Service life for hose

[LT224]

I am trying to determine if there is a standard for service life for fire hose. In the past we have used hose until it fails the annual test. We recently threw out a section of 2 1/2 from the early 80's. About a third of our hose in service now is from the early 90's. It all passes the annual, but....
Does your department have a set time frame before hose is replaced? Does it vary by hose size or type?
Any help would be appreciated.

[DeputyMarshal]

See NFPA 1962 - 2008.

The standard calls for annual testing and allows keeping it as long as it passes but we make it a procatice to remover hose from service after 10 years as recommended in A.7.1.

[LT224]

So I guess the 30 year shelf life isn't a good idea?

[nameless]

We have hose that's been in service well over 10 years. It is still passing hose tests and is still working when we pull it off for fires.

[CCCFire09]

Last year I had to cut off the couplings on brass stamped '62 because it kept finding its way back to the apparatus. It passed every year, but we had other stock, and it was costing us to keep it on the shelf. Ended up getting good $ for scrap. a 2-1/2" male/female set gets just over $10 when you remove the expansion ring and clean out the insides to get no-recovery status.

[FIREMECH1]

See NFPA 1962 - 2008.

The standard calls for annual testing and allows keeping it as long as it passes but we make it a proactive to remover hose from service after 10 years as recommended in A.7.1.

^^^^ This is also our way.

FM1

[donethat]

I am trying to determine if there is a standard for service life for fire hose. In the past we have used hose until it fails the annual test. We recently threw out a section of 2 1/2 from the early 80's. About a third of our hose in service now is from the early 90's. It all passes the annual, but....
Does your department have a set time frame before hose is replaced? Does it vary by hose size or type?
Any help would be appreciated.

This is kinda like keeping tires on the rig until they have a blow out. Even though the tires may still have a lot of tread left on them, it's recommended to replace them after seven years due to dry rot. Hose is somewhat the same. I like the 10 year replacement life as well.