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Hose reels are used by firefighters to quickly deploy fire hoses and prevent tangling. They were invented in the 1600s and have since become smaller, lighter, and safer. Hose reels are also found in buildings and can be used by anyone in case of a fire. They are commonly seen in high-rise buildings and have been used in movies for comedic or dramatic effect.
A hose reel is part of the specialized equipment used to extinguish fires. Firefighters use these reels to quickly deploy fire hoses from their equipment trucks to the site of a fire. Another type of hose reel is part of the standard safety equipment in many buildings. When used correctly, fire hose reels prevent water hoses from tangling and allow hoses to be transported in any direction. Connected hoses can apply water to a flare even though most of the hose is still wrapped around the coil.
Firefighting dates back to ancient Rome, but the fire hose is a relatively recent invention, first used for this purpose in the 1600s. Advances in engineering and technology have made firefighting equipment smaller, lighter and safer during the 19th and 20th centuries. A major challenge during this time involved water pipes; firefighters needed hundreds of feet of heavy, cumbersome fire hoses that could be aimed at the site of a fire within minutes of an alarm. The hose reel has solved this problem, allowing collapsible hoses to be stored in a compact area and instantly extended when needed. Fire trucks still use these specialized reels in modern times.
A fire hose reel allows you to fold or coil a fire hose for easy storage. The center coil is designed to accept the hose without tangling. A built-in guide is sometimes included to assist in extending the hose, and the entire reel assembly often swings on a connected arm so the hose can be carried in any direction. The end of the hose is connected to a water supply. Water can be directed towards a flare no matter how far the hose has been extended and controlled with a handle and valve in the nozzle.
The hose reel is most common on fire equipment trucks. Another version is found in offices and other large buildings. This reel is usually either fixed to a wall or stored in a recess in a wall and clearly labelled. In the event of a fire, anyone can stretch the hose, resulting in an automatic valve that diverts pressurized water from the building’s water supply through the use of a fire pump. The fire hose nozzle contains a specialized valve, called a ball valve, that allows the user to control the direction and amount of water and sometimes the strength of the spray.
The hose reel is a common sight, especially in high rise buildings. Tall buildings require their own fire safety systems due to the challenge of reaching fires in high-rise buildings with standard fire-fighting equipment. Hose reels appear frequently in movies, television and cartoons, often used in a different way than firefighting. In the 1988 thriller Die Hard, Bruce Willis’ character uses a fire hose and reel as a makeshift safety rope to escape a rooftop explosion. Peter O’Toole’s drunken swashbuckler makes similar use of a fire hose for comedic effect in 1982’s My Favorite Year.
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