Fire Hose Market: Information by Product Type (Attack Hose, Supply Line Hose, Booster Hose), Application (Municipal Fire Service, Industry, Commercial), Region — Forecast till 2029

Fire hose is a high-pressure flexible hollow tube developed to carry fire retardants to prevent the spread of fire. They are used by several municipal fire brigades, refineries, mills, ships, and commercial constructions. Larger diameters hose carries more water but at lower pressure while smaller diameters hose caries lesser water at higher pressure. The fire hose market was valued at USD 316.55 million in 2015 and is projected to reach USD 522.64 by 2025, with a CAGR of 6.0%.

Safety Measures in the Oil & Gas (O&G) Industry   

Oil and gas (O&G) industries account for more than 65% of the global energy supply, and activities in the O&G industry face a severe threat of fire accidents and explosions. Thus, fire hoses are commonplace in O&G extraction, transportation, and storage. The O&G industry is rapidly growing on account of increasing onshore and offshore exploration activities, which is bolstering the demand for fire hoses. Globally, political turbulence and uncertainties have compelled the nations to make substantial investments in their O&G industries to reduce dependency on other countries for these resources. For instance, in May 2020, the government of China permitted foreign firms with net assets of USD 43 million and above to participate in oil and gas exploration in the country.

Figure: the U.S. Offshore Fire Incident Statistics, 2008–2018

Considering the nature of O&G, industry players are compelled to take the utmost precautions. The outcome of a fire outbreak or an explosion in an O&G facility can be catastrophic in terms of injuries, fatalities, financial losses, as well as operational breakdowns. Firefighting equipment and fire extinguishers play a crucial role in ensuring worker and workplace safety in such scenarios. Thus, many companies and refineries are focusing on fire prevention plans, particularly for fire-sensitive areas in facilities.

Several public and other agencies also regulate safety measures in the O&G industry, which has compelled the industry players to comply with certain norms in terms of fire safety measures at their facilities. For instance, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) lists guidelines for fire safety in the U.S., and these guidelines propel the adoption of fire hoses and other firefighting equipment at O&G facilities.

Stringent Building Safety Codes to Stimulate the Demand for Fire Hoses

Governments around the world are enforcing stringent building safety codes in light of the increasing number of building fire incidents. Emerging technologies and high adoption of advanced technological products have created issues related to electrical safety in the buildings. The extensive use of electrical products contributes to the increasing number of fire outbreaks in buildings, which has brought fire safety in the limelight, garnering attention from authorities to make regulatory frameworks more stringent for public safety.

The implementation of building safety protocols and codes for fire protection is influencing the fire hose market. For example, the Building Regulation Code in Europe and the Fire Services Law and Building Standards Law in Japan specify guidelines that aim to enhance fire safety and prevent the spread of fire to neighboring buildings.

As per the International Association of Fire and Rescue Services (CTIF), structure fires recorded a marked increase in various countries in 2018, wherein Luxembourg accounted for 87.4%, followed by Russia with 76.4%. The fatalities, injuries, and loss of property in these incidents have seen governments revise fire safety norms and regulations for greater safety. Under these revised guidelines and regulations, builders and contractors are urged to design buildings with fire safety provisions in mind.

Figure: Structure Fires in Various Countries of the World, 2018 (%)

Economic Volatility and COVID-19 Impact to Restrain the Fire Hose Market Growth

The global economy has been in turmoil these past few years. The current situation is the result of several developments overlapping — the U.S.-China trade war and Brexit being two of the most prominent ones.

Before the COVID-19 outbreak, the U.S.-China trade war was adversely impacting the global economy. Both the economies are global trade giants, and the tariffs imposed as a result of the trade war have created ripples in the global trade scenario. The dispute between these two economies translated to higher import tariffs on billions of dollars’ worth of goods. For instance, in 2018, the U.S. government imposed tariffs on more than USD 360 billion worth of Chinese goods, and China retaliated with higher tariffs on more than USD 110 billion worth of the U.S. goods.

Rubber and thermoplastics are the default materials for fire hose linings. Some of the crucial raw materials, such as PVC and rubber, among many others, required for manufacturing fire hoses were also negatively affected. The additional 10% import tax on rubber imports from China contributed to an increase in the production costs of fire hoses. The U.S.-China trade war has sapped demand for rubber and plastic, further affecting the fire hose market. The higher price of raw-materials have created disruptions in the supply chain and caused delays in production.

