Chapter 15 Fire Hose

Fire Hose Characteristics

Characteristics that are used to describe
Fire Hose
include the
type of construction and the material used, the internal diameter, and the type of couplings used to make connections.

Supply Hose

Transports water from a fire hydrant or other water supply source to an apparatus equipped with a pump located at or near the fire scene.

Attack Hose

Transports water or other agents,at increased pressure from the following sources:
1.Pump-equipped apparatus to a nozzle or nozzles
2.Pump-equipped apparatus to a fire department connection (FDC).
3.From the building standpipe to the point the water is ap

Hose construction

Fire hose must be constructed of the best materials available,used in an appropriate manner, and maintained according to the manufacture's recommendation.

Most common being

Single-jacket,double-jacket,rubber single-jacket and hard-rubber or plastic non-collapsible types.

Hose size:
NFPA 1961

Standard on the fire hose
~Diameter and length are common ways to describe hose size.

Diameter

The size of a fire hose refers to its inside diameter

Length

Both attack and supply fire hose are manufactured in 50 or 100 feet lengths, referred to as a section

Traditional legnth of fire hose in North America is

50 feet

Suction Hose (also,called intake hose)

used to connect the pumper to a hydrant or other water source, are manufactures in minimum lengths specified in NFPA 1901.

NFPA 1901

Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus.

Large
Soft Sleeve Hose

is a minimum
15 feet in length
, has two female or non threaded couplings, and is used to connect the main pumper intake to the pumper connection on the fire hydrant.
not use for drafting because its not rigid enough.
soft sleeve available in in sizes ran

Hard suction hose

Generally constructed in
10 foot
long sections and designed for drafting water from a static water supplies or connecting to a fire hydrant.
Hard-suction is also available in sizes ranging from 2 1/2 to 6 inches.

Types of fire Hose Couplings
NFPA 1963

Standard for fire Hose connections specifies fire hose coupling design and construction.

All threaded couplings must meet the dimension required of..

American National Fire Hose Connection Screw Threads, commonly called National Hose (NH).

Fire Hose couplings are made of

Durable, rust-proof materials that are designed to couple and uncouple quickly and with little effort.

Couplings are catergorized by the way thay are

manufactured

Cast

Cast coupling are very weak and only found on occupant -use fire hose. they often crack if reattachment to the hose attempted.

Extruded

Extruded couplings are usually made of aluminum or aluminum alloy,allowing for their lightweight and high stregnth. they are somewhat stronger than cast couplings

Drop forged

Drop forged couplings are made of brass or other malleable metal and are the strongest and most expensive of three coupling types.

Threadded couplings

one of the oldest design involves the cast or machining of spiral thread into the face of two distinctly different couplings. male and female.

Caution

Connect couplings hand tight to avoid damage to the coupling and gasket.

Shank

The portion of the coupling that serves as a point of attachment to the hose.

Higbee cut (blunt start)

A flattened angle at the end of the threads on the male and female couplings. prevents cross- threading when couplings are connected.

Higbee indicator

on the exterior of the coupling marks where the higbee cut begins.

The rubber gasket located inside the base of the female coupling

ensures a tight fit and reduces the chance of water leaks.

Spanner wrenches

Small tool primary used to tighten used to tighten or loosen hose couplings.

Three types of lugs

Pin, recessed and rocker lugs

Pin lugs

usually found on couplings of old fire hose, resemble small pegs.
They are not commonly ordered with new fire house because of their tendency to catch when hose is dragged over objects or deployed from the hose bed.

Recessed lugs

Booster fire hose normally has couplings with recessed lugs that are simply drilled into the couplings.

Rocker Lugs

Modern threaded couplings have rounded rocker lugs.
The rounded shape of rocker lugs help prevents the hose from catching on objects.

Handles or extended lugs are loctaed..

on the swivel of large intake supply or suction hoses.firefighter can grasp these handles when manually tightening the large coupling that connects the hose pump to the intake valve.

Nonthreaded couplings

Nonthreaded couplings are connected with locks or cams rather than screw threads.
Two types of sexless couplings:
Quarter turn and stroz

Quater turn couplings

has two hook-like lugs on each coupling.

