WISH
Reprinted with Permission

INDIANAPOLIS - Two Franklin Township firefighters were hurt during a hose testing exercise Thursday morning.

A 50 foot section of fire hose broke when the water pressure reached 300 pounds per square inch.

The metal coupling from that section of hose hit 29-year-old firefighter Sean Schembra in the head. Another firefighter, Justin Goff, suffered a knee injury.

Both were taken to Methodist Hospital. Schembra is listed in stable condition.

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Were they wearing helmets?
hope they r ok and have a speedy reco
Why 300 psi sounds a bit over needed pressure for testing.
That is the standard, 1 3/4" and 2 1/2" need to hold 300#'s pressure for 5 minutes.
Were they wearing helmets? They should atleast be in "minimum dress" (helmet, gloves, pants, and boots). It might not have prevented their injuries, but couldn't have hurt. I hope they have a speedy recovery.
Maybe they were wearing helmets and maybe they wern't. But let's be honest, when was the last time any of us had helmets, gloves, bunker pants, and boots on to test hose?

Sometimes the hose just cant stand the pressure, point proven here, its nobody's fault.

I think a more important thing to keep in mind is to simply not stand too close to the charged line once it is placed under pressure.
we just recently tested our houses and had the pressure set at 400 lbs on all the hoses execpt the 3" diameter ldh hose we had set at 300 lbs none of us had any gear on for the smaller hoses but for the big one we had turnout gear on because it was part of our training.
But let's be honest, when was the last time any of us had helmets, gloves, bunker pants, and boots on to test hose?

Minus the bunker pants and boots...each and every time.
I know for our County it is a manditory min. dress. We won't even begin if someone is not, the other thing here is ..... STAND BACK, AND NEVER TURN YOUR BACK ON THE HOSE. These things happen and they are never pretty. Hope they recover soon.
Beast 400 psi? That is usually the initial manufacturers acceptance test pressure isn't it.
I am in charge of hose testing at my department. First thing is that I too which these two ffs a speedy recovery. I try to follow what NFPA recommends. We do not where full PPE. We do where helmets or hard hats and safety glasses. In addition I have established a Hot Zone that no one is allowed in while fire hose is at high pressure. Also we use a machine and not a pumper. Once a burst occures the only danger is very immediate and then drops off to nothing. However if you are using a pumper to supply the hose you should have a gate valve designed or one you make that once you have reached the manufactures recommended test pressure (can be as high as 500psi) you close the gate valve so that only enough water passes through the valve as needed to complete the test. What is recommended is a small hole drilled into the gate valve. A gate valve of this type or a testing machine should limit how violent a hose failure can be. This may not conrol the velosity of a flying coupling or bleeder cap. I like wearing a helmet know because we have bone mikes in them and I can more effectivly monitor the radio during hose testing.
I would have to guess....YES, if not they are very lucky to be alive and should immediately go out and buy a lottery ticket.....Paul

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