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Flat Load verses Accordian Load - Which do you prefer?
Let's take a look at both the flat and accordian loads I'm not a fan of the accordian load and will explain why...
Update: Thanks to Eng Co 4, this photo shows the accordion fold. Scroll down this post to see more specific information regarding this apparatus and the hose inventory.
Accordian Load:
- Originally used decades ago as a standard hose lay but was replaced over time by most fire departments who now use the flat load.
- Visually, a 'prettier' / 'neater' hose load.
- Great for recessed hose wells like the front bumper line or running board freeway line.
- Labor intensive to load hose using the Accordian Fold.
- Not considered a 'good' hose storage method due to the increased stress put on the folds.
- If not loaded correctly with the hose being packed too tight, there is a risk of the hose binding up in the hose bed when being deployed on hose lays.
- Not considered an appropriate hose load for busy working engine companies that have to rack and re-rack hose several times per day.
Flat Load:
- Easy to load and deploy.
- Great for supply lines due to the ease of the hose 'flaking' out the rear hose bed for forward and reverse hose lays.
- Not labor intensive, requiring only 1-2 people to re-rack the hosebed.
- Less stress on the hose by there being less 'bending' of the hose.
- Less time consuming, post-fire, to re-rack the hose which in my case is synthetic so you can put it away wet.
- Compresses the hose better due to the weight of the hose layers.
- Takes up less room and stores more hose.
Addtionally, I should mention that we have used both the triple fold and flat load for our crosslays. Years ago, we switched over from using the triple fold to the flat load for the crosslays. LA County would be another example of a large working department that adopted the flat load to facilitate getting engines in back in service asap to respond to additional alarms.
TCSS,
CBz
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Fireyladd - Retired Chief Sharp on
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We have always used the flat load. I have seen the accordian load on other agencies trucks but prefer the flat load.
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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on
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Our standard supply load is flat-loaded 5-inch LDH.
Crosslays are triple-layer 1-3/4. The advantage is that you only need to get 1/3 of the length of the lay pulled to get the entire lay clear of the hose bed.
Rear attack lays are triple-layer 2-1/2, one attack line and one leader line. (gated wye instead of a nozzle)
The trash lines in the front bumpers are horseshoes loads since they pull out of the top of a bin instead of from the end of a hose bed.
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Permalink Reply by Sparky on
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I agree. Have used both and over the years, the flat load is better by far. It is true the flat loads last longer and less wear from pulling. Accordian wears out and harder with the dutchman. where as the flat load with dutchman comes off easyer and faster with out hang ups.
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Permalink Reply by Da Chief - Jim O'Neill on
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I'm with you Brother... flat load all the way!
Da Chief
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Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on
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I prefer the flat load as well, although the accordian does give an option which should be considered, especially if a pumper doesn't have enough dividers. On one of our engines we used both accordian and flat load to discern the 2.5 inch. We use the "lead line" technique with 100 ft of 1.75" attached to a wye to 2.5", there is 200 ft of 2.5" attached. The other 200 ft was 2.5" static line. The different loads made it easy to grab the line you wanted depending upon the situation. You could grab 200 ft of static 2.5" without having to take the lead line off for more line.
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Permalink Reply by Trainer on
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We are using a combination on our new truck, but only on the 2 1/2 pre-connect. Wanting only 200' of pre-con, but also wanted an additional 400' go-to and were worried you would "dump" most of it when pulled, loaded the 400 in accordion first then layed 200' of flat pre-con on top, time will tell if this is the answer.
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Permalink Reply by FETC on
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The amount of time it takes to put a truck back in service should not be a reason to decide on how a preconnect or crosslay is loaded. The tactical deployment of hose loads should be established on your districts needs and your working manpower capability upon DEPLOYMENT.
With the amount of mutual aid that most departments use for fires, the decision to load everything flat is often a cop out for being lazy, (both mentally in remembering how to set up the load and physically).
If it takes you 10 or 15 minutes extra to pack a truck... that can be deployed quick and efficiently by a minimal sized crew, at the time of the next fire... then it is easily justifiable.
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Permalink Reply by Dusty Turner on
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We also use the flat load. Its clean easy and simple and easy for even your new guys to learn. Im all in favor of the flat load.
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Permalink Reply by Firefighter139 on
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We use flatloads on all LDH, and crosslays are minuteman.
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I would not call it cop out or lazy as you put it. However its the time alloted to get the apparatus back in service, via manpower dictates. back years ago the accordian was good because water dust and mold werent not as big of a problen and did allow some drainage. but hose rotation still was something you did. Later years the flat load was addopted be cause of hose bed cover. but hose rotaion was still a must. when I was a tail board jockey hydrant man we did have both with a donut roll with hydrant wrench and spanner roped to the couplong on top. now days its all pre-connect. Boy has time changed. Our cross lay jump lines were accrodian load. So say what you will as long as it works for the Dept. leave it alone. Sorry hope I did not offend you.
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