FRNSW hose connections

Any fire hydrant or fire sprinkler system installed in a premises must have compatible inlets and outlets fitted (i.e. hose connections). The inlets and outlets are compatible if they comply with a standard to which they were designed, installed and commissioned.

If non-compatible hose connections are installed, it is the owner’s responsibility to have them replaced with compliant ones. The owner should engage a fire protection company to install compliant hose connections within a reasonable time frame.

Note: FRNSW recommends engaging a fire protection company that is a member of a nationally recognised professional body or organisation and agrees to a fire protection industry code of conduct.

For systems installed pre-2008, fire brigade booster inlets may comprise a female dynamic joint having fire brigade thread (FBT). These do not need to be upgraded with Storz hose connections unless the entire booster system is being modified or upgraded.

For systems installed or modified post-2008, fire brigade booster inlets should comprise an NEN 3374 ‘permanent pressure coupling’ (i.e. forged Storz hose connection with BSP thread). The Storz hose connection may have either a female thread (1^st image) or male thread (2^nd image).

For newly installed or modified systems (i.e. the applicable Building Code Australia is post 2022), fire brigade booster inlets should comprise an AS 2419.4 Storz hose connection.

For systems installed pre-2008, fire hydrant valve outlets may comprise male FBT outlet. These do not need to be upgraded with Storz hose connections unless the hydrant system is being modified or upgraded.

For systems installed or modified post-2008, fire hydrant valve outlets should comprise either existing male FBT outlet fitted with a forged FBT-Storz adaptor,

or an NEN 3374 compliant ‘permanent pressure coupling’ (i.e. forged Storz hose connection with BSP thread).

For newly installed or modified systems (i.e. the applicable Building Code Australia is post 2022), fire hydrant valve outlets should comprise an AS 2419.4 Storz hose connection.

No. The FRNSW position is that existing hose connections must be compatible with FRNSW equipment only.  FRNSW does not require hose connections to be upgraded when they are compatible.

Fire hydrant and fire sprinkler systems that have FBT hose connections do not need to be upgraded to Storz, unless the system is being modified or upgraded by way of a fire safety order issued by an enforcement authority (e.g. Council, FRNSW) or through certified building work including modification, extension or alteration (e.g. development process).

AS 2419.1-2005 stated both FBT and Storz hose connections were acceptable in NSW. In 2008, FRNSW published a technical information sheet which specified the fitting of a forged aluminium FBT-Storz adaptor to the fire hydrant system of any new development. FBT-Storz adaptors do not need to be upgraded if  they are compatible with NEN 3374 or AS 2419.4 Storz.

Appendix Q of AS 2419.1-2021 identifies that new hose connections must be compatible with AS 2419.4 (i.e. Storz). However, some Storz connections sold in the market place may not be fully compatible with AS 2419.4 Storz hose connections. Hose connections only need to be replaced if they are not compatible with FRNSW equipment.

Fire protection installers must ensure only new compatible/compliant hose connections are purchased and installed. The hose connections must satisfy the Standard of performance applicable to the given building, as identified by the building's fire safety schedule.

Generally, reputable firefighting equipment manufacturers produce Storz hose connections that meet the required standard. Purchasing cheap low-quality connections to minimise costs is more likely to result in rectification works being ordered by a certifier or a relevant enforcement authority if the hose connections are found to be not compatible/compliant.

A certifier is required to determine the version of National Construction Code (NCC) applicable to building work and the relevant Standard of performance applicable to each fire safety measure identified on the relevant fire safety schedule. An accredited practitioner should then identify relevant information for the purchase of hose connections that meet the required Standard of performance.

The applicable Standard or performance will be one of the following:

• AS 2419.4 compliant Storz, when AS 2419.1:2021 (i.e. NCC 2022 or later)
• NEN 3374 compliant Storz, when AS 2419.1:2017 (i.e. some NCC 2018)
• NEN 3374 compliant Storz on booster inlets, when AS 2419.1-2005 (i.e. pre-NCC 2022)
• Storz hermaphrodite* or NSW Fire Brigade Thread (FBT), when AS 2419.1-2005 or earlier (i.e. pre-NCC 2022)
• NSW FBT when pre-AS 2419 (e.g. Ordinance 70)

*Note: Storz hermaphrodite may be either NEN 3374 compliant or meet the FRNSW specification for an FBT-Storz adapter as specified by a relevant FRNSW technical information sheet identified on the fire safety schedule.

