The Correct Nozzle
When you respond to any fire call, you need the confidence in knowing you have the correct nozzle to eliminate the fire as efficiently and safely as possible. Choosing the right fire hose nozzle can mean the difference between efficient fire control and wasted water, struggling with recoil, limited reach, or poor visibility. Matching your hose nozzle to your water flow capacity, hose width, and application use will allow your firefighter crew to be more effective.
Here are some essential tips to help you pick the right nozzle and a simple breakdown of the nozzles available through Ward Fire Equipment to meet your needs.
6 Factors to Consider Before You Pick A Fire Hose Nozzle
Before you get into brand names or model numbers, make sure you consider the following fire hose nozzle factors:
- Hose Diameter and Length: If you’re using 1½ inch, 1¾ inch, 2 inch (Attack), or 2½ inch hose lines, understand how friction loss builds up over long distances and when going up building floors. Long hoses stretch and elevation reduces pressure quickly.
- Pump Output and Available Pressure (PSI): Some nozzles are rated for 50 PSI, some for 75, some for 100. If your hose or nozzle isn’t built for high pressure, you’ll get poor performance or failure.
- Desired Flow (GPM): The NFPA states that a minimum flow of 150 GPM is required on any fire hose nozzle. But if the flow rate is too high for your supply or hose, you’ll lose pressure or struggle with recoil.
- Spray Pattern: Do you need a straight stream water spray for further distance reach and less friction loss coming out of the nozzle tip? Or, do you need a fog or combination nozzle for visibility control and a wider pattern reach?
- Weight, Handling, Ergonomics: You’ll be carrying and dragging the hose, sometimes with zero visibility, so you need a nozzle that is simple to handle and control, is durable, and is designed with a good grip structure.
- Cost vs Expected Performance: There are premium nozzles that deliver top-tier performance and there are also more budget friendly nozzles that provide versatility and value.
Which Fire Hose Nozzle Is Best for Certain Applications & Fire Types
Ward Fire is proud to partner with Akron and UltraJet to provide a variety of high quality fire hose nozzles to meet a range of application needs. We provide fire hose nozzles in a variety of tip designs and spray patterns to ensure your firefighter crew has the correct equipment to eliminate a blaze efficiently.
Use the table below to understand which fire hose nozzle is right for you:
Nozzle Type |
Nozzle Design |
Best Applications / Uses |
PSI/ GPM Operation |
| Akron: 1 ½ inch ProVenger SG with Pistol Grip | Offers selectable gallonage, allowing the flow to remain consistent across different spray patterns. You can adjust flow settings to match your needs. |
|
The Akron 1 ½ inch ProVenger SG with Pistol Grip features a pressure operation of 75 and 100 PSI.
The Akron 1 ½ inch ProVenger SG with Pistol Grip can flow 150 GPM. |
| Akron: Mid-Range Assault Nozzle (with and without Pistol Grip) | Provides excellent stream performance at various pressure levels while maintaining the simplicity of a fixed orifice design. |
|
The Akron Mid-Range Assault Nozzle (with and without Pistol Grip) features a range of pressure operation options of 50, 75, and 100 PSI.
The Akron Mid-Range Assault Nozzle (with and without Pistol Grip) can flow at 161 and 185 GPM. |
| UltraJet Fire Hose Nozzle 1820 | Combines smooth bore and fog patterns for operational ease. It operates as 50 PSI, reducing firefighter fatigue and is simple to operate.
Available in 1″ (25 mm), 15/16″ (24 mm), 7/8″ (22 mm) or 3/4″ (19 mm) tips. |
|
The UltraJet fire hose nozzle features a low pressure operation at 50 PSI/ 3.5 Bar.
The UltaJet fire hose nozzle can flow between 118 – 297 GPM. |
| Akron: Shutoff and Plain Tip with Pistol Grip | Designed with a smooth bore nozzle and straight tip for high volume, low-pressure operations. |
|
The Akron: Shutoff and Plain Tip with Pistol Grip features low pressure operation at 50 PSI.
The Akron: Shutoff and Plain Tip with Pistol Grip can flow approximately 400 GPM. |
| Akron: Shutoff with Pistol Grip and Straight Tip | Designed with a pistol grip to ensure ease of use. Developed with a smooth bore nozzle and straight tip for high volume, low-pressure operations. |
|
The Akron Shutoff with Pistol Grip and Straight Tip features low pressure operation at 50 PSI.
The Akron Shutoff with Pistol Grip and Straight Tip can flow approximately 400 GPM. |
| Akron: Mercury Quick Attack LE Portable Monitor | A portable monitor that meets NFPA 1964 and EN-15767-1 standards. At only 15 pounds, it is compact and lightweight to use. |
|
The Mercury Quick Attack LE Portable Monitor features pressure operation at 100 PSI.
The Mercury Quick Attack LE Portable Monitor can flow 500 GPM. |
You need a fire hose nozzle that works for your department, your hose, your pump, and your kind of emergency fire calls. If you carry one nozzle type, a practical choice is the Akron ProVenger or the UltraJet combination nozzle, providing flexibility and varying fire hose stream types. But if you carry a full suite (attack lines, wildland, monitor lines) of fire hoses, matching fire hose nozzles to specific uses and applications will ensure your crew is prepared for any call that comes in.
Ready to purchase a new hose nozzle for your department? Contact us today!