A hose bridge system is vital in an emergency situation where a fire has occurred and valuable hoses must be strung across the street from a nearby fire hydrant. For other emergency vehicles, an ambulance, police car or other fire trucks to get through, those hoses must be protected from the autos driving over them. The hose bridge system is basically a modular device that takes only seconds to assemble that can be placed over the hose or hoses to allow the constant flow of water from the hydrant while extending the life of the water hose.

Hose Bridge System Design

A typical hose system will allow just one to several lines of hoses to pass through a channel with a ramp on either side of the hose. The channel can hold anywhere from a three inch to a six and a half inch diameter hose, depending on which product version is purchased. The sturdy material from which it is made - a UV stabilized polyurethane elastomer - can tolerate anywhere from 17,000 to over 23,000 pounds of weight per tire axle. A single tunnel modular cable hose and bridge system will consist of three parts, the two ramps on either side of the opening made for the hose itself. The open section will be laid on top of the hose with the hose exposed to the surface ground below it. The tires passing over the system should be of rubber only, and the system should be used in a temporary manner. A multiple tunnel modular cable hose and system will have the two ramps on the outside connecting to the tunnels, and in between each tunnel fits a tunnel connector to make a smooth bridge over the gap between them with two or three tunnels possible. The surface consists of a diamond plate tread pattern for excellent traction.

Assembling a Hose Bridge System

When putting together a hose bridge system, although speed is critical, safety is important as well. The area should be checked for safety hazards, and then the male and female parts of the ramp and the channel should be lined up accurately and put into place. Stepping on the connectors will establish a firm and stable surface. When the bridges are assembled, they should be in accordance with building and safety codes. Other vehicle drivers should be warned of their presence to make sure that there is clearance of the auto over the hose system. At about 16 inches wide, the height can range from just under four inches for the three inch hoses to an 8 1/8" inches for the 6 ?" lines. More than one of the systems can be placed together to widen the space available for wider tires if necessary. A hose bridge system is an excellent tool for increasing safety at a fire where protection for the hoses is necessary.

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