new fittings

[rescue5271]

With the new appliances being built this year there has been some talk that all new appliance that come out will only have storz and wajax fittings so as to bring us in line with other state's. I would hope that CFS will also ensure that where these appliances go that brigade's with in that group will also be given adoptors so as we can work with these new appliances when they do come into any area.

[Pipster]

As I understand it, it is not just talk, but it will be occurring - just as it is meant to right across Australia.....as for adapters...presumably a set will come included with the new appliance...

Pip

[Zippy]

Quite obviously SAFB fittin cant be replaced entirely in such a short time, since theres a **lot** of fixed hydrants around the state having those fittings...not to mention the number of booster systems!

probably start seeing Storz 64mm to maybe work with Storz Standpipes 

Our 14's got a blend of SAFB,Wajax,Storz hehe...Wajax works with the hosereel, Storz for the 25mm Layflat (with adaptors and gated Y), SAFB for Water intake and 38mm.  All works  .

[6739264]

You have Stortz for your 25mm? Is this a brigade based trial or a group wide thing?

[Zippy]

brigade "lil bit more than a trial"...not sure about other brigades in group.  works well..and recently lubricated the fittings..no effort to put em together now 

[6739264]

I'm intrigued... You'd have to run with a heap of Wajax -> Stortz adaptors. That'd be a pain in the arse. No to mention SAFB -> Stortz when you reduce off a 38.

Talk about a headache! Why no Stortz for your hosereel?

[bittenyakka]

Dezza that means you will end up with 64mm Storz 38mm wajax 25mm stotz and 25mm wajax. Now the wajax on the sidelines will fit the 38 as all wajax are the same as is understand it but you can't run 38s off a sideline???

you making it harder than it needs to be

What was wrong with SAFB then 38 & 64 could fit nicely together???

[Zippy]

64mm single outlet
SAFB-64>Storz-25...then a Gated Y to make it two 25mm outlets. Remembering 14's pump is designed for high pressure not high volume.   14 doesnt really get the chance to use 38mm wajax as we use other appliances for higher volume.

Hosereel
We have 25mm Wajax to the Hosereel when needed, as that came with the appliance 

slightly complicated yes, headache no 

[Alan J]

With the new appliances being built this year there has been some talk that all new appliance that come out will only have storz and wajax fittings so as to bring us in line with other state's. I would hope that CFS will also ensure that where these appliances go that brigade's with in that group will also be given adoptors so as we can work with these new appliances when they do come into any area.

That'll make the souvenir cap run to NSW a bit easier. 
Will still have to borrow their standpipes though. (And chainsaws &
generators & anything else that can be laid hands on when no-one is
looking...)

Doubt if CFS will see a need to issue adaptors.  More likely it will be
"suggested" to the Group that they go & buy whatever they think that
they might need.  We are surrounded by brigades that use BSP, Wajax, &
Barway, depending upon Group & age of individual hoses.  Our main
appliance is mostly Storz.

We carry a *lot* of adaptors...   



"The wonderful thing about standards is that there are so many to choose from." (some famous computer person)

[ltdan]

The document with the coupling changes has been around for about 12 months.

It indicated what you have been discussing.

Storz 64mm .

Wajax 38mm and under.

The document indicated that new appliances will be fitted with the new couplings and neigbouring brigades would also been given an adaptor.

I do not know how they will give out adaptor couplings but I really don't care.  Cos if you are on a inter state deployment you could use an appliance with a different coupling therefore you need adaptor, so this really means that an adaptor should be at every brigade.

The roll out of changing the adaptors were to be completed by 2020 

But!!, I am not sure how they can roll out the changes when it has not yet gone to STC for R&D, FGP's, Risk Assessment etc.  I know at this stage their is none of this equipment at STC.

But most people would know a brigade who is already using STORZ or WAJAX on some of their hoses anyway.

I would be surprised to see it on any new appliances this financial year due to the above issues. 

I do agree it is a good move, but I think that the roll out should be done in one hit but this is a costly exercise and how many brigades have more hose than the required Standard Stowage in their appliance or in their station, I do not think their would be many on the exact number.  So you can see how much of a headache it would be.

 

[Alan J]

It would be a long slow process.
NSW achieved it with far more of everything to change than us.
Took them several years, but even in Dec '01, everything I saw
there was Storz - every stand-pipe (except the ones they keep
for us), every appliance, every hydrant.

As for the decision to go Storz / Wajax - I got half an idea
that this was agreed policy through AFAC at least 5 - 10 years
ago.  It's just that, like the national property numbering
scheme, SA Government hasn't budgeted to implement it.

