We receive a lot of inquiry from the buyers. A great number of those inquiry begin the same way - "Hello. I'm looking for fire hose." My reply is usually, "what's your application?" People will often say fire hose when they're actually looking for mill hose. And you can hardly blame them, as fire hose and mill hose look nearly identical. But, in many applications fire hose is simply overkill. Lets take a look at some of the pros and cons of each.
Fire hose is more desirable if the water pressure exceeds 100 - 120 PSI. It also tends to be more durable and abrasion resistant, especially if it's colored or rubber covered. However, fire hose can be expensive when compared to mill hose.
Mill hose generally will not stand up to extreme water pressure. For example double jacket mill hose is only rated at 250 PSI, while even single jacket fire hose is rated as high as 500 PSI. But, the truth is, most of us will never see much over 100 PSI anyway. And, although mill hose is not quite as durable as fire hose, it tends to be more economically priced. There is also the option of ordering mill hose without couplings, making it more versatile in many instances.
So, as you can see, it really depends on your application. Fire hose is necessary for hydrant and sprinkler system flow testing, as well as actual fire fighting service. While mill hose may be ideal for everything from dust suppression and washing equipment on a construction site, to watering fields and keeping animals hydrated on a farm