Have you ever noticed, whilst wending your way around the offices and buildings of our lovely country, that sometimes you will happen upon a fire hose reel. Now, maybe it’s not that unexpected, and maybe it’s not something you pay that much attention to. But maybe you should. What do you know about these items? What are they used for? How do they work? Are there different types? Well, fear not, lovely reader. I am about to answer these questions for you. You will never again have to live in ignorance when it comes to the mighty fire hose reel!
So firstly, what exactly is a fire hose reel? Well, it does exactly what is says on the tin. It’s a hose, on a reel, for tackling fires. Generally, in the UK, the hose reel is red. It is usually fixed to a wall, and contains about 30 metres of hose tubing. In other countries, you may see that the hose is flat, and lays concertina-style in a hanging rack, but this is far less common over here.
What is it used for then? Well, as with most of the things I tell you about in this blog, it is made to tackle fires. The hose will provide a steady stream of water in a fire situation, allowing you to extinguish the fire without having to set up acres of hose like the fire crews would do. This is extremely useful in places like high rise flats of offices, and in large industrial complexes.
There are two types of valve that you can get on your hose reel – automatic or manual. The manual hose reel, is like the one you would use for watering your garden from the outside tap. You have to actually turn on the tap in order for it to work. You’d look a wee bit silly trying to water your garden without turning on the tap for the hose, and you’d look silly, and possibly slightly too warm if you tried the same with a manual hose reel. This type can be a good idea with an outside hose reel, as there is less chance of frost getting to it, expanding the water inside and causing pipe damage. The automatic hose reel, on the other hand, has the water permanently turned on. When the hose is pulled out, after about four turns, the water automatically flows into the pipe, and a twist of the nozzle sends the water spurting out to extinguish the fire. This is a good time-saver, which is always a good thing in an emergency.
So, there you go, the basics of hose reels. There are various types, and spares available on FPO’s website – and naturally, you’ll get a tip-top discount, which everyone likes to hear – hurrah!! Happy hosing!
