In most Egyptian buildings, the fire hose cabinet is the first piece of water-based equipment a staff member or guard reaches when a fire is found. Because it has hung on the wall since handover, it is often treated as a fixed item that needs no thought. In reality, its performance depends on its components, type, location and match with the system it is connected to.
This article explains the components and types of fire hose cabinets, the difference between the European EN 671 and American NFPA 14 references, and how to select, install and inspect them, with common project mistakes.
Key takeaways
- A hose cabinet usually combines a hose reel, an inlet valve and a nozzle, and may include a landing valve or an extinguisher depending on the design.
- EN 671-1 covers hose reels with semi-rigid hose and EN 671-2 covers lay-flat hose systems, both for use by building occupants.
- NFPA 14 defines Class I with 2½-inch outlets for the fire brigade, Class II with 1½-inch hose stations, and Class III combining both.
- Decide surface or recessed mounting early, because it depends on wall thickness and fire rating.
- The Falcon Gold cabinets supplied by AZEIDK Egypt are manufactured locally in Egypt with genuine Falcon Gold components.
In this article
What does a hose cabinet do in the system?
The hose cabinet is the point of use of the building’s hose system. It is fed from the riser or floor main and gives the user a ready hose and a nozzle they can control. The idea is to attack the fire early, by someone already in the building, before it grows and until the fire brigade arrives.
There are two different users. A hose reel is designed for occupants and trained staff, while a 2½-inch landing valve is designed for firefighters who bring their own hose. Mixing the two shows up in design: a cabinet with only a large outlet does not help an untrained employee, and a cabinet with only a reel is not enough when firefighters need higher flow.
Hose cabinet components
- Cabinet body: a metal box with a door, surface-mounted or recessed into the wall. Check sheet thickness, coating, door type (glazed or solid) and how it opens.
- Hose reel: a fixed or swinging reel carrying semi-rigid hose that keeps its round shape, so it can be used without unrolling it fully.
- Inlet valve: a ball or gate valve on manual reels. Automatic reels open the water as the reel turns.
- Nozzle: controls shut-off and the jet or spray pattern, and is marked with its equivalent outlet diameter.
- Landing valve: in cabinets that serve the fire brigade, a 1½ or 2½-inch outlet with cap and coupling.
- Extinguisher compartment: in combined cabinets that hold an extinguisher beside the reel.
- Identification sign: shows the contents and how to use them.
The datasheet for each model sets out these components and sizes, and it is what the submittal relies on.
Types of fire hose cabinets
| Basis | Types | When used |
|---|---|---|
| Mounting | Surface, recessed, semi-recessed | Surface for existing buildings, warehouses and thin walls. Recessed for corridors and areas that need a flush wall |
| Contents | Reel only, reel with landing valve, reel with extinguisher, lay-flat hose on a rack | Depends on who uses the cabinet and the reference adopted for the project |
| Hose type | Semi-rigid on a reel (EN 671-1), lay-flat (EN 671-2) | Semi-rigid is easier for untrained users. Lay-flat must be fully unrolled before use |
| Reel operation | Manual with a valve, automatic | Automatic reels open the water as the hose is pulled, so the user has fewer steps |
Technical references: EN 671 and NFPA 14
European standards EN 671
EN 671-1:2012 sets requirements and test methods for semi-rigid hose reels fixed in buildings and permanently connected to a water supply for use by occupants, manual or automatic, with or without a cabinet. EN 671-2:2012 does the same for lay-flat hose systems. Part 3 of the series (EN 671-3) covers their maintenance. One manufacturer’s technical document referring to EN 671-1 lists 19 and 25 mm hose bores and lengths up to 30 m, with other lengths on request. Check these values on each model’s datasheet.
American standard NFPA 14
NFPA 14 divides standpipe and hose systems into three classes. Class I provides 2½-inch outlets for fire brigade use, Class II provides 1½-inch hose stations for trained persons or first response, and Class III combines both. According to Consulting-Specifying Engineer’s summary of the 2019 edition, minimum residual pressure in automatic standpipes is 100 psi at the most remote 2½-inch outlet and 65 psi at the most remote 1½-inch outlet, and outlets sit 3 to 5 ft above the floor.
