Fire Hose Appliances and Hose Tools

	Various devices are used with fire hose, other than hose couplings and nozzles
	These devices are grouped into two categories, hose appliances and hose tools
Hose appliances	A hose appliance is any piece of hardware used in conjunction with delivering water
Valves	The flow of water is controlled by use of various valves in hoselines at hydrants, and at pumpers, they include: Ball valves – used in pumper discharges and gated wyes Gate valves – used to control the flow from a hydrant Butterfly valves – used on large pump intakes Clapper valves – used in Siamese appliances
Valve devices	Increase or decrease the number of hoselines operating at the fire ground
	Wye appliances – divides a hose line into two or more lines, most common found have one 2 ½ inch inlet and two 1 ½ inch outlets
	Siamese appliances – consist of two or more hoselines brought into one hose line, typical siamese appliance has two or three female connections coming into the appliance and one male discharge May be equipped with or without a clapper valve Commonly used to overcome the problems caused by friction loss in hose lays Can add additional lines on the fireground
Hydrant valves	Used when a hose lay is made from the water supply source to the fire scene
	Allows the supply line to be connected and the hydrant to be charged before the arrival of another pumper
	The supply pumper may connect to the hydrant and pressure may be boosted in the original supply line without having to interrupt the flow of water
Fittings	Available for connecting hoses of different sizes and threads
	An adapter is a fitting for connecting hose couplings with dissimilar threads but with the same inside diameter
	The double male and double female adapters are probably used more than any other special hose appliance Used when couplings are of the same sex
	A reducer is used to extend a larger hoseline by connecting a smaller one to the end Commonly found on pump discharge outlets
Other fittings include:	Elbows – change the direction of flow Hose caps – close off male couplings Hose plugs – close off female couplings
Intake devices	Suction hose strainers are intake devices attached to the drafting end of the hard suction used to keep debris from entering the fire pump

Hose tools	There are a variety of tools used in conjunction with hose lines
	Common ones include: Hose rollers Spanner wrenches Hose strap Hose rope tools Hose chain tools Hose clamps Hose jackets Ramps Blocks
Hose roller	used when pulling hose over windowsills and roof edges
Hose clamp	used to stop the flow of water in a hose line for the following reasons To prevent charging the hose bed during hose lay operations To allow replacement of a burst section of hose without shutting down the water supply To allow extension of a hose line without shutting down the water supply To allow the advancement of a charged hose line up stairs
	Rules to follow that apply to hose clamps are as follow: Apply the hose clamp at least 20 feet behind the apparatus Apply the hose clamp approximately 5 feet from the coupling on the incoming water side Stand to one side when applying or releasing the press down type of hose clamp ( the operating handle is prone to snapping open suddenly ) Caution: Never stand over the handle of a hose clamp when applying or releasing it.  The handle may swing upward in a violent motion and injure the firefighter attempting to operate the handle Center the hose evenly in the jaws to avoid pinching the hose Close and open the hose clamp slowly to avoid water hammer
Hose Bridges or Ramp	Hose bridges (aka..Hose ramps) help prevent injury to hose when a vehicle crosses it
	Should be used wherever a hose line crosses a street or other area where vehicular traffic cannot be diverted
Chaffing block	Devices that are used to protect fire hose where hose is subjected to rubbing from vibrations
	Made of wood, leather, or sections of old truck tires
Spanner, Hydrant Wrench, and Rubber Mallet	Spanner wrench – used primarly to tighten and loosen hose couplings, other uses are: Wedge for prying Opening that fits gas utility valves Slot for pulling nails Flat surface for hammering
	Hydrant wrenches are primarily used to remove caps from fire hydrant outlets and open fire hydrant valves The lever may be threaded onto the head making it adjustable and the handle may be a ratchet type The head may be equipped with a spanner to help make or break coupling connections
	Rubber mallets are used to strike the lugs to tighten or loosen intake hose couplings
Hose Strap, Hose Rope, and Hose Chain	Most useful tool to aid in carrying or handling a charged hose line is the hose strap
	These devices can be used to carry and pull fire hose
	Primary value is to provide a more secure means to handle pressurized hose when applying water
	Another important use is to secure hose to ladders and other fixed objects