What is the purpose of the NFPA 1961 standard?

The NFPA 1961 standard primarily focuses on the specifications, performance, and testing of fire hoses used in firefighting. This standard establishes criteria that ensure fire hoses can reliably deliver water under pressure and have the necessary physical properties to withstand the operational conditions they will face.

The choice centered on fire hose connections, while important, does not encompass the core purpose of NFPA 1961. Instead, it is primarily concerned with the characteristics and performance of fire hoses themselves, which includes aspects of construction, material requirements, and testing methods. The other options, pertaining to maintenance and testing, are relevant to fire hose use but do not capture the full scope of what NFPA 1961 addresses. Thus, the correct answer fundamentally highlights the standard's emphasis on hoses rather than connections or maintenance alone.