Fire Hose, Nozzles, and Streams 16 Fire Hose, Nozzles, and Streams

Objectives (1 of 4) Describe fire hydraulics. Describe how to prevent water hammers. Describe the types of hoses used in the fire service. Describe how a hose is constructed.

Objectives (2 of 4) Describe how to clean and maintain a hose. Describe how to inspect a hose. Describe hose appliances. Describe how to lay a supply line.

Objectives (3 of 4) Describe how to load a hose. Describe how to connect a hose to a water supply. Describe how to carry and advance a hose. Describe the types and designs of nozzles.

Objectives (4 of 4) Describe pressure effects and flow capabilities of nozzles.

Fire Hydraulics Deal with properties of energy, pressure, and water flow as related to fire suppression.

Flow Volume of water that is being moved Measured in gallons per minute (gpm) Metric measured in liters per minute (lpm)

Pressure Amount of energy in a body or stream of water Measured in pounds per square inch (psi) Required to push water through a hose or to lift water up to a higher level Pump adds energy to a water stream, causing an increase in pressure

Friction Loss Loss of pressure as water moves through a pipe or hose Loss represents the energy required to push the water. With any combination of flows and diameter, friction loss is proportional to the distance

Elevation Pressure Elevation affects water pressure. Elevated water tanks supply pressure to pipes due to elevation.

Water Hammer Surge in pressure caused by sudden stop in the flow of water Shock wave is transmitted back through the hose. Can damage hose, couplings, and plumbing To prevent, open and close valves slowly.

Functions of Fire Hoses Supply hose Carries water to the engine May come from a hydrant or another engine Carries large quantities at lower pressures Attack hose Carries water from engine to the nozzle Carries water from engine to master streams Carries water to standpipe system

Sizes of Hose (1 of 3) Small-diameter hose 1" to 2" in diameter Used as attack lines Each section is usually 50' long.

Sizes of Hose (2 of 3) Medium-diameter hose 2 ½" or 3" in diameter Used as attack line or supply line Master stream and fire department connections often use 3" hose. Each section is usually 50' long.

Sizes of Hose (3 of 3) Large-diameter hose 3 ½" to 6" in diameter Standard diameter is 4" or 5". Standard length is 50' or 100' long.

Hose Couplings Used to connect individual lengths of hose Used to connect hose line to hydrants, valves, nozzles, fittings, and appliances Two types Threaded Nonthreaded (Storz-type)

Threaded Couplings (1 of 2) Used on most hose up to 3" A set consists of male and female Male threads are on the outside. Female threads are on the inside. Female couplings swivel. Fire hose has a male on one end and a female on the other.

Threaded Couplings (2 of 2) Higbee indicators indicate proper thread alignment. Female couplings have a gasket to prevent leaks and require periodic replacement.

Storz-type Couplings Has neither male nor female ends Couplings are mated face-to-face. Adapters

Attack Hose (1 of 4) 1 ½" and 1¾" Most common attack line Both use 1½" couplings Can be operated by one fire fighter Most common preconnect lengths of 150' to 350' 1½" generally flows 60–125 gpm 1¾" generally flows 120–180 gpm

Attack Hose (2 of 4) 2 ½" hose Used to attack larger fires Generally flows about 250 gpm Takes at least two fire fighters inside a building Can flow up to 350 gpm

Attack Hose (3 of 4) Booster hose Usually carried on a hose reel with 150' to 200’ Made of rubber with steel wire to give shape Can be advanced by one fire fighter 1" line flows 40–50 gpm Used for small outdoor fires and trash dumpsters

Supply Hose Used to supply attack engine Ranges from 2½" to 6" Larger diameter is more efficient Two types Soft suction Hard suction

Types of Damage to Hose (1 of 4) Mechanical Abrasion Broken glass and sharp objects Abrasion from hose reloaded dirty Vehicles running over Couplings being damaged or dragged

Types of Damage to Hose (2 of 4) Heat and cold Direct contact from fire Burning coals and embers Hot surfaces such as heating units and exhaust pipes Freezing can rupture inner liner and break outer liner fibers.

