FIRE HOSE AND APPLIANCES Copyright© 2000. Delmar is a division of Thomson Learning.

Objectives 1 of 4 Identify and explain the construction of fire hose. Demonstrate the care and maintenance of fire hose. Identify the types of hose couplings and threads. Demonstrate the care and maintenance of hose couplings.

Objectives 2 of 4 Identify and explain the use of hose tools and appliances. Demonstrate the coupling and uncoupling of fire hose. Demonstrate the rolling, carrying, and loading of fire hose. Demonstrate the advancing of fire hoselines, both charged and uncharged.

Objectives 3 of 4 Demonstrate the establishment of a water supply connection. Demonstrate the extending of hoselines. Demonstrate the replacement of burst hose sections. Demonstrate the procedures for laying hoselines for water supply.

Objectives 4 of 4 Demonstrate the deployment of master stream devices. Demonstrate the service testing of hose.

Introduction 1 of 2 Hose is the tool used to move water. Firefighters must know how to store hose on the apparatus and how to deploy it. Fire hose is a flexible conduit used to move water, or other agent, from a source to the fire. Couplings, adapters, and appliances are used to connect hose.

Introduction 2 of 2 Today, many departments use National Standard Hose Threads. Other departments use adapters to make connections to standard threaded couplings. Adapter and appliances have been created or made lighter to make firefighting easier.

Construction of Fire Hose 1 of 4 Fire hose has two components: Hose. Couplings. Three types of hose construction: Wrapped. Braided. Woven.

Construction of Fire Hose 2 of 4 Hose is divided into the following categories: Attack. Supply. Hard suction. Occupant use. Forestry.

Construction of Fire Hose 3 of 4 Booster lines have a limited flow rate of up to 30 gpm. Attack hose is connected to nozzles and distributors, and various appliances. Attack hose is usually service tested at 250 psi. Medium diameter hose is 21⁄2” - 3” Supply hose (LDH) is 31⁄2” -5” and pressure should not exceed 185 psi.

Construction of Fire Hose 4 of 4 Hard suction hose is rubber or plastic coated hose with a plastic wire or helix. Soft suction hose (soft sleeve), is woven hose. Occupant use hose is used in standpipe systems. Forestry hose is specially designed for use in wildland firefighting.

Woven and Rubber-Coated Fire Hose

Care and Maintenance of Fire Hose 1 of 3 Care begins with proper placing and folding. Hose bed should allow for circulation of air. Hose should be dried before folding. Newer synthetic hose can be loaded wet. Avoid laying hose over sharp or rough corners. Do not allow traffic to run over hose.

Care and Maintenance of Fire Hose 2 of 3 Clean dirt and grit from hose. Avoid heat, embers, chemicals, gasoline, and oil. Prevent hose from freezing. Any damaged hose should be service tested prior to being returned to service. Excessive water pressure and slamming a valve open or shut will damage a hose.

Care and Maintenance of Fire Hose 3 of 3 Hose should be rinsed and dried prior to being paced back in service. Stored hose also requires maintenance. Care also involves regular inspection. Outer cover and couplings should be checked for damage as it is reloaded.

Types of Hose Couplings Couplings allow hose and appliances to be joined. Couplings are divided into two types. Threaded Non-threaded Threaded couplings use a screw thread. Non-threaded couplings use locks or cams.

Types of Hose couplings Threaded couplings have male threads and female threads.

Threaded Couplings Fire hoses have blunt end threads. Both male and female ends have Higbee cuts and indicators.

Non-Threaded Couplings Use locks or cams to secure connection. Couplings are aligned and twisted to lock. Storz couplings are the most popular. Some couplings use handles or lugs. Rocker lugs are the most common. Handles are typically used on hard and soft sleeves.

Quarter-turn coupling Storz Coupling Quarter-turn coupling

Care and Maintenance of Couplings Hose coupling maintenance involves keeping them clean and preventing mechanical damage. Proper storage, rolling, and coupling placement is important. Couplings should never be dragged. Hose couplings should be inspected every time hose is reloaded.

