What are the different categories of lay flat fire hose?

Lay flat fire hose is divided into two categories: percolating hose and non-percolating hose.

Percolating hoses are mainly used to fight bush or forest fires. The seepage of water through the fabric jacket creates a thin water barrier and prevents the hose from getting burnt by embers falling onto it or the hose being dragged over hot ground.

Non-percolating hoses are generally used for delivering water and other fire fighting applications. Non-percolating hose consists of a reinforced jacket made from polyester or nylon yarns. This type of hose has an inner lining of vulcanised rubber fixed to the jacket by an adhesive.

What does type 1, type 2 &  type 3 lay flat fire hose mean?

Type 1 hoses are manufactured to BS 6391 Type 1 standards. These are hoses to which no external treatment has been applied, giving low protection against the absorption of liquids and resistance abrasion.

Type 2 hoses are manufactured to BS 6391 Type 2 standards. These are hoses to which an external elastomeric coating has been applied to give some protection against the absorption of liquids and to improved resistance to abrasion.

Type 3 hoses are manufactured to BS 6391 Type 3 standards. These are hoses to which additional coating / treatments have been applied to give high resistance to abrasion and heat along with very low external liquid absorption rates.

What are the different classes of lay flat fire hose as defined by AS2792?

Class L (Low) lay flat fire hose with a working pressure of 1,000 kPa

Class M (Medium) lay flat fire hose with a working pressure of 1,400 kPa

Class H (High) lay flat fire hose with a working pressure of 2,100 kPa

Lay flat fire hose maybe approved to British Standard BS6391 or Australian Standard AS2792 or in some cases both for example a Type 3 Class H hose.