Big Fire - Big Hose

Getting the Wet Stuff to the Red Stuff Quickly

Mark GoergerUpdated 2012

Objectives

Hose types & sizes.Supplying the Fire.Why not use the big hose?Water Use & Problems.Fire Loads.Calculated Critical Fire Flow Methods. 2 Car Garage – Rule of Thumb.Roll it up.

Discuss……

Different FlavorsBooster Hose

1 “ to 1.25”

The most common hose is woven and can be made from synthetics or natural materials.

Supply Hose

5” (Typ.)

Booster Hose also known as a booster reel, red line, black line or hard line depending on nomenclature

Rubberized supply hose has been around for 2 decades now and is become the preferred style. It does not have the same problems as woven hose during storage, especially mold problems

Hand Line

1 ½”, 1 ¾” 2 ½”

Putting it TogetherThere are several ways to couple fire hose together. Always make sure that you align the Higby cuts and check for a gasket before connecting any two hoses.

The Foot Tilt Method

Step just behind the male couplings shank. This will tilt the coupling up making the threads available. Bend over and twist the female section on.

The Over the Hip Method

This is done by sliding your hip out and laying the male coupling over it. Bring the female coupling up and twist into place.

The Two Person Method

No big trick here. Two people with each holding a coupling. The person with the male coupling should look away and so as to not “help”

When the going gets tough

When couplings get stuck together the easiest way is to get the right tool. Hose spanner can make tight, tough connections easy. You should use 2 as pictured and turn them in opposite directions. This can be used to tighten or loosen hose. Many of us carry pocket versions.

Stiff arming couplings takes two people but works well when spanners aren’t available. Each person locks their arms straight and makes a quarter turn in opposite directions to break the stuck coupling.

The knee press is the only used when another person and spanners aren’t available. Stand the jammed coupling on end and put your knee on top. Lean you weight into the coupling and twist the female off. Your knee should relieve the pressure of the stuck couplings.

What do you do when you can’t get a coupling uncoupled. Here are some get tough suggestions.

Supplying the Fire

The Reverse Lay is used when you need to pump from a water source because it is not pressurized or it doesn’t have enough pressure. You start at the fire and lay hose to the water source. This gives you the advantage of being able to pump up the water pressure with the pump. The problem is that it takes the tool box away from the fire.

The Forward Lay is the most common type of hose lay. You start at the water source and lay hose to the fire. This gives you the advantage of having your tool box (fire engine) with you at the fire. However this requires a pressurized supply of water or another pumper to pump you water.

The Split Lay or Driveway Lay is used when you have a long lay or a narrow driveway or road. One engine lays from and intersection (or end of the driveway) to the fire. The other engine lays from that point back to the water source. The hoses are connected together and water supply is established. This is the best of both worlds but requires two engines to accomplish the task.

Why not use Big Line?Too Heavy.Hard to advance line & control.Wastes water.Manpower (especially in Volunteer

Serv.)Takes too long to deploy.

Why WaterEffective in absorbing heat.100 gal absorbs 934,000 Btu’s.Expands 1700x into steam.Surface Tension• Sticks together, coats well

Readily available

Water ProblemsHeavy – 8.34 lbs/galRequires a force to moveNozzle reactionConverts to steam• Pushes fire where we don’t want it• Reduces visibility• Potential injuries to unprotected victims

Surface tension works against us• Coats surface of fuel /runs off due to

gravity

Fire Loads1 lb wood – 8000 Btu’s.1 gal gas – 13,000 Btu’s.Foam/Rubber/Plastics – 18,000

Btu’s/min/lbModern homes burn hotter today vs 30

yrs ago• Resins & Petroleum Products• Light Weight Construction • Glues, chip board, I-Beams

• Laminated Structural members

Fire Loads – ContinuedLarger volumes of water needed• 1 ¾” Fog - Absorbs 880,000 Btu’s• 1 ¾” SB – Absorbs 1.2 Mil Btu’s• 2 ½” SB – Absorbs 3 Mil Btu’s

Must apply H20 at high rate remove heat. Remember……

• Improper H20 application can disturb the thermal balance, thereby causing the steam to move to the floor and reduce visibility.

Use Big Line for initial knock down and smaller had line for mop-up/overhaul.

Calculated Fire FlowNFA (National Fire Academy) Method

L x W/3 = GPMIowa Method

L x W x H/100 = GPMISO Method

More complicatedToo Much Math……….

Calculated Fire Flow - Examples20’ x 20’ = 400 SF• 400/3 = 133 GPM

20’ x 30’ = 600 SF• 600/3 = 200 GPM

24’ x 52’ (Ranch) = 1248 SF• 1248/3 = 416 GPM

50’ x 50’ (Comm. Str.) = 2500 SF• 2500/3 = 833 GPM

2 Car Garage – Rule of ThumbAnything larger than a 20’ x 20’ structure

will need more H20 than a 1 ¾” line can effectively supply.

We can all relate to a 2 car garage…..If the fire is bigger in size than a 2 Car

GaragePull a 2 ½” line for initial attackUse 1 ¾” lines for support, exposure

protection and cleanup.

Roll it UpThere are several different ways to roll a hose. Each has its own purpose.

The Inservice, Straight or Storage Roll

This roll is accomplished by folding over the male coupling and rolling toward the female end. This protects the male coupling.

Single Donut Roll

Start this roll by folding the hose in half with the male end on top about 2 feet from the female end. Roll from the fold side not from the couplings

The Double Donut Roll

This roll begins by laying both couplings side by side. The hose is then rolled from the fold side (not coupling) making the hose into two side by side rolls.

Drain and Carry (Kinda like wash and wear)

To do this the hose must be laid out in a straight line. Then pick up the male coupling (to protect it) and walking toward the female coupling while lifting the hose up and folding it over your shoulder as you go. Make folds as the hose reaches your waist in both the front and back

Summary

Big Fire > 600 SF 200 GPM Needed

Big H20 > 200 GPM 2 ½” Line Needed

If structure is Larger than 20’ x 20’ (2 car garage)

Pull a 2 ½” Line!

Questions……