Storz couplings

commonly found on large diameter hose. The locking components consist of grooved lugs and inset rings build into the face of each coupling swivel.

Nonthreaded coupling advantages

READ PAGE 824-825

Nonthreaded coupling disadvantages

Hose can become uncoupled,often suddenly and violently, if a complete connection has not been made.
Read the rest on PAGE 825

Causes and prevention of fire hose damage

Mechanical damage
Thermal damage
Organic damage
chemical damage
corrosion
Age deterioration

Mechanical damage

occurs when contact with an object or surface causes slices,rips, and abrasions on the exterior covering, crushing the coupling, or cracked inner linings.

Recommended practices to prevent mechanical damage

~provide traffic control to prevent vehicles from driving over hose.
Read 825-826

Thermal Damage

Thermal damage can occur when exposure to excess heat or cold temperatures.
Excessive heat exposure or direct flame contact can char. melt, or weaken the outer jacket and dehydrate the ribber lining.

Recommended practices to prevent thermal damage

READ PAGE 826

Cold damage

occurs when water on the inside and/or the outside of fire hose freezes.
Fire departments located in cold temperatures should use a cold- resistance hose designed for use at temperatures down to -65 degree f.
Allow some water to flow through the nozzle to

Guidlines to help prevent hose from freezing

READ PAGE 827

When fire hose becomes frozen to an ice-covered surface, there are three ways to remove it.

1. melt the ice with a steam-generated device
2.chop the hose loose with axes.
3. leave the hose until the weather warms enough to melt the ice.

Guideline for removing frozen hose

If fire house sections can be uncoupled, carefully load then onto a flatbed vehicle and transport them to a location where they can be thawed and protected from damage.
*Perform a service test before placing thawed house back in service to ensure that no

Organic Damage

Mildew and mold are living organisms that can rot natural fibers.
When hose with a woven- jacket of cotton or other natural fiber is stored wet, rot from mold and mildew may weaken the jacket which can lead to ruptures under pressure .
Rubber-jacket hose

Recommended practices to prevent organic damage

Ventilate areas where fire hose is kept, including pumping apparatus hose beds and compartments.
READ PAGE 827-828

Chemical damage

common examples of chemical damage:
~Exposure to petroleum products
~Motor oil
~Gasoline

After exposure to chemicals or chemical vapors..

Hose should be cleaned as soon as it is practical.

Recommended practices

~Place the hose 2-4 feet away from the curb or gutter but not in vehicle traveling lane.
~*Remove hose periodically from the apparatus, wash it with plain water, and dry it.

Corrosion

~Is a chemical process in which a metal is attacked by some substance in its environment and converted to an unwanted compound that gradually weakens or destroys the metal.
~
the most common fire hose couplings metals are brass and aluminum. Each of these

Brass is..

Highly resistant to corrosion.

Aluminum couplings

develop a layer of corrosion(aluminum oxide) that in effect "seals" the metal against further oxidation.

Age Deterioration

If hose is left in an apparatus for a while, the hose can deteriorate and crack because of the sharp folds on the tightly-packed hose load.
~To prevent this hose should be removed and repacked every 6 months if they are not being used
.
~When reloading ho

Care for Fire hose

Always follow the manufacture's instructions and department SOP'S for care and maintenance.

Inspection

According NFPA 1962, hose should be inspected and service tested with in 90 days before being places in service for the first time and a least annually thereafter.

Washing Hose

Hard-rubber booster hose,hard intake hose,and rubber-jacket collapsible hose *only require rinsing with clear water, although a mild soap may be used if necessary.

Woven- jacket

dust and dirt should be brushed or swept off the hose. If brushing and sweeping does not remove the dirt, wash with clear water while scrubbing with a stiff brush.

The most common type of washes almost any size of fire hose up to..

3 inches.
The hoseline that supplies the washer with water can be connected to a pumper or used directly from the hydrant.

