[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 29, Volume 5]
[Revised as of January 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 29CFR1910.158]

[Page 501-502]
 
                             TITLE 29--LABOR

 
CHAPTER XVII--OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT 

                                OF LABOR

 
PART 1910_OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS--Table of Contents

 
                        Subpart L_Fire Protection

 
Sec. 1910.158  Standpipe and hose systems.


    (a) Scope and application--(1) Scope. This section applies to all 

small hose, Class II, and Class III standpipe systems installed to meet 

the requirements of a particular OSHA standard.

    (2) Exception. This section does not apply to Class I standpipe 

systems.

    (b) Protection of standpipes. The employer shall assure that 

standpipes are located or otherwise protected against mechanical damage. 

Damaged standpipes shall be repaired promptly.

    (c) Equipment--(1) Reels and cabinets. Where reels or cabinets are 

provided to contain fire hose, the employer shall assure that they are 

designed to facilitate prompt use of the hose valves, the hose, and 

other equipment at the time of a fire or other emergency. The employer 

shall assure that the reels and cabinets are conspicuously identified 

and used only for fire equipment.

    (2) Hose outlets and connections. (i) The employer shall assure that 

hose outlets and connections are located high enough above the floor to 

avoid being obstructed and to be accessible to employees.

    (ii) The employer shall standardize screw threads or provide 

appropriate adapters throughout the system and assure that the hose 

connections are compatible with those used on the supporting fire 

equipment.

    (3) Hose. (i) The employer shall assure that every 1\1/2\<gr-thn-eq> 

(3.8 cm) or smaller hose outlet used to meet this standard is equipped 

with hose connected and ready for use. In extremely cold climates where 

such installation may result in damaged equipment, the hose may be 

stored in another location provided it is readily available and can be 

connected when needed.

    (ii) Standpipe systems installed after January 1, 1981, for use by 

employees,



[[Page 502]]



shall be equipped with lined hose. Unlined hose may remain in use on 

existing systems. However, after the effective date of this standard, 

unlined hose which becomes unserviceable shall be replaced with lined 

hose.

    (iii) The employer shall provide hose of such length that friction 

loss resulting from water flowing through the hose will not decrease the 

pressure at the nozzle below 30 psi (210 kPa). The dynamic pressure at 

the nozzle shall be within the range of 30 psi (210 kPa) to 125 psi (860 

kPa).

    (4) Nozzles. The employer shall assure that standpipe hose is 

equipped with shut-off type nozzles.

    (d) Water supply. The minimum water supply for standpipe and hose 

systems, which are provided for the use of employees, shall be 

sufficient to provide 100 gallons per minute (6.3 l/s) for a period of 

at least thirty minutes.

    (e) Tests and maintenance--(1) Acceptance tests. (i) The employer 

shall assure that the piping of Class II and Class III systems installed 

after January 1, 1981, including yard piping, is hydrostatically tested 

for a period of at least 2 hours at not less than 200 psi (1380 kPa), or 

at least 50 psi (340 kPa) in excess of normal pressure when such 

pressure is greater than 150 psi (1030 kPa).

    (ii) The employer shall assure that hose on all standpipe systems 

installed after January 1, 1981, is hydrostatically tested with 

couplings in place, at a pressure of not less than 200 psi (1380 kPa), 

before it is placed in service. This pressure shall be maintained for at 

least 15 seconds and not more than one minute during which time the hose 

shall not leak nor shall any jacket thread break during the test.

    (2) Maintenance. (i) The employer shall assure that water supply 

tanks are kept filled to the proper level except during repairs. When 

pressure tanks are used, the employer shall assure that proper pressure 

is maintained at all times except during repairs.

    (ii) The employer shall assure that valves in the main piping 

connections to the automatic sources of water supply are kept fully open 

at all times except during repair.

    (iii) The employer shall assure that hose systems are inspected at 

least annually and after each use to assure that all of the equipment 

and hose are in place, available for use, and in serviceable condition.

    (iv) When the system or any portion thereof is found not to be 

serviceable, the employer shall remove it from service immediately and 

replace it with equivalent protection such as extinguishers and fire 

watches.

    (v) The employer shall assure that hemp or linen hose on existing 

systems is unracked, physically inspected for deterioration, and 

reracked using a different fold pattern at least annually. The employer 

shall assure that defective hose is replaced in accordance with 

paragraph (c)(3)(ii) of this section.

    (vi) The employer shall designate trained persons to conduct all 

inspections required under this section.



[45 FR 60710, Sept. 12, 1980, as amended at 61 FR 9239, Mar. 7, 1996]



                    Fixed Fire Suppression Equipment