Peircing Nozzles

[BC19]

Anyone using them if so do you have any SOPs or guidelines how about tricks of the trade


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BC19

[BVFD]

While we don't use them much on structure fires, we do use them on vehicle fires. We place them under the hood for the initial knockdown of engine compartment fires. This places less risk on FF's when opening the hood. We actually carry one pre-connected on a 100' 1 1/2". Works great!

[BSnyd.]

My department carries a piercing nozzle on the first in engine. Its' uses in the past have been on car fires, hay bales, on buildings with extreme hazards inside (where personnel would not be sent inside), and compactor/dumpsters. We do not keep it preconected, but it is nice to have as an option. Many times it is not used to "pierce" anything. For example, on the larger commercial dumpster we simply place this nozzle in one of the holes and fill-it-up.
Although I have not experienced this first hand, I have read that Francis Brannigan believes that this type of nozzle is a good choice on well-involved attic fires in newer, larger roof spans (cheap trusses that we don't want our ffs on). If a truck co. can have its ffs work of the aerial, the piercing nozzle can be "pierced" thru the roof and act as a temporary sprinkler head.
I was on a fire last week in which a 4 story garden-apt had heavy smoke pushing from its' large, pitched roof on our arrival. Since this building was under construction we did not put the men inside. The venting was time consuming... the piercing nozzle or distributing nozzle would have worked well here. In summary, this "tool" can be used for many things, and many more than I could think of.



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[Firehose]

Piercing nozzles work great in attics from the bottom also. Fire extended into eve overhangs, closed spaces over front porches, can be attacked with one with ease.
Has anyone used one with CAFS? ?
Good Luck!

[Dalmation90]

Yep...we've used it with CAFS to cut off fire extending in the balloon frame of the building...worked wonders on that wall!
Matt

[Ickymow]

WE have one piercing nozzel. It is an agustes tool. The one used on vehicle fires. It lookes like a sledge hammer with a pointed end to drive through the vehicles hood. I have used it twice and it workes GREAT for car fires. It is preconnected on our E-3 and rolls first out from Sta. 2 on all car fires and accidents. It could be used like other piercing nozzles but it isn't designed for depth. It would only go in about 6-8 inches at the most. It is a neet tool for what we use it for. We use to take out the radiator and spray through the grill if we couldn't get the hood open put this is ten times quicker and more effective.

[FSRIZZIO]

We have one piercing nozzle on our first out pumper. It was built years ago by a F/F that works in a factory during the day. It's eight feet long, has holes drilled along its length and radius, two good grab handles on the end where it connects to an 1 1/2" line.
Works good on attics, cocklofts and big round haybales. Would probably do good through a precut hole in a wall also. Overall output is about 100 gpm.

[SCFF2304]

The piercing nozzle we have was commercial bought, but I can't recall the name right now...it is about 6ft long, with a pistol grip and shut off on the handle. It is about 1 3/4" in diameter, and it puts out a really wide, drenching pattern. We have used them on engine compartment vehicle fires, hay bales, and attic fires....all with great results. One thing we did learn is that with the high volume of water if you apply the device thru the ceiling instead of the roof, you need to pull a few sections of the ceiling for drains, or you will bring the entire ceiling down on your crew. One way I really want to try the device is with a well involved mobile home, just to see what kind of knockdown it can give you.