A fire hose reel is a first attack piece of fire-fighting equipment. It is designed to be used as a quick-response method by any member of the general public for fighting fires in their early stages.
Information and facts
Hose Reels are suitable for Class A fires: Paper, Textiles, Wood, Most Plastics and Rubber.
Fire Hose Reels are easy to use and provide a virtually unlimited supply of water, as they are connected to the mains water supply, and should extend for approximately 35 metres.
Fire Hose reels consist of a length of non-kinking tubing. They are permanently connected to a water supply and consist of a main turn on/off valve, a hose guide, and a hose with a nozzle. The control nozzle attached to the end of the hose enables the operator to control the direction and flow of water to the fire.
Hose reels provided for firefighting purposes must not be used for cleaning purposes, this can lead to fines.
Maintenance
Hose Reels require inspection & testing every 6 months in accordance with Australian Standard AS1221. This testing is required to ensure that the hose reel is operational in the sudden event of an emergency. During this testing, inspectors will check the hose for many factors, including water at the nozzle, a leaking hose, dust, other debris, and any other aspects that may cause unnecessary or increased degradation to the product.
NOTE: Fire hose reels can not be used on electrical fires! Why? Water conducts electricity, so using a fire hose reel on it could lead to electrocution!