The first legislative requirement to fix fire plugs (fire hydrants) was made in 1847 with the passing of the Waterworks Clauses Act 1847. Ensuing legislation culminated in the Water Industry Act 1991.

The current national position is that hydrant installations are inspected and tested using the procedure details in the Home Office Technical Bulletin 1/1994 (Section 14):

Hydrants shall be subject to a periodic test and/or inspection at intervals to be determined by the brigade taking into account relevant factors such as the location and likely use of the hydrant.