1. Nozzles and Fire Streams
FVCC Fire Rescue
Nozzles and Fire Streams

2. OBJECTIVES 2-13.1 Identify a fire stream. (3-3.7)
Identify the purposes of a fire stream. (3-3.7)
Identify the advantages of using water as an extinguishing agent.
Identify the disadvantages of using water as an extinguishing agent.
OBJECTIVES

3. 2-13. 5. Identify three major types of fire stream patterns. (3-3
Identify three sizes of fire streams (3-3.6, 3-3.9)
Identify the design of the three major types of fire stream nozzles and tips (3-3.6, 3-3.9)
OBJECTIVES

4. 2-13. 8. Identify the required nozzle pressure of fire streams. (3-3
Identify the major parts of a fog nozzle (3-3.7)
Identify the water flow through various types of fog nozzles. (4-3.1)
Identify the operations of fire stream nozzles. (3-3.6, 3-3.9)
OBJECTIVES

5. Identify the nozzle pressure effects and the flow capabilities of fire stream nozzles. (3-3.9)
Identify nozzle reaction (3-3.6, )
Identify water hammer and one method of its prevention. (3-3.9)
OBJECTIVES

6. Identify three observable results that are obtained when the proper application of a fire stream is accomplished (3-3.9)
Identify the safe procedures in the handling of fire hose and associated equipment. (3-3.9)
OBJECTIVES

7. 2-13.17 Identify methods of preventing damage to a nozzle and associated equipment. (3-3.9)
Identify the types of ground cover fires. (3-3.8)
Identify the procedures for extinguishing ground cover fires. (3-3.8)
OBJECTIVES

8. 2-13.20 Identify the procedures for extinguishing ground cover fires (3-3.8)
Identify the equipment necessary for foam application. (3-3.15)
Identify the following methods of water application. (3-3.7)
Direct
Indirect
Combination
OBJECTIVES

9. Identify the use of nozzles carried on a pumper as required by Section 3-8 of NFPA1901, Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus, 1996 ed, (3- 3.9)
Open and close a fog nozzle.
Adjust the stream pattern on a fog nozzle
Adjust the flow setting on an adjustable gallonage fog nozzle
Open and close a solid stream nozzle.
OBJECTIVES

10. Identify the use of adapters carried on a pumper as required by Section 3-8 of NFPA 1901, Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus.
Identify the procedures for inspecting nozzles for damage. (3-3.6, )
OBJECTIVES

11. 2-13. 26. Identify the procedures for cleaning and maintaining nozzles
Identify the procedures for extinguishing or controlling the following live fires working as a member of a team and using appropriate protective equipment, firefighting tools, and extinguishing agents:
Piles/stacks of Class A combustible materials (exterior)
OBJECTIVES

12. OBJECTIVES 2-13.27.2 Open pans for combustible liquids (exterior)
Vehicle fires
Storage containers (exterior dumpster/trash bin)
Class A combustible materials within a structure (interior attack)
A hidden fire within a structure
Ground cover fire
OBJECTIVES

13. 2-13. 28. Identify assembling the components of a foam fire stream
Identify the application technique of Class B foam. (3-3.15)
Demonstrate the following methods of water application: (3-3.7(b), (b))
OBJECTIVES

14. Direct
Indirect
Combination
Demonstrate the use of nozzles carried on a pumper as required by Section 3-8 of NFPA 1901, Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus, ed. (3-3.9(b))
Open and close a fog nozzle.
Adjust the stream pattern on a fog nozzle
Adjust the flow setting on an adjustable gallonage fog nozzle.
Open and close a solid stream nozzle
OBJECTIVES

15. Demonstrate the use of adapters carried on a pumper as required by Section 3-8 of NFPA 1901, Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus.
Demonstrate the procedures for inspecting nozzles for damage (3-3.6(b), (b))
OBJECTIVES

