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Permalink Reply by Diamond Chief on November 18, 2011 at 10:25pm

We have looked at the Kochek assist valve and the Humat Valve.

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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on November 18, 2011 at 10:54pm

We have adequate spacing that we don't use hydrant assist valves.  We use split 5" LDH lays if required and sometimes lay in dry with the 2nd-due engine relaying without a hydrant assist valve.

 

For relays or direct hydrant connections, we sometimes use a 2.5 inch gate valve on one of the 2.5 inch hydrant discharge ports and later add a 2.5 inch line to the auxiliary intake, but the need for that is rare with our water system.

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Permalink Reply by Don Catenacci on November 19, 2011 at 9:31pm

What possible difference will a hydra-assist valve make if you have a water sytem failure?  Is the enginge that hooks to the valve going to manufacture water to supply to the attack engine?

 

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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on November 20, 2011 at 10:09am

When planning for a water system failure, you need to carry hard sleeve/suction hose and a map of your static water sources, not a hydrant assist valve.

 

Our entire system (FD, water system, FD water supply practices) are designed to fit together.  We have excellent response times, excellent 2nd-due response times, a good water system with excellent hydrant density, and the ability to use an alternate, non-potable hydrant system in key parts of our response area.

 

We have had single hydrant failures, but with hydrant spacing typically at 400 feet, we are rarely more than 4 sections of LDH from a 2nd-due water supply source.

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Permalink Reply by Ben Weinberg on November 28, 2011 at 2:51pm

You might want to give TFT a look. They have a new assist valve. I've seen it in Fire Apparatus Magazine and watched the videos. Might be another one to consider.

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