1. Fire Hose Nozzles & Flow Rates
Sugar Land Fire Department
Driver/Operator—Pumper Academy
Spring 2003

2. Fire Nozzles & Flow Rates
The type of fire stream applied to a fire depends on the nozzle type used. Pumping apparatus driver/operators must be familiar with the different types of nozzles carried on their apparatus. Each nozzle type has its own required flow rate and discharge pressure, which affect hydraulic calculations performed by the driver/operator. There may also be cases when the driver/operator is responsible for selecting an appropriate nozzle o perform a particular evolution. Because of these nozzle characteristics, the driver/operator must understand the capabilities of each nozzle in order to make the correct choice.

3. Factors Influencing Fire Streams
Velocity
Gravity
Wind
Friction with the air
Operating pressures
Nozzle design
Nozzle adjustment
Condition of nozzle orifice
Factors Influencing Fire Streams
Velocity
Gravity
Wind
Friction with the air
Operating pressures
Nozzle design
Nozzle adjustment
Condition of nozzle orifice

4. Stream Types Solid stream Fog stream Broken stream Master stream
Solid stream—compact stream with little shower or spray; produced from a fixed orifice, smoothbore nozzle.
Fog stream—stream broken into finely divided particles; produced from a fog nozzle
Broken stream—stream created when water is forced through a series of small holes on the discharge end of the nozzle; generally consists of larger droplets of water than a fog stream; produced from a chimney or cellar nozzle
Master stream—any fire stream that is too large to be controlled without mechanical aid; produced from a master stream nozzle.

5. Solid stream nozzles:
-Are designed to produce a stream as compact as possible with little shower or spray.
-has the ability to reach areas that other streams might not reach
-may be used on handlines, portable or apparatus mounted master streams, or elevated master streams
-are designed so that the shape of the water in the nozzle is gradually reduced until it reaches a point a short distance from the outlet where it passes through a cylindrical bore whose length is from one to one and one-half times its diameter and assumes a round shape before discharge.
-smooth-finish waterway contributes to both the shape and reach of the stream
-alteration or damage to the nozzle can significantly alter stream shape and performance.
-stream velocity (nozzle pressure) and size of discharge opening determine nozzle flow.
-should be operated at 50 psi nozzle pressure when used on handlines
-should be operated at 80 psi when on a solid stream master stream device

6. Fog Stream Nozzles
Angle of deflection determines reduction in forward velocity and stream pattern
Wide-angle deflection produces a wide-angle fog, and a narrow-angle deflection produces a narrow-angle fog
May be produced by deflection at the periphery or by impinging jets of water or by a combination of these
Fog Stream Nozzles
-Angle of deflection determines reduction in forward velocity and stream pattern
-Wide-angle deflection produces a wide-angle fog, and a narrow-angle deflection produces a narrow-angle fog
-May be produced by deflection at the periphery or by impinging jets of water or by a combination of these

7. Impinging stream fog nozzle
-drives several jets of water together at a set angle to break the water into a fog stream of finely divided particles (a fog stream)
-usually produced a wide-angle fog pattern, but a narrow pattern is possible. Impinging jets are also used on periphery-deflected stream nozzles.

8. Periphery-deflected fog nozzle
-is produced by deflecting water from the periphery of an inside circular stem in a periphery-deflected fog nozzle
-shape of stream determined by positions of nozzle’s deflecting stem and the exterior barrel of the nozzle

9. Fog Stream Nozzles
The reach of the fog stream is directly dependent on the width of the stream, the size of the water droplets, and the amount of water flowing.

10. Water is discharged at angles to the direct line of discharge, the reaction forces largely counterbalance each other, thus reducing nozzle reaction.
This balancing of forces is the reason why fog patterns are easier to handle than solid or straight stream patterns.

11. Periphery—The line bounding a rounded surface; the outward boundary of an object distinguished from its internal regions
Deflection—A turning or state of being turned; a turning from a straight line or given course; a bending; a deviation
Impinge—To strike or dash about or against; clashing with a sharp collision; to come together with force.
Periphery—The line bounding a rounded surface; the outward boundary of an object distinguished from its internal regions
Deflection—A turning or state of being turned; a turning from a straight line or given course; a bending; a deviation
Impinge—To strike or dash about or against; clashing with a sharp collision; to come together with force.

