Form 1 — Fire-Extinguishing Equipment Compliance Certificate: Hose Reels and Hoses (SI 2206)

What is Form 1 and why does it exist?

Form 1 is a written certificate stating that the property's primary fire-fighting system — hose reels (internal fire hydrants) and their attached water hoses — is in good working order, operational, and meets the requirements of the Israeli Standard. The certificate is required as part of the fire-safety approval process within business licensing, and it is submitted to the licensing authority as evidence that the fire equipment is not merely "present" on the property, but has actually been inspected and approved by a professional.

The need for the form stems from a recurring reality: in a real fire, the first minutes are decisive. A blocked hose reel, a hose worn out from the inside, or a hydrant with no pressure turn from a life-saving tool into a trap. The form is an accountability mechanism — it places a professional's personal signature behind the determination that the equipment will function when called upon.

Which system the form certifies — and how it saves lives

The form focuses on the primary fire-fighting tool that anyone can operate, even before firefighters arrive:

• Hose reel / internal fire hydrant — a wall cabinet containing a coiled hose connected to a pressurized water line. Intended for immediate use by whoever is on the property at the start of a fire.
• The attached hose — must be intact, free of tears or internal wear, well connected, and long enough to cover the entire protected area.

When the system is sound and accessible, an ordinary person can stop a small fire before it spreads. That is the difference between extinguishing within two minutes and evacuation with total loss.

SI 2206 — what does it require?

Israeli Standard 2206 addresses hose reels (coiled hose) for fire-fighting and their compliance requirements. Without getting into exact figures that vary by property type, the standard and the Authority's guidelines address the following principles:

• Coverage and placement — the hose reels are positioned so that every point in the protected area is within the hose's reach. The number of cabinets and their layout derive from the property's area and character.
• Water pressure and flow — when the hydrant is opened, the system must supply water at sufficient pressure and flow rate; without them the hose reel is useless.
• Hose condition — integrity, sound connections, and the absence of permanent kinks that prevent full deployment.
• Accessibility and signage — the cabinet opens easily, is not blocked, and its signage is clear and visible.
• Periodic inspection and maintenance — the system requires ongoing inspection and maintenance at the frequency set by the standard and the Authority's requirements.

Who must submit the form and when?

The need for Form 1 arises mainly in three situations:

• New business license — a business listed in the business-licensing order that requires fire approval will be required to attach the certificate to the document package submitted to the licensing authority.
• Business license renewal — for licenses with limited validity, an up-to-date certificate confirming the system is still sound is required.
• Fire inspector's request — an inspector may request the form during a routine inspection or as a condition for closing an identified deficiency.

It is important to understand: fire approval is part of the web of approvals coordinated by the licensing authority (the local authority and sometimes additional bodies). Without the required fire approvals, the licensing process will not be completed.

Who is authorized to fill out and sign the form?

Here lies the nuance many business owners miss: not everyone who handles fire equipment is qualified to sign the certificate.

The certificate must be issued by a professional qualified in fire-suppression systems — a certified inspector/technician for hose-reel systems, or an authorized engineering body — whose certification is valid and permits them to give an expert opinion in the field. It is worth verifying with the Authority or the service provider what certification is required for your property type.

• A signature by a general maintenance worker, a renovation contractor, or the business owner themselves is not sufficient and may lead to rejection of the form.
• Make sure the signatory records their name and license/certification number on the form.
• Many service companies offer "inspection and signing of Form 1" — check that this is a full professional inspection and not merely routine cleaning.

Validity of the certificate and inspection frequency

The form's validity is not uniform for all businesses — it is set according to the licensing authority's requirement and the property type. In many cases an annual inspection is customary, but for high-risk businesses (storage, manufacturing, mass gatherings) a higher frequency may be required. The exact frequency and validity must be verified with the licensing authority or the relevant fire authority.

Watch out for the "blind window": sometimes the certificate expires before the official license renewal date. In that case the license is still valid but the fire approval is not — exposing the business owner to administrative and legal liability should an incident occur.

What does the fire inspector actually check?

During an inspection, the inspector is not satisfied that the form merely exists — they compare the paper to the reality on the ground:

• Is the hose-reel cabinet accessible and not blocked by furniture, merchandise, or equipment?
• Is the hose intact, connected, and properly coiled?
• Is there water pressure when the hydrant is opened?
• Is the signage clear and visible?
• Does the equipment display documentation of the latest inspection (label/sticker)?
• Is the certificate up to date and signed by an authorized party?

A gap between the form and the actual situation may lead to rejection of the certificate, a recorded deficiency, and in serious cases — enforcement proceedings up to shutting down the business's operation.

Common mistakes and oversights — the nuances worth knowing

• A form issued before a renovation is no longer necessarily valid. Moving walls, adding rooms, or changing the layout may alter the hose-reel coverage and require re-inspection.
• A blocked hose-reel cabinet = equipment that does not exist. "Temporary" storage in front of the cabinet is considered blocked access for all intents and purposes during an inspection.
• A hose that failed inspection — even if it looks fine. Internal wear in a hose is not visible to the eye and is revealed only through professional inspection.
• A maintenance sticker does not replace the form. Some present an annual inspection sticker but lack a signed certificate — the licensing authority may require both.
• Forgetting the annual renewal. Business owners renew their license and send most of the documents but forget the fire approval — and the process stalls.
• An inspector's certification that is out of date. If the certification of the technician who signed has expired, the certificate may be rejected. Make sure the certification is valid at the time of inspection.

Practical tips for the business owner and building manager

• File the signed form in a fixed location — both in the physical property file and in a digital version.
• Set a reminder about 60 days before the certificate expires — not on the day it expires.
• Check the hose-reel cabinets yourself once a month — open them, verify the hose is intact and that there is no obstruction.
• Ask the service provider for a written itemization of everything inspected, not just a signature.
• Make sure the company and the inspector are certified — ask to see a valid certification before ordering the inspection.
• In a building with several businesses — responsibility for the shared spaces (stairwells, parking garages, lobby) belongs to the house committee/building manager, and each tenant is responsible for their own area. Define the division of responsibility in writing.

How Domera helps manage the certificate

The Domera system lets you store Form 1 in the property's digital file, set automatic reminders for renewing the certificate, track fire-equipment inspection dates, and associate certified service providers with the property — so every deadline is documented in one place and no certificate slips through the cracks.