Form 21: Certificate of Installation of Up to 10 Firefighting Hose Reels — The Complete Guide for Business Owners and Building Managers

What Is Form 21 and Why Does It Exist

Form 21 is a uniform form of the National Fire and Rescue Authority, by means of which the installer certifies that up to 10 firefighting hose reels have been installed at the property in accordance with Israeli Standard (SI) 2206 Part 2. In practice this is a signed declaration by the professional who performed the installation — they specify the property details, the details of the hose reels installed, and certify in writing that the installation conforms to the standard's requirements. The form is part of the package of documents submitted to the fire authority within business licensing — when opening a new business, renewing a license, or responding to a fire inspector's demand.

The reason for its existence is simple: a firefighting hose reel that is not properly connected to a water source, whose water pressure is too low, or that is not accessible at the moment of truth — is worthless when a fire breaks out. The form creates a layer of professional responsibility: a qualified professional comes, installs, checks the function, and takes written responsibility for the fact that the system is ready for use.

A Firefighting Hose Reel Is Not a Fire Extinguisher — and That Is the Critical Difference

This is a point that many confuse. A firefighting hose reel is not a portable extinguisher. It is a fixed system: a semi-rigid hose about 25 to 30 meters long, wound on a drum, and permanently connected to the building's water-supply system. At the end of the hose is a nozzle that allows a continuous water stream under pressure. Whereas an extinguisher holds a limited quantity of extinguishing agent for a few minutes, the hose reel supplies water as long as there is supply — and therefore it is suitable for suppressing fires at the outbreak stage, usually fires of solid materials.

This distinction is important because Form 21 refers exclusively to hose reels, and not to extinguishers. For extinguishers and other firefighting equipment there are other forms of the authority. Mixing up the two is a common mistake that leads to submitting the wrong form.

SI 2206 Part 2 — What the Standard Requires, Simply

Israeli Standard (SI) 2206 deals with firefighting hose reels. Its Part 2 defines the requirements for the design, installation and maintenance of the hose reels in buildings and businesses. Below are the main requirements in everyday language (the numeric values are general — what is binding is the wording of the standard and the authority's demand):

• Connection to a water source: the hose reel must be permanently connected to a water supply. If the system is fed from a pump, you must make sure the pump operates and that it kicks in when needed.
• Pressure and flow: sufficient water pressure at the nozzle and proper flow are required, so that the stream is effective. The inspection measures the actual performance, not just the existence of the hose.
• Length and coverage: the hose (usually about 25 to 30 meters long) must reach every point within the radius it is meant to protect. The placement of the hose reels is set so that the entire property area is covered.
• Installation height: the center of the drum is installed at an accessible height (on the order of up to about 1.5 meters from the floor), so that the hose can be pulled out and deployed easily.
• Accessibility and marking: the hose reel must be clear of obstruction, unblocked, and marked with clear signage. It is sometimes installed inside a firefighting-station cabinet.
• Periodic inspection: an annual inspection of the soundness of the installation and function is required, including an actual flow and pressure test.

Who Must Submit the Form and When

The need for Form 21 arises anywhere new hose reels are installed or a change is made to an existing system, in a property subject to fire authority approval within business licensing. Specifically:

• Opening a new business — when the hose reels are installed for the first time, the form is delivered to the fire authority as part of the business licensing process.
• Renewing a business license — at periodic renewal, and especially when a change has occurred at the property or when much time has passed since the installation.
• Fire inspector's demand — an inspector who found a deficiency in the hose-reel system can demand a corrected installation and the signed form as a condition for closing the deficiency.
• Change of use or renovation — changing the property's designation (for example, from a warehouse to a restaurant) or changing the internal layout may require reinstalling hose reels and an updated certificate.

Note the number: the form is intended for a situation of up to 10 hose reels. In larger properties, where a broader system is required, the process and the approvals may be different and more complex.

Who Is Qualified to Complete and Sign the Certificate

Here lies a nuance many miss: not everyone who sells equipment can sign Form 21.

