Gavins notes: essientials of firefighting 7th edetion chapter 12

Supply hose

Transports water from a hydrant or other water supply source to an apparatus equipped with a pump.

Attack hose

Transports water or other extinguishing agents at increased pressure from the pump to the point where water is applied.

Attack hose may carry water from where

From a pump-equipped apparatus to a nozzle/nozzles, from an apparatus to an FDC, or from a standpipe to the point where water is applied.

NFPA 1961

Standard on Fire Hose; covers specifications for fire hose, including hose size and construction.

How is fire hose size described?

By hose diameter and length.

Fire hose diameter

Refers to the hose's inside diameter.

NFPA rule for labeled hose diameter

The internal diameter should not be less than the advertised or labeled hose size.

What happens to hose diameter when pressurized?

Expansion can increase the interior diameter and reduce friction loss.

Typical attack and supply hose lengths

Commonly manufactured in 50-foot or 100-foot sections.

Traditional North American fire hose section length

50 feet.

Suction hose / intake hose

Hose used to connect the pump to a hydrant or other water source.

Soft sleeve hose

Large flexible intake hose used to connect the pump intake to a pressurized water source.

Can soft sleeve hose be used for drafting?

No. It is not rigid and can collapse under vacuum.

Typical soft sleeve hose size

About 2½ to 6 inches.

Hard suction hose

Rigid intake hose designed primarily for drafting water from static water supplies.

Typical hard suction hose length

Usually 10-foot sections.

Hard suction hose can be used for what?

Drafting from static water supplies or connecting to a hydrant.

typical hard suction hose size

About 2½ to 6 inches.

NFPA 1901

Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus; includes apparatus requirements such as minimum hose carried.

Fire hose coupling

Connects hose sections to form a continuous hoseline and connects hose to nozzles, hydrants, pump connections, and FDCs.

NFPA 1963

Standard for Fire Hose Connections; specifies fire hose coupling design and construction for compatibility.

National Hose thread / NH

Standard fire hose screw thread commonly used so different departments can connect compatible hose.

Threaded coupling

Coupling that joins by screw threads and has a distinct male and female end.

Male threaded coupling

Has the threads cut on the exterior surface.

Female threaded coupling

Has threads on the interior of a free-turning ring called the swivel.

Female swivel

Allows hose sections to be connected without twisting the entire hose.

How should threaded couplings normally be tightened?

Hand tight to avoid damaging the coupling or gasket.

Shank

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

Higbee cut

Flattened angle at the beginning of the threads that helps prevent cross-threading.

Higbee indicator

Mark on the exterior of a coupling showing where the Higbee cut begins.

Purpose of the Higbee indicator

Helps align male and female threads, especially in low light or when the threads cannot be seen.

Lugs on threaded couplings

Gripping points used to tighten and loosen couplings.

Where are coupling lugs located?

On the shank of the male coupling and the swivel of the female coupling.

Spanner wrench

Special wrench that fits against coupling lugs to tighten or loosen hose connections.

Three types of threaded coupling lugs

Rocker lug, recessed lug, and pin lug.

Pin lugs

Older lug design resembling small pegs.

Why are pin lugs less common today?

They can catch on objects when hose is dragged or deployed.

Recessed lugs

Shallow holes drilled into the coupling that reduce protruding parts and abrasion.

What tool is used with recessed lugs?

Pin lug spanner wrench.

Rocker lugs

Rounded modern coupling lugs designed to reduce catching on objects.

Most common modern threaded coupling lug

Rocker lug.

Nonthreaded coupling

Coupling that connects using locks or cams instead of screw threads.

Two-way coupling

Nonthreaded coupling with identical ends rather than separate male and female ends.

Two common two-way coupling types

Quarter-turn and Storz.

Quarter-turn coupling

Uses hook-like lugs and locks by rotating approximately 90 degrees.

Storz coupling

Two-way nonthreaded coupling commonly found on large-diameter hose.

How does a Storz coupling lock?

Grooved lugs interlock and the couplings rotate into the locked position.

Major advantage of nonthreaded couplings

They can be connected quickly.

Why can't nonthreaded couplings cross-thread?

They have no screw threads.

Why are double-male or double-female adapters usually unnecessary with two-way couplings?

The coupling ends are identical.

Danger of an incompletely connected nonthreaded coupling

It can suddenly and violently uncouple when pressurized.

Other disadvantage of nonthreaded couplings

Dirt or debris can lodge in the grooves and make the coupling appear connected when it is not.

NFPA 1962

Standard for the Care, Use, Inspection, Service Testing, and Replacement of Fire Hose, Couplings, Nozzles, and Fire Hose Appliances.

When should new fire hose be inspected and service tested?

Within 90 days before being placed in service for the first time.