12. Constant Flow Nozzles
Most use a periphery-deflected stream
Most equipped with an adjustable pattern setting
Discharge the same volume of water at a specific nozzle discharge regardless of pattern setting
Most intended to be operated at a nozzle pressure of 100 psi

13. Manually Adjustable Nozzles
Have a number of constant flow settings
Supply the selected flow at the rated nozzle discharge pressure
Actual flow may differ from that indicated at the nozzle if the driver/.operator is unable to supply the proper pressure
Most designed to supply the gallonage marked on each setting
Manually Adjustable Nozzles
Have a number of constant flow settings
Supply the selected flow at the rated nozzle discharge pressure
Actual flow may differ from that indicated at the nozzle if the driver/.operator is unable to supply the proper pressure
Most designed to supply the gallonage marked on each setting

14. Manually Adjustable Nozzles
Driver/operator must know flow at which nozzle is set in order to properly supply hoseline and nozzle.
Nozzles set on a low flow may not provide proper amount of water to sufficiently cool a burning fuel
Driver/operator must know flow at which nozzle is set in order to properly supply hoseline and nozzle.
Nozzles set on a low flow may not provide proper amount of water to sufficiently cool a burning fuel

15. Automatic Nozzles Are also referred to as constant pressure nozzles
Are basically variable flow nozzles with pattern-change capabilities and the ability to maintain the same nozzle pressure
Maintain approximately same nozzle pressure an pattern when gallonage supplied to nozzle changes
Automatic Nozzles
Are also referred to as constant pressure nozzles
Are basically variable flow nozzles with pattern-change capabilities and the ability to maintain the same nozzle pressure
Maintain approximately same nozzle pressure an pattern when gallonage supplied to nozzle changes

16. Automatic Nozzles
Require adequate pump discharge pressure because stream may “look good”, but may not be supplying sufficient water for extinguishment or protection.
Most designed for a 100 psi discharge pressure
Are commonly used in high-rise fire fighting
Acceptable flow varies with hoseline size, nozzle design, and incident demand
Require adequate pump discharge pressure because stream may “look good”, but may not be supplying sufficient water for extinguishment or protection.
Most designed for a 100 psi discharge pressure
Are commonly used in high-rise fire fighting
Acceptable flow varies with hoseline size, nozzle design, and incident demand

17. Automatic Nozzles
Serve as a pressure regulator—within their flow limits—for the pumper as lines are added or shut down, allowing all available water to be used continuously if desired.
Maintain a constant nozzle pressure no matter how much the pump discharge pressure is above this figure
Serve as a pressure regulator—within their flow limits—for the pumper as lines are added or shut down, allowing all available water to be used continuously if desired.
Maintain a constant nozzle pressure no matter how much the pump discharge pressure is above this figure

18. High Pressure Fog Nozzles
Operate at pressure up to 800 psi
Develop a fog stream with considerable forward velocity but delver a relatively low volume of water
Deliver water in a very fast-moving, fine spray and may use an impinging stream
Are best used for fighting wildland fires
Not recommended for structural firefighting because they generally flow only about 8-15gpm
High Pressure Fog Nozzles
Operate at pressure up to 800 psi
Develop a fog stream with considerable forward velocity but delver a relatively low volume of water
Deliver water in a very fast-moving, fine spray and may use an impinging stream
Are best used for fighting wildland fires
Not recommended for structural firefighting because they generally flow only about 8-15gpm

19. Handline Nozzles
Designed to be placed on mobile attack lines that can be easily maneuvered by firefighters
May be of solid, fog, or broken stream type
Range in size from small booster line nozzles for ¾” booster hose, to large fog or solid stream nozzles designed to be placed on 3” hoseline
Generally, can flow a maximum of 350 gpm
Handline Nozzles
Designed to be placed on mobile attack lines that can be easily maneuvered by firefighters
May be of solid, fog, or broken stream type
Range in size from small booster line nozzles for ¾” booster hose, to large fog or solid stream nozzles designed to be placed on 3” hoseline
Generally, can flow a maximum of 350 gpm

