A fire hose cabinet is a 12-gauge box designed to protect fire-fighting equipment from vandalism, theft, and accidental damage in buildings and public areas in order to store fire safety equipment such as the fire hose reel, fire hose rack assembly, and a portable fire extinguisher. The cabinet houses all these when they are not in use.
This corrosion-proof designed box – usually made of a combination of glass, metal, or plastic – is usually mounted at any specified place for fire-fighting convenience. Fire hose cabinets – which are usually coated with a thermally-fused white polyester finish – also help protect the fire equipment from dirt and debris.
Central Point for Entire Fire-Fighting Equipment
All the corners of a fire hose cabinet are ground smooth, mitered, and come with a heavy-duty continuous hinge with a brass pin. It is usually furnished with a security-type lock and mounted on the wall with zero obstructions.
In other words, the fire hose cabinet acts as the central point for storing your entire fire hose/fire-fighting equipment, ensuring all items are ready for use when needed during emergencies.
Modern occupant fire hoses have more than a few components, and there are several inspection procedures and schedules for them. This is crucial for the maintenance of proper fire safety guidelines.
Is a Fire Hose Cabinet Necessary?
Having and using fire hose cabinets in commercial buildings is a necessity that must never be taken for granted. Here are some reasons that make fire hose cabinets necessary:
- Protect all fire-fighting equipment from theft, accidental damage, dust, etc.
- Restraining straps keep the extinguisher secure and in place.
- Its viewing panels make it easy to locate the portable fire extinguisher
- Some cabinets are fitted with state-of-the-art alarms for additional security
- Easy to identify and easily accessible during fire emergencies
- Excellent choice for use in industrial facilities, etc.
Proper Maintenance Checks of Fire Hose Cabinets
Inspecting fire hose cabinets is vital that it must be conducted from time to time. This procedure should only be performed by highly qualified and professional personnel like Fraker Fire. Fraker Fire always follows manufacturer instructions, observations, as well as corrective actions.
Here are some of the standard procedures that occur during fire hose cabinet inspection:
- Inspect the fire hose cabinet for opaque or broken plastic or glass. Clean the opaque glass or replace the broken component as required.
- If the fire hose cabinet is made of metal, check it thoroughly for problems or signs of damage or corrosion. Replace the entire assembly immediately if any problems are discovered.
- Ensure the fire hose cabinet is accessible and correctly labeled. Install or replace new ‘Fire extinguisher’ or ‘Fire hose’ signs if need be. Get rid of any object that can interfere with speedy access during an emergency.
- Make sure the fire hose cabinet door can open wide enough, up to 180 degrees. If it can’t, or any part of the building’s structure – such pillars, etc. – prevent this, relocate the fire hose cabinet immediately.
- Ensure every component within a fire hose cabinet can be swiftly accessed during emergencies. Some of the everyday items that fire hose cabinets house includes fire extinguishers, valves, hose, nozzles, etc.
- Remove any unnecessary material or item that obstructs the fire hose cabinet. Also, check the cabinet’s content to ensure no vital tool or component is missing.
- Check the fire hose cabinet lock to ensure it is working excellently well. This is essential for glass-break-style cabinets.
- Ensure the fire extinguisher in the cabinet is always fully charged, complete with seal and pull-pin present. Ensure the nozzle is not obstructed in any way.
Inspection
The fire hose, as well as the steel hose rack within the fire hose cabinet, must be inspected thoroughly at least once a year.
Every item that the fire hose cabinet houses must be carefully inspected. This includes, in no particular order:
Fire Hose
- Search for damages to the couplers or hose sections and replace or repair if necessary.
- Ensure the hose connects remarkably well with the hose rack nipple. There must be unobstructed access.
- Verify that the hose is in excellent working condition, not too old, tested according to the NFPA, and UL listed.
- Ensure the coupling threads of the fire hose perfectly match the local fire departments. Supply or replace adapters if required.
Single Hose Rack
- Ensure the nozzle fits perfectly into its clip. Check to confirm how correctly the clip is mounted. If the clip is damaged, replace or repair it immediately.
- Ensure the fire hose folds appropriately over the pins and then rerack everything after a thorough inspection. Use a retaining device to secure semi-automatic style racks.
- Ensure nothing prevents the hose rack from swinging out rapidly 90 degrees from the fire hose cabinet. Remove any obstruction or re-position the fire hose cabinet, if necessary.
The Nozzle
- Check the nozzle gasket carefully and replace it immediately if damaged.
- Double-check the appropriateness of the nozzle for that specific environment, i.e., class A fire, class B fire, etc.
Angle Hose Valve
- Ensure the valve is not leaking, and confirm it has water. If necessary, replace or repair it.
- Ensure the Handwheel is attached firmly to the valve and is of the appropriate size.
Hose Rack Nipple
- Check the threading of the hose rack for any sign of damage and replace the threading if necessary.
- Confirm that the hose rack nozzle is securely or firmly attached via the hose rack opening to the angle hose valve.
Conclusion
The installation and testing of the fire hose cabinet is an exercise that should never be taken for granted. Maintenance procedures should be carried out from time to time in order to follow proper fire safety guidelines. These procedures should only be performed by highly trained and certified personnel.
If you need a fire hose cabinet or require testing and installation services, Fraker Fire is the go-to service provider. Fraker Fire help ensures all buildings – commercial or residential – follow proper fire safety guidelines by doing the needful when required.
Fraker Fire’s experienced and highly trained personnel specialize in performing monthly, biannual, and yearly inspections. If any fire safety needs must be addressed as soon as possible, get in touch with Fraker Fire right away!
Therefore, get in touch with Fraker Fire today for your fire hose cabinet testing and installation!