What kind of maintenance should be done on Couplings and Adapters?
The NFPA publishes an excellent Standard, NFPA 1962 Standard for the Inspection, Care, and Use of Fire Hose, Couplings, and Nozzles and the Service Testing of Fire Hose, that covers this subject very well. Red Head highly recommends that the Standard be followed. Chapter 6 of the Standard pertains to Nozzles, Couplings, and Gaskets but the recommendations in the chapter apply equally well to appliances, such as elbows, wyes, and adapters, both threaded and non-threaded. In general, NFPA 1962 recommends that these type items be inspected after each use and at least annually. The annual Service Testing of hose is a good time to include these inspections. Some of the items the inspection should look are: • Waterway clear, no obstructions. • Threads not damaged. • Swivel rotates freely, bearing plug and bearings in place. • No excess corrosion. • Gaskets in place and in good condition. • Clamp bolts on LDH coupling collars in place and tight. • Storz head lock levers, if so equipped, in pl
