What is a Storz Coupling and How Does It Work?
The Storz coupling is a type of standardized fittings connecting fire hoses, especially large diameter ones, to fire hydrants, pumps, and the inlets so that water can be supplied to fire sprinklers or standpipe systems. It is important for those who are interested in firefighting products to know more about Storz connection. Here we go.
In 1882, Carl August Guido Storz invented a type of hose coupling to connect large diameter hoses to a fire sprinkler or standpipe system. This invention then was called Storz connection and soon became a popular firefighting product throughout Europe before entering the US market almost a century later.
Nowadays, a great number of fire departments in the United States and Europe use Storz to speed up hose connection instead of threaded couplings. Meanwhile, Storz also helps firefighters fix the problem of coupling mismatch commonly seen among gendered threaded couplings, with a male-threaded end connects to a female-threaded end only.
Plus, threaded couplings’ types and standards need to vary widely to fit standpipes, sprinkler systems, or fire hydrants of different specifications among cities or even buildings. Sometimes firefighters need to use adapters to save time when mismatch happens at fire scenes.
Storz connections are standardized couplings that can be used everywhere. For example, a 5-inch Storz coupling can connect to all the 5-inch Storz fittings perfectly, enabling a fast link-up between fire hoses and fire hydrants or fire department connections.
It is the special hooks on each opposing coupling that make the Storz tick. When pressed together, these hooks insert into each other’s flange slot. The latches will then be engaged by rotating the couplings in opposite directions a quarter turn until they are tight enough to form a water-proof seal caused by the gasket.
The Storz connection can be uncoupled easily by turning the couplings in opposite directions to release the latches until the couplings separate when the hooks and the slots are parallel to each other.
Fire engines, carrying large diameter hoses and Storz, can connect their fire hoses to a fire hydrant or a fire department connection (FDC), which comes in three different types: straight (flush), 30-degree (exposed), and freestanding.
Thus, pressurized water from fire engines can be fed into standpipe or fire sprinkler systems in the building. Or they serve as optional water supply when regular water sources cannot be found or inoperable.
All these must be done with an accessible existing Storz coupling outside the building or on a fire hydrant.
