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Fire hose size and reel requirements

Summary An equipment committee asked about small hoses under OSHA’s fire protection rule. OSHA said the cited small hose was fire department hard rubber booster hose. A hose reel was preferred but not required if another method kept the hose available.
Document
Federal opinion letter
Agency
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Document number
1982-09-01
Date issued
September 1, 1982
Status
Active
Status last verified October 10, 2026
Topics
Workplace Safety OSHA 1910 Fire Protection
Source
View the official document

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About this page: The full text below is the official document from Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Ezel adds the plain-English summary and tracks the document's status. The official source linked on this page is authoritative for any reliance.

September 1, 1982

Mr. John W. Clark
Committee Chairman
Detroit Diesel Allison
[Recipient address omitted]
Dear Mr. Clark:

Thank you for your letter requesting an interpretation of 29 CFR 1910.157.

In response to your first question, 5/8" to 1-1/4" small hose is defined as specifically being fire department hard rubber booster hose. In response to your second question, an approved hose reel is not required to accommodate the hose. However, approved reels are acceptable and certainly preferred, but, any method that assures the availability of the hose is acceptable.

If I may be of further assistance, please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,
Patrick R. Tyson
Director,
Federal Compliance and State Programs

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