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NOG
FIRE FIGHTERS EQUIPMENT
KNOWLEDGE SHEET
Hose layers ................................................................................................................................................... 1
High-volume pumping (HVP) units .......................................................................................................... 1
Foam-making equipment .......................................................................................................................... 2
Extinguishers ............................................................................................................................................... 4
Firefighting hose ......................................................................................................................................... 6
Branches ....................................................................................................................................................... 9
Monitors ...................................................................................................................................................... 10
 Hose layers

Many fire and rescue services have traditionally used hose laying vehicles to provide large-capacity
hoses delivered by vehicles over distances ranging up to 2km.

Hoses ranging from 70mm to 150mm diameter are stored in a number of ways. They are deployed
using vehicles at low speeds and retrieved using retrieval systems (mechanical or physical).

High-volume pumping (HVP) units

An HVP unit consists of two demountable modules transported on standard New Dimension prime
movers. Each module consists of two further sub-units, a hose retrieval system and all associated
ancillary equipment. The sub-units carry either 1km of hose or the hydrosub.

A hook arm attached to the prime mover is used to dismount the modules for use. The sub-units
are also removable from the main module for placing as required at an incident.

Hose can be deployed using the 1km hose boxes at a maximum speed of 40km per hour.

HVP vehicle equipment

Hydrosub: The hydrosub is one of the four sub-units transported on the main modules; it weighs
three tonnes and is placed in position using the prime mover. It consists of the submersible pump
unit, 60m hydraulic hose-lines, 60m winch cable for pump deployment and recovery, control panel
and the turbo-diesel engine that drives both the hydraulic and electrical systems.

The submersible pump is a portable centrifugal pump with a high-flow impeller and flotation
chamber, which is deployed into the water supply. The submersible pump is capable of deployment
up to 60m from the Hydrosub. It is used either to supply water to a fireground or to pump out
floodwater to a minimum depth of 15cms. It is approximately the size and weight of a light portable
pump but is fairly easy to manoeuvre. It has a maximum pumping capacity of 7,000 litres per
minute, but has the capability of delivering large volumes of water at great distances using
additional pumps as boosters in a relay system.

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The hydrosub is also provided with scene lighting and flashing blue lights to allow it to be placed on
roads if required.

The hose recovery system: Each HVP module has a mechanical hose retrieval unit. Driving at a
maximum speed of 4km per hour, it assists two people located in the hose box to retrieve the hose,
which is flaked back into the hose box ready for redeployment.

Ancillary equipment: The HVP module carries a variety of ancillary equipment including hose
adaptors, five-way manifolds, Y-pieces, gate valves, non-return valves, water safety equipment,
harnesses and lanyards, hose ramps, change of direction equipment, edge protection, sack trolley
and lighting, cones and tape.

Foam-making equipment

The following equipment is available in various sizes, ranging from those needing less than 50 litres
per minute to over 15,000 litres per minute of foam solution.

LX (low-expansion foam) handheld foam-making branches

These branches are intended to produce relatively low quantities of fully aspirated foam using
either concentrate through a foam pickup tube connected and inducted at the branch or a
premixed solution supplied either through a fire pump with an around-the-pump foam
proportioner or an inline foam generator.

Essentially, turbulence in the foam solution is created in the branch, which draws large quantities of
air through air inlet holes, producing the finished foam.

At the outlet, the branch is reduced in diameter to increase the exit velocity, thus helping the
finished foam to be thrown an effective distance. The design here is crucial - too narrow an outlet
produces back pressure which results in less air being drawn and a finished foam of very low
expansion ratio and very short drainage times. If the outlet is too large, the expansion is higher but
the throw is reduced. Some branches may also contain flow-straightening sections at the nozzle to
reduce turbulence at the outlet of the branch. These assist in forming a coherent 'rope' of finished
foam with little fallout of foam along its trajectory.

LX handheld hose reel foam unit

This consists of a portable handheld unit, similar to an extinguisher, which can contain up to 11
litres of foam concentrate. An emergency fire vehicle hose reel is connected to an adaptor at the
top of the unit and water is supplied at between 2 and 10.5 bars.