Types of Damage to Hose (3 of 4) Chemicals Encountered at many incidents, including vehicle fires and accidents Wash hose as soon as possible with approved detergent.

Types of Damage to Hose (4 of 4) Mildew Grows on fabrics in warm, moist conditions Feeds on natural fibers and causes the hose to rot Synthetic fibers and resist mildew. Rubber-covered hose fibers are protected from mildew.

Cleaning, Maintaining, and Inspecting Hose Cleaning and maintaining hose Clean contaminated hose. Hose inspections Perform quarterly and after each use. Hose records

Hose Appliances (1 of 9) Wyes Split the stream into two hose streams Commonly split a 2 ½" hose into two 1 ½" Gated wyes have two quarter-turn valves. Courtesy of Akron Brass Company.

Hose Appliances (2 of 9) Water thief Similar to a gated wye Has an additional 2 ½” outlet Courtesy of Akron Brass Company.

Hose Appliances (3 of 9) Siamese Combines two hose lines into one Has two female inlets and one male outlet Often used on engine outlets, master streams, and fire department connections Courtesy of Akron Brass Company.

Hose Appliances (4 of 9) Adaptors Used to connect same size hoses but with dissimilar threads Are double-female or double-male

Hose Appliances (5 of 9) Reducers Used to attach smaller hoses to larger hoses Commonly used to reduce a 2½" hose to a 1½" hose © 2003, Berta A. Daniels.

Hose Appliances (6 of 9) Hose jacket Used to stop a leaking section of hose Consists of a split metal cylinder that fits tightly over the hose © 2003, Berta A. Daniels.

Hose Appliances (7 of 9) Hose roller Used to protect a line being hoisted over an edge Prevents chafing and kinking © 2003, Berta A. Daniels.

Hose Appliances (8 of 9) Hose clamp Used to temporarily stop the flow of water in a hose: So the hydrant can be opened That has burst

Hose Appliances (9 of 9) Valves Control the flow of water through hose or pipe Must be opened and closed slowly Courtesy of Arkon Brass Company.

Hose Rolls Hose roll is an efficient way to transport a single section of fire hose. Hose can be rolled in many different ways, depending on how it will be used.

Supply Hose Evolutions (1 of 4) Forward hose lay Allows first engine to establish a water supply without assistance Places the attack engine close to the fire Can be used with medium- or large-diameter hose

Supply Hose Evolutions (2 of 4) Four-way hydrant valve Used when a supply engine may be needed at the hydrant When four-way is placed on the hydrant, water initially flows. A second engine can then hook to the four-way and boost pressure to the supply hose.

Supply Hose Evolutions (3 of 4) Reverse hose lay Hose is laid from the fire to the hydrant. Used when attack engines begin attack without a supply line Later arriving company stops at the attack engine and lays line to the hydrant.

Supply Hose Evolutions (4 of 4) Split hose lay Performed by two engines Used when hose must be laid from two directions Requires coordination by two-way radio

Loading Supply Hose (1 of 4) Hose can be loaded in different ways, depending on the way the hose is planned to be laid out. Learn the specific hose loads used by your department.

Loading Supply Hose (2 of 4) Flat hose load Limits wear on hose edges Used with single and split hose beds

Loading Supply Hose (4 of 4) Accordion hose load Easy to load Creates sharp bends in the hose More wear than the flat load Not recommended for large diameter hose

Connecting an Engine to a Water Supply Supply hose must be used to deliver water from the hydrant to the engine. In most cases, soft suction hose is used to connect directly to a hydrant. Connection can also be made with a hard suction hose.

Attack Line Evolutions Attack lines are used to deliver water from an attack engine to a nozzle. Most engines are equipped with preconnected attack lines. Additional supply of attack hose is usually carried in a hose bed or compartment that is not preconnected.

Preconnected Attack Lines Intended for immediate use A preconnected hose line with a nozzle attached Commonly 1¾" in diameter and 150' to 250' in length May also be 2½" A variety of loads can be used.

Hose Carries and Advances Best technique for carrying and advancing fire hose depends on size of hose, distance it must be moved, and number of fire fighters available.

