5" vs. 3" supply hose

[DeputyChiefGonzo]

Sounds like you would be wise to go to LDH, especially given some of your "iffy" hydrants and potential lack of a pumping engine at some times. Having the adapters is a big plus as it will substancially cut your purchase costs.

LAFire.. if you were answering my post

We have an excellent hydrant system.

99% of the city has hydrants ( the 1% of the city that doesn't have hydrants are two private roads, one is along a lake, the other serves 1 old homestea dand has a pond in which we can draft from) , and the average hydrant pressure is 90 to 100 PSI right off the hydrant with the exception of one area, where the average hydrant pressure is 20 to 40 PSI.

[E1E2TL3]

We went to 5" a few years ago. Still have a choice and that is up to the first due eng. operator. If its a long run, he most definitley will lay dual 3" lines cause we only have 600' of 5". If its close enough for the 5" I prefer to hook directly to hydrant. That frees up the eng. We have an excellent hydrant system. very few places farther than 500' run to hydrant. If laying 2-threes, than eng is hooked to hydrant.

We run 2 eng. and a TL from one station. So first engine drops supply lines to second engine and goes for water. He then returns to become pump operator of second engine. Second due eng. operator (could be duty officer) and TL operator go in on first line.

Thats one reason I like the 5". We usually due reverse lay and if second due eng out of service, more than likely we don't have to worry about adaptors or reconfiguring the hose on the eng. Lots of work when there is anly three on duty and no garuntee when vollies will show up to assist, and MA is a few minutes out.

The other reason is MA. All surrounding depts. have 5" and don't have to worry about adapting fittings. Some are NS threads and some use FDNY threads.

[cityfire7]

Gotta love 5" supply lines. I only hate it when.....

1. No hose bed covers=lots of hose on the interstate

Amen Brother!!!!!!!!!

People do crazy things when they see 800'-1000' of 5" whipping/rolling/falling in front of them at 70+MPH!!!

And then just TRY to page for volunteers to come help reload it.

[hwoods]

Amen Brother!!!!!!!!!

People do crazy things when they see 800'-1000' of 5" whipping/rolling/falling in front of them at 70+MPH!!!

And then just TRY to page for volunteers to come help reload it.

Last Summer, my wife and I were on a short trip, and out in the middle of nowhere on the Interstate, we saw traffic was slowing, and seemed to be vacating the right lane. Getting closer we found a badly battered hydrant valve in the middle of the right lane, and a 5 inch line laid out from it. No apparataus to be seen anywhere. I jumped out and grabbed a few flares while my wife called the local dispatch center for Police and to get someone out there to pick up the hose. Another Firefighter passing through helped, and we pulled all 1,500 feet off onto the shoulder, PD showed up, but nobody knew who lost the hose. We found out later that it was from an Engine that was going to a repair shop about 20 miles beyond where the hose fell off.

[OLINENGINE1]

I have 3" on one department and 5" on the other. 5" blows 3" out of the WATER!!! At 400 GPM 3" loses 13 PSI per 100' and 5" loses a whopping 1 PSI. There I did the math for ya. Good luck I hope this will help the final word.