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A small proportion of the water is diverted to fill a completely deflated flexible bag in the container.
Inflation of the bag displaces the foam concentrate through a siphon tube, the concentrate
entering the main water stream, passing to an integral LX foam-making branch to give a jet of
primary aspirated foam.

LX foam generators

As an alternative to a foam-making branch, a LX foam generator may be used. When inserted into a
line of hose, this induces appropriate amounts of foam concentrate and air into the water stream
to generate finished foam, which is then delivered through the hose to a water-type branch for
application as finished foam. The foam concentrate is induced using the same principle as that of
an inline inductor, and the air is drawn in through orifices adjacent to the water inlet.

LX foam monitors

Primary aspirating LX foam monitors are larger versions of foam-making branches, which cannot
be handheld. They may be free standing and portable, mounted on trailers or mounted on
emergency fire vehicles. They usually have multiple water connections, and may be self-inducing or
used in conjunction with other methods of foam concentrate induction. They can be found in fixed
installations at oil tanker jetties and refineries or as oscillating monitors in aircraft hangers. Similar
monitors are fitted to airport foam tenders, often with adjustable jaws which allow the option of a
flat fan-shaped spray.

MX (medium-expansion foam) handheld foam-making branches

With MX foam-making branches, an inline indictor is generally used to introduce the foam
concentrate as a premix. The branch then diffuses, aerates the stream of foam solution and
projects it through a gauze mesh to produce bubbles of a uniform size.

LX and MX handheld water branch snap-on attachments: Snap-on attachments are available for use
with some hose reel and mainline water branches, which enable primary aspirated LX and MX foam
to be produced. Generally, the foam produced by these attachments is not very well worked,
making it less stable (it has much shorter drainage times) and less effective than that produced by
purpose-designed primary aspirating foam branches.

MX foam pourers: In addition to the MX handheld foam-making branches, some freestanding MX

foam pourers are also available. These are much larger than the handheld models, have higher
flow requirements and hence produce greater volumes of foam. However, as their name suggests,
finished foam pours out of them rather than being projected. They have been designed to stand on
their integral legs for the unattended delivery of MX foam into bunded areas such as those
surrounding fuel storage tanks. They operate in a similar way to the handheld MX foam branches
described above.

HX (high-expansion) foam generators

High-expansion foam generators are designed to be used with particular foam concentrate only
and usually produce finished foams of expansion ratios of 200:1 to 1,200:1.

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Air is blown through the generator by a fan, foam solution is sprayed into the airstream, and this is
directed onto the surface of a fine-net screen. The air blowing through the net wetted with foam
solution produces finished foam with a mass of bubbles of uniform size, which, like the MX foam
pourers, is 'poured' rather than 'projected'.

Extinguishers

While there may be a number of old types of fire extinguisher still in existence, which expel the
extinguishing medium by chemical reaction or by a self-contained hand pump, these have in the
main been superseded by types using an internal charge of pressurised gas. The latter is generally
more efficient, less damaging to materials and easier to refurbish.

According to standard BS EN 3, fire extinguishers in the UK, and throughout Europe, are red RAL
3000, with a band or circle of a second colour covering between 5 and 10 per cent of the surface
area of the extinguisher indicating the contents. (Before 1997, the entire body of the fire
extinguisher was colour coded according to the type of extinguishing agent.)

BS EN 3 details portable fire extinguisher characteristics, performance requirements and test

methods. The BS EN 3 colour coding is:

Type BS EN 3 colour coding

Water Signal red

Foam Red with a cream panel above the operating instructions

Dry powder Red with a blue panel above the operating instructions

Carbon dioxide CO2 Red with a black panel above the operating instructions

Wet chemical Red with a canary yellow panel above the operating instructions

Class D powder Red with a blue panel above the operating instructions

Halon - 1211/BCF No longer in general use

Water-type extinguishers

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Water (gas cartridge) extinguisher

The water content of this plastic-lined steel cylinder is generally six or nine litres and the expellant
gas, usually CO₂, is contained in a cartridge fitted inside the body of the extinguisher. The removal
of a safety pin or plug and pressure applied on the operating lever of the extinguisher causes a
pressure disc on the cartridge to be pierced and at the same time opens a control valve. The
release of gas exerts pressure on the surface of the water, forcing it up through a discharge tube
and out through a hose and nozzle

Water (stored pressure) extinguisher

This is of similar construction to the gas cartridge type and available in similar capacities, the
difference being that the whole container is pressurised. Air or nitrogen is pumped into it through a
special adaptor in the opening head. The extinguisher is operated by removing a safety pin or plug
and squeezing an operating lever. This opens the control valve and allows pressurised air to expel
the water. Again, the discharge can be controlled by the lever.

