Have you ever wondered if your trusty old garden hose is capable of extinguishing a fire? Well, unfortunately, it can’t—residential hoses are just simply not designed to handle the rigors of a raging fire. That’s why some homeowners buy certain hose products that are better suited for fire prevention. So, how exactly are firefighting hoses different from garden hoses? Read on to learn more.
Liters of Water Per Minute
The first and potentially most vital difference between firefighting and garden hoses is their liters per minute output. This figure describes the amount of water a hose can dispense in a minute, and, obviously, more is better when fighting a fire.
Standard garden hoses typically can produce 40 liters of water per minute. Firefighting hoses pump out over 1,000 liters of water per minute. With that kind of power, a firefighting hose can easily cover large areas and douse flames in an efficient and effective manner. Leave your garden hose for watering delicate plants and cleaning your car.
Different Designs and Features
You can see many differences between gardening and firefighting hoses just by looking at them. Garden hoses are thin and hard, while firefighting hoses are made with a thick rubber material that’s large and loose. This specially designed rubber material is resistant to kinking.
When fighting a fire, you don’t want a hose to shut off because it got caught behind something suddenly. Plus, this rubber material prevents kinking caused by heat. Lastly, firefighter hoses are designed to be durable and rip-resistant.
Variety
There isn’t much variety when it comes to garden hoses, as the modern-day design is suitable for lawn care and other housework. However, there are many different types of firefighting hoses, each offering a specific function. For instance, firefighters use single jacket hoses, double jacket hoses, and rubber-covered hoses, to name a few.
Additionally, there are two classifications for firefighting hoses—suction and delivery. Suction hoses draw water from other sources, like a nearby body of water, making them less common for standard firefighting. Delivery hoses connect to a pump, like a fire hydrant. The variety of hoses continues when considering different types of firefighting, like wildland firefighting. Those individuals use a plethora of different firefighting hose packs and hoses to tackle flames in the wilderness.
As you can see, garden hoses and firefighting hoses are quite different. In the event of a house fire, you should always evacuate the home and contact the fire department immediately. Never try and fight fire with your garden hose, as this only delays emergency response.
