1. Fire Hose, Nozzles, and Streams16
Fire Hose, Nozzles, and Streams

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

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

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

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

8. 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

9. 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

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

11. 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.

12. 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

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

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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)

17. 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.

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

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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

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

24. 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

25. 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.

26. 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.

27. 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.

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

29. 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.

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

31. 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.

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

33. 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.

34. 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.

35. 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.

36. 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

37. 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.

38. 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.

39. 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

40. 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.

41. 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.

42. 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

43. 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.

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

45. 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

46. 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.

47. 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.

48. 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.

49. 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.

50. 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.

51. 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

52. 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.

53. 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.

54. 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.

55. 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

56. 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

57. 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

58. 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.

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

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

61. 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

62. 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

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

64. 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

65. 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

66. 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.

67. Other Types of Nozzles Piercing nozzle Cellar nozzle
Water curtain nozzle

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

69. 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.

70. 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.