Development of the next edition of NFPA 14, as described in a January 2026 article by the National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA), discusses separating a “hose system” for occupant use from a “standpipe system” for fire brigade operations. This supports the same point: the reel and the large outlet serve different users.
In Egypt, the binding reference is the Egyptian Code for the Design and Implementation of Fire Protection for Buildings — 2026 edition (Ministerial Decree No. 355 of 2026), and what the General Directorate of Civil Protection approves on the drawings. The designer sets the technical reference for cabinet details. Do not mix EN and NFPA requirements for the same item without good reason.
How to select a hose cabinet
- Intended user: untrained occupants, a trained security team or the fire brigade. This decides the reel and the outlet.
- Project reference: EN 671 or NFPA 14, and what the Egyptian code and civil protection approve.
- Location and coverage: cabinet positions and spacing come from the design. Account for hose length and the real route inside the building, not just the distance on the drawing.
- Mounting: recessed cabinets need enough wall thickness. If the wall is fire-rated, the opening must be treated so the rating is not reduced.
- Pressure: compare system pressure at the cabinet with the reel and valve ratings, and check lower floors in high-rise buildings.
- Environment: in humid, coastal or outdoor locations, choose a coating or material that resists corrosion.
- Clear space: enough room in front to open the door, swing the reel and pull the hose without obstruction.
- Documents: the datasheet, submittal and certification status for each model.
Falcon Gold cabinets from AZEIDK Egypt
AZEIDK Egypt supplies Falcon Gold fire hose cabinets. Falcon Gold is a Dubai brand of firefighting equipment. Its hose cabinets are manufactured locally in Egypt under the Falcon Gold name, using genuine Falcon Gold components imported from Dubai. Available models include the FG-1001S fire hose cabinet, and the range also covers reels, hoses and nozzles. Approvals vary by model and are shown on each model’s datasheet.
The Fire Hose Cabinets Submittal is available on the brand page of our website, and other technical documents can be requested from the AZEIDK Egypt team. The cabinets are part of our fire fighting systems solutions, which also cover sprinklers, hydrants, valves and pipework.
Installation and inspection
After installation, test every cabinet with water: open the valve, pull out the hose, operate the nozzle in both patterns, and check the couplings and reel for leaks. Check the sign, how easily the door opens and that nothing blocks it.
In operation, include each cabinet in the maintenance programme. NFPA 25 covers inspection and testing of standpipe and hose systems, and EN 671-3 covers maintenance of hose reels and lay-flat hose systems. Apply them as technical guidance with the manufacturer’s instructions and what the authority requires. For a full programme, see fire system maintenance and inspection.
Common mistakes with hose cabinets
- Choosing a cabinet with only a 2½-inch outlet in a building that relies on staff using the hose.
- Specifying a recessed cabinet in a wall that is too thin, or in a fire-rated wall without treating the opening.
- Placing the cabinet behind a door, furniture or stock that stops it opening.
- Measuring hose coverage as a straight line on the drawing and ignoring walls and doors on the real route.
- Leaving the hose kinked or off the reel after use or testing.
- Using the cabinet to store cleaning tools or other items.
- Accepting cabinets that differ from the model approved in the project documents.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a hose reel and a landing valve?
A hose reel carries semi-rigid hose for occupants and staff. A landing valve, especially 2½-inch, is for firefighters who bring their own hose.
Which is better: surface or recessed?
Neither is better in every case. Recessed gives a flush corridor wall but needs a suitable wall. Surface mounting is easier in existing buildings and warehouses.
Are Falcon Gold cabinets imported?
Falcon Gold cabinets are manufactured locally in Egypt with genuine Falcon Gold components imported from Dubai.
Is one test at handover enough?
No. Include the cabinet in a periodic inspection and maintenance programme under the adopted reference, the manufacturer’s instructions and what the authority requires.
Conclusion
A good hose cabinet starts with one question: who will use it? Then come the technical reference, the hose and reel type, the mounting and the pressure at its location. After installation, it is only useful while it stays accessible, inspected and ready. Checking these points at submittal stage avoids costly changes at handover.
Specifying hose cabinets for your project? Send us the quantity, mounting type and adopted reference, and we will propose suitable Falcon Gold models with datasheets and submittals. Talk to the AZEIDK Egypt team