16. 2-13.34 Demonstrate the procedures for cleaning and maintaining nozzles. (3- 3.6(b), 3-3.9(b))
Demonstrate extinguishing or controlling the following live fires working as a member of a team and using appropriate protective equipment, firefighting tools, and extinguishing agents:
Piles/stacks of Class A combustible materials (exterior)
OBJECTIVES

17. OBJECTIVES 2-13.35.2 Open pans for combustible liquids (exterior)
Vehicle fires
Storage containers (exterior dumpster/trash bin)
Class A combustible materials within a structure (interior attack)
OBJECTIVES

18. 2-13.35.6 A hidden fire within a structure
Ground cover fire
Demonstrate assembling the components of a foam fire stream (3-3.15)
Demonstrate application technique of Class B foam (3-3.15)
IFSTA, Essentials, 4th ed, Chapters 12-13
Delmar, Firefighter’s Handbook, copyright 2000, Chapters 10-11
OBJECTIVES

19. A stream of water or other extinguishing agent, after it leaves the fire hose and nozzle until it reaches the desired point.
IDENTIFY A FIRE STREAM

20. PURPOSES OF A FIRE STREAM
Applying water or foam directly to burning material to reduce its temperature.
Applying water or foam over an open fire to reduce the temperature so firefighters can advance hand lines closer to effect extinguishment.
Reducing high atmospheric temperature.
PURPOSES OF A FIRE STREAM

21. PURPOSES OF A FIRE STREAM
Dispersing hot smoke and fire gases from a heated area by using a fire stream.
Creating a water curtain to protect firefighters and property from heat.
Creating a barrier between a fuel and a fire by covering with a foam blanket.
PURPOSES OF A FIRE STREAM

22. EXTINGUISHING PROPERTIES OF WATER
TS 13–2a
Is readily available
Is inexpensive
Has great heat-absorbing capacity
Absorbs a large amount of heat when converting to steam
The greater its surface area, the greater the heat absorption
Chipped ice vs. single ice cube
Fog stream vs. solid stream
Steam vs. liquid
EXTINGUISHING PROPERTIES OF WATER

23. EXTINGUISHING PROPERTIES OF WATER (cont.)
TS 13–2b
EXTINGUISHING PROPERTIES OF WATER (cont.)
Is unique in that it expands both upon freezing and upon changing into its vapor state
Water in pipes subject to freezing may rupture
Undrained automatic sprinkler piping in unheated buildings
Wet barrel hydrants
Shallowly buried underground pipes
Its 1700:1 expansion ratio during vaporization allows it to absorb more heat

24. PHYSICAL STATES OF WATER
VS 13-2
PHYSICAL STATES OF WATER
Solid Ice
Liquid Water
Gas Invisible Water Vapor
Above 212°F (100°C)
32°F (0°C)
32°F to 212°F (0°C to 100°C)
Increasing Temperature

25. WATER AS STEAM VS 13-3 10 feet (3 m) 50 feet (15 m) 96 feet (29 m)
• At 212ºF (100ºC) water expands to approximately 1,700 times its original volume.
• Steam absorbs more heat faster, cooling fuel below ignition temperature.
• Steam displaces hot gases, smoke, and other products of combustion.
• In some cases, steam may smother fire by excluding oxygen.
20 cubic feet (0.57 m3) of 500°F (260°C) converts to 48,000 feet (1 359 m) of steam
10 feet (3 m)
50 feet (15 m)
96 feet (29 m)

26. VS 13-4
FRICTION LOSS
Velocity: Rate of motion of particle in a a given direction; speed
Friction Loss: Pressure lost while forcing water through pipe, fittings, fire hose, and adapters.
Critical Velocity: Turbulence caused when a stream is subjected to excessive velocity

27. ADVANTAGES OF USING WATER
Greater heat absorbing capacity than other common extinguishing agents
One BTU is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree F.
Cools fuel below ignition temperature
A relatively large amount of heat is required to vaporize liquid water to steam – 970 BTU’s are required to vaporize water, changing it to steam.
ADVANTAGES OF USING WATER