20. Master Stream Nozzles
Are powerful and generate a considerable amount of nozzle reaction force
May be either solid or fog streams
Are usually operated at 80 psi for solid streams
Are usually operated at 100 psi for fog streams
Are used when handlines would be ineffective, conditions are unsafe, or when manpower is limited
Master Stream Nozzles
Are powerful and generate a considerable amount of nozzle reaction force
May be either solid or fog streams
Are usually operated at 80 psi for solid streams
Are usually operated at 100 psi for fog streams
Are used when handlines would be ineffective, conditions are unsafe, or when manpower is limited

21. Master Stream Nozzles
Deliver large volumes of water and have a greater reach than handheld streams
Are used from fixed positions, so most of them have some means for moving the stream in either a vertical or horizontal plane or both.
Deliver large volumes of water and have a greater reach than handheld streams
Are used from fixed positions, so most of them have some means for moving the stream in either a vertical or horizontal plane or both.

22. Master Stream Devices Monitor
Often incorrectly referred to as deluge sets, but unlike deluge sets, the stream direction and angle can be changed while water is being discharged.
May be one of three basic types:
Fixed—Permanently mounted on apparatus
Combination—May be mounted on apparatus and used as a turret or removed and used as a portable unit
Portable—Can be carried to the location where it is needed
Monitor
Often incorrectly referred to as deluge sets, but unlike deluge sets, the stream direction and angle can be changed while water is being discharged.
May be one of three basic types:
Fixed—Permanently mounted on apparatus
Combination—May be mounted on apparatus and used as a turret or removed and used as a portable unit
Portable—Can be carried to the location where it is needed

23. Master Stream Devices Turret Pipe Deluge set
Consists of a turret pipe mounted on a fire apparatus deck and connected directly to the pump by permanent pipe.
Sometimes called a deck gun or deck pip
Deluge set
Consists of a short length of large diameter hose with a large nozzle or large playpipe supported at the discharge end by a tripod
Turret Pipe
Consists of a turret pipe mounted on a fire apparatus deck and connected directly to the pump by permanent pipe.
Sometimes called a deck gun or deck pip
Deluge set
Consists of a short length of large diameter hose with a large nozzle or large playpipe supported at the discharge end by a tripod

24. Master Stream Devices Aerial Elevated Master Streams
Has a siamese connection at the supply end
Cannot change the direction or angle of the stream while the deluge set is discharging water
Aerial Elevated Master Streams
Ladder Pipe—a master stream device used in conjunction with master streams
Detachable ladder pipes most common on light-duty aerial ladders
Are attached to the rungs of an aerial ladder and are supplied by fire hose
Has a siamese connection at the supply end
Cannot change the direction or angle of the stream while the deluge set is discharging water
Aerial Elevated Master Streams
Ladder Pipe—a master stream device used in conjunction with master streams
Detachable ladder pipes most common on light-duty aerial ladders
Are attached to the rungs of an aerial ladder and are supplied by fire hose

25. Master Stream Devices
Must be operated manually by a firefighter at the tip of the ladder or by using a rope from the ground
Are limited to vertical up and down motions
May be permanently attached to elevating platforms and prepiped aerial ladders
Prepiped waterway—permanent piping used instead of hose
Generally have the ladder pipe attached to end of the waterway, which is on the bottom of ladder
May be operated from the top, either manually or by a power control switch located there
Must be operated manually by a firefighter at the tip of the ladder or by using a rope from the ground
Are limited to vertical up and down motions
May be permanently attached to elevating platforms and prepiped aerial ladders
Prepiped waterway—permanent piping used instead of hose
Generally have the ladder pipe attached to end of the waterway, which is on the bottom of ladder
May be operated from the top, either manually or by a power control switch located there

26. Master Stream Devices Elevating Platform Master Streams
Usually can also be operated from the turntable or pump panel area by remote power controls
May operate master stream by electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic power system
Elevating Platform Master Streams
Are basically similar to those with prepiped aerial ladders
Are located on aerial platform and can be more easily maneuvered by firefighters at tip of aerial device than can aerial master streams
Some equipped with two master streams on one platform
Usually can also be operated from the turntable or pump panel area by remote power controls
May operate master stream by electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic power system
Elevating Platform Master Streams
Are basically similar to those with prepiped aerial ladders
Are located on aerial platform and can be more easily maneuvered by firefighters at tip of aerial device than can aerial master streams
Some equipped with two master streams on one platform