Drying hose

~Fire hose should be dried before stored.
~Hose should be dried according to department Sops and manufactures recommendations.
~Woven-jacket must be thoroughly dried before being reloaded.
~Hard rubber booster hose, hard intake hose, and synthetic-jacket

Hose appliances and Tools

Hose appliances: are devices the route water in a variety of ways and make different types of hose connections.
Hose tools: are devices that assist with movement, handling,protection and connection of hose.
Hose appliances water flow through but not tools

Hose Appliances

is any piece of hardware used in conjunction with fire hose fore the purpose of controlling the flow or water and creating a variety of pathways for water through hose layouts.

Common hose appilances include

Valves and valve devices, fittings and intake strainers.

Valves

The following valves in hoselinesn at hydrantsn and at pumpers are used to control the flow of water:
Ball valves
Gate Valves
Butterfly valves
Clapper valves

Ball valves

Used in pumper discharge and gated wyes.
Open when handles is in line with the hose and closed when it is in a right angle to the hose.
Ball valves are used in fire pumping systems.

Gate Valves

Are used to control the flow from the hydrant
Gate valve have a baffle that is lowered into the path of the water by turning a screw-type handle.

Butterfly Valves

Used on large pump intakes and incorporates a flat baffle that turns 90 degrees.

Clapper valves

used in Siamese appliances and FDC to allow water to flow in one direction only.
The clapper is a flat disk hinged at the top or one side which swings open and closed like a door.

Valve devices

Valve devices allow the number of hoseline operating on the fire ground to be increased or decreased.
Include:
Wye
siamese
water theif
Large-diameter
hydrant valves

Wye appliances

used to divide a single hoseline into two or more lines.
"why two males"
valve-controlled by outlets are called gated wyes.
Ball valves are usually used in gated wyes.
2 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inch outlets.
for high volume operations,LDH inlet and two 2 1/2 ou

Siamese appiances

~supplies multiple lines into one
~permit multiple supply hoselines to be layed parallel to supply a pumper or high-output device.
~Two females inlet with one male outlet
~Clapper valves are used to control the flow of the inlet streams into a single outl

Water Theif appliances

~Similar to wyes appliance
~There is an inlet and outlet of matching size combines with smaller outlets that "steal" water from the main line.
Large volume water thief's appliances consist of LDH inlet and two or more 2 1/2 inch valve-controlled male outl

Large diameter hose appliances (LDH)

Used when a large volume of water near the end of the main supply line.
Typically consist of LDH inlet with 2 1/2 valve-controlled male outlets.
can be called: portable hydrants,Phantom pumpers, large diameters distributors.

Hydrant Valves

used when a forward lay is made from a low-pressure hydrant on the fire scene.
Read page 839 hydrant valves 4 main functions.

Fittings

used to connect hose of different diameters and thread types or to protect couplings on standpipes and on apparatus intakes and outlets.
Two main types: adapters and reducers

Adapters

is a fitting for connecting hose couplings with smaller threads and the same diameter.
"double male and double female

Reducers

They are used to connect a smaller-diameter hoseline to the end of a large one.

Intake Strainers

~Are devices attached to the drafting end of a hard-suction hose when pumping from a static water source.
~They are designed to keep debris from entering the apparatus or portable tank.

Hose tools

are used to protect, move, handle,store, and connect hose.
Look at page 840 for hose tools

Hose Roller

Used to protect hose from mechanical damage of dragging hose over sharp corners such as roof edges and windowsills.

Hose jacket

~is placed when a hoseline ruptures but must remain charged to continue fore attack.
~Made of two sizes of 2 1/2 inches and 3 inches.
~Hose jacket can also be used to connect hose with mismatched or damaged screw-thread couplings.

Hose clamp

can be used to stop the water flow in a hoseline.
3 types pf hose clamps:Screw-down,Press-down,and hydraulic.

General rules for applying hose clamps

20 feet behind the apparatus
5 feet from the coupling on the supply side.
Read page 841

Spanner, Hydrant Wrench, and Rubber Mallet

Most common tools used to tighten or loosen hose couplings are the Spanner, Hydrant Wrench, and Rubber Mallet.
Spanner wrench primary purpose is to tighten and loosen couplings

Hydrant wrench

Primarily used to remove discharge caps from the hydrant outlets and to open fire hydrant valves.

