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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 Ben Waller on
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Here is a photo of a PROPER flat load secured in a supply bed.
Notice that it doesn't matter if the bends are exactly lined up.
No hose is hanging down out of the bed. The only exposed hose are the 2-1/2 leader line and blitz line connections to the rear discharges. (green and blue hose)
No hose is visible or exposed to the elements.
No hose is going to be accidentally laid out of that bed due to the hose cover and the hose retention system.
Here's another photo of a PROPER flat load...
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Permalink Reply by Kirk D. Baughman on
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we never have done the accordian load we always did the flat lay. as a vol. dept. you really know how many people you would have at the time when the hose is ready to load. so i have to say we will stay with the flat lay. yes the accordian lay does look nice but you can make the flat lay look nice to.
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Permalink Reply by Marvin Hawk on
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What happened to the horseshoe load? I'm all for the flat load but it is a bugger when it accidentally deploys when you are out and about. Of course having to reload any hose is a bugger.
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Permalink Reply by Michael Vito on
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Hi cap, that's a great info for sharing the flat and accordion loads. Here in the Philippines most volunteer fire brigades and our career counterpart the Bureau of Fire Protection has still practice accordion load until today. I've had that thought of trying the flat load but then again. Most of our fire apparatus are either improvised (meaning - an ex-fuel hauler converted to a fire tender / tanker ) or flooded of Japanese made fire trucks in which it doesn't have a hose bed or pre-connect hose bed for side deployment. Most units had their hoses stowed on double donuts fashion and some units tried to put in accordion load despite the limitations of the design of the real fire trucks. Throughout my service I've never seen other units tried that kind of load. And I wonder....
But maybe I think because most VFB's units and career units doesn't have a benefit of having a proper fire stations because most trucks are parked out in the open. The hose load is expose to bad weather all the time in which it creates molds. So an accordion for us, best drain the hose easily than the flat load.
Second, It's been a long while since we imported the last batch U.S. made fire trucks - like FMC's (way way back late 70's) and fewer trucks still on operations until today and seen their hose bed empty and they just stored the hose on double donut fashion in the compartment instead.
Personally, I we will try that flat load because we had just bought a tarpaulin to cover our top and will have added protection to our hose bed.
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Permalink Reply by Meds on
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I would have to say we had been using the Triple layer load, which had been working for as long as i had been with the dept. One of the new guys at the scene of a fire somehow got the line all tangled up. So now we are going back to the flat load.
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Permalink Reply by Jay Nicholson on
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There are a few depts. around here that I've seen use both. Flat for LDH and accordian for 2.5/3. Since these are well hydranted areas, I can't recall ever seeing an entire hose bed filled with only LDH hose. Most have a split bed but the LDH is coupled in line with the other.
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Just got done watching Backdraft for the who know how many times, and realized besides the accordion, flat, horseshoe loads there is also the Hollywood load.
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Permalink Reply by Fireyladd - Retired Chief Sharp on
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Years ago we usd the accordian load. In 92 when I became Chief we switched to the flat load style.
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I guess the accordian load is being relegated to the antique engine companies.
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Permalink Reply by Matthew Voges on
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I like the flat load. It is easy to pull and a accordian realy dont work with 4" or 5" LDH. As far as 1 3/4" we use a triple lay with ours and we can git the lins out a hole hell of alot faster.
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Permalink Reply by Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd on
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sure looks something like a Disneyland fire engine...
CBz
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your video does not load... speaking of loads that don't work... lol
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