How Often Do Fire Hose Reels Need to Be Inspected and Serviced?
Short answer
Fire hose reels covered by AS 1851-2012 have routine servicing requirements at 6-monthly and 12-monthly intervals.
The 12-monthly service is more comprehensive: it repeats the 6-monthly activities and adds further checks, including measuring the required water-flow rate.
How often do fire hose reels need to be inspected in NSW?
Fire hose reels covered by AS 1851-2012 require routine servicing every 6 months, with additional servicing activities carried out at the 12-month interval.
At the 6-monthly service, the technician checks the general condition, accessibility and operation of the hose reel, unwinds at least 5 m of hose, and pressurises the reel to check for leakage.
At the 12-monthly service, all 6-monthly activities are completed together with additional checks of the hose, fittings, bearings, mounting and fire-hazard coverage, and the required water-flow rate is measured. AS 1851 also notes that completely unwinding the hose is recommended so the whole waterway can be examined.
The 6-monthly and 12-monthly services are therefore not simply repetitions of the same inspection.
What is checked during a fire hose reel inspection?
A fire hose reel inspection looks at both the physical condition of the equipment and its ability to operate correctly when required.
Checks can include:
- accessibility and whether the reel is obstructed
- location and identification signage
- operating instructions
- mounting points and structural condition
- reel and swing-arm movement
- hose condition
- hose guides and fittings
- nozzle condition and operation
- valves and associated components
- leaks
- service tags and servicing records
- water delivery and flow at the applicable service interval
The condition of the reel itself is important. Damage to the frame, swing arm or drum can restrict movement and prevent the hose reel from being deployed properly in an emergency.
Does the hose reel need to be fully unwound and tested with water?
Yes, at the applicable service interval.
At the 6-monthly service, AS 1851 requires at least 5 m of hose to be unwound and the reel to be pressurised and checked for leakage. The Standard also notes that completely unwinding the hose is recommended so the whole waterway can be examined.
At the 12-monthly service, all 6-monthly activities are repeated, plus additional checks of the hose, fittings, bearings, mounting and fire-hazard coverage, with the required water-flow rate measured.
This allows the technician to identify faults that may not be visible while the hose remains wound around the drum, including:
- cracks or splits
- kinks
- flat spots
- surface deterioration
- damage to fittings
- leaks
The hose reel is also operated with water so its delivery performance can be checked.
This is important because a service tag alone does not demonstrate that the hose was unwound or that the reel was actually tested under operating conditions.
What faults can cause a fire hose reel to fail inspection?
A fire hose reel can be found defective for a range of physical, mechanical and water-delivery problems.
Common faults include:
- faded, damaged or illegible operating instructions
- missing or unsuitable signage
- blocked access to the hose reel
- a damaged or crushed reel frame
- a damaged or missing swing arm
- a reel that cannot rotate or deploy properly
- cracked, split, kinked or deteriorated hose
- a leaking hose or fitting
- a nozzle that continues to leak when turned off
- damaged or seized valves
- corrosion or structural deterioration
- insufficient water flow at the applicable test interval
A hose reel can therefore appear to be present and tagged while still having faults that affect its ability to operate properly in an emergency.
Who can inspect and service fire hose reels in NSW?
Fire hose reel servicing should be carried out by a person who is competent to perform the inspection and testing activities required for the equipment.
The person carrying out the work needs to have the appropriate knowledge, training and competency for the servicing activities being performed.
Some repairs or alterations identified during an inspection may also require an appropriately licensed trade depending on the work involved.
Each service visit also produces records that form part of the building's compliance history. Our guide on the fire safety records building owners must keep in NSW explains what those records need to include and how long they must be kept on site.
And if you are unsure what the broader fire safety requirements in NSW actually are, our guide on the requirements for fire inspections in NSW explains what section 81A and AS 1851-2012 require of building owners.