hose reel

[santhosh]

can fire hose reels be used for purposes other than fire fighting, like for cleaning vehicles etc.?

[Andy Cole]

We use ours for the bi-annual Ben Fund car wash and for cleaning the appliance when nessercary, don't hold me to it but presumably so long as the OIC has done a DRA and is happy there should be no reason why not!

[Chris Houston]

I am not sure about this, but here is my opinion:

I think this used to be illegal under the old Fire Service Act of 1954.  I can't see anything about it in the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order or the Fire and Rescuse Service Act 2004.

It is a bad idea to use hoses for anything other than fire fighting, because they can get damaged in the process.  

Although though it related to hydrants rather than hose reels I note the following:

Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004:

42     Fire hydrants
 
      (6) A person commits an offence if he uses a fire hydrant otherwise than-
 
  (a) for the purposes of fire-fighting or for any other purposes of a fire and rescue authority, or
  (b) for any purpose authorised by the water undertaker or other person to whom the hydrant belongs.

[Andy Cole]

You may well be right Chris, I honestly don't know but Iwould have thought that it relates to hydrants because you can pinch the water from them!!

[messy]

I assume this thread relates to internal fixed hosereels (there seems to be some confusion here)

If so, I cannot see a problem for fixed hosereels being used for other things as long as they are kept maintained and available.

Frankly, permitting staff to use them will make them familiar with it's location and operation (especially if a valve neeeds to be turned on). It also makes it likely that any defect wil be identified more readily than waiting for routine service. In addition, the potential for stagnant/contaminated water laying in the HR is reduced as it will be flushed regularly

I would have thought that as most HRs I have seen are on escape routes, more of a problem would be the risk of wet floors and the potential for wedging of fire doors during the hosereels use. Also the method of making up the hosereel should be monitored to ensure it's not just 'thrown' onto the drum and therefore may snag if needed in a hurry

[santhosh]

what about any pressure reduction if another hose reel has to be simultaneously used somewhere else for fire fighting?

although less probable, what about lack of/reduction in water availability meant for emergencies?

any increased chance of corrosion as the hose/hose cabinet is always wet due to frquent use of it?

any damages to fittings including the nozzle due to frquent use by non authorized people?

finally a general feeling of abuse (what if all the staff brought there vehicles and start cleaning?)

[kurnal]

I agree with messy on this one.
Some buildings have fire hosereels installed specifically for other reasons in addition to firefighting- swimming pools and fire stations being examples. One thing I have found is that many fire hosereels are not engineered for daily use and bearings and glands can wear fairly quickly causing the leaks that messy mentions.

So if speccing for a new building be sure to look for one that will last the course.

[John Webb]

The use of fire-fighting hosereels for other uses does need a little care, as mentioned above in several replies. My concerns are particularly:
(a) the nozzle - liable to be dropped and otherwise misused. Either go for plastic nozzles which are cheap to replace (and keep spares in hand) or if to be used frequently consider a more substantial metal nozzle, preferably rubber-covered. But these latter are best not used on hosereels which are out of doors and which may be subject to vandalism or theft.
(b) train users to carefully rewind the hose evenly and tightly. If possible also to use an old cloth (or paper towels) held in the guiding hand to wipe/dry the surface as they rewind the hose.

If it is made clear to staff that such informal use is dependent on the correct use and tidying up after use then there should not be too much of a problem. The company will need to consider if they are willing to provide the metered water for such use, of course. There should also be safety training to remind potential users not to cause any hazards, for example the hose lying across a pathway, use in cold weather when water on the ground might freeze and never, of course, to direct the water onto another person. (Unless they are on fire.)

If the hosereel is in an external location it should be protected from the weather by some form of enclosure. This should include heating working on a frost thermostat to prevent freezing.

I think two hosereels working off the same main simultaneously will not be a problem. In any case if the second is in use for an emergency fire, then the user should have sounded the fire alarm; there is an expectation that the first hosereel user will immediately stop their non-fire use to do whatever the company's In Case of Fire instructions tell them to.

[wee brian]

For all the reasons messy gave it makes sense to allow the use of hosereels fro non firefighting purposes.

Be careful to check how they are supplied thoug. Some are fed through the same supply as a sprinkler system and you could trip the main pump.

[Jon Barrett]

If it's fed from the sprinkler system then it will be fed via a fire main that may be unmetered - if this is the case then it shouldn't be used for any other use

[wee brian]

Or at least - dont tell anybody your doing it

[PhilHallmark]

can fire hose reels be used for purposes other than fire fighting, like for cleaning vehicles etc.?

Hose Reels cannot be used for anything other than fire fighting purposes. Misuse is an offence.
They must be fed from a dedicated branch with an inlet valve fitted at the water main to allow the system to be maintained/ repaired etc. No other equipment is allowed to be branched off the hose reel water supply.
BS671-3 gives the maintenance and specification details.

On a practical level though they are usually fitted on stairwells and MoE routes. Which means their use blocks the route. They require two men to operate and provide a safe use. Bravado poses a potential problem once a user has 30Lt/min of water blasting out, not to mention the small risk of electrical contact within every room that exists in a company!
Best practice is to rip out and provide a RA to determine the class A cover required to replace them - HR's are 52A apparently.
Local Fire Safety Officers and company insurance will need to be contacted prior to any works for permission to remove.

Another problem is the actual use by staff. When was the last time anybody took part/ witnessed or heard of training on the use of HR's?

[messy]

Phil

Slow down mate.

Hosereels cannot be used for anything other than FF? Misuse? - What tosh!!

If I as manager or RP, authorise MY staff that they can use MY hosereel for watering the company flower bed or cleaning my Aston Martin, whilst simultaneously gaining valuable experience in using the equipment and ensuring that it works, then they bl**dy well can (as long as they do it safely).

Surely it's a win-win situation

[Chris Houston]

I think it used to be an offence under the Fire Service Act, but no such provision exists in the RRO.

[wee brian]

Phil H appears to be working with the "make it up as you go along Act"

Nobody needs permission from the fire authority to do anything