Do fire hose couplings need to be cleaned?

1. Why is it necessary to clean fire hose couplings?

Ensure quick connections, every second counts:
Sand, dirt, debris: Any tiny particle lodged in the coupling threads or sealing surfaces can prevent the connection from tightening properly, causing excessive effort during connection, and delaying the water supply.
At a fire scene, every second counts.

Ensure a good seal to prevent leaks:
The pressure inside a fire hose is extremely high. Dirt, a damaged seal, or a deformed connection can cause high-pressure water to jet out of the connection.
This not only wastes water power and pressure, affecting firefighting effectiveness, but the powerful water jet can also cause serious injuries to nearby firefighters.

Prevent corrosion and extend service life:
Residual chemicals, seawater, and sewage after a fire is extinguished are all corrosive. If not cleaned promptly, they can corrode the coupling's metal components (such as aluminum and brass), causing thread stripping, weakening the connection, and ultimately, bursting under the high pressure.

Ensure smooth operation:
Clean connectors ensure that quick connectors (such as bayonet-type) can be easily and quickly locked with a "click", avoiding the risk of "false connection" or disconnection in an emergency.

2. How to properly clean and maintain fire hose joints?

The fire department has strict operating procedures, the main steps are as follows:

(1). Rinse immediately after use:

After the fire-fighting task is completed, the hose and joints should be rinsed with clean water immediately to wash away most of the obvious mud, sand, chemical residues and ash.

(2). Thorough cleaning:

Manual brushing: Use a soft brush (such as a nylon brush) to carefully brush the outside of the joint, each groove of the thread, and the internal sealing surface. It is strictly forbidden to use hard tools such as wire brushes to avoid scratching the metal and sealing surfaces.

Check the sealing ring: When cleaning, it is necessary to check whether the rubber sealing ring (O-ring) in the joint is intact and whether it is cut, worn, aged or deformed. If any problems are found, they must be replaced immediately.

Cleaning agent: For oil or chemical residues, a mild detergent may be required, but it must be thoroughly rinsed with clean water afterwards.

(3). Thorough drying:

After cleaning, the joint must be completely dried. It is best to place it in a ventilated and cool place, away from direct sunlight. Key: Never store a fire hose with a connector rolled up! Moisture will be trapped inside, causing internal mold, corrosion of the metal connector, and aging of the rubber ring.

(4). Regular inspection and lubrication:

Inspect: Regularly inspect the connector for cracks, deformation, thread damage, or signs of corrosion.
Lubrication: Apply special fire hose connector grease or silicone-based lubricant to the threads and moving parts as needed.
Absolutely do not use: Non-specialized lubricants such as motor oil and butter, as they will damage the rubber seal and easily attract dust.