Choosing The Right Hose

Safety & Performance Matter

When it comes to ensuring firefighter safety and optimum performance on the fireground, choosing the right fire hose is essential. While there are universal industry hose specifications, it’s important to consider your department’s size and workload (are you fighting two blazes a month or two a day?) and environmental and working conditions (high rise fires or forest fires?) in order to select the best hose to meet your exact needs.

THE CHECKLIST:

Choose Certified Hose

Fire hose should meet these industry requirements:

NFPA 1961 Standard on Fire Hose
NFPA 1962 Standard for the Care, Use, Inspection, Testing of Fire Hose
NFPA 1963 Standard for Fire Hose Connections
A certified hose manufacturer i.e. ISO Certified

Match Hose Performance Ratings To Your Exact User Requirements

Operating pressure
Supply or attack rating
Friction loss
Flow data
ID of fire hose
True diameter
Hose weight
Kinking properties
Abrasion resistance properties
Heat and/or burn-through resistance properties
Coating and colors per NFPA 1901

Choose a Reputable Manufacturer

The hoses should be made from the highest quality material and undergo the most strict quality assurance testing process.

Ask About Hose Service Tracking

It is critical to maintain tracking and service test records for hoses to ensure safety in the field.

Insist On Quality Couplings

The hose manufacturer should use a quality coupling manufacturer. The hose manufacturer should couple and proof test every length and provide certification.

Take a Test Drive

Before purchasing, or at the time of bid, request whole length samples for evaluation to inspect quality, markings and performance of the fire hose proposed for your department.