A fire hose security system is one of the most important elements of any business safety system. Without a properly working hose, you run the chance of increasing your fire risk. However, inspecting your fire hose system is relatively easy and shouldn't take more than an hour or two to finish.
First, Check The Station
The fire hose station consists of the docking bay for your hose and the hose controls. It is important to visually inspect this at least once every three months or even more. There are many components of a fire hose station and if any of them should work improperly, you might be left without water in a dangerous fire situation.
Start by checking the operation instructions: they should be prominently displayed and easy. Next, check the structure of the station. Is the glass in the cabinet busted? Is there any damage to the hose docking bay or any other element of the station? Make sure to check the hose valve for damage or corrosion, such as cracked seals or stains.
Next, Check For Hose Frays
If your station looks fine, you need to check your hose for frays. Do this by unrolling all of it and laying it on the ground as straight as possible. Start by looking up and down the hose for signs of obvious wear and tear. Note potential problem areas to focus on later.
Now, run your fingers over the hose problem areas to feel any signs of wear and tear. A few small fibers may be unrolling off the hose here and there. Make sure to keep track of these fibers during your inspection process and note any signs of further decay.
Finally, Do A Test Run
Finish up your inspection process by hooking your system up to a hydrostatic test pump. This system hooks up to your hose station water supply and lets you test your system for any of the following problems:
- Leaks
- Collapsed hose
- Relief valve problems
- Air in the hose
- Ball valve concerns
- Faulty gauges
Simply hook your hydrostatic test pump to your water supply with a 1 ½ inch fire hose. Close all your ball valves and then slowly open each valve to let in water. If there are any problems with the hose (such as leaks or kinks) you'll spot them in the individual sections as you open the valves. And if there any problems with the gauges, you'll notice them as you open the ball valves.
If you finish this procedure and don't run into any concerns, congratulations! Your system is safe. However, if you run into more than three or four concerns, you should call up a professional fire hose security system repair specialist as soon as possible. They can help assess the situation and either repair the system or replace its worn parts.
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