Fire Department Storz Connection - What is it and How is it Used?
A fire department storz connection is a type of fire department connection that is normally used with firefighters' large diameter hose (LDH).
It has one major characteristic, however, that differs from other types of fire department connections -- there are no threads.
The hose is attached to the connection with interlocking hooks and flanges.
There are two main benefits to this type of fitting.
One being that the connection between hose and storz is quick.
Generally, a hose can be locked into it with a 1/4 turn.
By comparison, hoses with threaded couplings often take several turns.
The other benefit to using a fire department storz connection is that it's a universal fitting, which means that as long as the two mating connections are the same size, they will fit together.
2½" threaded couplings, on the other hand, often differ in dimension between cities, which can be dangerous if a large fire were to occur.
For example, New York City uses their own specific 2½" fire hose thread.
If a large fire broke out, they may not be able to rely on surrounding municipalities to help out because another city's hoses would simply not match up with New York's connections.
The use of storz couplings would eliminate this problem.
The storz connection was invented in Europe in the late 1800's by Carl August Guido Storz.
Shortly thereafter, it became standard on fire hydrants throughout Europe.
More than 100 years later, cities in the United States are still struggling to adopt that standard on their hydrants.
Most fire departments must carry special adapters to connect their large diameter hoses, fitted with storz couplings, to hydrants, fitted with threaded couplings.
The tide is turning, however, as all major US hydrant manufacturers now offer storz couplings as original equipment.
It has one major characteristic, however, that differs from other types of fire department connections -- there are no threads.
The hose is attached to the connection with interlocking hooks and flanges.
There are two main benefits to this type of fitting.
One being that the connection between hose and storz is quick.
Generally, a hose can be locked into it with a 1/4 turn.
By comparison, hoses with threaded couplings often take several turns.
The other benefit to using a fire department storz connection is that it's a universal fitting, which means that as long as the two mating connections are the same size, they will fit together.
2½" threaded couplings, on the other hand, often differ in dimension between cities, which can be dangerous if a large fire were to occur.
For example, New York City uses their own specific 2½" fire hose thread.
If a large fire broke out, they may not be able to rely on surrounding municipalities to help out because another city's hoses would simply not match up with New York's connections.
The use of storz couplings would eliminate this problem.
The storz connection was invented in Europe in the late 1800's by Carl August Guido Storz.
Shortly thereafter, it became standard on fire hydrants throughout Europe.
More than 100 years later, cities in the United States are still struggling to adopt that standard on their hydrants.
Most fire departments must carry special adapters to connect their large diameter hoses, fitted with storz couplings, to hydrants, fitted with threaded couplings.
The tide is turning, however, as all major US hydrant manufacturers now offer storz couplings as original equipment.