Hose Tools and Appliances Hose tools help move or operate hoselines. Appliances are devices that water flows through, including adapters and connectors. Tools include rope hose tools, wrenches, rollers, hose clamps and other items. Various types of valves are also used to control water flow and distribution.

Tools & Appliances Rope hose tool Spanner wrench Hydrant wrench Hose roller Hose clamp Hose jacket Hose bridge Hose cart Double couplings Increaser/reducer Gate valve Intake relief valve Wye Siamese Hydrant valve Strainer Distributor pipe Hose cap

Hose Tools

Hose Appliances

Coupling and Uncoupling Hose Foot-tilt Over-the-hip Two-person method Uncoupling Spanner wenches Knee-press Stiff-arm

Coupling

Uncoupling

Hose Rolls Hose is rolled for storage or to have it ready for use. Several Options: Straight/storage hose roll. Single-donut roll. Twin or double donut roll.

Donut Rolls

Hose Carries Drain and carry method. Shoulder loop carry. Hose/street drag.

Hose Loads Dutchman Accordion Flat load Horseshoe load Straight finish load Reverse horseshoe Minuteman Triple-layer Modified Gasner bar pack

Advancing Hoselines Into structures. Up and down stairs. Using a standpipe system. Working hose off a ladder.

Establishing a Water Supply Line Several methods exist for establishing a water supply depending on: Type of water source. Hydrant style. Hose lays used. Pumper use at water source.

Extending Hoselines Firefighters should be familiar with techniques used to extend hoselines. The preferred method is the use of a break-apart nozzle. The other method is the use of a hose clamp. Clamp must be used carefully and cautiously.

Extending Hoselines

Replacing Sections of Burst Line Bursting of a hose section is very dangerous. It can cause personal injury and additional property damage. Hoseline must be shut down to remove the section replaced.

Hose Lay Procedures Supply lines and the hose beds on apparatus are designed to use one of three lays: Forward lay. Reverse lay. Split lay.

Forward Lay

Reverse Lay

Split Lay

Deploying Master Stream Devices 1 of 4 Water applicators capable of flowing over 350 gallons of water per minute. A wagon pipe is a permanently mounted stream device. A deluge set is not permanently mounted. A monitor type device is a permanently mounted master stream device with a prepiped waterway on an aerial ladder or platform.

Deploying Master Stream Devices 2 of 4 A ladder pipe is a non-permanently mounted device needing a hoseline. Master stream devices are rigged and then charged. For every foot of vertical reach needed the device is moved one foot away.(Solid stream tip.)

Deploying Master Stream Devices 3 of 4 For horizontal reach, each pound of pressure equals 1 foot of reach. Maximum reach is usually 3 floors. A wagon pipe is a permanently mounted device. The monitor pipe has a direct discharge. Deluge set on top of an engine may be prepiped.

Deploying Master Stream Devices 4 of 4 When using a deluge on the ground, intakes should be facing the fire building. A ladder pipe needs a hoseline for rigging it up a ladder and another for supply.

Service Testing of Fire Hose 1 of 2 Fire hose is tested prior to being placed in use and then retested annually. A record keeping system must be used. Testing begins with a visual inspection. Check for thread damage. Check couplings Service testing involves testing hose under pressure.

Service Testing of Fire Hose 2 of 2 Pressure testing is designed to check for hose failure. A hose test valve is placed on the discharge pump to limit flow rate of the water. Hoselines are attached to the pumping device and pressure tested. No more than 300 feet of hose should be tested at once. Follow local SOPs for testing.

WRAP-UP Fire hose, adapters, and appliances allow firefighters to move water. It is important to know how to use the various appliances and tools. Appliances and tools provide firefighters greater abilities to facilitate fire suppression. Proper techniques of connecting, advancing, and operating tools must be understood.