Which statement is true about hand lines and master streams regarding smoothbores?

Which statement is true about hand lines and master streams regarding smoothbores?

• A. Hand lines are up to 1-1/4 inch; master streams use nozzles larger than this.
• B. Hand lines are larger than master streams.
• C. All master streams use less than 1 inch nozzles.
• D. Hand lines are never used with smoothbores.

Answer: (A)

Smoothbores deliver fixed flow through a specific orifice, and the size of that orifice determines how much water you can push and at what reach. For handlines, the common smoothbore sizes top out around 1-1/4 inch. Master streams, on the other hand, are designed to deliver much larger volumes from a distance, so they use nozzles larger than 1-1/4 inch. That combination—handlines staying at or below 1-1/4 inch and master streams using bigger nozzles—is what makes the statement true. The other options misstate the relationship: handlines aren’t inherently larger than master streams, master streams aren’t limited to under 1 inch nozzles, and handlines can indeed be used with smoothbores.

Smoothbores deliver fixed flow through a specific orifice, and the size of that orifice determines how much water you can push and at what reach. For handlines, the common smoothbore sizes top out around 1-1/4 inch. Master streams, on the other hand, are designed to deliver much larger volumes from a distance, so they use nozzles larger than 1-1/4 inch. That combination—handlines staying at or below 1-1/4 inch and master streams using bigger nozzles—is what makes the statement true. The other options misstate the relationship: handlines aren’t inherently larger than master streams, master streams aren’t limited to under 1 inch nozzles, and handlines can indeed be used with smoothbores.