How often should hose be inspected/service tested after initial placement in service?

At least annually, along with inspection after use as required.

What should be done after a hose is used

Inspect it for visible soil or damage and check the couplings.

Main types of hose damage

Mechanical, thermal, organic, chemical, corrosion, and age deterioration.

Mechanical hose damage

Damage caused by physical contact resulting in cuts, tears, abrasions, or damaged couplings.

Examples of mechanical hose damage

Slices/cuts, rips/tears, abrasions, crushed couplings, or cracked lining.

How can mechanical hose damage be reduced around sharp edges

Use hose rollers or protective coverings over sharp surfaces.

How can vehicles be prevented from damaging hose?

Reroute traffic or use hose ramps/bridges.

Why should nozzles, valves, and hydrants be opened and closed slowly

To reduce excessive stress and prevent water hammer.

Why use chafing blocks near the pumper?

To reduce abrasion caused by vibration.

Thermal hose damage

Damage caused by excessive heat, flame, cold, or freezing temperatures.

Examples of heat damage to hose

Charring, melting, weakening of the outer jacket, and dehydration of the rubber lining.

How should hose be mechanically dried?

Use moderate temperatures; warm air is better than hot air.

Why should hose not remain in a drying tower longer than necessary?

Excessive drying can dehydrate and weaken the liner.

What can happen when water freezes inside or outside a hose?

The hose may become damaged from freezing and thawing.

How can hose freezing during intermittent use be reduced?

Allow some water to continue flowing through the nozzle.

Three ways to remove hose frozen to an ice-covered surface

Melt the ice with steam, chop the hose loose with axes while avoiding the hose, or allow weather to warm enough to melt the ice.

Should frozen hose be folded

No. Wait until it thaws because folding frozen hose can damage the lining and outer jacket

What should be done before putting thawed hose back in service?

Perform a service test.

Organic hose damage

Damage caused by living organisms such as mold and mildew.

Why are natural-fiber hose jackets vulnerable to mold and mildew

Storing them wet can cause rot that weakens the jacket.

Synthetic woven hose jacket advantage

Synthetic fibers such as polyester resist organic damage better than natural fibers.

Is rubber-jacketed hose subject to organic damage?

It is generally not subject to mold/mildew damage in the same way natural-fiber hose is.

Chemical hose damage

Deterioration caused by chemicals or chemical vapors attacking hose materials.

What can petroleum products, paints, acids, or alkalis do to hose?

Weaken it enough that it may burst under pressure.

Effect of motor oil on hose

Can penetrate the woven jacket and cause separation of the inner lining.

Effect of gasoline on hose

can separate the inner lining more quickly and severely than motor oil.

Effect of battery acid on hose

Can destroy hose jacket fibers.

Where should hose be positioned to reduce exposure to chemicals along a roadway

About 2 to 4 feet away from the curb or gutter when practical, while keeping it out of vehicle travel lanes

Corrosion

Gradual weakening of metal due to substances in the environment.

Most common fire hose coupling metals

Brass and aluminum.

What happens to brass as it corrodes?

It may darken and turn green as copper oxides form.

How does aluminum resist further oxidation

It forms a layer of aluminum oxide that helps protect or "seal" the underlying metal.

Age deterioration of hose

Damage that develops from prolonged storage, repeated folding, loading, or hanging.

What can happen if hose remains tightly packed in the apparatus bed too long

It may deteriorate and crack at sharp fold points.

How can fold damage from long-term storage be reduced

Remove and repack hose regularly, changing where the folds occur.

Straight hose roll

Simplest hose roll; begins at the male coupling and rolls toward the female coupling.

Which coupling is protected in the center of a standard straight roll

The male coupling.

Which coupling is exposed on a standard straight roll

The female coupling.

Common uses of a straight roll

Transporting damaged/dirty hose, storing hose, carrying spare sections, and making hose loading easier.

How can a straight roll mark damaged hose needing repair

Start the roll at the female coupling so the male coupling remains exposed, or tag/knot the exposed end

Donut roll

Hose roll commonly used when hose will be deployed directly from the roll.

Advantages of the donut roll over the straight roll

Firefighter controls both couplings, protects them from damage, hose rolls out with fewer twists/kinks, and connections can be made faster.

Twin donut roll

Two lengths/layers rolled together into a compact roll for easy transport and special applications

Common hose sizes for twin donut roll

Often used with 1½-inch and 1¾-inch hose, although larger hose may also be rolled this way.

Primary purpose of a twin donut roll

Create a compact roll that is easy to carry for uses such as high-rise or standpipe operations.

NFPA 1901 minimum supply hose on a standard pumper

Minimum 800 feet of 2½-inch or larger fire supply hose.