Safety Factors
Abrasion Resistance – A direct relationship to the safe performance of the fire hose. The UL abrasion test most closely resembles the fire ground use of fire hose and as such, is considered of prime importance. Hose meeting all of the abrasion resistance safety factors below shall do so without exceeding average weights.
UL Abrasion – The hose shall pass a burst test after 5000 cycles on a reciprocating abrasion tester – as specified in UL Standard 19. Cold Resistance Safety Factor – Hose shall be capable of safe use down to -50 °F. The hose shall have no apparent damage to cover reinforcement or lining when subjected to the following cold flexibility test: a 50′ length of dry hose is coiled and placed in a cold box at -35 °F for a duration of 24 hours. Immediately after removal of the hose from the box, hose should be uncoiled and laid out by one operator.
Flashover Resistance Safety Factor – Heat resistance is of the utmost importance when evaluating interior attack hose. This hose shall meet the safety factors for heat resistance without exceeding the normal fire hose weight. The hose shall be subjected to a static pressure of 100 psi and be capable of withstanding a surface temperature of 1200 °F for a minimum of 30 seconds without bursting.
Water Pick-up Weight – The tendency for a hose to absorb water while in a wet environment can create significant handling difficulties. When tested against the procedure listed in MIL-H-24606 latest edition, the maximum weight gain shall not exceed 3 pounds per 50′ length.
Couplings
Combat Ready shall be “doubled ring” with extruded aluminum 6061-T6 USA manufactured couplings. Knurled couplings, 2″ x 21/2″ and other custom features available upon special request.
Hose Construction
This hose is designed specifically for aggressive fire attack operations. The outer jacket is woven from ring spun staple polyester yarns over an inner liner consisting of a one-piece extruded through-the-weave nitrile/PVC tube. Color or clear coat abrasion resistant “Key-Lok” process is standard. Combat Ready is manufactured in a high-visibility fashion with two red and two blue stripes running the length of the hose. This heat, abrasion and kink resistant hose shall have superior friction loss characteristics. Lengths available up to 75′. Warranty: Hose shall carry a 10-year written warranty, which includes a 1-year wear/tear warranty.
Inner Hose Properties
When the hose is tested in accordance with NFPA 1961, the liner shall have the following properties: Ultimate Tensile Strength – Shall not be less than 1200 psi. Ultimate Elongation – Shall not be less than 200%. Accelerated Aging Test – Shall meet requirements of UL19 for accelerated aging. Adhesion – Between reinforcement and liner shall be a minimum of 20 pounds. Ozone Resistance – Shall show no signs of visible cracking of the cover of liner when tested in accordance with ASTM D1149-91 and ASTM D518-86 (R91), Procedure B. Chemical Resistance – Exposure to seawater and contamination by most chemicals will have no effect on the short or long term performance of the hose.
