Fire Hoses “Any flexible tube used by firefighters to carry water under pressure from the source of supply to a point where it is discharged” – IFSTA essentials There are many materials, sizes and connectors used in the fire service Fire Hoses Fire Hose Sizes Each size has a purpose Generally in 50 and 100 foot sections Hoses are governed by NFPA1901, 1961, 1962 and 1963 primarily Fire Hoses Intake Hose Two types Hard Suction – used primarily to draft water from an open source (i.e. a pond) or to siphon water from one tank to another (i.e. a port-a- tank) - generally in sizes from 2½ in – 6 in Soft Sleeve – used to transfer water from a hydrant or other pressurized source to a pump intake – generally in sizes from 2½in – 6 in Fire Hoses Hose Construction 5 Common Types Booster Woven-Jacket Impregnated Non-Collapsible Flexible Non- Hose 1 – 6 in Single Jacket Intake Collapsible Intake ¾ - 1 in 1½ - 5 in 2½ - 6 in 2½ - 6 in Rubber Coat 1 or 2 Woven Polymer Coat Rubber Coat Rubber Coat Jackets Fabric Polymer Fabric and Wire Fabric and Plastic Reinforced Rubber Lined Lined Reinforced Reinforced (Spiral) (Spiral) Rubber Rubber Lined Lined Rubber Lined Fire Hoses Damage – Causes and Prevention Mechanical Damage Abrasions, rips / tears, crushed or cracked couplings, damaged liners, damaged threads Don’t drag hoses over rough or sharp objects Open and close valves / nozzles slowly to prevent water hammer Change the position of bends frequently in lays Avoid excessive pressures Use hose bridges / chafing blocks Fire Hoses Damage – Causes and Prevention Thermal Damage Exposure to heat decomposes rubber, burns cotton and melts polymers Protect hoses from excessive heat Use moderate heat for drying Keep woven jackets dry Flow water through unused hose to prolong life Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun Keep away from vehicle / pump exhausts Fire Hoses Damage – Causes and Prevention Organic / Chemical Damage Failure to dry hoses can result in rot due to mold and mildew Chemicals and their vapors may cause decomposition to exposed parts Clean hoses after every use Swap out wet hoses for dry ones on apparatus Allow hoses to dry before rolling or reloading Keep hoses away from chemicals as much as possible Replace contaminated hoses as needed Fire Hoses Care and Maintenance Washing Rubber coated – rinse with water and wipe clean Fabric coated – brush off dirt and clean with pressure washer (a hose washer is very useful) Drying All fabric coated hoses should be dried before rolling or reloading Fire Hoses Care and Maintenance Storing Hoses should be restocked on apparatus or rolled and stored in an appropriate manner Gaskets / O-Rings Swivel gaskets or expansion ring gaskets should be inspected at every washing and replaced when necessary Fire Hoses Couplings 2 Basic types Threaded (various types of threads) 3 and 5 piece basic designs Storz (Sexless interlocking coupling) Both ends identical, can be connected together Secured by a third-turn Others – quarter-turn, oilfield rocker lug, snap Fire Hoses Fire Hoses Threaded Couplings Shank – portion of coupling connected to hose Ends can be identified by noting the lugs Only male couplings have lugs on the shank Female couplings have lugs on the swivel Couplings can be tightened via the lugs using a spanner wrench Fire Hoses Threaded Couplings Lug Types Rocker – most common, exposed flat bar lug parallel to length of hose Pin – exposed lug Recessed – indentation in hose (mostly on booster lines), required special spanner wrench Higbee Cut / Indicator Special cut on initial thread to provide positive thread contact, reducing cross-threading The Higbee Indicator is a notch in the lugs indicating the location of the Higbee Cut Fire Hoses Fire Hoses Hose Appliances and Tools Valves Valve Devices Fittings Intake Devices Rollers Jackets Clamps Fire Hoses Valves Ball – used in pumper discharges and gated wyes, open when handle is in line with hose Gate – used in hydrant operations, have a flat gate that slides up and down via a screw mechanism (OS&Y is a gate type) Butterfly – used on large pump intakes, have a flat gate that rotates via a quarter turn handle Clapper – used in siamese applicances to allow unidirectional flow, operate via hinged disk Fire Hoses Valve Devices Wye Appliance – split one inlet line into 2 outlet lines, usually smaller, often valved Siamese Appliance – join 2 or 3 inlet lines into one outlet lines, often with clapper valves, used to overcome friction loss Water Thief – variation of a wye, one inlet with same-size outlet and 2 smaller outlets LDH appliances – used to distribute water from large diameter hose (LDH) to working lines Hydrant Valves – used to separate open hydrant from hose, allows hoses to be connected and disconnected without shutting off the hydrant Fire Hoses Fire Hoses Fittings Reducers – allows different size hoses to be connected (long hose runs) Double adapters – come in double male and double female, allow hoses to be connected when both couplings are of the same sex Elbows – allow hoses to be sharply redirected Caps, Plugs – close off hose or appliance ends Fire Hoses Intake Devices Strainers Come in several varieties Used to prevent debris / organic materials from being ingested into the pumping systems Fire Hoses Tools Hose Roller – used to protect hoses from sharp edges while dragging Hose Jacket – appliance used to repair ruptured hoses while under pressure Hose Clamp – used to stop the flow of water Hose Bridge / Chafing Block – used to protect hoses from abrasion Hose strap / rope / chain – used to aid in carrying or handling a charge line Fire Hoses Fire Hoses Hose Rolls Straight Roll Start at the male end Roll flat to female end Flatten any uneven coils Roll backward (male out) to denote a bad hose – mark with a tag when possible Fire Hoses Hose Rolls Donut Roll Both ends are exposed Fold male end up to about 3ft SHORT of the female end Start rolling at the folded end Once rolled, hose can be deployed in place Fire Hoses Hose Rolls Twin Donut Roll Bring both ends together, side by side Flatten the folded end and roll If couplings are offset by a foot or so, they can be connected Fire Hoses Hose Rolls Self-Locking Twin Donut Roll Start just like Twin Roll When flattening folded end, make a flat loop about 3ft wide Roll with flat loop at center Interlock loop ends to make a handle Fire Hoses Hose Loads Accordion Load Hose lays on edge Packs across flat bed Can allow access to either end Good for any type of lay Fire Hoses Hose Loads Horseshoe Load Hose lays on edge Packs around edge of bed Fewer sharp bends Tends to fall off truck Only provides access to one end, for one type of lay Fire Hoses Hose Loads Flat Load Hose lays flat Easy to load Easy to pull / shoulder carry Can be loaded in split bed Only provides access to one end Fire Hoses Hose Lays Forward lay Hose is laid from water source to the fire Female coupling is unloaded first Allows a hydrant team to stay at the source and the pumper to advance to the fire scene Fire Hoses Hose Lays Reverse lay Hose is laid from the fire to the water supply Male coupling is unloaded first Allows an attack team to stay at the scene and the pumper to move to the water source Fire Hoses Hose Lays Split lay Term used in many ways Any lay composed of both a forward and reverse lay Fire Hoses Advancing Hoselines Always work in teams Entry teams on 2½in lines should have 3 or 4 persons on the line Firefighters should be on the same side of the hose Try to hoist a hose by rope if possible rather than ladder carry Fire Hoses Advancing Hoselines Ladder Advances – Uncharged line One firefighter at the ground feeds the hose Firefighter(s) on ladder shoulder carry the line Ladder Advances – Charged line Several firefighters lock in or belt off on the ladder – within arms reach of each other The hose is then pushed upward from firefighter to firefighter Fire Hoses Remember Safety First