Application and maintenance method of fire hose
Non-collapsible (rigid) supply hoses have a rubber lining, layers of fabric and sometimes wire mesh reinforcement and an outer layer of rubber. For added flexibility, some types of fire hose use plastic mesh material instead of wire.
Additional strength, heat resistance and pressure capacity can be gained by using fire hose material impregnated with polymer reinforcers. Since these additives cause changes in the hose’s flexibility, the types of hose are called “hard” or “soft.”
Each has its good points in the field. Woven fabric, or impregnated, fire hoses are soft and relatively easy to handle, so they lend themselves to repeated use and quick deployment. Hard hoses offer the advantage of non-collapsibility, necessary in places where the water supply is not pressurized.
Fire Hose Material Based on Water Source
When a fire happens in an urban location, municipal water is available at standard pressure. Here, fire hose made of a soft fabric can be used because the water will be at full pressure from the instant it leaves the supply valve.
If a fire happens in a rural location, the most abundant source of water may be a lake or river. Firefighters can put a hose in the lake and pump water out, but if they try it with a collapsible hose, the natural pressure above the hose will make it collapse.
Here, a non-collapsible fabric firehose is needed so it will keep its shape when lowered into the water.
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