BRANCH HOLDER AND GROUND MONITOR

OBJECTIVE Learning Outcome 4 Assessment Criteria Describe Branch Holder and Ground Monitor.

4.1 4.2

State the purpose of branch holder. State the purpose of ground monitor.

REFERENCES 1. Manual of Firemanship Fire Brigade Equipment Book 2 Chapter 6.

BAF 2.4 - 1

BRANCH HOLDER AND GROUND MONITOR INTRODUCTION Branch Holder and Ground Monitor are two different tools. Branch Holder is a tool to hold the branch while the Ground Monitor is a tool to fight of fire. Branch Holder is also used to replace the ground monitor if needed. It is placed on the ground during operation. PURPOSE OF BRANCH HOLDER The purpose of a branch holder is to take either the whole or part of the weight and reaction of a charged branch. These types are designed purely to assist the branchman to control the branch and direct the jet (Fig. 6.1(1 and do not obviate the need for manning the branch. Other types Fig. 6.1(2 are designed so that they may be placed in position, adjusted to direct the jet in the required trajectory, and then left unattended whilst the branchman either retires to a place of safety (if the jet has to be got to work from a potentially dangerous position) or carries on with other work. The delivery end of the hose is laid along the holder with the coupling lugs close against the coupling support, and the branch is then securely strapped in position so that the nozzle protrudes over the end of the branch hold.

Figure 1 Two types of portable branch holder.

BAF 2.4 - 2

PURPOSE OF GROUND MONITOR Monitors are used in circumstances where very large quantities of water in jet form are required, and they fall broadly into two categories: (a) Portable monitors (Fig. 2 and Fig. 3) which are designed to stand on the ground. (b) Fixed monitors permanently secured to fire appliances, such as fireboats or fire-fighting tugs, and turntable ladders. Portable monitors These are rarely used except on very large fires where copious quantities of water are required or in circumstances when it is necessary to leave a large working jet in a position of danger due, for example, to the risk of falling walls. They may be found with nozzles up to 50-65 mm diameter, and the large quantities of water required are usually fed to the monitor through twin lines of hose terminating in a collecting breeching, which may be a fixture on the monitor although sometimes a separate breeching is used with its outlet connected to the monitor with a short length of 90 mm hose.

Figure 2 Two types of portable monitor: (1) with control breeching; (2) with two-way collecting breeching.

Various patterns of portable monitor have from time to time been produced by manufacturers. Most of them have swivelling joints which permit the jet to be directed as required within certain limits: and have legs or feet to hold the apparatus firmly in position on the ground. The portable monitor illustrated in Fig. 2 (1), is shown connected to a controltype collecting breeching. The one illustrated in Fig. 2(2), is shown connected directly to a two-way collecting breeching fitted with mushroom-type non-return valves; it can be collapsed for compact stowage purposes. Another type of portable monitor was produced by the Home Office, and this is shown in Fig. 3.

BAF 2.4 - 3

Figure 3 Portable ground monitor with wheel adjustable.

CONCLUCION On completion of this lesson the students shall be able to identify the various types of branch holder and portable ground monitor.

BAF 2.4 - 4