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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 Joe Stoltz on
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Flat loads for us these days. Before we went to 5 inch supply lines we used 3 inch, and as I recall we loaded that accordian style.
Maybe someone can answer the question - if you load 5 inch accordian style what do you do with the couplings?
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Permalink Reply by Jon Jaynor on
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Flat load all the way
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Permalink Reply by CHRIS PUYLARA on
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We use a flat load for the rear hose beds--5" ,3" , and our 2.5 blitz line. I n our crosslays we have them triple layed.Don't know how many of you guys get the Fire Rescue E news letter but go to the website and check out video on the Roundabout load.
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Permalink Reply by Kyle Foley on
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We currently use an accordian load, although I prefer the flat load hoping to change to the flat load
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Permalink Reply by Rusty Mancini on
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Our standard is the flat load.
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Permalink Reply by Kevin Riedinger on
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For supply lines, we use the flat load (of course we have 5 inch LDH and that is way better for flat load). We have one truck (a mini pumper) that it is better to use the accordian load.
Regarding attack line, one truck has flat load, the other two have triple lay. We tried the minuteman, but it did not work well for us.
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Permalink Reply by Capt.Alex Arnold on
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Supply lines we use the flat load. For our attack lines we currently use the minuteman load. We are entertaining using the "modified" Cleveland load. Here is a video on this load for those of you that have not seen it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUGL5cdk57Q
It is a quick easy load and easy to deploy. Does anyone else use the Cleveland Load?
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Permalink Reply by Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd on
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never heard of it but will take the time to review the video, thanks for sharing... CBz
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Permalink Reply by Jason R on
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Flat loads work great for supply lines. I feel using the pull forward technique improves the flat load. This is where you leave space at the front of your hose bed. This provides space to pull all your cuplinks forward and stack them in the open area. This also makes the flat load rookie proof, no more dutchman to hang up and lack of folds to destroy your LDH. Also if your loading well drained and air free hose you can put alot more hose on the bed because their are no cuplinks throw out your hose bed. I have never used the accordian load I think we loaded it in fire school as a demo but I have never deployed it as a supply line. We use the triple fold load for cross lays and that is probable the best cross lay load i have ever used, with regular training on deploying it. Even old dogs need regular training to remain affective, its not just a rookie issue!
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Permalink Reply by Trenton on
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We use the flat load.......it quick to get off the truck, efficiant and easy to load.
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Permalink Reply by Jay Nicholson on
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Chief, this is pretty much my recollection also. When the switch from 2.5"/3" to 4" came about, so went the demise of the accordian load. I can't ever recall even trying to load LDH with an accordian load.
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