Introducing LPX™ Technology – evolving the small diameter line for low pressure attack. Mercedes Textiles' patent-pending technology reinforces only the nozzle-end of the hose to minimize whip & kinking for increased control without sacrificing the lightweight packability & maneuverability of the rest of the line. This is precision innovation – minimum change for maximum effect where it matters most.
KrakenEXO® LPX 1-½” and ExoMetro® LPX 1-¾” offer superior nozzle handling on small diameter, low-pressure attacks – delivering 150-160 GPM at 50-75 PSI with up to 30% less weight than standard 1-¾” hose.
LPX lines are equipped with Mercedes’ patented Breather Technology strips that release trapped air & water for superior packability. Standard with our exclusive black WAYOUT® couplings with red recessed, reflective arrows and iDENTIFY® coding system.
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Hose specified shall be manufactured in North America to the highest quality and craftsmanship. Hose shall be built for superior nozzle handling and overall performance on the fireground, with firefighter safety at the forefront. Hose shall meet the NFPA 1960 (1961) and UL-19 standards. The hose shall be free from defects in materials and workmanship.
KrakenEXO LPX 1.5"
Hose shall have a nominal diameter of 1-½” (38 mm) with an internal diameter not exceeding 1-¾” (44 mm) when charged to 150 PSI. Each 50’ (15.2M) length of fire hose shall not weigh more than 13.5 lbs (6.1 kg) dry uncoupled or 65.9 lbs (29.9 kg) coupled and charged to 100 PSI.
ExoMetro LPX 1.75"
Hose shall have a nominal diameter of 1-¾” (44mm) with an internal diameter not exceeding 1.8” (46 mm) when charged to 150 PSI. Each 50’ (15.2M) length of fire hose shall not weigh more than 15.2 lbs (6.9 kg) dry uncoupled or 71.3 lbs (32.3 kg) coupled and charged to 100 PSI.
The hose shall incorporate patent-pending LPX™ Technology — an integrated, factory-applied reinforcement zone at the male coupling end, permanently built into the hose during manufacture. This reinforcement shall extend a set length back from the male coupling and provide increased circumferential stability at the nozzle end to improve hose control during low-pressure and transitional flow conditions.
The reinforcement shall be inherent to the hose construction and continuous with the hose jackets. External sleeves, post-manufacturing wraps, adhesive-applied reinforcements, aftermarket devices, or removable components shall not meet this specification.
The inner hose jacket shall be made with 100% filament polyester warp and weft yarn. The outer jacket shall be made with virgin spun polyester warp yarn and a minimum of 10 filament polyester weft yarn picks per inch (394 per meter). Outer jacket shall have two 5/8” (16 mm) wide red stripes, ¼” (6 mm) apart running the full length.
The outer jacket shall also have patented Breather™ technology created by sections of heavy gauge filament polyester yarn. This unique construction must provide increased flexibility, superior packability, greater strength, ease of air evacuation, and added visibility. The outer 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. Fire hose made using adhesives of any type does not meet this specification. The lining shall be approved for use with potable water
KrakenEXO LPX 1.5"
Hose shall be specified for a flow range of 125–165 GPM at 50–75 PSI (473–625 lpm at 345–517 kPA). Friction loss shall not exceed 15.7 PSI per 100 ft. at 150 GPM (108 kPa per 30.4M at 568 lpm).
ExoMetro LPX 1.75"
Hose shall be specified for a flow range of 125–160 GPM at 50–75 PSI (473–625lpm at 345–517 kPA). Friction loss shall not exceed 15.5 PSI per 100 ft. at 150 GPM (108 kPa per 30.4M at 568 lpm).
Must come standard with Black anodized couplings. The female coupling shall have at least 3 reflective arrows to ensure visible from any position. The reflective arrows must be engraved into and below the surface of the coupling, to resist abrasion. The arrows must point in the direction of the water source for a standard hose connection. The male coupling and female swivel nut must both have a recessed area to facilitate color and bar coding and/or identification markings.
