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Why Does It Always Have to be Done That Way?
Featured Author:
Paul Shapiro
Paul Shapiro specializes in the research, development and training of large flow water delivery systems and fire stream management. His extensive research and outcomes of large diameter hose has been published frequently in fire service trade magazines. Paul has made significant contribution to fire response efficiency with his application-based research of large caliber fire streams working with handline and master stream operations.
Paul has been involved with the fire service since 1981, and is serving Las Vegas as an Engineer with the City of Las Vegas Fire & Rescue. In March of 2007 his department gave him the Engineer of the Year award for 2006. He is a certified Fire Instructor III for the State of Nevada, has served on the faculty of many Fire Academies throughout the United States, and was named Instructor of the Year, 1999, by the Colorado Fire Academy. Paul is recognized nationally as an expert in his field, and is also the author of the popular book, Layin’ the Big Lines as well as the producer of the video, Large Flow Water Delivery.
More articles from this author:
Myth 7: The best supply line evolution to use on a hydrant that only has 2-1/2” ports is to siamese two short pieces of 3” hose from the 2-1/2” ports into a manifold that is connected to the LDH supply line.
Reality: It stands to reason that this evolution would be the most efficient, after all, utilizing two ports would flow more than one. The reality is that this type of evolution creates higher friction loss because of the short small diameter lines as well as turbulence as these lines enter into the
siamese manifold. Numerous flow tests have proven that a single LDH line connected directly to one of the 2-1/2” hydrant ports will flow about the same as the evolution that utilizes two hydrant ports.
When using a master stream with 2-1/2” inlets it is more efficient to adapt the LDH line to the inlet
