As a firefighter, you know that a hose doesn't work on its own. For extinguishing flames, a nozzle directs the stream toward a specific location, improving accuracy and quickly controlling a blaze. Yet, not all fire hose nozzles are identical: Rather, diameter and spray pattern all influence where and how water disperses.

So that your team continues to fight fires efficiency, explore the following solutions available at Fire Safety USA:

Types of Fire Hose Nozzles

On a general level, nozzles divert the stream of water passing from the source through the hose to the fire. More specifically, nozzles act as regulators: As a firefighter, you use one to turn off the flow of water and adjust the spray pattern in relation to the flames. The type of nozzle further influences the rate and pressure at which the water emerges.

The most common types of fire hose nozzles include:

• Conventional nozzles, which are equipped with a fixed or adjustable delivery method. While discharge patterns change, the amount of pressure and flow remain the same.
• Automatic nozzles, which feature a spring to deliver a constant stream of water and allow for variable discharge rates.
• Basic nozzles, which adjust from a stream pattern to fog delivery.
• Constant gallonage, which lets you adjust from a straight to a wide pattern without changing the discharge rate.
• Constant pressure, which provides variable discharges and spray patterns at the same degree of pressure.

Factors to Consider

In addition to pressure and spray pattern, think about the following when selecting a fire hose nozzle:

• Thread: Make sure your hose and nozzle use the same thread. The most common types include NST.
• Spray patterns: Nozzles deliver one or more of the following spray patterns: Fog disperses droplets of water over a larger area, and straight has a more concentrated, farther-traveling stream.
• Materials: Make sure your fire nozzle discharges water and foam relative to hazards ranging from wildfires and burning buildings to oils, chemicals and other flammable substances.
• Pressure: Greater pressure doesn't always yield the greatest rewards. Realize that the higher the pressure goes, the more challenging the hose is to operate.

Based on these considerations, browse fire hose nozzles from Akron, Ally and more brands at Fire Safety USA. Select a solution in relation to the hazards you could potentially face before ordering online, through our call center or via our direct fax line.