Glossary

Word	Definition
Abrasion resistance	One of the best measures of fire hose durability and longevity. There are two primary measures of abrasion resistance, the U.L. (Underwriters Laboratories) method, and the F.M. (Factory Mutual) method. In both cases, a higher number is a better number.
Acceptance pressure	A specified pressure applied to all new hose by the manufacturer determining hose capability to withstand working pressures. Acceptance pressure is twice the annual service pressure. Same as proof pressure
Adapter	Any device that allows fire hose couplings to be safely interconnected with couplings of different sizes, threads, or mating surfaces, or that allows fire hose couplings to be safely connected to other appliances.
Approved	Acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction.
Attack hose	Hose used at pressures above 185 psi (1275 kPa), usually 2 1/2” (64 mm) or smaller. Hose designed to be used by trained fire fighters and fire brigade members to combat fires beyond the incipient stage.
Blunt start	Feature that all threaded couplings should have. Also known as “Higbee cut” where an indicator on the lugs of the couplings shows where the threads match up correctly for an easy and quick connection.
Bowl gasket	See “Tail gasket”.
Coating	An impregnation or saturation of woven hose with protective materials so the outside of the jacket is relatively smooth and more abrasion and chemical resistant.
Coupling	One set or pair of connection devices attached to a fire hose that allow the hose to be interconnected to additional lengths of hose or adapters and other fire-fighting appliances.
Coupling assembly	A complete coupling including the gaskets and the expansion rings or collar pieces used in attaching the coupling to the hose.
Expansion ring	A brass ring that expands against the hose lining, forcing the hose tightly against the inside of the coupling bowl.
Extrusion	A shape that has been formed by forcing material through a die.
Face gasket	The water pressure seal at the mating surfaces of non-threaded couplings or adapters.
Filler weft threads	The threads or yarns of the hose jacket or reinforcement that are helically wound throughout the length of the hose at approximately right angles to the warp threads. Filler threads handle about 75% of the water pressure.
Fire hose	A flexible conduit constructed with a woven jacket and an approved non-permeable lining generally used to extinguish fires.
Forestry fire hose	A hose designed to meet specialized requirements for fighting wildland fires.
Friction loss	The amount of energy (pressure) lost as water travels through hose; expressed in PSI (pounds per square inch) or in kPa (Pascals or Newton per square meters), usually per 100 feet of hose.
Hard suction hose	A hose used for drafting water from static supplies (lakes, rivers, wells, etc.). It can also be used for supplying pumpers from a hydrant if designed for that purpose. The hose contains a semi-rigid or rigid reinforcement designed to prevent the hose from collapsing under vacuum or suction.
Higbee cut	Feature that all threaded couplings should have. Where the indicators on the lugs of the coupling show where the threads match up correctly for an easy and quick connection - also known as "blunt" start.
Hose assembly	Hose furnished with couplings attached at each end.
Interior hose	Fire hose designed to be used by the building’s occupants to fight incipient fires prior to the arrival of trained fire fighters or fire brigade members.
IPT thread	Straight iron pipe thread (also referred to as NPSH or SIPT); used mostly by fire departments in Canada and the East Coast of United States for 1”, 1 1/2", 1 3/4" and 2" (25, 38, 45 and 51 mm) sizes.
Labelled	Equipment, materials or services that are tagged to identify a firm that, under authorized jursidiction involved in the evaluation of a product, maintains periodic inspections of the labelled equipment or material. These labels must comply with manufacturer''s demands and must respect the different specifications and performances in a specific fashion.
Large-diameter hose	A hose of 3 1/2” (89 mm) or larger. Supply hose is designed to be used at operating pressures not exceeding 185 psi (1275 kPa).
Lay, forward	Laying hose from a water source to a fire.
Lay, reverse	Laying hose from a fire to a water source.
Lining, EPDM rubber	Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer is a synthetic rubber that has excellent inherent resistance to UV and ozone. It extrudes smoothly producing a thinner, flexible lightweight tube. It is slightly thicker than Thermoplastic Urethane Liner but yields a hose only minimally heavier and bulkier. The heavier wall gives slightly better kink resistance than Thermoplastic Urethane lined hoses.
Lining, SBR rubber	Styrene Butadiene Rubber is a synthetic general-purpose rubber compounded for many uses including hose tubing. It is typically extruded in a thicker wall than EPDM rubber and Thermoplastic Urethane Liner and hence yields a heavier bulkier hose. The UV and ozone resistance is poor unless specifically compounded for that purpose. The heavier wall imparts better kinking resistance.
Lining, T.P.U.	Thermoplastic Urethane is a high performance polyurethane elastomer that can be extruded into a very thin walled tube for use in fire hose. It has a very high tensile strength compared to rubber compounds. Excellent UV and ozone resistance. Remains extremely flexible at low temperatures. It yields an extremely lightweight and compact hose.
