Getting Back to Basics: Nozzles & Hose Streams

I would like to start this off by looking at this picture and what I would like for everyone to do is tell me everything you see on what is being done wrong or right and what is missing and needs to be added. And as we go along we will get into Different types of nozzles some that are old and some that are new, and if anyone has some insight for the rookies in here please share. Remember Knowledge is power, and with that knowledge it keeps you and everyone else safe.

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on November 26, 2009 at 3:05am

"Bresnan Distributor" nozzle, according to my 1975 MFRI Basic binder...

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on November 26, 2009 at 3:09am

I can't believe you're starting the engine vs. truck wars up again...

Do you know why truckies cut holes in the roof? It's so that the hose draggers can look up and see REAL firefighters working. :-)

As for the training, it's not necessarily that they don't have enough training, they just didn't have the right kind of training.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on November 26, 2009 at 3:22am

Obviously they need SCBA, the nozzleman's ear flaps are not down, and if they're on a roof they need to be operating the nozzle only to cover their retreat to a ladder.

That said, they may be pushing fire away from their feet or something with the nozzle technique.

As for the backup firefighter not being immediately behind the nozzlman, with the new low-pressure combination tips, you don't neet the same kind of crew positioning that you do with 100 PSI nozzles. The Akron Assault nozzles are an example. We use two styles - the 1-1/2 style on 1-3/4 hose flows 125 GPM with the fog tip and 185 using only the 15/16ths smooth-bore. The 2-1/2 style flows 250 GPM through the fog tip and 265 through the 1-1/8th smooth bore. All nozzle pressures are 50 PSI. You get much less nozzle reaction than with 100 PSI fog tips.

We've actually had to retrain our firefighters to seperate, as the lower operating pressure is slightly more prone to kinking (especially in stairwells and around corners). Some of our backup firefighters operate 10 or 15 feet behind the nozzleman with no problem on the 1-3/4 lines. The pump operators had to get used to watching the flow meter first and the pressure guages second - the flow meters will tell you more about kinking problems than a pressure guage, and once you learn the tricks, they tell you a lot more quickly.

The Assault nozzles also get you more water for less nozzle reaction, which is a good thing.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Group 1 Dep on November 26, 2009 at 9:55am

Chief: The nozzle should be more out in front of him. Front hand on the last coupling just before the nozzle (and away from the bale) and back hand on the hose itself maybe 2 feet back. Again, the back up man taking most of the nozzle reaction so the nozzle man can be free to move the nozzle around easily.