Flat load vs. accordian hose load

[theotilus]

Would like some opinions on which load is better and why. Personally
I think the accordian load is to labor intensive for any benefits it may provide. Some lively discussion would be appreciated.

[Armyfirerescue]

Flat load all the way

I don't know of any department in my area that uses an accordian lay. It's always a flat lay. You're right about accordian lays being too labor intensive. I don't know about you, but the last thing I want to do after fighting a fire is pack up the hose, especially if it's an accordian pack. Of course, this is only my opinion, I could be wrong.

Stay safe everybody!

Matt

[Guest]

We use flat loads on all hose beds except our trash lines. Since the trash line is recessed in the bumber, the accordian load allows us to grab the nozzle, and with the other hand grab the first layer of the accordian load and walk with it. Then the back-up comes and grabs the next 1 or 2 layers and get the hose out of the compartment, then allowing it to be flaked out and charged quickly. Using the flat load on this same line means that one must pull the hose, hand over hand, until the entire 100' are taken out.

The time we gain stretching the accordian loaded trash line, we lose when loading it back up. I feel the according load for the trash line is worth it. All other beds (crosslays, speedlays, rear bed) use the flat load.

[hwoods]

Flat's Fast...........

I can't remember when we went to a flat load, but the hose was DJ Cotton, the cab had no top, and the layout man rode the back step. I think the Radio was a Link 20 watt. Anyway, we've used it for quite a while and EVERYTHING is flat (except the tires ) A number of us who think outside the box have brainstormed some variations of the flat load, but nothing better has come along yet. Stay Safe....

[mcaldwell]

We also use the flat load for everything now, primarily because it compresses better and takes up less room.

However, before we received our new LDH, we loaded the 2 1/2 hydrant line horseshoe, and it was much easier to pull off than the flat. We had a few hydrants where we had to pull well over 100' of supply line 90 degrees off the main road (between buildings) to reach them, and the horseshoe load made it easy as pie. There was too much friction on the flat lay for the smaller guys to pull it effectively.

[ADSNWFLD]

The accordian load isn't good for the hose because of the added stress on the folds. If packed too tight it can bind in the bed.
The flat load is easy to load and deploy. A reverse horseshoe can work well for the last 100' attached to a nozzle.

The accordian is more popular in volunteer departments that want a pretty looking hose bed. Or at liest that is the only place I've seen it used.

[Resq14]

Originally posted by SFDny15
We use flat loads on all hose beds except our trash lines. Since the trash line is recessed in the bumber, the accordian load allows us to grab the nozzle, and with the other hand grab the first layer of the accordian load and walk with it.

Ditto.

[July36]

We use all flat loads on everything EXCEPT the preconnected matydale "first-in" line on the rear of the truck....less time consuming loading all that wet hose after a tiring several hours on a fire.

Donna C
Fire Chief
Bridge Canyon VFD

http://www.cms.firehouse.com/dept/SeligmanAZ

[FF41230]

We only have an accordian load on one of our engines. Its 100ft of 2 1/2 off the back that we use for a supply line out in the county. Everything else is flat load. We just recently switched all of our prconnect crosslays to the triple layer load. This works very good, it pulls off easy and you dont have a big spagetti pile at the side of the engine.

[Roofhook]

We use 2 types of hose loads on our trucks. Flat load for supply lines and triple fold on attack lines.
Do to a constant lack of man-power in our little department, we found that it was easier to go this route.
The flat load on the supply line (we use 3") makes for a simple load that 1 or 2 people can reload, plus there are less bends in the hose.
All couplings are loaded towards the front of the bed to make the load neater.
We found that using a triple fold on the attack lines reduced the amount of "bundled up" hose laying on the ground in a knot. Although the triple fold reduces the amount of working line you have at the door, we found that it was easier to train the membership to pull the triplefold than train then to properly pull the flat load.

[Weruj1]

flat loaders here too..............have monkeyed around with the triple layer load, which I think is the same as the minute man load ?

[jsdobson]

We switched from the accordian load to the flat load when we migrated from 3" to 5" supply lines. We also load all the couplings at the front of the hose bed; not so much for neatness but so that we can count how much hose has been laid.

[Roofhook]

Originally posted by Weruj1
flat loaders here too..............have monkeyed around with the triple layer load, which I think is the same as the minute man load ?

Actually they are 2 different loads.
The triplefold looks like a compressed S....give you 2 bends in the hose
The minuteman load is basically a flat load with the nozzle placed onto the flat load then the last 25 feet of hose is layed on top the nozzle. When you pull the load, you place the nozzle and last 25 feet of hose on your shoulder and then pull the flat loaded hose off.
Kind of hard to explain in writing.

[KAM1685]

Baker Lay (triple lay) is what I think works the best for attack lines. One person can pull it off very quickly, and he/she doesn't have to worry about it kinking.

Flat lay is used for supply line; it is just too big and cumbersome to try anything fancy.

One of my Depts. uses all baker lay side preconnects and has extra lengths in the back compartment (accordian lay) if only 100' or so is needed.

The other uses one side baker lay and one side flat lay.

You will probably need at least three to do the baker lay, which might turn some people off from doing it. If you have more than three, it can be put up fairly quickly.

[19Eagle93]

We use the flat load for our supply lines.
Our attack lines are:
200' 1 3/4" - Modified Minuteman
250' 1 3/4" - Modified Minuteman
200' 2 1/2" - Modified Minuteman
150' Crosslay 1 3/4" - Flat