Listed	Equipment, materials, or services included in a list published by an organization that is acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction and concerned with evaluation of products or services, that maintains periodic inspection of production of listed equipment or materials or periodic evaluation of services, and whose listing states that either the equipment, material, or service meets identified standards or has been tested and found suitable for a specified purpose.
Markings (stamp or stencil)	There are several markings to look for on hoses: Industrial applications: U.L. listing or F.M. approval. Municipal applications: NFPA markings and/or U.L. listing. Drinking water applications: NSF approval Underground mining application: MSHA approval U.S. Coast Guard: U.L. listing
Multiple jacketed hose	Hose having two or more woven jackets or a covered hose that complies with all of the performance tests in a standard for multiple-jacketed hose.
NFPA 1961	National Fire Protection Associations specifications titled “Standard on Fire Hose”
NFPA 1962	National Fire Protection Association''s specification titled: Standard for the Care, Use and Service Testing of Fire Hose Including Couplings and Nozzles.
NH (National Hose Thread)	National Standard Thread (also referes to as NST). Used mostly in United States for all sizes
NPSH (National Pipe Straight Hose)	Straight Iron Pipe Thread (also refered to as IPT or SIPT); used mostly by fire departments in Canada and the East Coast of United States for 1”, 1 1/2", 1 ¾” and 2" (25, 38, 45 and 51 mm) sizes. Also commonly used in industrial applications.
NST (National Standard Thread)	National Standard Thread (also refered to as NH); used mostly in United States for all sizes.
Picks per inch	The number of weft yarns measured over a distance of one inch.
Pressure, proof	A specified pressure applied to new hose by the manufacturer to indicate its acceptability at intended working pressures. Same as acceptance pressure.
Pressure, service test	The pressure to which the hose is periodically (annually) tested to determine that it can remain in service. The service test pressure is at least 10 percent greater than the maximum working pressure.
PSIG	Pounds per square inch gauge pressure. (1 PSIG equal 6.8948 Pa).
Relay pumping	Pumping from one pumper to another.
Rubber lining	A rubber liner that is extruded into a thin walled tube for use on the inside of woven jacketed fire hose.
Service pressure	The pressure to which hose is tested annually to determine if it can remain in service. Service Pressure is one-half the acceptance pressure and at least 10% higher than working pressure.
Siamese	A fitting designed to have two or more lines going in and one line going out.
Single jacket hose	A construction consisting of one woven jacket.
Soft Suction Hose	Hose that attaches between the hydrant and the fire pump. Usually 4”, 4 1/2”, 5”, or 6” (102, 114, 127 or 152 mm). It usually has a female coupling on both ends.
Static pressure	Pressure of water when not in motion.
Supply hose	Hose used at pressures below 185 psi (1275 kPa), usually 3 1/2” (89 mm) or larger.
Swivel gasket	A gasket used in a female threaded connection to provide a watertight seal between the male and female threaded connections.
Tail gasket	A gasket in the bowl of a coupling used to provide a watertight seal between the coupling and the hose in an expansion ring–type coupling.
Threaded coupling	A coupling or adapter in which the mating is achieved with the use of male and/or female threads.
Unlined hose	A hose consisting of only a woven jacket that is usually of linen yarns and is of such quality that the yarn swells when wet, tending to seal the hose.
Unthreaded coupling	A coupling or adapter in which the mating is achieved with locks or cams but without the use of screw threads.
Vulcanization	A process utilizing heat and steam to bond the rubber liner to the woven jacket.
Warp threads	The threads or yarns of a jacket that run lengthwise to the hose. Warp threads protect the filler threads, and absorb 25% of the pressure.
Water hammer	A surge of pressure caused when a flow of water is abruptly shut off. The pressure exerted by the flowing water against the closed system can be seven or more times that of the static pressure, and is capable of causing equipment failure and/or personnel injury.
Weave, plain	In the plain weave, each warp yarn goes over one weft yarn and then under one weft yarn alternately. In plain weave, half the warp is on the outside of the hose.
Weave, twill	In the twill weave, each warp yarn goes over two weft yarns and then under one weft yarn alternately. In addition, each warp yarn lies one weft yarn further on than its left hand neighbor and so the diagonal effect of twill weave is obtained. In twill weave hose, two thirds of the warp yarn is on the outside of the hose, and only one third on the inside. This means that a twill woven hose will stand more abrasion to the warp yarn before the weft yarns are affected.
Weft (filler) yarn	The yarn running circumferentially around the hose.
Working pressure	The maximum pressure, to which a hose will be subjected, including the momentary surges in pressure that can occur during service. The working pressure is sometimes abbreviated as WP, and is sometimes referred to as Use Pressure.
Wye	A fitting designed to have one hose line flowing in and two or more hose lines flowing out.

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