ForestGuard II® is build for the wild – a tough versatile lightweight forestry fire hose. A premium all-synthetic single jacket, it features our unique Mertex® lining to maximize long-distance flows with minimum friction loss. Ideal for wildland brush fire attack hose, urban interface, grass fire kits, cottage and home wildfire protection, and mop-up hose.
ForestGuard II® meets the USDA Spec 5100-187C Type I for 1” (25mm) and 1 ½”(38mm), when treated yellow. ULC approved in 1.5" and labelled upon request.
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The hose jacket shall be made with high tenacity fi lament polyester yarn in both the warp and weft directions, to provide maximum strength to weight ratio and shall have a minimum filler (weft) yarns of 10.8 per inch (425 per Meter). When requested the jacket shall be impregnated in one of the standard NFPA colors with high performance polymeric dispersion.
The lining (waterway) must be made from polyurethane and must be applied using a fused process that welds the polyurethane directly to the textile while the hose is being woven, without the use of adhesives or hot melt. The fused lining process must create a virtually inseparable unit without the use of adhesives, yielding an extremely low friction (pressure) loss by filling in the corrugations of the weave, creating an ultra thin and smooth waterway. Fire hose made using adhesives of any type do not meet this specifi cation. The lining shall be approved for use with potable water.
The adhesion shall be such that the rate of separation of a 1 ½” / 38mm strip of polyurethane, transversely cut, shall not be greater than 1/4” / 6mm per minute under a weight of 12 lbs / 5.5 kg.
Couplings shall be in conformance with the current NFPA standard and made of extruded aluminum, hard coated a minimum of .002” thick. They shall be manufactured in North America and permanently labeled with country of origin.
The hose shall be available with threaded and quarter-turn threadless (QC) couplings. When quarter-turn threadless (QC) couplings are specifi ed they shall have extended lugs to facilitate rapid connect and disconnect.
SERVICE, TEST, BURST PRESSURES
Minimum service, test and burst pressures shall be as detailed in the specification table on the previous page.
KINK TEST
A full length will withstand a hydrostatic pressure of 600 psi / 4140 kPa while kinked.
WEIGHT
Each length of fire hose shall not weigh more than indicated in the specification table.
MANUFACTURE
Both hose and couplings must be manufactured in North America. Couplings must be USMCA compliant.
STANDARDS
Fire hose manufactured to this specifi cation shall meet or exceed all performance requirements of NFPA 1960 (1961), ULC Spec S518.1.11, Factory Mutual and when treated yellow meet or exceed USDA Spec 5100-187C Type I for 1” (25mm) and 1 1/2” (38mm). The hose shall be ULC approved and can be labeled upon request in the sizes specifi ed*
Many things, including our unique Mertex® lining, Permatek HP™ treatment for hose jackets and the Hydro-Wick® weeping process, all developed by Mercedes Textiles Limited.
The Mertex® process for our hose lining is a unique process producing superior adhesion (no delamination), it allows for the use of high strength Filament Polyester yarn in both the warp & weft directions for a greater burst safety margin, provides for increased flexibility, results in lower friction loss therefore higher flow and finally lower elongation of the hose when under pressure.
Our innovative Permatek HP™ treatment guards against abrasion, moisture pick up, mildew and can be applied in a variety of color-coding combinations.
The Hydro-Wick® weeping process is an innovative solution to address the need for a more efficient and controllable weeping hose to use in forestry firefighting applications. Hoses with Hydro-Wick® technology provide a weeping (self-protecting) fire hose with minimum pressure loss, no clogging, a 300% faster completely wet time (when compared with needle-prick methods), and superior protection provided against heat and other forest fire conditions.
Lastly, every one of our fire hoses meet or exceed all performance requirements of NFPA 1961, Underwriters Laboratories, and Factory Mutual.
Single-jacket forestry hose falls under two main categories: untreated & treated.
Type I forestry hose refers to standard untreated fire hose used for wildland operations. This includes the USDA Type I S518.1.11 spec, as well as ULC-S518.1.11 / ULC-S519.1 (Percolating).
Standard white, all-synthetic, single-jacket forestry hose is untreated to maximize flexibility and minimize weight. Its lighter, more compact design allows crews to carry longer lengths with less fatigue—an advantage during extended incidents or in areas inaccessible to apparatus.
This category of forestry hose is available in both percolating (weeping) or non-percolating. USDA specifies Type 1 as non-percolating like Mercedes’ ForestGuard II®.
Percolating hose is preferred by many departments for offering protection against unexpected fire exposure. Rather than the standard needle-prick process, Mercedes uses a patented Hydro-Wick® process that allows their FireBreak II® and PercoLite® to achieve wet-out up to three times faster with minimal pressure loss.
Mercedes Textiles specializes in manufacturing premium double-jacket polyurethane fire hose. The inner jacket features our unique Mertex® lining — not EDM/rubber or nitrile — for unrivaled performance and superior quality.
From the hydrant to the nozzle, Mercedes manufactures both supply and attack fire hose in all standard sizes. We're known for our legendary KrakenEXO line, but we offer other quality lines for a variety of applications and priorities. We've got the hose you need, guaranteed.
All Mercedes hose and couplings are manufactured in North America.
Mercedes Textiles developed a patented weave process for our Mertex® inner hose linings. We weave a molten lining material directly into the fabric jacket at the loom. This offers a superior waterway — free from adhesives, glues or other bonding agents. The smoother surface minimizes turbulence and friction to deliver greater water flow at the discharge end. Mertex® lining also ensures your hose will never delaminate!
Mercedes Textiles' patented Breather™ Technology is an exclusive weave process that releases trapped air and water for superior packability, while also adding flexibility and strength. We currently incorporate these exclusive stripes into our large diameter hose MegaFlo® Breather and our newest KrakenEXO SUPER II™.
We take fire hose standards seriously – because YOU are on the line, and that matters to us. Mercedes is committed to ensuring every hose we manufacture meets or exceeds the latest NFPA 1960 (1961) standard. We have all the necessary testing equipment for each requirement, including the new UL-19 Radiant Heat testing required as of March 2021.
UL & ULC LISTINGS
On top of our own internal testing, we go above and beyond for many of our attack hose lines by submitting them to Underwriters Laboratory (UL) for third-party testing and approval. UL provides safety-related certification, validation, testing, inspection, auditing, advising and training services for fire hose products. Mercedes is world-renown for the premium quality, detailed specifications and superior performance of our fire hose.
FM APPROVAL
The international insurance carrier FM Global provides an independent testing division. Using scientific research and testing, FM Approvals make sure products conform to the highest standards for safety and property loss prevention. They follow five steps to make sure the products they’re testing meet quality guidelines. Products that pass get the “FM APPROVED” mark.
Mercedes takes pride in our products. We understand that a lot rides on their performance – from efficiency to safety. So when you have our lines, you can rest assured we have your back.
On most of our municipal products, we include either a 10-L and/or 2-10-L warranty – the best in the industry.