Fire hoses are not a commodity; they’re your lifeline.
Whether you’re in municipal fire services, industrial safety, or wildland firefighting, these high-performance tools don’t come cheap. Replacing them frequently due to damage or premature wear and tear can strain your department’s budget and compromise operational safety.
To get the most from your fire hose investment, it’s important to take proactive steps to extend their life and preserve performance. Here are three practical ways to do that.
Choose the Right Hose for the Job
Not all fire hoses are created equal, and protection starts with educated selection. When it’s time to buy, make sure the hose is rated for its intended application; i.e. attack, supply, forestry, or industrial use. Using a hose beyond its intended rating increases wear and risk of failure.
Just like buying a car, you want to get the most value for your money, and sometimes that value comes from added features or extra perks. The same principle applies when shopping for fire hoses. One of the most important things to consider is the manufacturer’s warranty. Fire hoses are a major investment, and a solid warranty offers more than peace of mind. It ensures product quality, protects against unexpected costs, and makes the initial investment in a high-quality hose easier to justify.
Snap-tite Hose offers a 10-year warranty, 2 and 3-year all hazard warranties, and lifetime delamination warranties on many of our fire hoses. Here’s a look at what that means for you:
10-Year Warranty:
All double jacket, nitrile rubber and polyurethane lined fire hose products used in the municipal fire industry are to be free from defects in materials or workmanship over a period of ten (10) years from the original date of shipment. This warranty shall provide for the repair or replacement of hose and assemblies proven to have failed due to faulty materials or workmanship during normal and reasonable fire ground use, and care of fire hose. Snap-tite Hose will replace via a pro-rated credit against new hose basis (age in use versus warranty period) after two years for products still within the warranty period.
2-Year and 3-Year All Hazard Warranties:
Snap-tite Hose will repair or replace any accidental damage to specific products within the two/three-year warranty period.All hazard damage is limited to accidental occurrences due to fire, cuts, abrasion, or other accidental destruction that occur during an active fire situation.
Products with a 2-year all hazard warranty: Conquest™, Gladiator™ FG and FGN, Supreme™ ll, TPX™, and UTX™.
Products with a 3-year all hazard warranty: Warrior™ FW and FWN.
Lifetime Delamination:
Snap-tite also offers an optional Dura-Cote™ treatment on several lines, which creates a virtually impenetrable shield to increase abrasion, flame, and UV and ozone resistance. Just another perk! Learn more here.
Tip: If you’re buying supply line, consider rubber. After use, fire scene chemicals are easily cleaned from the surface material of Snap-tite's KLEAN rubber hoses with just soap and water, returning the hose to its original state. It's just like a built-in preventative maintenance plan.
Train for Proper Handling
Even the best gear won’t last without informed users, and improper handling causes most accidental hose damage. Make sure everyone who uses or moves your hose knows how to deploy and retrieve it. Avoid dragging lay-flat fire hose on the folded edges as much as possible. Your team should also know how to connect and disconnect couplings correctly and how to report and document damage immediately.
Be aware! Exposure to UV rays, moisture, and extreme temperatures can also deteriorate hose materials over time. Due to this, it's important to have a robust storage plan for your lines.
Inspect Regularly
Routine inspections are your first line of defense. Regularly check your fire hoses for:
- Cuts, abrasions, and punctures in the jacket.
- Signs of mold, mildew, or chemical damage.
- Loose or corroded couplings.
- Bulges or soft spots that indicate internal failure.
Tip: Per NFPA 1962 standards, annual testing is recommended to evaluate the health of your fire hose. Click here to learn more about setting yourself up for successful testing.
Final Thoughts
Protecting your fire hose investment means doing your research before purchase, properly training, and conducting proactive maintenance. These steps not only save money over time but also ensure your hose is ready when you need it most.
Bottomline: Treat your fire hose like the life-saving tool it is!