Foam extinguishers

Most types of foam concentrate in common use can be found in portable extinguishers. These
include aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), alcohol resistant aqueous film-forming foams (AR-AFFF)
and film-forming fluoroprotein (FFFP).

Chemical foam extinguishers

These have now largely been replaced by more modern types. The chemical reaction in the
extinguisher produces a foam containing CO₂ bubbles and the gas pressure itself causes the
discharge.

Self-aspirating foam extinguishers

Here, a foam solution is stored in a container, usually of six or nine litre capacity, and either
discharged by a gas cartridge of CO₂ fitted in the body of the extinguisher or by compressed air or
nitrogen, which has been pumped into the container. In both cases, the solution is forced out
through the delivery hose and aspirated by the specially designed branch of the low-expansion
type.

Non-aspirating aqueous film-forming foams AFFF extinguisher

This is usually a gas cartridge-operated type with a modified nozzle that sprays the AFFF onto the
fire.

Powder extinguishers

Powder used to extinguish or control fires is composed essentially of very small particles of an
appropriate chemical or chemicals. This is treated with flow additives to give resistance to moisture
absorption and caking during storage and to give a free flow when discharged through hoses and
nozzles. Different chemicals are effective on different classes of fire, and powders are classified

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according to their potential application.

Portable powder extinguishers are available in sizes ranging from 1kg to 12kg of powder content.
The methods of expelling the powder from the container are similar to those of water and foam
extinguishers, i.e. stored pressure or gas cartridge. The pressurised gas, when released, 'fluidifies'
the powder and ejects it through a discharge tube and nozzle.

Gaseous extinguishing media

Three groups of gaseous extinguishing media can be used in portable extinguishers:

Carbon dioxide
Halons, the use of which has been greatly restricted by the ratification of the Montreal
Protocol (Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer)
More complex mixtures of non-halon gases

Carbon dioxide extinguishers

CO₂ extinguishers basically consist of a pressure cylinder, a control valve for releasing the gas and
a discharge horn for applying the gas onto the fire. The CO₂ is retained in a liquid condition in the
cylinder, which is usually filled to approximately two-thirds of its total capacity. A small amount of
CO₂ evaporates and fills the top third of the cylinder, and it is this gas which acts as the expellant.
On actuation, the discharging gas expands at a ratio of 450:1 and this mostly takes place in the
discharge horn, which is used to direct the gas onto the fire. The design of the horn is a very
important feature; its main purpose is to stop the entrainment of air with the CO₂ by reducing the
velocity of the gas. Without this horn, the jet of CO₂ gas and air would act like a blowtorch and
increase the intensity of the fire.

Halon extinguishers

Portable halon extinguishers commonly range from 0.7kg to 7kg and are invariably of stored
pressure type. They are normally pressurised to about 10 bars with dry nitrogen to ensure efficient
discharge.

Most halon extinguishers have their discharge controlled by a lever but a few designs have a
striker, which may or may not give a controllable discharge. Several manufacturers incorporate
some sort of pressure indicator and/or method of showing whether the extinguisher has been
used.

By their design, halon extinguishers, once used, need to be recharged either in workshops or by the
manufacturers or other specialists. Some smaller types feature a removable expendable body, with
the operating mechanism capable of removal and replacement on another cartridge. Others are
completely disposable.

