How to Size a Fire Hose
Fire hose is manufactured in 50-foot lengths with an inner layer of rubber covered with one or more layers of abrasion-resistant woven fabric. In order to minimize the space required to store fire hose at a fire station or to transport it to a fire, fire hose is made to collapse into a flat profile, differentiating it from spherically shaped garden hose. Fire hose is usually made with threaded metal connections on each end, allowing segments to be joined and/or a water nozzle to be attached. Fire hose is sized according to bowl size, hose diameter and the water or service pressure available at a fire site.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Hose use data
- Abrasion requirement data
- Calipers
- Service pressure data
- Underwriters Laboratories label specifications
Instructions
-
-
1
Determine how the fire hose is used. If it is a discharge type of hose, it is designed to work under positive pressure. Hoses of this type include attack, supply, relay and booster hoses. Hoses designed to operate under negative pressure are called suction hoses. Hose used outside in severe weather needs to be resistant to abrasion and wear.
-
2
Measure the inside diameter of the hose with calipers.
-
-
3
Determine the service pressure available in the area where the fire hose will be used. Fire hose is designed to meet or exceed requirements to handle water pressure.
-
4
Check the Underwriters Laboratories label on the hose if it has that label. The label indicates the hose size and design. Alternatively, check Underwriters Laboratories' requirements for how and where a fire hose will be used; they include the proper fire hose size.
-
1
References
- Photo Credit hose image by Ni Chun from Fotolia.com