[bittenyakka]

so if they haven't budgeted for it yet it would make sense that it is happening over time with each truck the is produced. as the cost of SAFB conections would be similar to Stortz i assume

[Zippy]

cant wait for the day that we dont have to think about male/female ends, let alone tighten the fittings! 

[Firefrog]

What has prompted the standardisation? Is there any legislation or is it merely a recommendation?

[Pipster]

After many years of discussion, a decision to standardise the fittings has finally been made through AFAC (with much pushing from CFS) ...so this is meant to be a Nationwide thing..... with an expected 20 year change over plan...

Pip

[SA Firey]

but apparently Northern Territory havent signed off on it just yet.

[CFS_Firey]

Why give adapters to neighbouring brigades when you could simply put adapters on the trucks with hermaphrodite couplings, and any brigade they work with can use them?

[6739264]

I don't quite understand why people still want to use multiple standards, like Stortz/Wajax/Foestry. You may as well make it all Stortz. Easy, simple and it all works...

[CFS_Firey]

I don't quite understand why people still want to use multiple standards, like Stortz/Wajax/Foestry. You may as well make it all Stortz. Easy, simple and it all works...

I quite agree.

[Alan J]

cant wait for the day that we dont have to think about male/female ends, let alone tighten the fittings! 

Oh boy! Are you in for a nasty surprise then Dezza.
Large Storz are mongrels to couple/uncouple.
There's no sideways play in the fittings like with SAFB
so you have to -perfectly- align the full length of two
bits of suction.   Near enough ain't good enough. 

Also, unless the seal faces are lubricated, the friction
between the seal faces makes them hard to turn for the full
150deg rotation, not just the first little bit. The keys
are far more likely to slip off the silly little lugs if
you lean hard on them. And you -will need keys- !
Folding handles are quite common on 100mm & larger sizes,
but they sometimes aren't long enough.

You can lubricate the seal faces to make them easier to
turn, but then they attract every bit of gravel & rubbish
in a 10M radius. Then, not only do they not turn easily,
they don't seal properly either.

Gimme SAFB any day !!
cheers
AJ

[6739264]

cant wait for the day that we dont have to think about male/female ends, let alone tighten the fittings! 

Oh boy! Are you in for a nasty surprise then Dezza.
Large Storz are mongrels to couple/uncouple.
There's no sideways play in the fittings like with SAFB
so you have to -perfectly- align the full length of two
bits of suction.   Near enough ain't good enough. 

Also, unless the seal faces are lubricated, the friction
between the seal faces makes them hard to turn for the full
150deg rotation, not just the first little bit. The keys
are far more likely to slip off the silly little lugs if
you lean hard on them. And you -will need keys- !
Folding handles are quite common on 100mm & larger sizes,
but they sometimes aren't long enough.

You can lubricate the seal faces to make them easier to
turn, but then they attract every bit of gravel & rubbish
in a 10M radius. Then, not only do they not turn easily,
they don't seal properly either.

Gimme SAFB any day !!
cheers
AJ

I think you meant to post in the humour section champ.

Lets try using the coupling you are talking about, THEN posting. The worst thing about stortz is waiting around at the door to a burning house to get water in the line, because the thing has gone together so fast.

I've never had an issue with suction hose either, we are talking 150mm lengths here...

God forbid you occasionally use a stortz spanner.

[Zippy]

Also, unless the seal faces are lubricated, the friction
between the seal faces makes them hard to turn for the full
150deg rotation, not just the first little bit.

I do agree with you on this stopcallking. (sidenote: who takes the most stop calls in the CFS??)

We have been doing this practise recently and has helped dramatically.  3 months should be a good lasting period for the lubrication.

We do clean our hoses after being used. (in regards to random grit getting on the seals).  Layflat is filtered for getting dirty, wet then dried hehe.

[Firefrog]

Should have gone BIC now that's a fast coupling.

[Zippy]

and for viewers at home 

[6739264]

Also, unless the seal faces are lubricated, the friction
between the seal faces makes them hard to turn for the full
150deg rotation, not just the first little bit.

I do agree with you on this stopcallking. (sidenote: who takes the most stop calls in the CFS??)

We have been doing this practise recently and has helped dramatically.  3 months should be a good lasting period for the lubrication.

We do clean our hoses after being used. (in regards to random grit getting on the seals).  Layflat is filtered for getting dirty, wet then dried hehe.

I've never lubricated a stortz coupling, and at the same time, never had an issue with connecting anything apart fromm 150mm suction, which will almost always need spanners.