27. Cellar nozzles
-also called distributors
-are often used on basement and attic fires
-can be lowered through holes cut in the floor or pushed through holes cut in the ceiling
-may not be equipped with shutoffs, so an in-line shutoff valve should be placed at a convenient location back from the nozzle

28. Water Curtain Nozzles
Produce a fan-shaped stream designed to act as a water barrier between a fire and a combustible material
May be used to protect firefighters from heat but must cover a wide area and be reasonably heavy to be effective
Absorb only convected heat from a fire; radiant heat is transmitted through the water curtain.
Water Curtain Nozzles
Produce a fan-shaped stream designed to act as a water barrier between a fire and a combustible material
May be used to protect firefighters from heat but must cover a wide area and be reasonably heavy to be effective
Absorb only convected heat from a fire; radiant heat is transmitted through the water curtain.

29. Piercing nozzle
-are commonly used to apply water to areas that are otherwise inaccessible to water streams
-may be sued to deliver aqueous film forming foam to a confined space
-generally consist of a 3 to 6 foot hollow steel rod 1 ½” in diameter with a hardened steel point on the discharge end suitable for driving through concrete block or other types of wall or partition assemblies
-have discharge point equipped with an impinging jet nozzle, which is generally capable of delivering about 100 gpm
-driving end of nozzle driven with a sledgehammer to force discharge point through an obstruction.

30. Chimney nozzles
-developed to attack chimney flue fires
-designed to be placed on the end of a booster hose
-consist of a solid piece of brass or steel with numerous, very small impinging holes
Generally produce only gpm of water in a very fine, misty fog cone at a nozzle pressure of 100 psi.
-used by lowering hose and nozzle down entire length of chimney and then quickly pulling it back out.
-immediately turns nozzle mist to steam and chokes the flue fire as well as loosens the soot on the inside of the chimney
-converts to steam so quickly and uses so little water that the flue liner is not damaged by sudden cooling
-should use an old section of hose on the end of the regular section of hose because process may damage booster hose.

31. Nozzle Pressure & Reaction
Nozzle Reaction—force counter to the velocity of water being discharged from a nozzle; directed against the person or device holding the nozzle
Newton’s Third Law of Motion—For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction
The greater the nozzle discharge pressure, the greater the resulting nozzle reaction.
Nozzle Pressure & Reaction
Nozzle Reaction—force counter to the velocity of water being discharged from a nozzle; directed against the person or device holding the nozzle
Newton’s Third Law of Motion—For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction
The greater the nozzle discharge pressure, the greater the resulting nozzle reaction.

32. Nozzle Pressure & Reaction
Nozzle reaction to a given pressure limits the amount of nozzle pressure that can be supplied to an attack line.
Practical working limits for velocity of fire streams are within 60 to 120 feet per second
These limiting velocities are produced by nozzle pressures that range from 25 to 100 psi
Because of a greater amount of nozzle reaction, lower nozzle pressures must be used with solid stream nozzles.
Nozzle reaction to a given pressure limits the amount of nozzle pressure that can be supplied to an attack line.
Practical working limits for velocity of fire streams are within 60 to 120 feet per second
These limiting velocities are produced by nozzle pressures that range from 25 to 100 psi
Because of a greater amount of nozzle reaction, lower nozzle pressures must be used with solid stream nozzles.

33. Nozzle Pressure & Reaction
As a rule, use 50 psi with solid stream handlines, and no more than 65 psi if greater reach and volume are needed
Portable master stream devices equipped with solid stream nozzles should not be operated above 80 psi
Fixed master stream devices with solid stream nozzles may be operated at higher pressures as required
Solid stream nozzles used on aerial devices should be limited to a discharge pressure of 80 psi
As a rule, use 50 psi with solid stream handlines, and no more than 65 psi if greater reach and volume are needed
Portable master stream devices equipped with solid stream nozzles should not be operated above 80 psi
Fixed master stream devices with solid stream nozzles may be operated at higher pressures as required
Solid stream nozzles used on aerial devices should be limited to a discharge pressure of 80 psi