Pumper and pumping operations

[Roofman4]

Through the many buff photo sites, I have seen many pumper drivers don't use their rigs front intakes when on a hydrant. These intakes appear to be 4 1/2" or 5" with 5" intake sleeves. In these pictures they have bent and manipulated a 3" rubber hard suction hose into a pretzel and using what looks like the auxiliary 2 1/2" on the pump panel. Why? Are front intakes relatively new? Driver preference? SOP? all the above?


Thanks
RM4

 

[memory master]

Years ago, the soft suction was only to be used by the 1st due engine. All subsequent engine companies were to use the hard suctions. Don't really know what the protocol is today.

 

[turk132]

From the Regs.
11.2.10 Officers shall be guided in the use of hydrant and suction connections by the
following:
A. When first to arrive on the first alarm, the small hydrant connection or 41/2 inch soft hydrant connection may be used.
B. When other than first to arrive on the first alarm, the 4 1/2 inch soft hydrant connection or 4 1/2 inch suction connection may be used.
C. When arriving at second or greater alarms, or when drafting operations are indicated, the 4 1/2 inch suction connection shall be used.
D. When hydrants are unlawfully blocked at fires or emergency operations, a length of hose, where practicable, may be used to connect a pumper to a hydrant.

Small hydrant connection is 10' 3 1/2" hose with 4 1/2" couplings

 

[mac8146]

Regs havent been updated in regard to hydrant hookups, the soft suction is still carried and used when applicable, all engines have a 35 foot yellow 5" connection they can use and also the 3 1/2 can be used if needed for inline pumping or obstruction or need to move a little further away from hydrant for whatever reason. The old hard suction which is in regs hasnt been issued or placed on rigs in a few years at least. all new 2000 gpm have 1 soft suction and 3 drafting hoses mounted on pump side. No hard suctions.

 

[Bulldog]

All new 2000 gpm have 1 soft suction and 3 drafting hoses mounted on pump side. No hard suctions.

Aren't drafting hoses and hard suctions the same thing?  If not what's the difference?

 

[mac8146]

Drafting hoses on new rigs are 6" fittings that can only be hooked up on Officer side of rig to a special connection. 1 is a hard draft suction the other 2 are flexible. Years ago pumpers had 4 1/2 soft suctions that are still in use today, they also had 4 1/2 hard suctions that were difficult to bend and rig positioning was criticle hence the use after 1 st alarm. FYI the new 2000 gpm units have a larger diameter 4 1/2 than the regular 4 1/2 with 3"diameter due to pump size.

 

[69 METS]

All new 2000 gpm have 1 soft suction and 3 drafting hoses mounted on pump side. No hard suctions.

Aren't drafting hoses and hard suctions the same thing?  If not what's the difference?

The new style flexible suction hose is designed for drafting only. Unlike the rigid hard suction type hose which can be used to draft as well as to receive water from a pressurized hydrant, the new style flexible suction hose can't receive water under pressure as it will damage the hose.

 

[tbendick]

Some more input.

Reasons not to use the front intake. In NYC the 1st due Engine for the most part will always enter the block first.  If they take a hydrant and nose in they can blockout the street depending on conditions.

It seems the job is going to the 4 1/2 soft hydrant connection for everyone.  We have a 1000gpm at received one as a replacement, a little harder to use.

The other issues with the new rigs and drafting are the few dry hydrants around the city.  They 2000gpm don't have fittings to hook up to them but some due have STORZ adapters now.

I have only seen engine 14 hook up with a hard suction at a multiple alarm.