Hose reels and hydrants are not an alternative to sprinklers but a complement. Sprinklers operate automatically and early; hose reels and hydrants work through human intervention and at higher flows.
Hose reels: who will use it?
The choice of cabinet follows who will use it:
| Type | User | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Hose reel (semi-rigid hose) | Building occupant | One person can deploy it, flows without kinking, EN 671-1 |
| Lay-flat hose | Trained team / fire brigade | Higher flow, must be laid out first, EN 671-2 |
The practical distinction: an untrained occupant cannot lay out and use a flat hose alone. Where building occupants are expected to intervene, hose reels are preferred.
Siting rules
- Access. Cabinets sit on escape routes, close to stair discharges and floor landings.
- Coverage. Every point should be reachable from at least one cabinet within the hose length plus the effective jet range.
- Visibility. The front of the cabinet must be clear and its sign visible; this is the most commonly broken rule.
- Pressure. Nozzle pressure must be enough for an effective jet but not above what one person can control. Excess pressure is limited with a pressure reducing device.
- Freezing. Supply pipework in cold spaces must be freeze protected.
The most remote cabinet is calculated. As with sprinklers, the hydraulically most demanding cabinet is chosen and the required nozzle pressure achieved there. How many cabinets are assumed to operate at once is a design assumption and must be stated in the report.
Hydrant systems
A hydrant is an external take-off point for the fire brigade. Two types are common:
- Pillar hydrant. Easy to find and quick to connect; must be protected from vehicle impact.
- Underground hydrant. Visually unobtrusive, but finding and opening the cover takes time, so marking is critical.
Three criteria govern hydrant siting: distance of access to the building, spacing between hydrants, and whether a fire appliance can actually get alongside. The third is the one most often missed on site — the hydrant is in the right place but no appliance can reach it.
The fire brigade connection
This is the external inlet allowing an appliance to pump into the system. What to check:
- Is the inlet a standard size and compatible with the brigade's equipment?
- Is its position visible and reachable from the appliance standing point?
- Is it labelled with the system it feeds?
- Do the check valve and drain arrangement work?
- Is the cap fitted and the inlet clean inside?
Periodic testing
| Check | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Visual inspection | Cabinet front clear, hose wound correctly, nozzle in place |
| Flow and pressure test | Verifying nozzle pressure at the most remote point |
| Hose inspection | Cracking, abrasion, coupling tightness |
| Reel rotation | That the hose runs out without snagging |
| Hydrant operation | Valve opening and closing, drain functioning |
| Brigade connection | Inlet cleanliness, check valve, labelling |
Test intervals follow the relevant standard and the manufacturer's instructions; where results are not recorded, the test counts as not done at inspection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a hose reel and a lay-flat hose cabinet?
A hose reel can be deployed and used by one person and flows without kinking (EN 671-1). A lay-flat hose gives higher flow but must be laid out first and needs a trained user (EN 671-2).
Why is pressure limited at a hose reel?
Nozzle pressure must be enough for an effective jet but not above what one person can control. Excess pressure is limited with a pressure reducing device.
What is most often missed in hydrant siting?
Whether a fire appliance can get alongside. A hydrant can be at the right distance and spacing and still be useless if no appliance can reach it.
What is checked on a fire brigade connection?
Inlet size compatibility with brigade equipment, visibility and access from the appliance standing point, labelling of the system it feeds, check valve and drain operation, and the cap being fitted.
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Download MEP Calc on the App StoreThe Turkish Regulation on Fire Protection of Buildings (BYKHY) · NFPA 13 (2025) · NFPA 14 · NFPA 101 · BS EN 12845:2015+A1:2019 · EN 671 series. For article numbers, thresholds and exemptions, the current regulation text published in the Official Gazette governs.