Fire hose reels (BIE): installation, maintenance and regulation

Equipped Fire Hose Reels (BIEs) are one of the most important elements in any fire protection system. They allow building occupants or firefighters to act immediately against an incipient fire, providing a continuous and controlled water flow.

In this article we explain everything you need to know about BIEs: what they are, what types exist, when they are mandatory, how they are installed and maintained, and what the most common errors are that the network's technicians find in Tarragona, Barcelona and Madrid.

What is a BIE?

An Equipped Fire Hose Reel is a fixed firefighting system connected to the building water supply network. It consists of a recessed or surface-mounted cabinet containing a hose wound on a reel or folded on a rack, an extinguishing nozzle and an opening valve.

Its operation is simple: open the cabinet door, unwind the hose, open the valve and water flows at sufficient pressure to combat a fire in its early stages. BIEs are part of active fire protection systems, along with extinguishers, automatic sprinklers and detection systems.

Types of BIE

There are two main types of BIE, classified according to hose diameter:

25 mm BIE

• Semi-rigid hose wound on a reel
• Can be used without fully unwinding
• Typical reach of 20-25 metres
• Recommended use: residential buildings, offices, hotels, shops
• Can be used by people without specific training

45 mm BIE

• Flat hose that must be fully unwound before use
• Greater flow and reach (up to 30 metres)
• Recommended use: industrial buildings, warehouses, large-surface buildings
• Requires some training for correct use

When is it mandatory to have BIEs?

According to current Spanish regulations (the CTE DB-SI sets where they are required and the RIPCI how they are installed and maintained), BIEs are mandatory in the following cases:

• Commercial and public assembly establishments with constructed area greater than 500 m² (CTE DB-SI, SI 4, Table 1.1)
• Parkings with constructed area greater than 500 m²
• Hospitals in all cases; public residential buildings over 1,000 m² or with more than 50 guests; educational or administrative buildings over 2,000 m²
• Special high-risk areas in any use; in Residential Housing use they are not required by use
• Industrial buildings according to the Regulation of Fire Safety in Industrial Establishments (RSCIEI)

It is important to bear in mind that these are minimum requirements. In many cases, the fire protection project may require BIEs even when regulations do not explicitly demand them.

RIPCI regulation for BIEs

The Regulation of Fire Protection Installations (RIPCI, RD 513/2017) sets the technical requirements for BIE installation and maintenance throughout Spain, including Catalonia:

• They must cover the entire building area (the hose must reach any point)
• In the two least favourable BIEs, minimum flow of 85 l/min with 4 bar at the inlet (BIE 25 mm) or 160 l/min with 3.5 bar (BIE 45 mm), never above 9 bar (Royal Decree 513/2017, Annex I)
• They are installed at a maximum height of 1.50 m from the floor
• They must be signposted with photoluminescent signage
• Access must be free of obstacles at all times

BIE maintenance: mandatory schedule

BIE maintenance follows a strict schedule set by the RIPCI:

Every quarter (owner inspection)

• Verify accessibility and signage
• Check good condition of visible components
• Verify that the pressure gauge shows correct pressure

Every year (authorised company)

• Hose disassembly and condition check
• Valve operation verification
• Verification of correct pressure gauge operation
• Installation pressure test

Every 5 years (authorised company)

• Hose pressure test to UNE-EN 671-3 (Royal Decree 513/2017, Annex II, Table II)
• If the hose does not pass the test, it must be replaced; in any case, after 20 years at the latest

To learn about maintenance timescales for other extinguishing equipment, see also our complete guide on extinguisher maintenance, which details the schedule for portable and trolley extinguishers.

BIE 25 mm vs BIE 45 mm comparison

Common errors with BIEs

In Catalonia, the most frequent problems are:

1. Obstacles in front of the cabinet. Furniture, boxes or stored material that prevent quick access to the BIE.

2. Lack of pressure. Especially on the upper floors of tall buildings in Barcelona and other cities. If the pressure pump does not work properly, the BIE does not provide sufficient flow.

3. Deteriorated hose. Hoses with cracks, deformations or loss of elasticity that may burst when pressurised.

4. Blocked valve. Valves that are not operated periodically tend to become blocked by limescale and corrosion.

5. Missing or deteriorated signage. Without signage, building occupants cannot locate the BIE in time.

We coordinate communities and car parks in Tarragona, Barcelona and Madrid

BIE installation must be carried out by an authorised company that guarantees compliance with regulations. At Igniescut we coordinate the installation and maintenance of BIEs with qualified technicians from our network, from communities of owners in Barcelona to industrial buildings in Tarragona, Madrid and the rest of our coverage.

The process includes:

• Preliminary study of building needs and the water supply network
• Design of the optimal location of each BIE to ensure full coverage
• Installation with certified materials in accordance with RIPCI regulations
• Commissioning with documented pressure and flow tests
• Preventive maintenance according to the legal schedule

In buildings with high risk —such as industrial premises or parkings with electric vehicles— BIEs are complemented by automatic sprinklers, which act automatically before the fire reaches large proportions.

If you need to install, inspect or maintain the BIEs in your building in Catalonia, contact us. We advise without obligation.