28. ADVANTAGES OF USING WATER
The greater the surface area of the water exposed, the more rapidly heat will be absorbed
Water converted to steam occupies times the original volume occupied by the liquid
Displaces hot gases, smoke and other products of combustion.
ADVANTAGES OF USING WATER

31. DISADVANTAGES OF USING WATER
Water has a considerable amount of surface tension
Will not readily penetrate certain porous materials.
Will react with combustible materials
Certain metals
Freezing will occur at 32 degrees F (0 degrees C)
Water has low viscosity; it will not cling or readily coat materials
May conduct electricity under certain conditions
DISADVANTAGES OF USING WATER

32. CAUSES OF FRICTION LOSS
TS 13–3
Rough hose lining
Damaged couplings
Sharp bends/kinks in hose
Adapters
Partially closed valves/nozzles
Wrong size gasket
Excessive hose length
Excess flow for hose size
CAUSES OF FRICTION LOSS

33. CAUSES OF PRESSURE LOSS OTHER THAN FRICTION LOSS
TS 13–4
CAUSES OF PRESSURE LOSS OTHER THAN FRICTION LOSS
Broken hoseline
Mechanical problem due to poor water supply
Error in hydraulics calculation
Obstructions from the pump or water main
Elevation of nozzle above pump

34. SOME REASONS FOR PRESSURE LOSS
VS 13-5
SOME REASONS FOR PRESSURE LOSS
Damaged
Couplings
Kinks or
Sharp Bends
Adapters
Hose Length
Elevation
Loss
Hose Diameter/Length
100 gpm
100 gpm
1 ½
2 ½
30 psi Loss
per 100 ft.
3 psi Loss
per 100 ft.

35. GUIDELINES FOR REDUCING FRICTION LOSS
TS 13–5
Check for rough linings in fire hose.
Replace damaged hose couplings.
Eliminate sharp bends in hose when possible.
Use adapters to make hose connections only when necessary.
Reduce amount of flow.
Keep nozzles and valves fully open when operating hoselines.
Use proper size hose gaskets for hose selected.
Use short hoselines as much as possible.
Use larger hose or multiple lines when flow must be increased.
GUIDELINES FOR REDUCING FRICTION LOSS

36. ELEVATION LOSS/GAIN Nozzle above  Fire Pump = Pressure Loss
TS 13–6
Nozzle above  Fire Pump = Pressure Loss
Nozzle below  Fire Pump = Pressure Gain
ELEVATION LOSS/GAIN

37. WATER HAMMER Water hammer hits everything VS 13-6 Pump Piping Hose
Hydrant
Coupling
Main
Open and close all nozzles and valves slowly.

38. TS 13–7
Is surge created by suddenly stopping the flow of water through fire hose or pipe
Is often heard as a distinct clank, much like a hammer striking pipe
Causes a change in direction of energy and multiplies the energy many times
Can damage pumps, hoselines, water mains, couplings, nozzles, and hydrants
Can be prevented by operating nozzle controls, hydrants, valves, and hose clamps slowly
WATER HAMMER

39. FIRE STREAM PATTERNS Solid streams
Designed to produce a stream as compact as possible with little shower or spray
Produced from a fixed orifice
Longer reach than other types of streams
Reduced problem of steam burns to firefighters and trapped civilians as a result of disturbance to the normal thermal layering of heat and gases during interior structural attack
Operating pressures (2-3.9(a))
50 psi on handlines
80 psi on master stream devices
FIRE STREAM PATTERNS

41. FIRE STREAM PATTERNS Fog streams
A fog stream is a patterned stream composed of fine water droplets
Variable stream patterns can be produced
Wide angle fog
Narrow angle fog
Straight stream
Greater heat absorption due to more surface area of water exposed
May be used in close proximity to energized electrical equipment
FIRE STREAM PATTERNS

43. FIRE STREAM PATTERNS Have less reach than solid streams
Less penetrating power than solid streams
Susceptible to wind currents
Improper use during interior attacks can
Spread fire
Create heat inversion
Cause steam burns to firefighters and trapped civilians
Operate at designed pressure
FIRE STREAM PATTERNS