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 Firefighting hose

The main characteristics of good firefighting hose are:

Flexibility: Hose must be sufficiently flexible to enable it to be handled easily and without
knotting when in use and for it to be made up into a smooth roll whether wet or dry
Durability: The durability and wearing qualities must be as high as possible and the materials
used, particularly in the warp, must have high resistance to abrasion and be able to withstand
the rough usage which hose inevitably receives in service. A tough plastic outer cover gives
additional protection to the jacket and prolongs the life of the hose.

It is also essential that the hose is easily repairable by simple means. However good a hose may be
initially, bursts do occur through damage and other reasons.

Change in length and diameter

Any increase in the length or diameter of hose when under pressure indicates that the materials
are stretching. Unlimited stretch would tend to weaken and burst the hose. Moreover, lengthwise
stretch or extension causes hose to 'snake' when under pressure.

Frictional loss

The internal surface should be as smooth as possible to reduce to a minimum loss of pressure
through friction.

Weight

The weight of hose is important, not only from the point of view of handling at fires and drills but
also for stowing on emergency fire vehicles.

Hose pressure and acceptance tests

Hose has to stand high internal pressures. During firefighting these pressures may be as high as
10.5 bars and shock pressures may be even higher. Hose must be designed to give an adequate
margin over pressure likely to be encountered and it is usually constructed to withstand at least
twice the pressure to which it is likely to be subjected in service. Manufacturers sometimes indicate
the average burst pressure of their various hoses. This is referred to as the 'short length burst
pressure' and may be as high as around 40 bars depending on the type and quality of the hose.

Storage of hose

Many different methods have been developed for storing hose, which may be listed as:

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 The roll (or coil)
Dutch roll (or roll on the bight)
Flaking
Figure of eight
The Cleveland coil

Deterioration of hose

Mildew: Synthetic materials are not affected by mildew but fungus may grow on them if damp and
dirt is present. Although mildew has no deleterious effects on synthetic yarn, proper care should
nevertheless be exercised.

Shock: It is not generally realised that shock is a frequent cause of hose failure. Hose should always
be treated with care and rolls of hose should never be thrown roughly to the ground even though
they may be dry and in good condition. Shock may also arise when water is allowed to flow too
rapidly into a line of hose which is badly kinked; the sudden straightening out of hose under
pressure and the ensuing rush of water which flows only to be checked by the next kink set up a
series of pressure waves which may lead to a burst at a weak point. Similarly, a burst may also
occur if a hand-controlled branch is shut off suddenly, or a line is charged too rapidly after a
temporary shutdown.

Acids, oils, grease and petrol: Some types of fire hose are liable to damage by contact with acid, oil,
grease, petrol, etc., and hose should be stored well away from these substances. Care should also
be taken when working at oil installations and industrial undertakings to ensure that, as far as
possible, hose has minimal contact with oils and the like. For example, petrol may cause the rubber
lining to separate from the fabric.

Hard suction hose

Suction hose or hard suction hose is the name applied to hose designed to resist external pressure.
It is used exclusively between the water supply and the pump. As it will withstand internal or
external pressure, it can be used when working a pump either from pressure-fed mains or from
open water supplies. It is an essential part of the equipment of every pumping emergency fire
vehicle. The diameter of the hose must be such as to enable the pump it is used with to operate at
maximum capacity according to the rated output of the pump.

Although the lengths and diameters of suction hose vary with the emergency fire vehicle on which
it is carried, the construction is substantially the same in every case. The principal feature is that it
should possess sufficient strength to withstand without collapsing the pressure of the external air
when a vacuum has been created inside. It should also be strong enough to resist the maximum
hydrant pressure normally encountered, and at the same time possess the maximum of lightness
and flexibility compatible with this strength.

