Hose reel system is intended for the occupant to use during the early stages of a fire and comprises hose reel pumps, fire water storage tank, hose reels, pipe work and valves.
Design Standards
The requirement for hose reel systems is detailed under the 10th Schedule of the Uniform Building Amendment 2012. The applicable standards for hose reel systems are as follows:
– M.S.1489 Part 1 : Hose Reels and Foam Inlets
– M.S.1447 Part 1 : Hose Reels with Semi-rigid hose
– M.S.1447 Part 2 : Hose Reels with Lay-flat Hose
– M.S.1447 Part 3 : Maintenance of Hose Reels with Semi-rigid Hose and Lay-flat Hose
– M.S.1488 : Semi-rigid hoses for first aid fixed installations.
Hose Reels
Hose reels should comply with M.S.1447 and are usually placed such that all area with 30 meter hose coverage of each hose reel. They are usually located in prominent positions at each floor level along escape routes or beside exit doors or staircases, preferably within recessed closets. Each hose reel outlet is to discharge a minimum of 30 L/min of water within 6 metres of all parts of the space protected. The rubber hoses should be to M.S.1488 and are typically 30 metres in length and 25 rrim in diameter. Nozzles should be of the jet and spray adjustable type of different diameters but 8mm is a recommended size. Minimum residual pressure of 2 bars will be required at the entry to each hose.
Pipework for hose reel system is generally 50mm nominal diameter and the feed to individual hose reel should be not less than 25mm diameter. The piping should be of galvanized steel medium grade (Class B) minimum for above ground piping and heavy grade (Class C) for underground pipes. The pipes shall be painted with primer and finished with red paint or the hose reel pipe may be identified with red bands painted at elbows and tees.
Hose Reel Pumps
The hose reel pumps draw water from the fire water storage tank and two sets of pumps, one on duty and the other on standby, are provided. The pump capacity is usually sized to deliver a flow rate of 120 litre/min at a running pressure of minimum 2 bars for any four hose reels operating at the same time. The standby hose reel pumpset should be supplied with power from the emergency generator that is available. Otherwise, the standby pumpset should be diesel engine driven. Fuel supply should be adequate for minimum 1 hour of operation, Electrical cabling to supply power to the hose reel pumps should be run in galvanized steel conduit or alternatively, may be of fire rated type of cable. Batteries for the diesel engine should be maintenance-free type. Where the total number of hose reels in the building does not exceed four (4), the standby pumpset may be electrically driven and need not be provided with emergency power.
Hose Reel Tanks
The fire water storage tank should be sized is based on 2250 litres for the first hose reel and 1125 litres for every additional hose reel up to a maximum of 9000 litres for each-system. The hose reel tank should be refilled automatically from a water supply pipe of minimum 50mm diameter to provide a minimum flowrate of 150 litre/min.
Pump Starter Panels and Controls
Pump starter panel should be complete with indicator lights. Ventilation slots should be provided with insect screen to prevent entry of vermin. Hose reel pumps shall start automatically upon actuation of the pressure switches. Usually two pressure switches are provided with the following suggested settings:
- starting and stopping the duty pumpset set at 80% and 100% of system pressure respectively; and
- starting and stopping the standby pumpset set at 60% and 100″/o of system pressure respectively.
For diesel pumpset, this should be capable of automatic starting but should only be stopped manually.
