Can a hard suction hose be used as an attack hose?
The airtight nature of hard suction hose, necessary for drafting, renders the hose unsuitable for the high pressure water flow needed to spray a pressurized stream of water on a fire. Thus, suction hose is tested for the ability to "prevent collapse under vacuum conditions" rather than its ability to function as an attack hoseline.
What is a flexible suction hose used for?
Flexible suction hose (Flex suction or suction hose), not to be confused with hard suction hose in U.S., is a specific type of fire hose used in drafting operations, when a fire engine uses a vacuum to draw water from a portable water tank, pool, or other static water source.
How do you use a hard suction hose on a water tender?
Hard suction hose can also be used to extend the range of a water tender's dumping capability, if the fittings of the hard suction hose match those of the tender dumping water. This could be used to fill a portable dump tank not immediately adjacent to the water tender, from which another fire engine can draft.
How big is a 13 cm hard suction hose?
5-inch (13 cm) hard suction hose with Storz fittings, mounted on an engine. Hard suction hose (alternatively, suction hose) is a specific type of fire hose used in drafting operations, when a fire engine uses a vacuum to draw water from a portable water tank, pool, or other static water source.
What is a hard suction line used for?
Hard Suction Hose is used to suck water out of unpressurized sources, such a ponds or rivers, by means of a vacuum.
What are the different uses for soft sleeve hose and hard suction hose?
The hard suction hose works to draft water from below the pump, which prevents collapsing under vacuum conditions. The soft sleeve hose transfers water between the fire engine and the water source; whether it be a hydrant, tanker, another engine, or a body of water.
Where are dry barrel hydrants typically used?
Dry Barrel Hydrants – These hydrants are typically used in areas that get below freezing temperatures. The upper barrel section of the hydrant is dry, and the hydrant is separated from the pressurized water supply by a main valve below the ground.
Which type of hose would be used in a drafting operation?
Semirigid rubber-braided, wire-reinforced draft hose has 80 percent better abrasion resistance than REELTEX® and provides good support in drafting operations.
What is a hard suction hydrant?
The use of hard suction provides an unobstructed 6-inch waterway from the 4 1/2-inch hydrant outlet directly into the pump suction manifold using the large side intakes, guaranteeing minimum friction loss during high-volume operations.
How many types of suction hoses are there?
Suction Hose The diameter of the hose depends on the capacity of the pump, and three standard sizes such as 75mm, 100mm, and 140mm are generally used.
Why would someone use a dry barrel hydrant?
Geographically speaking, dry barrel hydrants are commonly used in the cold regions because their underground valves ensure that no water will be left above ground, thus preventing themselves from freezing or breaking.
What are the two main types of fire hydrants?
For most intents and purposes, there are two types, wet and dry barrel hydrants, in addition to standpipes. These have a different structure and mechanism depending on the surrounding conditions.
What are different types of hydrants?
Dry barrel and wet barrel are the two kinds of Fire Hydrants. The wet barrel fire hydrant holds a constant water supply, while the dry barrel fire hydrant needs to have a valve release to let water in. It is designed to provide rapid access to water in the event that a fire breaks out.
What are attached to hard suction hose during drafting?
May provide water through drafting operations. What are attached to hard-suction hose during drafting operations in order to prevent debris from entering the pump? Mobile water supply apparatus to haul the water.
What is fire suction hose?
Suction Hose is a specific type of fire hose used in drafting operations,when a fire engine uses a vacuum to draw water from a portable water tank, pool, or other static water source. It is built to withstand vacuum, rather than pressure, abrasion, and heat.
What is a soft suction hose?
Commonly accepted term for short length of large diameter soft hose used to connect a structural or wildland engine with a hydrant. No vacuum is involved because the hose is useful only when the engine receives water at a rate of flow in excess of the demand of the pump.
What is a suction hose?
Flexible suction hose, also known as a suction hose, is a specific type of rigid fire hose used in drafting operations. When using this technique, the fire engine draws water for fire fighting from an unpressurized supply, such as a portable water tank, pool, or other static water source, instead of drawing water from a pressurized water supply, such as a fire hydrant. Under complete vacuum conditions, a pump would lift water 33.9 feet (10.3 m), however pumps on fire apparatus are not capable of producing a perfect/ total vacuum. Due to this limitation and friction loss, fire services do not recommend attempting to lift water more than 3 metres (9.8 ft).
What is a flexible suction hose?
Flexible suction hose (Flex suction or suction hose ), not to be confused with hard suction hose in U.S., is a specific type of fire hose used in drafting operations, when a fire engine uses a vacuum to draw water from a portable water tank, pool, or other static water source. It is built to withstand vacuum, rather than pressure, abrasion, and heat. Conversely, hard suction is capable of withstanding up to 200 PSIG, as well as vacuum. In the United States, it is standard equipment according to the National Fire Protection Association standards for fire engines. It is used in both structural and wildland firefighting throughout the world, and is made in various diameters and connection types.