Care of firefighting hose

Fire and rescue services should follow the following guidelines on the care of firefighting hose:

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 Hose should be stored in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place
Hose unused for long periods should not remain on emergency fire vehicles but should be
removed and placed on racks or towers
Rubber-lined hose should have water passed through it from time to time to keep the lining
in good condition, after which it should be thoroughly drained and dried in towers or by
hanging in a warm room
If hose becomes frozen it should on no account be bent as it will be liable to crack
Great care should be taken of rubber-lined hose, especially when cooling down after large
fires, as it may have been stretched over debris. As bricks and stone retain heat for a long
time, the outer covering is liable to scorch, weakening it and shortening its life.
Hose should never be bent or kept at an acute angle, especially under pressure, since this
causes a severe strain on the fibres. This is a frequent source of breakage, particularly if the
edge under strain is rubbed sharply or knocked against a hard surface.
Hose laid across roads should always be 'ramped' to prevent damage by passing vehicles
Hose known to have been contaminated with acids or alkalis should be thoroughly washed
immediately with clean water
Hose should be drained by under-running. When under-running it is essential to see that
kinks do not form at the bends, which may lead to the formation of pockets of water or
pockets of vacuum and thus prevent the complete removal of the water.
Personnel must not be allowed to walk on hose to flatten it out or rid it of water before
rolling. This may not only drive any flints or grit which may be present into the fabric but also
imposes a heavy strain on the fibres on either fold, which considerably weakens the hose. In
practice, it is found that bursts almost invariably appear at the two opposite points on the
hose where it has been flattened.
With lined hose, avoidance of such treatment is of even greater importance because not only
are the fibres of the jacket weakened but the lining itself becomes fretted and particles of dirt
lodge in these frets causing a rapid deterioration of the rubber. The correct method of
clearing water by under-running is to raise the hose shoulder-high while avoiding kinks, which
will trap the water
When making up hose on the roll, the female coupling should not be doubled down onto the
hose too tightly and the first coil should be somewhat loose. This will minimise the possibility
of the coupling edge cutting into the hose and, in the case of lined hose, the lining becoming
separated from the jacket due to strain. In this connection, it is advisable to examine
couplings periodically and remove 'burrs' which might cause damage.
Care should be taken when hose is stowed on emergency fire vehicles to avoid the possibility
of hose chaffing against the locker sides due to vibration
Emergency fire vehicle locker doors should be opened at frequent intervals to allow air to
circulate and condition the hose

Branches

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Branches without control facilities

The standard type of branch and nozzle has been used for many years in fire and rescue services.
However, with technological advancement, the majority of fire and rescue services now use various
configurations of modern types of hand-controlled branches. It is worth noting that there may still
be areas in the sector where this type of equipment remains in use.

Branches with control facilities

There are many different patterns of hand-controlled branch in use by fire and rescue services, all
designed to enable branch operators to control or change in one way or another the formation of
the water stream by the operation of levers, triggers or various forms of attachment. With most
hand-controlled branches, the pattern of the water stream can be changed from a jet to a diffused
spray or vice versa, or to stop the flow altogether.

Hose reel branches

Fire and rescue services use many different types of hose reel branch, which have the dual-purpose
function of providing either a straight jet or a spray that can be adjusted by the operator to give a
dense mist of fine intensity or coarse spray. With some models, both jet and spray can be used.

Monitors

While many monitors are permanently fixed to pipework and designed to protect specific
installations, it is sometimes more convenient to mount monitors on trailers that can be moved
from hazard to hazard. Smaller monitors can be moved by hand and placed on the ground to
provide a rapid response in the event of a fire. However, mobile monitors require a water supply,
usually provided by hoses or portable pumps.

The jet reaction force of a portable monitor can vary from a few kilogrammes for a small ground
monitor to over a tonne for a larger trailer-mounted unit. Any portable monitor should be secured
so that it cannot move once the full water flow and pressure is applied.

Small hand wheel portable monitors are specifically designed to be easy to manoeuvre and carried
over rough terrain. To resist the jet reaction forces, portable ground monitors are provided with a
method of stabilising them on soft ground.

Larger monitors are usually mounted on trailers. The trailer is also often fitted with outriggers to
provide stability. Water tanks on the trailer can be filled to provide additional weight for stability.

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Extra tanks can also be specified to provide foam concentrate.

In many applications, it is necessary to operate a monitor remotely. To do this, motors are fitted to
move the monitor body in the horizontal and vertical planes. If the monitor is fitted with an
adjustable nozzle, this will also need to be moved with a motor or actuator. Some applications
require a master control panel and slave control panel arrangement, while others require feedback
to show the operator where the monitor is pointing so that it can be operated even when smoke
obscures the view.

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