Fire Hose Prefitted with Couplings

Give the coupling pattern and size already on the ship’s hydrants and nozzles, then the hose diameter, length, coupling metal and hose colour, exactly as in the IMPA description. Patterns are different designs: a Storz coupling is symmetrical (“sexless”), joined with a quarter turn and sized by letter — C is 52 mm seal / 66 mm lug, B is 75 / 89 mm — while the Guillemin coupling common in France and Belgium is similar but not completely symmetric.^[2]

Check the length against the fire control plan before ordering: under the SOLAS wording reproduced in class rules, hoses are at least 10 m long, at most 15 m in machinery spaces and 20 m in other spaces and open decks, and 25 m on open decks of ships wider than 30 m. The 30 m lengths in this group are for ships whose flag or plan allows them.^[1]

On a tanker, order brass couplings rather than aluminium unless the flag accepts the alternative: Canadian rules, for example, require the nozzles, couplings and fittings of fire hoses on a tanker to be brass, bronze or another equivalent non-sparking material.^[3]

Class rules reproducing SOLAS II-2/10 require fire hoses of approved non-perishable material, kept ready for use in conspicuous positions near the hydrants, a hose for every hydrant, and each hose provided with a nozzle and the necessary couplings.^[1]

Canadian rules set a minimum fire-hose diameter of 38 mm and require every fire hose to have the same diameter.^[3]