Short answer: in Ontario, hose stations must be checked monthly to confirm the hose and equipment are in place and working, hose valves must be checked yearly for leaks into the hose, and standpipe hose must be unracked or unreeled and inspected at least once a year and after every use, with worn hose or gaskets replaced.
What the Ontario Fire Code says
Subsection 6.4.2 of the Ontario Fire Code (O. Reg. 213/07) covers hose stations and equipment:
- Article 6.4.2.1: hose stations must be inspected monthly to ensure the hose is in proper position and all equipment is in place and operable.
- Article 6.4.2.3: standpipe hose stations must be conspicuously identified and unobstructed.
- Article 6.4.2.4: hose valves must be inspected annually to make sure they are tight, with no water leaking into the hose.
- Article 6.4.2.5: standpipe hose must be unracked, unreeled or unrolled and inspected at least annually and after use, and worn hose or coupling gaskets replaced. When it goes back, it must be folded so the folds fall in different places than before.
- Article 6.4.2.6: each hose connection needs a legible sign reading “FIRE HOSE FOR USE BY TRAINED PERSONS ONLY” (dry standpipes have their own wording).
The monthly hose station check
- The cabinet or station is visible, marked and not blocked by stock, furniture or decorations.
- The hose is on its rack or reel, connected, with the nozzle attached.
- Nothing is missing or obviously damaged, and the break-glass front (if any) is intact.
- Note the date and who checked.
The yearly inspection
Once a year, and after any use, the hose comes off the rack or reel so its whole length can be checked for cuts, abrasion, mildew and brittle sections. Coupling gaskets and the nozzle are checked, the hose valve is checked for leaks, and the hose is re-racked with the folds moved to new positions. A hose left folded the same way for years weakens exactly at those folds.
Get it done
We handle fire hose and hose cabinet inspection and maintenance from Cambridge, Ontario, including replacement hose and the records your fire safety plan needs. Book a free site evaluation.
Summary of the Ontario Fire Code, O. Reg. 213/07, as published on e-Laws on November 2, 2026. Your local fire department has the final word for your building.