Working Hose Drag Used to deploy hose from a hose bed and advance the line a short distance Several fire fighters may be needed for the task.

Shoulder Carry Used to transport full lengths of hose over a longer distance Useful for advancing a hose line around obstructions Requires practice and good teamwork

Advancing an Attack Line (1 of 3) Advanced in two stages Flake extra hose in a serpentine pattern. Once the hose is ready: Signal pump operator to charge line.

Advancing an Attack Line (2 of 3) Open nozzle slowly to bleed out air. Set nozzle to appropriate stream. Ensure personal protective equipment is secure. Check partner’s equipment. Start breathing from SCBA.

Advancing an Attack Line (3 of 3) Stand to the side when opening the door. Stay low as you move in. If you can’t see, feel as you go. Communicate as you advance. Two members should be at the nozzle and one at the door feeding hose.

Advance a Hose Up a Stairway Arrange an adequate amount of extra hose close to the bottom of the stairs Shut down the hoseline while advancing

Advance a Hose Down a Stairway Keep as low as possible to avoid heat and smoke Never advance towards a fire unless the hose line is charged Move carefully

Advance a Hose Up a Ladder Should be done before the line is charged Additional hose should be fed up the ladder Secure the hose to the ladder with a hose strap

Replacing a Defective Section of Hose A burst hose line should be shut down as soon as possible. A hose clamp can be used to stop the flow in an undamaged section of hose upstream from the problem. Replace the damaged section and replace it with two sections of hose.

Nozzles Give fire streams shape and direction Classified into groups: Low-volume Handline Master stream Shut-offs Quarter-turn valve Rotary control valve

Smooth-Bore Nozzles (1 of 3) Consist of shut-off valve and smooth bore tips Fit handlines and master stream devices

Smooth-Bore Nozzles (2 of 3) Advantages: Longer reach than combination fog nozzle Capable of deeper penetration into burning materials Operate at lower pressures Extinguishes fire with less air movement

Smooth-Bore Nozzles (3 of 3) Disadvantages: Do not absorb heat as readily as fog streams Not as effective as fog streams for hydraulic ventilation Cannot change setting to produce a fog pattern

Fog Stream Nozzles (1 of 4) Produce fine droplets of water Absorb heat quickly

Fog Stream Nozzles (2 of 4) Advantages: Create a variety of stream patterns Can be used to create a water curtain to protect fire fighters from extreme heat Can be used to exhaust smoke and gases through hydraulic ventilation

Fog Stream Nozzles (3 of 4) Disadvantages: Move large volumes of air, which can result in a sudden heat inversion that pushes hot steam and gases onto fire fighters If used incorrectly, can push fire into unaffected areas

Fog Stream Nozzles (4 of 4) Types of fog stream nozzles: Fixed-gallonage: Deliver a preset flow in gpm at the rated discharge pressure. Adjustable-gallonage: Allow the operator to select a desired flow. Automatic adjusting: Deliver a wide range of flows.

Other Types of Nozzles Piercing nozzle Cellar nozzle Water curtain nozzle

Nozzle Maintenance and Inspection Nozzles should be: Inspected regularly Checked after each use Kept clean and clear of debris Inspect fog nozzle fingers

Summary (1 of 2) Fire hydraulics deal with properties of energy, pressure, and water flow as related to fire suppression. Fire hoses are used for two main purposes: supply and attack. Fire hoses range in size from 1 inch to 6 inches in diameter. Fire hoses should be regularly inspected and tested following the procedures in NFPA 1962. Hoses that are not properly maintained can deteriorate over time and eventually burst. A hose appliance is any device used in conjunction with a fire hose for the purpose of delivering water.

Summary (2 of 2) Rolled hose is compact and easy to manage. Hose evolutions involve specific actions that are assigned to each member of a crew, depending on their riding positions on the apparatus. Nozzles are attached to the discharge ends of attack lines to give fire streams shape and direction. Nozzles are classified into three categories: low-volume nozzles, handline nozzles, and master stream nozzles. Firefighting foam can be used to fight several types of fires and to prevent the ignition of materials that could become involved in a fire.