small hose connections
small hose connections
(OP)
I know what chapter 23 IFC says when small hose connections are required,
but had this thrown at me and just trying to see which way the wind is blowing.
If you have high piled stock situation and IFC does not require small hose connections, heard some are using nfpa 13 2002 edition to require them per:
12.3.1.3 Hose connections shall not be required for the protection of Class I, II, III, and IV commodities stored 12 ft (3.7 m) or less in height.
any thoughts????
but had this thrown at me and just trying to see which way the wind is blowing.
If you have high piled stock situation and IFC does not require small hose connections, heard some are using nfpa 13 2002 edition to require them per:
12.3.1.3 Hose connections shall not be required for the protection of Class I, II, III, and IV commodities stored 12 ft (3.7 m) or less in height.
any thoughts????





RE: small hose connections
In reviewing 2006 IFC Chapter 23, I could not find a requirment for small hose connections. And I could not find a requirement in the 2007 Ohio Fire Code. Could it be a local requirement in your area? If so, if 13-2007 is the current code, then they could be required, otherwise, 13-2002 does not appear to require them.
Don Phillips
http://worthingtonengineering.com
RE: small hose connections
It's as if a company is telling an employee "Here, this is a hose for occupant use and as an employee you're expected to fight this fire to save your job."
Unless an employee is trained in fighting fires I think a case could be made for criminally negligent homicide seeing as how the company left tools about, along with instructions found on most any hose rack, to fight a fire but didn't provide training. That hose looks just like the kind a fire department uses and some employees might be tempted to fight the fire with the hose longer then they would with an extinguisher. The property loss due to fire will pale in comparison should a young mother with two kids, making $1.50 above minimum wage, lose her life fighting a company fire.
IMHO all hose reels and racks should be replaced with signs reading "In The Event Of Fire Get The Hell Out Now!"
If sprinklers can't suppress a fire isn't it time to get out and if they do suppress the fire shouldn't one get out anyway? Let the sprinklers and fire department handle it.
When NFPA 14 first came out it was the turn of the previous century. It was in a day when only men worked. Being the day before unemployment insurance "real men" were expected to stay behind, save the factory and save their jobs. Some factories even had trained "Fire Brigades" with axes, spanners, hoses and nozzles. We've all seen these archaeological relics around old factories in the rust belt.
Good Lord people, NFPA #14 was first dreamed up in 1912 when Russia still had a Czar, China had an emperor, the Titanic had yet to sail and shortly after Teddy Roosevelt was storming up San Juan Hill. There were still a large number of living civil war veterans for Christ's sake. Come to think of it there were still a few veterans alive that fought for Texas during the time of the Alamo and Davy" Crockett
This was the day before the high challenge fires we see today with high piled Class A plastics, foams and everything else bad. I haven't seen any of the early standards but, unlike NFPA 13, I don't think all that much has changed in 100 years.
IMHO if there's any NFPA standard screaming to be totally rewritten it's NFPA #14.
A few states have finally wised up to the risks involved and won't allow occupant hose stations be installed unless employees are trained in their use.
Just to be clear I am not assailing standpipes for fire department use.
Since you asked for it that's my two cents worth.
Whew, that was fun! :)
RE: small hose connections
I am not saying these six fire departments is representive across the country - perhaps in central ohio - but does support Sprinklerdesigner2's points.
Don Phillips
http://worthingtonengineering.com
RE: small hose connections
Some fire departments (the ones who perform pre-incident planning) will sometmes indicate they will use the small hose stations, but not the hoses. They usually will check to make sure the small hoses they carry on the truck will attach to the small hose stations; the threads can be different at older facilities and adapters should be placed on the small hose stations in this case.
Very few facilities have "Fire Brigades" anymore due to the strict OSHA standards and liability associated with employees fighting fires. With the exception of properly trained and equipped fire brigades, employees should only attempt to fight small incipient fires in my opinion.....leave the real fire fighting to the professional fire fighters.