Replacing fire hose

NFPA requires a fire department to have a replacement schedule, but stops short of establishing a maximum number of years of service, leaving that up to the authority having jurisdiction. Even though a section of 15-year old fire hose may still pass an annual test, the fire chief should consider a 10-year maximum service life under normal operating conditions. The 2013 edition of NFPA 1962 has a requirement that calls for hose manufactured before July 1987 to be removed from service. The ISO FSRS also addresses the testing of fire hose. For maximum points, the fire department must test all fire hose annually. The FSRS states: The Hose Service Test Program shall be in accordance with the general criteria of NFPA 1962, which requires that test pressures are a minimum of 300 psi for attack hose, and a minimum of 200 psi for supply hose. As long as the fire hose passes an annual test, ISO will give the fire department credit for the hose.