Why is it rare to see a section of suction hose connected together?
For this reason, and because each junction is an opportunity for a crack or imperfect seal to spoil the vacuum, it is rare to see many sections of hard suction hose connected together. It is not designed for use in fire streams. The airtight nature of hard suction hose, necessary for drafting, renders the hose unsuitable for ...
How long is a fire hose?
It is short. Typically, suction hose comes in 10 feet (3.0 m) lengths, while fire hose comes in 50 and 100 feet (15 and 30 m) lengths. Since a fire engine's pump only produces a partial vacuum, it is only recommended for lifting water 3 metres (9.8 ft) or less. For this reason, and because each junction is an opportunity for a crack ...
What is a pressure gasket on a fire hose?
It uses suction gaskets. Gaskets in standard fire hose ("pressure gaskets") are designed to minimize the water leaking out between couplings.
What is Flex Suction?
Flex suction is less rigid and generally corrugated in profile. Often, such hose is manufactured using molded clear or translucent synthetic material (such as PVC) shaped into a series of rings. Construction methods include heat shrinking the material over round stock coil spring core.
How high can a fire engine lift water?
Due to this limitation and friction loss, fire services do not recommend attempting to lift water more than 3 metres (9.8 ft). Hard suction hose may also be used to connect a fire engine to a hydrant, due to its ability to handle both vacuum and pressure.
What is a hard suction hose?
Hard suction hose (alternatively, suction hose) is a specific type of fire hose used in drafting operations, when a fire engine uses a vacuum to draw water from a portable water tank, pool, or other static water source. It is built to withstand vacuum, rather than pressure, abrasion, and heat.
What is a soft suction fire hose?
The soft suction fire hose is designed to carry water between two points, such as hydrant to engine or engine to engine.
How much hose do you need for a fire pump?
NFPA 1901, Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus – Requires pumpers to carry: 15 feet of large soft sleeve hose or 20 feet of hard suction hose. 1200 feet of 2 ½ inch or larger supply hose. 400 feet of 1 ½ , 1 ¾, or 2 inch attack hose.
How much water does an Exelgard fire hose reel deliver?
With a standard fully extended length of 36 metres, Exelgard fire hose reels are designed to deliver a minimum of 0.33 litres of water per second when installed to AS 2441. A control nozzle attached to the end of the hose enables the operator to control the direction and flow of water to the fire.
How much pressure does a fire hose need?
To fight a fire on the ground, a fire hose needs about 150 pounds per square inch of water pressure. To get water to the 30th floor of a building, the pressure needs to be about 300 PSI to offset the effects of elevation.
Why do they hit hydrants with suction?
They actually hit some hydrants with hard suction because the rig is too close and it doesnt kink. They do this because of how narrow streets are so they can get close like that to allow a ladder to go by.
How long is a fire hose?
Wikis > Soft suction hose, soft sleeve. A short piece of fire hose, usually 10 to 20 feet (6.1 m) long, of large diameter, greater than 2.5 inches (64 mm) and as large as 6 inches (150 mm), used to move water from a fire hydrant to the fire engine, when the fire apparatus is parked close to the hydrant.

Overview
Characteristics and construction
Suction hose differs from standard fire hose in both its construction and usage:
1. Hard suction generally has a black opaque wrapped or laminated outer jacket surrounding a flat stock coil spring core. The inner and outer linings provide maximum rigidity, allowing it to be used up to 200 PSIG pressure as well as under vacuum. Flex suction is less rigid and generally corrugated in profile. Often, such hose is manufactured using molded clear or translucent synth…
Usage
Flexible suction hose, also known as a suction hose, is a specific type of rigid fire hose used in drafting operations. When using this technique, the fire engine draws water for fire fighting from an unpressurized supply, such as a portable water tank, pool, or other static water source, instead of drawing water from a pressurized water supply, such as a fire hydrant. Under complete vacuum conditions, a pump would lift water 33.9 feet (10.3 m), however pumps on fire apparatus are not …
Diameter
Suction hose comes in multiple sizes, from 2 to 6 inches (5.1 to 15.2 cm) in diameter. Large diameter hose are carried on full-size fire engines, but smaller diameters of hard suction hose can be carried on apparatus with smaller fire pump ratings, such as wildland fire engines. In the United States, NFPA 1901 requires engines to have suction hose that matches the engine's pump rating. For example, an engine with a 1,000-US-gallon (3,800 l) per minute pump is required to carry 5-in…
Strainers
When being used in a drafting operation from a pool, portable water tank, or other uncovered water source, the length of suction hose farthest from the pump is usually attached to a strainer, to keep foreign objects in the water from being pulled into and damaging the pump. If used in a pond, stream, or other body of water, an appropriate flotation device must be used to keep the strain…
External links
• Strainer pressure drop calculator Calculate pressure drop across a strainer.