It should be noted that Section 1.5 and Table C1 of AS 2419.4 recognise equivalent international standards, therefore any Storz complying with NEN 3374 would also comply with AS 2419.4 when demonstrated through product conformity.

Note: AS 2419.4 was developed and referenced by the current NCC to address Storz which did not meet any minimum design standard.

Fire protection maintainers must ensure that hose connections installed on fire hydrant and fire sprinkler systems are compatible with FRNSW equipment (i.e. Fire Brigade Thread (FBT), NEN 3374 or AS 2419.4). A compatibility check should be undertaken as necessary such as a fit test using a standard complying adapter.

It should be noted that FBT used by FRNSW is unique and is based on the London 'V‘ thread, being a 5¹/₅ TPI Whitworth form thread. Any FBT should be checked to ensure it is not the Victorian based 5 TPI Whitworth thread, which is incompatible with NSW FBT.

The FBT-Storz adaptor as previously specified by FRNSW was produced exclusively for firefighting use in NSW. Some FBT-Storz adaptors and other 'NEN 3374' marked hose connections sold in NSW did not meet any minimum design standard.

Any hose connection requiring repair or replacement during maintenance should be to the same Standard of performance as applicable (i.e. as identified by the fire safety schedule).

Note: Refer to FRNSW compatible Storz hose connections for further information.

The current in-force NCC references AS2419.1:2021 as a primary referenced standard. Appendix Q.2 of this standard identifies hose connections must be manufactured to comply with AS 2419.4, or any equivalent international standard as relevant (i.e. NEN 3374).

While Appendix B of AS 2419.2-2009 identifies fire hydrant valve outlets may have FBT hose connections, these fire hydrant valves do not meet the superseding requirements of the latest primary referenced standard. However, these fire hydrant valves may still be installed if the required Standard of performance is pre-AS 2419.1:2017.

New Storz hose connections must demonstrate product conformity. Reference should be made to Appendix A of AS 2419.4 for documentation of product conformity. A simple letter of conformity is not adequate; independent testing demonstrating product conformity should be able to be provided.

Suppliers of existing Storz hose connections for existing buildings or building works must ensure that the Storz hose connections are either compliant with AS 2419.4 or compatible with AS 2419.4 (e.g. NEN 3374 if the building is pre-NCC 2022). Suppliers should provide a copy of product conformity documentation to installers for compliance certification purposes.

Note: Any 'NEN 3374' marked hose connections that does not actually conform to NEN 3374 or AS 2419.4 should not be sold.

Suppliers of existing FBT hose connections for existing buildings (e.g. for maintenance and repairs) should ensure the hose connection is compatible with NSW based 'V‘ thread of 5¹/₅ TPI.

Note: The obsolete Victorian based 'V‘ thread of 5 TPI is nearly identical to, but is not compatible with, NSW FBT.

Certifiers are required to identify the correct Standard of performance applicable to the hose connections fitted. New Storz hose connections must be verified as being compliant with the relevant standard or specification before issuing any occupation certificate. In the first instance, refer to the product conformity documentation.

A professional body such as the Fire Protection Association Australia can assist with providing information on suppliers of compliant Storz hose connections from reputable manufacturers.

Visually, a compliant hose connection can be identified by having a high quality precision machined finish, with fine tolerances, and be relatively free of any imperfections (e.g. chipped edges, soft dents/scratches evident, mottled finish, pocked or pitted appearance, matt lustre to machined surfaces, or being dip-coated and shiny).

A compliant hose connection will also have a proper forging mark indicating that a registered forger has been used to temper the Storz hose connection to a certified temper process.

If any certifier has any hesitation or doubt, they should verify the documentation outlined in Appendix A of AS 2419.4 has been provided from an independent testing body accredited for product certification and appears sound. By example, any documentation identifying that an FBT-Storz adaptor complies with AS 2419.4 should be rejected as AS 2419.4. does not specify any such State based adaptors.

If any doubts remain, refer to FRNSW for further advice.