45. FIRE STREAM PATTERNS Broken Stream
Solid stream broken into coarsely divided water droplets
Droplets are larger than fog stream droplets and have better penetration
FIRE STREAM PATTERNS

47. THREE SIZES OF FIRE STREAMS
Fire streams are identified by size and type
The size is the amount of water in gallons per minute that will flow at a specified pressure.
The type of fire stream is the pattern
Booster lines
Low-volume stream: Discharge is generally less than 40 GPM
Handline stream: Generally range from GPM
½” to 2” diameter handlines (small): GPM
2 ½” – 3” diameter handlines (medium large) GPM
Master stream: Discharge is greater than 350 GPM
THREE SIZES OF FIRE STREAMS

48. DESIGN Solid stream nozzles
Shape of the stream in the nozzle is gradually reduced until it is a short distance from the outlet
Has a smooth finished waterway one to one and one-half times its diameter
Discharge orifice should be no greater than one-half the diameter of the hoseline supplying the nozzle.
DESIGN

51. DESIGN Fog stream nozzles Set or constant gallonage nozzles
One flow rate at a given discharge pressure
Adjustable gallonage nozzles
Allows one of several preset gallon settings to be selected
Automatic nozzles
Discharge a wide range of flows depending on the pressure being supplied to the nozzle
DESIGN

52. NOZZLE CONTROL VALVES ROTARY CONTROL VALVE
VS 13-22
NOZZLE CONTROL VALVES ROTARY CONTROL VALVE
A screw guides
an exterior barrel
around an interior barrel.
This valve also
controls the
stream discharge
Pattern.

53. Adjustable gallonage nozzles
Set or constant gallonage nozzles

54. Automatic nozzles

55. DESIGN Broken stream nozzles Limited to special applications
Designed for a specific use
Types are:
Water curtain
Designed to produce a fan-like pattern that is most effective if sprayed directly upon the exposure being protected
Cellar or distributor nozzle
Designed to be raised or lowered through holes in floors or ceilings
Piercing nozzle
Designed with a hardened steep tip that can be driven through a wall or partition
Can be used on truck or engine compartment of a vehicle
DESIGN

57. NOZZLE PRESSURE Smooth bore handline: 50 PSI
Fog handline, normal 100 PSI
Fog handline, mid-pressure 75 PSI
Fog handline, low pressure 50 PSI
Smooth bore master stream 80 PSI
Fog master stream 100 PSI
NOZZLE PRESSURE

58. FOG NOZZLE Nozzle control valve Permits regulation of the flow Types:
Ball valve
Slide valve
Rotary control
FOG NOZZLE

61. FOG NOZZLE Exterior barrel Deflecting stem
Body of nozzle
Rotating changes stream pattern
Deflecting stem
Position in relation to barrel determines shape of stream
Gallonage adjustment ring (on variable gallonage nozzles)
Used to select gallons per minute desired
FOG NOZZLE

62. FOG NOZZLE Rubber bumper/guard Located on barrel of nozzle Play pipes
Provides solid grip for adjusting stream pattern
Protects nozzle if dropped
Play pipes
Tapered pipe used to accelerate flow
Usually found on 2 ½ inch nozzles
Stream straightness
Used to prevent the twisting motion of a fire stream
FOG NOZZLE

63. FOG NOZZLE Accessories
Pistol grips (Throw them away!)
Large double handles (usually 2 ½ inch nozzles)
Identify the water flow through various types of fog nozzles (4-3.1)
FOG NOZZLE

64. WATER FLOW THROUGH FOG NOZZLES
Periphery – deflected
Produced by deflecting water from the periphery of an inside, circular stem and then again by the exterior barrel
Position of exterior barrel determines shape of stream
WATER FLOW THROUGH FOG NOZZLES

65. WATER FLOW THROUGH FOG NOZZLES
Impinging jet
Developed by driving several jets of water together at a fixed angle
Usually produces wide fog patterns
WATER FLOW THROUGH FOG NOZZLES