The signatory is the installer — a professional in the field of firefighting systems who actually performed the installation and inspection and takes responsibility for them. In practice this is usually a company engaged in the installation and maintenance of firefighting systems and hose reels. What is important for the business owner to know:

• Do not settle for a supplier who only sells equipment. The supplier must actually perform the installation and inspection and sign to their responsibility.
• A periodic soundness inspection of hose reels is performed by a party qualified for it, and sometimes an approval from an accredited laboratory is required. It is worth verifying with the supplier and the authority which approvals are required at your property.
• Ask to see the certification and experience of the supplier before signing a service contract.

Validity of the Certificate and Inspection Frequency

Form 21 is an installation declaration — it reflects the state of the system at the time of installation. It has no fixed "expiry date" of its own, but its practical validity erodes over time and with changes to the property. What keeps the certificate relevant is that the system itself undergoes a periodic inspection:

• Annual inspection — checking the soundness of the installation, the hose, the nozzle, the signage and the inspection tags.
• Function test — an actual flow and pressure test, and a check that the pump (if any) kicks in.
• Repair or replacement — a worn component (a cracked hose, a faulty nozzle, a valve that does not seal) must be repaired or replaced.

In practice, a fire inspector arriving at the property will check the inspection tags. If the last inspection is too old — that is a deficiency, even if the original form is sound.

What the Fire Inspector Actually Checks

During an inspector's visit, the check is both physical and documentary:

• Whether the number of hose reels and their placement cover the entire property area.
• Whether the hose reels are accessible, clear, and not blocked by furniture, merchandise or shelves.
• Whether the hose reel is connected to water and supplies a stream at proper pressure.
• Whether a valid annual inspection tag exists.
• Whether clear marking signage for the firefighting station exists.
• Whether Form 21 is signed and available for presentation at the property.

Common Mistakes and Oversights — the Real Nuances

These are the mistakes that recur again and again:

• Confusion between a hose reel and an extinguisher: submitting a certificate for extinguishers instead of hose reels, or vice versa. Each piece of equipment and its matching form.
• A blocked or locked hose reel: a firefighting-station cabinet filled with merchandise, or placed behind a counter that cannot be reached — nullifies the protection. The hose reel must be accessible to any person at the property.
• Insufficient pressure or flow: a hose reel is installed but connected to water at too low a pressure, or the pump does not kick in — it looks fine, but fails the function test.
• Failure to update after a renovation: moving walls, adding a space or changing the layout may take parts of the property out of the hose's coverage range. A certificate issued before the renovation is not necessarily valid after it.
• Signature by someone who did not perform the installation: the form reflects the installer's responsibility. A "blind" signature or one by someone who did not actually inspect — is worthless.
• Forgetting hidden areas: inspectors check all parts of the property. A warehouse, a stairwell, a parking area — all are part of the property and need coverage.
• Relying on an old certificate at renewal: renewing a license after years without a re-inspection — an inspector will not accept a certificate that no longer reflects the state of the system.

Practical Tips for the Business Owner and Building Manager

• Work with a maintenance company under an annual contract — this way the annual inspection is performed automatically and documented.
• Keep the signed Form 21 at the property itself, not only in a file at home — the inspector may ask to see it on the spot.
• Photograph the inspection tags and the state of the hose reels after each service — digital documentation is an excellent backup.
• Set an annual reminder for the inspection — preferably at least a month before the business license renewal date.
• In a shared building — make sure the hose reels of the stairwell, parking and shared spaces are included in the committee's maintenance contract.
• When replacing a service provider — obtain an updated certificate. A certificate from the previous supplier does not automatically transfer to the new one.

How Domera Helps You Track This Certificate

The Domera system lets you store the signed Form 21 in the property's digital file, set automatic reminders for the annual inspection and for renewal before the business license renewal date, and document the maintenance supplier's details so you do not have to search for them at the moment of need.