Lay flat hose put through its paces

Five lots of lay-flat hose were put through their paces at NTC in April.

Some of our hose subject matter experts and members of the Equipment and Logistics team tested 25 mm, 38 mm, 45 mm, 70 mm, and 90 mm hose. They were measured and weighed, and tested for pressure, friction loss, kinking, and abrasion. The team also applied hose patches to see how well they accepted or reacted to our hose repairing standards.

Equipment and Logistics Capability Manager, Rob McMahon says these trials are the first stage of the process and are done so the E&L team can look for any glaring issues and be as confident as possible about putting the hose out for proper operational trialling and evaluation before buying in any quantity. 

‘We want to ensure we get the best possible equipment into the hands of our frontline firefighters at optimum cost (best value).  When we select equipment, where possible the team involves operational firefighters early in the procurement and introduction into service process, because we know they will be expected to use that equipment on a day-to-day basis, and they need to be confident that their gear performs to expectations.

‘E&L evaluations and trials are part of our team’s principles of “getting the right equipment in the right hands at the right place at the right time, in the right condition, with the right support at the right cost”. We support Fire and Emergency’s ‘4 R’s’ with our own '7 R’s’.’

Rob says hose that was trialled last October has been out for operational evaluation since then, and feedback from those using it has been coming in recently.

‘The operational trialling for that hose is coming to a close and then we will make the decision whether to buy it or not.’

Subject matter experts involved in the trials included operational firefighters and representatives from the NZPFU and the UFBA.

Greg Lee, President NZPFU central branch, was one of the subject matter experts involved in the hose trials at NTC. Greg says these kinds of trials are absolutely vital to find the best tool to do the job effectively and safely.

‘Safety especially is a big thing for us, not just with hose but with any equipment. Our members can have confidence in the fact that NZPFU SMEs have been involved and have had input into these trials, and the hose chosen will be the best of the options looked at.’

The next evaluation and trial ‘set’ will be conducted at Rangiora and this will evaluate new forestry hose.

Here are some photos from the trials in April.