Fire Safety Science Digital Archive

Experiments have been made with 2 3/4 in. diameter, unlined canvas delivery hose obtained from three manufacturers. Each manufacturer supplied both burnettized and unburnettized samples made to each of two Ministry of Works Specifications, one for Fire Brigade hose and one for Service Department hose; the Fire Brigade hose was made from two differently-finished yarns, the alkali-soluble content of one being 5 per cent and that of the other 10 per cent. Neither burnettizing nor reduction of the alkali-soluble content of the yarn had (my appreciable effect on the rate at which the strength of the hose was reduced by mildew attack. Both treatments increased the flexibility of the hose, but also caused an increase by a factor of two or three in the rate of percolation. Comparison between hoses made to the two specifications showed the Service Department hose to be more flexible and more water absorbent than Fire Brigade hose. Other differences between the two types of hose were not marked,