Rubber mallet

Is sometimes used to strike the lugs to tighten or loosen intake hose couplings.

Hose Bridge or Ramp

Hose bridge or ramps help prevent damage to fire hose when vehicles must drive over it.
Hose ramps can be positioned over small spills to keep hoselines from being contaminated,and they cab be used as chafing blocks.

Chafing Block

Charged hoseline vibrate and run against other surfaces which can cause abrasions. Chafing blocks are used to protect fire hose from these abrasions.

Hose straps, Hose rope and Hose Chain

Are used to carry,pull,or handle charged hoselines

Hose Rolls

Straight roll
Donut roll
Twin Donut Roll
Self-locking twin donut roll

Straight Roll

~The single-section straight roll is the simplest of all hose roll.
~male towards the female

Straight Roll commonly used for

~storing in a hose rack
~transporting damaged or dirty hose to the station for repair, replacement or cleaning.
~Carrying spare sections of hose in apparatus compartments
~Making hose loading easier

Donut roll

Is commonly used in situations where hose is likely to be developed for directly from a roll.

Donut roll advantages

~The firefighter has control of both couplings
~The hose rolls out eaiser with fewer kinks
~Both couplings enables a quicker connection to other coulings

Twin Donut Roll

~Works best on 1 1/2 inch and 1 3/4 hose.
~Purpose of this hose roll is to create a compact roll that can be easily transported and carried for special applications such as high rise or standpipe operations.

Self-locking twin donut roll

is a twin donut roll with a built in caring loop formed from the hose itself.

Basic Hose loads and Finishes

NFPA 1901 Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus, list the minimum quantity of hose on various size to be carried on a pumper or engine.
There must be a minimum of
800 ft of 2 1/2 inch or larger fire
supply hose.
400 feet of of 1 1/2 inch, 1 3/4 inch or 2

Supply and attack hose are usually carries in an open compartment called...

Hpse bed

Three most common loads for supply hoselines

Flat,accordion, and horseshoe load.

Finish

An additional section connected to the hose load and arranged on the top of the load, which can be rapidly deployed forward or reverse hose lays or as a attack line.

Flat

~Flat load is the easiest to load.
~Suitable for any size supply hose
~Best way to load large-diameter hose.
~Hose load for a LDH should be started 12 to 18 inches from the front of the hose bed.

Accordin load

~The hose is laid on the edge on folds that lie adjacent to each other.
~First coupling is placed in the rear of the bed. In a single compartment it is placed in either corner.
~Is the easiest to load, only required two or three people to load but four pe

Horseshoe load

~It is loaded on the edge, but in this case the hose is laid in a U-shaped configuration around the perimeter of the hose bed working toward the center.
~Primary advantage is that it has fewer sharp bends in the hose than the according or flat.
~Does not

Combination Load

are used with split hose beds that are loaded with threaded-couplings hose. This load permits the apparatus to make forward lay from the water source to the fire followed by reverse lay back to the water source.

Hose Load Finishes

Hose load finishes are added to the basic hose load to increase the versatility of the load.
Normally loaded to provide enough hose to connect the hoselines to a hydrant and to provide an attack hoseline at the fire scene.
Two categories:
Forward hose lay

Straight Finish

Consist of the last section of hose arranged loosely back and forth across the top of the hose load.

Reverse Horseshoe Finish

The bottom of the U portion of the horseshoe is at the rear of the hose bed.

Skid Load Finish

Consist of folding the last three sections into a compact bundle on top of the rest of the load.
The load begins by forming three or more pull loops that extend beyond the end of the hose load.
The rest of the hose, with nozzle attached, is accordion-fold

High Rise Pack

Are assembles to provide enough attack hose for firefighters to operate a standpipe connection and still be light enough for one person to carry.

