A terrifically simple question, but one that’s worth answering nonetheless. I’ll be addressing it through the lens of Vigil Product’s own Fire Hose Cabinets as well as the model offered by Jonesco.
Fire Hose Cabinets are technically exactly what they sound like, but with a few more layers than just the obvious. They are designed to house vital firefighting equipment on a given premises, not dissimilar to extinguisher cabinets. The difference is that these ones are for equipment that could be used by the fire department itself. Though this will often be relegated simply to qualified individuals on site.
The contents of a Fire Hose Cabinet will primarily be a reel of layflat fire hose and an associated nozzle. Other relevant items, such as fire log books, are also an appropriate thing to keep in one of these. And, when it comes to the Vigil version, we’ve kept in mind the possibility that you may want to use one for keeping anything valuable safe and secure. Though, that last bit lends itself towards something that should be the standard for all Fire Hose Cabinets.
What are the Requirements of a Fire Hose Cabinet?
Location and duration. Where you put a Fire Hose Cabinet, as well as what it can endure and for how long are essential considerations. It will vary depending on your property’s layout and size, but the placement of the cabinets is priority one. Fire Hose Cabinets must be located in areas that are both easy to access and easy to spot. The cabinet itself would ideally be designed to enhance both of these things.
Vigil’s cabinet keeps its interior very simple for these reasons. It uses bright red colouring on its exterior (as many others will do) to make it unmissable. Some cabinets may make use of a transparent screen on the door. This keeps the contents visible at all times so a potential user of the cabinet knows if it has what they need before they open it.
Regarding proper placement of a Fire Hose Cabinet, it can be mostly put down to this: the stream from the hose should be able to reach all areas of your property’s floor space. So, at the bare minimum, there should be one well-stocked Fire Hose Cabinet on every floor of a building.
Of course, I also mentioned duration. Often being placed outside, and for generally wanting them kept in good condition, Fire Hose Cabinets should always be made with durable materials. Corrosion resistant and weatherproof properties are something to strive for here. Stainless steel, aluminium, and fibreglass or plastic are all common materials used in the manufacturing of Fire Hose Cabinets. Vigil’s and Jonesco’s cabinets meet these needs, the former being made of injection-moulded polypropylene, and the latter of UV-stabilised polyethylene, respectively.
Can Anyone Use a Fire Hose in a Cabinet?
Technically yes, though you can opt to restrict access through various means. The equipment inside the cabinet should be accompanied by clear instructions (these are prone to wear and tear, making weatherproof properties ever more valuable), so that anyone could potentially make effective use of the hose. But the bottom line is that a Fire Hose Cabinet is intended for use by trained personnel. This personnel should, however, include most, if not all people belonging to your property (e.g. employees). The use of the cabinets’ contents should be employed only up until the point that the fire brigade arrives.
In terms of restrictions and further security measures, there are a few options. You may go for a Fire Hose Cabinet made with a lock and key. This way to can have direct control over who can access the cabinet, making sure that only qualified individuals have keys. You could instead use a theft alarm. We provide the option for both Vigil and Jonesco Fire Hose Cabinets to be supplied with an STI Mini Theft Stopper Alarm. This is an effective deterrent against unauthorised access, and will keep you aware of tampering or theft attempts.
So, assuming that all made sense, you should now understand the benefits and requirements of using a Fire Hose Cabinet. If you’re tempted by either the Vigil or Jonesco models, then browse our range here. But you should note that they’re essentially the same, except Vigil’s cabinet is both bigger and cheaper. But you should still choose based on which suits your needs best. And if you’d like more information or want to see our hose cabinets up close, then check out this helpful video:
