comes from two major issues with the classic fire hydrant, Fast Company explains. Most hydrants are made of cast iron, which erodes over time — leading to problems with leaks and cracks. Sigelakis replaced the iron with corrosion-resistant materials like stainless steel and ductile iron, and the coating on his redesign further prevents rust. Read more...