Question: Can a resident use the fire hose to clean his car on common property.
Answer: Draft a by-law to prevent unauthorised use (tampering, interfering, removal) of all fire safety equipment installed at the scheme.
Rob Broadhead, 2020 Fire Protection:
If the hose reel water supply is fed from the fire hydrant system, using the fire hose to wash a car will contravene the water supply regs because hydrant water is un-metered. This can result in large fines (circa $10,000) from Sydney Water.
If the hose reel water supply is fed from domestic/ drinking water, there is no legal reason it can’t be used.
Regardless, hose reels are not manufactured for regular use. The owners corporation should create a by-law preventing its use so the fire hose does not wear out.
A practical solution may be to install a lockable cabinet for the whole hose reel openable with a break glass &/or key.
Leanne Habib, Premium Strata:
Yes, a by-law could be drafted to prevent unauthorised use (tampering, interfering, removal) of not only the fire reel, but any other fire safety equipment installed at the scheme.
If the hose is simply a common property hose, individual owners should not be using that supply for their private purposes. It is common for strata schemes to install a lock on common property taps (excluding fire hose reels) to ensure only the authorised agents/contractors of the owners corporation use their water supply.
This post appears in the August 2024 edition of The NSW Strata Magazine.
Rob Broadhead 2020 Fire Protection E: rob.broadhead@2020fire.com.au P: 1300 340 210
Leanne Habib Premium Strata E: info@premiumstrata.com.au P: 02 9281 6440