A main focus in the fire industry today revolves around maintaining and caring for your personal protective equipment (PPE) properly, but what about your department’s hoses and other fire station equipment? Just like PPE, fire hose is one of the most used items in the fire service, so maintenance is just as important because it prolongs the life of the hose and allows it to perform as designed. Every time you use your department’s hose it can pick up harmful chemicals and, if not properly cleaned, can grow mold and mildew. Firefighting is a dangerous occupation, which is why learning the proper way to use and handle all tools is important.
NFPA 1962, Standard for the Care, Use, Inspection, Service Testing, and Replacement of Fire Hose, Couplings, Nozzles, and Fire Hose Appliances, provides a reasonable level of safety for users of fire hose and a reasonable degree of assurance that the hose, coupling assemblies, and nozzles will perform as designed. If not followed completely, applying common sense to the care, cleaning, and storage of fire hose is a simple solution to making sure it works well and is maintained.
The 35-page document supplied goes over many things such as types of hoses, definitions of standards, details about each type of hose and nozzle, testing and repairs, damage prevention, and what we will cover in this article: inspection, cleaning, drying and storage of your fire hose.
There are many ways fire hose can be damaged while in use, such as mechanical damage, thermal damage, organic damage, and chemical damage. Some rules put in place by the NFPA are as follows:
4.5—HOSE INSPECTION
4.5.1 Physical inspection shall determine if the hose and couplings have been vandalized, are free of debris, and exhibit no evidence of mildew, rot, or damage by chemicals, burns, cuts, abrasions, and vermin.
4.5.2 During the inspection, a check shall be made to determine if the service test of the hose is current.
4.5.3 LINER INSPECTION
4.5.3.1 The interior of the hose at each end shall be visually inspected for any physical signs of liner delamination.
4.5.3.2 If the liner shows signs of delamination, the hose shall be condemned.
4.5.4 If the hose fails the physical inspection, it shall be removed from service and either repaired as necessary and service tested as specified in section 4.8, 4.9, and 4.10 as appropriate, or condemned.
4.5.5 The coupling shall be inspected as specified in 7.1.3 and 7.1.4
4.5.6 Where nozzles are required on occupant-use hose, they shall be inspected as specified in section 5.2
The methods for washing and drying truly depend on the hose being used and what type of debris and particles are found on the hose, but there are basic procedures that should be followed. Washing cabinets aren’t required as long as other wash steps are followed, but they save time and man power. Now with the huge push to keep gear clean, this may be required in the future. The same goes for hose drying cabinets. Some of the NFPA requirements follow.
4.6—HOSE CLEANING AND DRYING
4.6.1 After each use, all hose shall be cleaned.
4.6.2 If dirt cannot be thoroughly brushed from the hose or if the hose has come in contact with harmful materials, the hose shall be washed.
4.6.3 If, during use, the hose has been exposed to hazardous materials, it shall be decontaminated by the method approved for the contaminant.
4.6.4 Covered hose shall be permitted to be wiped dry.
4.6.5 Hose shall not be dried on hot pavements or under intense sunlight
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