Fire Hose, Nozzles, Streams, and Foam

16 Fire Hose, Nozzles, Streams, and Foam

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. • Describe how foam works. • List the types of foam. • Describe how to make foam. • Describe how to apply foam.

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.

Pressure Testing • Attack hose • Tested annually • Tested to 300 psi • Designed for use up to 275 psi • Supply hose • Tested annually • Tested to 200 psi • Designed for use up to 185 psi

Hose Construction (1 of 2) • Fire hose constructed of inner waterproof liner and one or two outer layers • Outer layers • Can be double-jacket hose • Can be rubber-jacket hose

Hose Construction (2 of 2) • Inner waterproof liner • Prevents water leakage • Provides smooth surface to reduce friction • Attached to outer covering

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

Attack Hose (4 of 4) • Forestry hose • Typically 1" or 1½" • Used for wildland and ground fire

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.

Hose Appliances (2 of 9) • Water thief • Similar to a gated wye • Has an additional 2 ½” outlet

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

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

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

Hose Appliances (7 of 9) • Hose roller • Used to protect a line being hoisted over an edge • Prevents chafing and kinking

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

Types of Valves (1 of 2) • Ball valves • Used on nozzles, gated wyes, and engine discharges • When hole is in-line with inlet and outlet, water flows. • When ball is rotated, flow shuts off.

Types of Valves (2 of 2) • Gate valves • Used on hydrants and sprinklers • Rotating spindle causes gate to move across opening • Butterfly valves • Used on large pump intake

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

Fire Hose, Nozzles, Streams, and Foam