Rank: Guest 
|
Posted By Alan Asker
just a quick one can someone give me the rules with regards to the following.
Old accommodation with old fashion fire hose about 150 meters long.
A. Have they got a shelf life the hose looks a bit perished to me?
B. Should they be removed is it encouraging personnel to fight fire when they should be getting out of the building. It takes time to unreal an old fashion red hose turn the water on etc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Mike DF
I would start by unreeling the hose and checking that it works. Maybe wait until after the cold snap before you turn the car park into an ice rink though. Give the hose an inspection for condition, when reeled you can only see a small percentage of it.
Have a look at your fire (marshall) procedures. Are there references there to the use of the reel? Also speak to ask the fire marshalls, are they trained to use the hose. Is water an appropriate extinguishant.
The measures above you can do yourself but you might want to speak to the local fire service and get their opinion. Would they want to arrive at a fire with your staff inside squirting water at the fire.
Hope this helps
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By TDsafety
In my opinion. I would look at getting rid of them. Because, when unrolled they may keep fire doors open and creaate a tripping hazard to escapees. They also encourage people to do the heroic thing and attempt to fight the fire rather than get out. By the way, what training have your occupiers had in their use? Just my opinion
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By jervis
I work for the NHS and we got rid of all fire hoses .As last post suggested it would need testing this would mean unreeling hose to full length and testing. I'm not sure on this but i think one of the reasons we got rid was to do with legionnaires disease!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Charlie0538
Hi Alan,
A few things to consider.
If you totaly remove the hose reels what are you going to replace it with?
Do you already have adequate extinguisher coverage?
Is the site fully sprinklered?
If you keep them installed, get a qualified service engineer to check them, there are things that need checking the someone unqualified would miss.
Each hose reel requires 2 people to operate so you will need adequately trained personnel.
I have just removed 12 from our head office due to costs of up keep and training.
Hope this steers you in the right direction?
Charlie
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Phil
Alan,
Fire hose reels present a significant risk of exposure to Legionella bacteria, before doing anything it will need purging to drain without creating an aerosol, most are now removed for this reason,
Phil
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Ian Futcher
Although I'm of the opinion that you should get rid of them anyway...
Legionella? If you do decide to use a firehose to fight a fire, Legionella will be the last thing on your mind.
Ian
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Phil
If you infect yourself it probably will be,
Phil
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Crim
Wow - lots of you against these things then.
Why was the hose reel installed in the first place? You don't know because you weren't there at the time. It could be worth finding out?
For example:
Who made the recommendation to have them installed?
How far away is the nearest fire station?
What is the occupancy of your building?
Do you store/manufacture products that ignite easily and burn rapidly?
I could go on but you must get my drift by now.
A few good points then:
There is a continuous supply of water, a fire extinguisher will empty in approx 90 seconds.
There are valves that open when pulling the reel from its drum, hence one person operation (not recommended as there should always be at least 2 people tackling a fire.
If firefighting and the smoke comes down you can follow the hose back to the drum, hopefully this will be next to a fire exit?
Proper maintenance can ensure the contents are free of trouble, regular testing allows water to flow through and keep clean.
Why do you have to fully unwind to clear of legionella? Surely flowing water while on the reel would do the same?
It can take less time than using fire extinguishers as you only have to pull the hose and ensure the water is on. Not as heavy as fire extinguishers
Properly trained personnel would have no problem using a hose reel and distances are limited by the length of the hose.
I recommend you have the hose reel serviced by a qualified engineer, you may also need fire extinguishers serviced so use the same company.
Fire risk assessment should determine if needed but also seek advice from your local fire service.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Andy Petrie
Get rid of it and leave a hydrant connection.
The fire brigade will never use a hose that is not their own in case it does not work putting their staff in danger, a hydrant point will allow them to connect their own equipment.
I would suggest that you do not want your staff attempting to use this either, they should get out of the building. If you do, then you will need to train them and have a regular maintenance & inspection regime in place to ensure that the hose will be in working order at all times.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Crim
Andy, you obviously don't know about these things.
A fire hose reel is connected internally to the water supply.
A fire hydrant is a completely different item and is usually outside and underground, unless a pillar hydrant.
It still needs servicing and takes longer to connect to a hydrant.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By garyh
I agree with getting rid of the hoses. Fire brigade will not use them. You might replace with extinguishers - or not. It's down to risk assessment. Andy had a valid point.
Normally extinguishers are placed at floor exits (sometimes also at high fire risk items such as fuel stores). Their purpose is to aid escape - I would say that a fire hose reel is for FIRE FIGHTING - different thing.
I worked in chemical works and refineries for 25 years. In the "old days" there was a big emphasis on training operators to fight fires -not now. It's all about fire prevention, early detection, rapid evacuation, prevention of fire spread. It's not about fire fighting - that is the job of, in my opinion, the best fire service in the world.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Ian Futcher
garyH is right
Prevention, detection, safe escape
People can't be rebuilt
Burned down buildings can
Get rid of fire hoses, get the people out safely and leave it to the experts.
Ian
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Ian Futcher
...and can I just knock this legionella thing on the head:
Sprinkler systems (and in this, case fire hoses too) are not tested for legionella, and are not drained down/cleaned out to reduce the legionella risk. If you've got a fire, you want any water (irrespective of the quality) to put out the fire efficiently, and you are not going to worry about legionella. You don't check your water fire extinguishers, do you?
Some large facilities actually use outside lagoons to hold fire water. These are not tested for legionella, or controlled with chemicals etc.
In fire control water, legionella is not an issue.
(in my humble opinion)
Ian
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Andy Petrie
Crim,
I do know about these things, I would imagine however that the area in which we work is very different and the terminology is different.
I would suggest you look at BS 9990:2006 "Code of Practice for Non Automatic Fire-fighting Systems in Buildings" which has the following definition:
3.8.1 fire hydrant = assembly comprising a valve and outlet connection from a water supply
In my earlier response, I was refering to an outlet connection from the water supply where the hose currently is (i.e. a hydrant).
Andy
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By ThomasJ
May I humbly add another fly in the fire hose reel ointment, if you decide to remove the hose reel your local water authority will require you (under the Water Bye laws 2004) to pre notify them and remove all pipework back to the main to prevent any dead legs. We have recently had an interesting visit from our local water inspector who demanded tens of thousands of pounds of backflow protection on all our water systems (including hose reels). These bye-laws are a minefield waiting to explode on UK companies.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By jervis
With reference legionella as said earlier i work for the nhs the last thing they want is legionella knocking about the place. Better be safe than sorry get rid of the fire hoses.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Crim
Andy,
I stand/sit corrected, yes there is more than one type of fire hydrant.
Alan,
Just before you get rid of the hose please check with the fire service and your insurance company as they may have some advice for you.
I would also take heed of the above comment re the local water authority.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Dale Watts
Hi all, the only thing not stated in this post is that the reel hose should be pressure tested every five years, now if the hose is already showing signs of cracking, its already past its best.
Depending on who you get to service the reels it could be anything from 7-quid to hundred of quids to fix each reel with new hose.
Now the bacteria element is a very real threat and almost all residential premises I deal with have or are about to have the reels removed.
Dont forget to consult your insuarnce company before discommsioning hose reels, in case they have them on your schedule of insurance.
Dale
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By TBC
Simple - as others have said get rid and drain etc. If the fire is big enough to warrant the use of a hose reel - then you should not be in the building.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.