Getting large volumes of water to problematic fire sites can be challenging for incident controllers in managing substantial fires. Crusader Hose, the water logistics expert, knows that flexible layflat pipelines offer the perfect solution for professional firefighters. Manufactured in Australia, their large-diameter layflat hose is reliable, and their innovative reeling system makes handling flexible pipelines easy and safe.
As many professional firefighters know, fires do not always occur in easily accessible locations. Challenging terrain and large distances between the fire and the water source will test any incident controller. In these instances, bringing in large volumes of water by truck may prove ineffective and, at times, downright impossible. Crusader Hose has been supplying solutions to many fire brigades in managing situations like these with flexible layflat pipelines and reeling systems.
Crusader Hose, the well-known and trusted Australian fire hose manufacturer for over 37 years, has worked alongside and in consultation with fire chiefs and offers a large selection of fire hose to suit many brigades’ requirements. In addition to fire hose, the factory manufactures large-diameter hose for those extraordinary situations where standard fire hose cannot stand up to the challenge.
Crusader Hose supplies a range of fire hose from the standard 25mm to ultra-large 300mm in diameter, in lengths up to 200m. The ultra-large 300mm fire hose can handle up to 350L/sec and boasts a burst pressure of 2,800kPa. Successfully managing substantial fires is made possible with volumes like these.
Although a large-diameter hose can move large volumes of water, the challenge up till now has been its handling. With distances sometimes over 5km between the fire site and the water source, the long-length hose requires a swift and easy deployment system. Crusader Hose has pioneered the development of various reeling systems for handling large-diameter flexible pipelines.
The engineering team has designed and fabricated the Argyle reeling system to overcome the challenges of handling large-diameter layflat hose. Revolutionary in design, the Argyle is compact and modular. This system has two 1,600mm diameter reels mounted within a crate. Each independent reel can handle up to 100m of 8in (200mm) hose and accommodates 200m capacity per crate. The crate is trailer-mounted and driven by a hydraulic motor controlled by a hand-held remote. The Argyle is agile and nimble off-road as well as in built-up areas.
The Argyle deploys quickly and easily, bringing large volumes of water to where it’s critically needed. After the fire incident is under control, the fire hose needs to be recovered. The recovery process is typically more challenging and demanding than the deployment, but the Argyle handles both jobs well. The motorised reel adeptly rewinds the hose faster than manual flaking.
‘We clearly understand the challenges of handling long lengths of hose,’ says Francois Steverlynck, Managing Director of Crusader Hose, ‘as we process and roll up thousands of metres daily at our factory.’ This first-hand experience in the factory has been critical in designing and developing hose-reel systems for a large range of applications.
Proudly manufactured in Australia, the Argyle system may be ideal for your emergency water needs. ‘As evident in our long history of manufacturing fire hose, we are committed to supporting the fire industry as part of the water supply chain and look forward to equipping the fire brigades with workable and reliable solutions,’ concluded Francois.
Fire More Information: www.crusaderhose.com.au