KINK TEST
ADHESION
The adhesion shall be such that the rate of separation of a 1-½”” (38 mm) strip shall not be greater than ¼” (6.4 mm) per minute under a weight of 12 lbs (5.5 kg).
COLD TEMPERATURE FLEXIBILITY
The hose must remain flexible to -65°F (-55°C).
STANDARDS
Hose must be manufactured to meet or exceed all NFPA 1960 (1961) standards. The hose must be tested in accordance with the procedures specified in 2020 UL 19 radiant heat testing.
MANUFACTURE
Both hose and couplings must be manufactured in North America.
WARRANTY
The fire hose shall have a 2-10-L warranty, as described below. “2” denotes Two year “all hazards” warranty against any damage incurred during fire fighting applications “10” denotes Ten year warranty against manufacturing defects “L” denotes Lifetime warranty against liner delamination.
In short, LPX Technology augments a section of the hose leading to the nozzle to increase control & performance.
Mercedes Textiles' mission is to continuously advance the line for safety & efficacy, engineering innovative solutions for fire hose that meet the demands of the modern fireground. LPX™ was designed to solve a known challenge with low pressure applications using lightweight, small-diameter attack lines: whipping and kinking at the nozzle.
Our new patent-pending LPX™ technology (Low Pressure eXpansion) reinforces only the section leading up to the male coupling to improve nozzle handling while maintaining the lightweight packability and flexibility of our KrakenEXO® and ExoMetro® lines. It is the first of its kind.
“Firefighters consistently told us they liked the weight and maneuverability of smaller diameter lines, but needed better control at the nozzle. LPX was designed to solve that exact problem—in the most efficient way possible.” says Bob Richardson, president of Mercedes Textiles Ltd.
Rather than increasing stiffness or weight throughout the entire hose, LPX Technology—short for Low Pressure Expansion—reinforces the critical section nearest the nozzle, where control matters most. By fortifying this zone, LPX helps augment hose structure under low-pressure operation, reducing whip and kinking without compromising flexibility, packability, or overall hose handling.
“The idea is to keep the nozzle forward and out in front of you, keeping the line stiff all the way back to where it falls behind the nozzleman down a hallway” said Kevin Moul, VP of Witmer / The Fire Store and Mercedes’ innovation partner. “We’re only reinforcing the last few feet because that’s what’s most important — this improves performance right where it counts.”
Aside from our new LPX Technology reinforcing the nozzle-end of the line, our KrakenEXO LPX 1.5" also maximizes the allowed inner diameter to qualify as a 1.5" hose under the NFPA standards – which is partly what allows it to flow up to 160 GPM.
We also have our patented Mertex lining, which offers an ultra-smooth waterway to minimize the friction loss that often plagues 1.5" lines. This is important when it comes to keeping your pump discharge pressure down to manageable levels.
By adding reinforcing material to the "bite-end" of the hose – where the nozzleman is holding the line – LPX Technology increases rigidity of the hose and minimizes the ability for the line to whip or kink during attack.
To be clear – we are not saying this hose will never kink or whip. That would be an overpromise, as any fireman knows there are too many variables on the fireground to say that. However, we are confident there is a noticeable improvement in performance and control at the nozzle in these lines when they are properly paired and dialed in – as firefighters have told us from first-hand experience. This is targeted innovation to advance the line for the good of the fire service. Because you're on the line, and that matters to us.
The only difference is diameter – which determines flow range.
Our LPX Technology was engineered to enhance small diameter lines. Our KrakenEXO 1-1/2" and ExoMetro 1-3/4" are the two smallest diameters of our premium EXO lineup, so we have integrated our LPX Technology to reinforce the nozzle-end of these lines for increased control & performance.
ExoMetro LPX 1-3/4" is our version of a "true diameter" 1-3/4" handline. It is slightly smaller than our KrakenEXO 1-3/4", yet still delivers the same flows – which can offer an edge for many departments looking to prioritize light & agile packages. This line can handle flows up to 185 GPM, whereas we wouldn't recommend anything over 165 GPM for the KrakenEXO LPX 1-1/2".
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.