Brexit refers to the U.K.’s landmark separation from the European Union. At present, companies and trade partners in the region face uncertainties over the separation =. The British economy is expected to observe a considerable slowdown before it gains ground. These developments had already reduced production in global manufacturing when the COVID-19 pandemic took center stage and brought the global economy to a standstill. The fire hose market is also undergoing a lull at present, and the demand is expected to gain pace as economic activities begin gradually.

Fire Hose Market: Segmentation

Attack Hose Segment to Dominate the Fire Hose Market

The attack hose segment dominates the fire hose market. These fireproof hoses allow firefighters an easy transit to the fire. They have fittings on both ends for connecting to equipment and nozzles, with ranges in nominal inside diameter from 1.5 inches to 3.0 inches and are designed to withstand high water pressure and abrasion up to about 27.6 bar. However, in order to maintain high water pressure, the length of these hoses is kept short, which is about 15.3 m. As per standards set by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), attack fire hoses must be service tested to a minimum of 20.7 bar or pressure not to exceed the service test pressure marked on the hose.

Rising Fire Incidence in the Residential Sector to Prompt the Need for Fire Hose

The municipal fire service segment includes the applications of fire hose across the residential and special properties, such as forest, bridge, tunnel, railroads, and construction sites. Residential and forest fires are the prominent areas of application where municipal fire hose services are used. As per the NFPA, in the U.S., more than one-quarter of the reported fires occurred in home environments during 2013–2017. These fires are predominantly caused by heat igniting combustible materials and those caused by chemical reactions. Among residential fires, cooking-related fires are the most common. In recent years, residential fires have become the cause of a lot of deaths. Thus, individuals have started to consider first aid appliances, such as fire hose, fire extinguisher, and hydrants, as an important part of buildings.

Regional Overview

The Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia to Spearhead Asia-Pacific’s Market Growth

Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing market for fire hose during the forecast period. China and India are two of the most dynamic and fastest-growing markets in the world. Rapid industrialization and urbanization across these economies and surging demand for fire hoses in residential and non-residential sectors drive the market growth.

The easy availability of skilled labor and raw materials at low costs in Asia-Pacific has garnered the interest of manufacturers around the world, with key players setting up facilities in Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Malaysia. The scenario is propelling infrastructure growth in these economies, in turn, bolstering the demand for fire safety equipment. The Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia are prone to earthquakes and floods, and during these calamities, electrical and gas lines often breakdown and result in fires. Thus, these economies focus on strengthening their fire safety services to prevent further loss of life and property during natural disasters.

Figure: Distribution of Fires by Type, 2018 (%)

Key Players

• Dragerwerk AG & Co. KGaA
• Guardian Fire Equipment, Inc.
• Mercedes Textiles Limited
• Jakob Eschbach GmbH
• Laser-Tech Fire Protection
• National Fire Equipment Ltd.
• Newage Fire Protection Services Pvt. Ltd.
• North American Fire Hose Corporation
• Richards Hose Ltd.
• Superior Fire Hose Corp.
• Kuriyama of America, Inc.
• Chhatariya Firetech Industries
• Dixon Valve & Coupling Company, LLC
• Niedner Ltd.
• Angus Fire, Delta Fire Ltd
• Terraflex, Ziegler GmbH
• AAH Acquisition LLC (All-American Hose)

Fire Hose Market: Segmentation

By Product Type

• Attack Hose
• Supply Line Hose
• Booster Hose
• Forestry hose
• Suction Hose

By Application

• Municipal Fire Service
• Industry
• Commercial

By Sales Channel

• Direct Channel
• Distribution Channel

By Region

North America

• The U.S.
• Canada
• Mexico

Europe

• Germany
• France
• The U.K.
• Italy
• Spain
• The Netherlands
• Russia
• The Rest of Europe

Asia-Pacific

• China
• Japan
• India
• South Korea
• Australia
• Indonesia
• Malaysia
• Singapore
• Vietnam
• The Rest of Europe

Central and South America and the Caribbean

• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• The Rest of Central and South America and the Caribbean

The Middle East

• Saudi Arabia
• The UAE
• Oman
• Bahrain
• The Rest of the Middle East

Africa

• Nigeria
• South Africa
• Ghana
• Tanzania
• The Rest of Africa

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)