A fire nozzle is a key piece of firefighting equipment that needs to be taken care of like any other tool. It’s important for firefighters to understand how their nozzles work and how to choose the right one for different situations.
The nozzle on the end of your fire hose is your primary weapon to suppress a fire. This is why it’s crucial to know its operation, downfalls, safety concerns, gpm flow and reaction force.
Brass Bullseye Nozzle
Invented in 1969 and Made in the USA, the Bullseye Power Nozzle uses the power of constriction to control water flow. This allows the SMALLEST AMOUNT OF WATER to be used in an effective PIN POINT STREAM and is unsurpassed in its PRECISION AND WATER CONSERVATION! Its simple design and unparalleled quality has been relied upon by Wildland Firefighters, HVAC/R technicians, food and beverage processors, plumbers, sanitation workers, automotive professionals and industrial users around the world for over 50 years.
Green Thumb 3/4″ GHT (garden hose thread) Industrial Grade Brass Power Nozzle, Adjusts From Power Mode To Heavy Spray, Pin Point Stream & Guaranteed Leak Proof Off
Power mode excels at power washing and is especially useful in areas with low water pressure the pin point stream is superb for saving water cleaning a/c radiator & refrigerator coils pool filters detailing and many other jobs where power and precision water usage are desired. Spray mode is great for rinsing, gardening and general clean up.
D-Ring Nozzle
The D-Ring Nozzle is an effective firefighting nozzle that provides a wide stream. It has a horseshoe on-off lever and a ball valve for adjusting flow rate. It also has a revolving head of aluminium alloy to change the spray pattern and a swivel inlet flange.
The type of nozzle you use will affect the amount of debris left behind, so it’s important to find the best one for your needs. Smooth bore nozzles produce a solid stream that offers maximum reach and penetration, while fog nozzles create a dispersed stream with spinning teeth for improved heat absorption and steam effect.
Some non-lateral nozzle systems mount directly to the header using a pipe saddle and expanding ring. Others require that holes be drilled and tapped on the plate, nozzles threaded into them, and then a backup nut with an o-ring is threaded onto the underside of the flange. Orthos can help with proper mounting and configuration of these types of systems.
Smooth-Bore Nozzle
The smooth-bore nozzle is a great option for a 2 1/2-inch handline since they flow the most water per minute. They are also easier to maneuver than a fog nozzle.
The most common smooth-bore tip sizes used on 2 1/2-inch attack handlines are 11/8-inch and 1 1/4-inch. These both create a solid stream that can cut through a fire’s thermal balance without disturbing it.
When properly deployed this nozzle will deliver a flow of 160 gpm in most conditions and can reach to a structure’s seat of the fire. However, kinks and poor line management can lower the achieved nozzle pressure on the fireground.
To achieve a good flowing advance it is important that firefighters know their equipment and its operational capabilities. This includes nozzles and their ability to produce either a fog or a solid stream. This knowledge can help to prevent firefighters from unnecessarily arguing with the physical universe. It also allows them to choose the nozzle that best fits their needs for that particular fire.
Variable Flow Nozzle
A variable flow screen nozzle includes a head with a head opening, a tube for passage of fluid flow into and out of the head’s interior, and a valve. A valve disposed in the tube passage permits first fluid flow under certain conditions and blocks second fluid flow under different conditions.
The valve also allows an operator to select the size of an orifice in the nozzle module based on application rates. Increasing the orifice increases the flow rate, while decreasing the orifice reduces the flow rate.
The screen nozzle head and tubes 170/180 are preferably composed of metals so they are more durable than plastic fire nozzles. The check ball 190 of the valve 156 can be composed of plastic or a similar material for process conditions that cannot support the use of metals. The tubes 170/180 thread into internal threads of the nozzle head opening 22 to secure the nozzle in place. The nozzle also has an outer tube that extends out of the head opening and includes a nut 187.
