How do I Tell the Difference Between 1.5 & 1.75 Fire Hose?

Learn the difference between 1.5 and 1.75 fire hose.

When you're learning to become a firefighter, it's important to understand the characteristics of different fire hoses. You will need to know what diameter of fire hose is appropriate to use in any given situation. For example, a handline is a small-diameter fire hose used for applying water directly onto a fire once the firefighters are inside a burning building. Handlines typically come with diameters of 1.5 or 1.75 inches. Being able to tell the difference between them will help you succeed in firefighting.

Things You'll Need

• Fire hoses
• Ruler or measuring tape
• Water supply

Instructions

1. Pick up the hose and place a ruler or measuring tape across the diameter. Note whether you have a 1.5-inch or a 1.75-inch fire hose.

2. With a 1.75-inch hose and water flow pressure of 125 psi, note that you can just barely get the output you need in combination with an adjustable nozzle, and you will be about 15 lbs. short if using a fog nozzle.

3. See that when using a 1.5-inch hose and water flow pressure of 125 psi and an adjustable nozzle, you will be about 10 lbs. short of water pressure, and short by 35 lbs. when using a fog nozzle.

References

• Walworth County Emergency Services: Firefighter's Terminology
• Massey Disaster Planning: High-Rise Firefighting - Are We Losing Touch with "The Basics"?