HEN Blade 20gpm@100psi vs Forestry Twin Tip

In August 2023, I did some Testing / Training / Demoing and Explaining the vast differentiating factors between a HEN 20gpm@100psi, Tight and Bladed Patterns versus a Forester Twin Tip nozzle equipped with a 1/4” Tip and 6 gpm Fog Tip the Original Ganster (OG) of wildland fire nozzle and still widely used in fire suppression. The video clearly demonstrates the superior application potential of the HEN nozzle design. For a deep dive continue reading below.
These comparisons were done at the same pump discharge pressure at the Boise Fire Department in Idaho on their drill grounds resulting in flows of roughly 18 gpm from both the HEN at all times Blade and Tight patterns and the Forester Nozzle roughly the same flow of 18 gpm from 1/4” Tip and very turbulent estimated 10gpm flow from the Fog Tip when selected back and forth between modes Tip vs Fog stream, since the orifice sizes are different.
One cannot make plain water more magical in BTU absorbing potential per gallon of water delivered to surfaces, however we can make it much more effective hence efficient, with a closer examination of the big three benchmark characteristics of fire stream development, Volume, Placement and Velocity
Trust, but verifying concepts in Bladed/Tight fire stream delivery was HENs goal during the training.
Fire streams are only as good as their Big 3 Characteristics, here are some Wildland gold standard fire stream development criteria
1) Volume (Must meet Critical Flow for Fuel Package)
2) Placement (Ideal Droplet Size = Large/Mass Benefits / Pattern for Coverage/Concentration, Blade vs Tight)
3) Velocity (Reach & Penetration / Outside Streams Should Capitalize on Stream Speed at a Premium)
Both of these wildland nozzles will see a variety of input pressure on the wildland fire ground (operations reality), from added lengths of hose, to kinks, to high start pressure on progressive hose lays. The HEN 20gpm@100psi Blade wildland nozzles perform well from 50 to 125psi NP.
Since HEN’s 20gpm@100psi nozzles design has an operational goal range of 75 to 125psi NP, it produces a consistent flow range of 17 to 22 gpm and stream velocity range of 105 to 135 feet per second in these parameters. This is similar to a 1/4-inch tip size, a proven small flow orifice size in forestry fire service. However, the 1/4-inch tip is missing a good distribution pattern to enhance placement and fuel coverage, which the HEN's 20gpm@100psi Blade Pattern solves, while ensuring a Tight Pattern is easily on the table at all times with just a flick of the wrist (See Video).
Note the extremely consistent flow from Blade to Tight and vice versa.
The HEN’s ability to concentrate the suppression water in an edge about 1/2 inch thick 2 to 3 feet wide, if we use 20gpm this gives you approximately 2.4 ounces of water per second, per square inch application rate leaving the nozzle at 100psi which is about 80 miles per hour. This Bladed Pattern and Nozzle design clearly out performance the comparable Twin Tip Forester nozzle with the same mission parameters in suppression. Compare the Blade pattern to the extremely ineffective small droplets and high turbulent Fog pattern blowing away in the wind, and rapidly evaporating on the asphalt. The operator of the Twin Tip Forester nozzle design is stuck with this harsh reality, no matter how good they are as a Nozzle operator.
In addition the HEN nozzle design has no water way obstructions and is not only self-flushing at all times and will not clog, which is a frequent problem with the Fog Tip on the OG Forester nozzle, it is producing a stream of large droplets of water in blade or tight mode, much less negatively impacted by wind / evaporation This means a HEN fire stream in transit to the fuels, black, burning or green will place more water mass on target and doing work. This means that suppression is more rapid and complete, the coverage pattern picks up more of the fuel bed in a line, hence travel distance speed can increase, yielding greater suppression per gallon of tank water on the fire scene. This also means that the Bladed wet line vs a fog wet line is more effective in fuel packages increasing safety, by lessening the chance of fire getting through a wet line application and increasing hold times in theory.
To me the HEN nozzle design and the patterns it produces are the future of fire attack in handline operations in the Wildland fire environment, the goal is to preserve more life and property through groundbreaking nozzle design, that is why I am involved. Please check out HENnozzles.com where more information is provided, and they are available for immediate purchase and deployment into your operations. #HENnozzles #firefighters #wildfireseason #firefightertraining