Hose Load Guidelines

Remove kinks and twist from fire hose when it is bent to form a loop in the hose bed.
Read page 852

Dutchman

Extra fold placed along the legnth of a section of hose as it is loaded so that its coupling rests on the proper position.
1. It changes the directions of the couplings
2. Changes the location of the couplings

Preconnected Hose loads for Attack Lines

Preconnects, are primary lines most fires departments use for attack.
Range from 50 - 250 feet.

Preconnect Flat Load

is adaptable for varying sizes of hose beds and is often transverse beds.

Tripple Layer

~Load begins with hose folded in three layers.
~Three folds are laid into the bed in an S-shaped fashion.
~Load id designed to be pulled by one person.

Mimuteman Load

Pulled and advanced by one person
Can be carried on the shoulder,completely clear of the ground.
The load deploys from the shoulder as the firefighter advances toward the fire.
Particularly well-suited for narrow hose bed.

Boster Hose Reels

are rubber-covered hose that are usually carried and coiled on reels.
Mounted above the pump panel and behind the apparatus cab.

Supply Hose Lays

Three basic: Forward lay, reverse lay and combination lay.

Guidlines when laying hose

~Do not ride in a standing position when the apparatus id moving
~Drive no faster than 10 mph- the slower the speed allows couplings to clean the tailboard as the hose leaves the bed.
~Deploy hose to one side of the roadway.

Forward lay

Deployed from the water source to the incident.
The first coupling to come off in a forward lay should be the female.
Primary advantage is that the pumper can remain at the incident so it hose,equipment, and tools are readily available.

Reverse Lay

When the pumper must go first to the fire scene before laying a supply line.
The first coupling to come off is a male.

Note

If a hard intake is marked VACUUM USE ONLY, do not use it for hydrant connections. This type of hard intake is for drafting only.

Combination Lay

Refers to the number of ways to lay multiple supply hose with a single engine.
The hose must be loaded into the hose bed in two separate hose bed compartments.

Deploying Preconnected Hoselines

Flat loads may be deploy to either side or from the rear of the apparatus.

The minuteman load

is intended to be deployed without dragging the hose on the ground.

Triple layer load

involves placing the nozzle and the fold of the firefighters shoulder and walking away from the apparatus toward the fire.

Deploying Other Hoselines

Remove the wye and enough hose to supply the smaller attack lines connected or to be connected to the wye. Kneel on the supply hose to anchor it as the driver/operator drives the apparatus slowly toward the water source.

Advancing Hoselines

Hoselines can be deployes more easily before thay are charged becuase water add weight.
It is unsafe to enter a burning building with an uncharged hose line

Advancing a Charged Hoseline

The working line drag is one of the quickest and easiest ways to advance a charged hoseline at ground level.

Advancing a Hose into a structure

~Before advancing be alert for potential dangers.
~The uncharged hoseline is advanced to the designated point of entry.

Guidelines for advancing a hoseline

~Bleed air from the hoseline as it is being charged and before entering the building of fire area.
~Position the nozzle operator and all members of the hose on the same side of the hoseline.
Read page 862-863

Advancing a house Up and Down a Stairway

~When conditions allow hoseline should be advanced uncharged.
~shoulder carry works well for stairway advancement.
~Minuteman load and carry is excellent
~When advancing up a stairway lay hose against the outside wall to keep the stairs clear as possible

Advancing a house Up and Down a Stairway

~when it is necessary to advance a charged hoseline up a stairway, excess hose should be deployed on the stairs toward the floor above the fire floor.

Advancing Hose from a standpipe

~Regardless of how hose is brought up, fire crews normally stop one floor below the fire floor and connect the attack hoselines to the standpipe.
~If the standpipe connection is in an enclosed stairway, it is acceptable to connect to the fire floor.

Improvising a standpipe

standpipes should be in buildings with three floors and higher.
Two methods for improvising standpipe: interior stair ways stretch and the outside stretch.

Interior stairway stretch

The interior stairway stretch is a labor-intensive task used in stairways that have an open shaft.
Hose rolls or bundles ban be carried up the stairs, secured to a handrail and the end lowered to the point where another section is attached to it.

Advancing Hose Up a Ladder

Advancing a hose uncharged up a ladder is the easiest and safest way.