Fire safety equipment is naturally suitable for reuse as its lifespan is long, and its documentation is complete and accessible as it needs to be tested annually.
How to reuse and recycle
Fire hose cabinet:
check the quality of a fire hose if there are any surface damages (e.g., cracks);
check if the hose and other elements are free from bacteria (they can grow in water standing in piper over time);
check the shut-off valves;
protect from damage during transport and storage;
pressure-test after reassembly;
get approval for use.
In ENTRA's KA13 project, a Norwegian complete full-scale circular project, 12 fire hose cabinets were reused without major technical problems.
Fire doors:
protect from damage during transport and storage;
in case a certification sign is missing, it is possible to receive documentation from a supplier;
good to have a fire advisor on-site to assess if doors can be reused (however, in case of modifications needed, often the supplier will have to be involved to reach the final decision on their approval).
In ENTRA's KA13 project, a fire door was modified and reused. Due to the modification (i.e., removing the glass panel above the door), it had to be checked if the doos could hold their certification with their supplier and a fire advisor.
In the case of old fire doors (e.g., from before the 80s), asbestos was used in them, so they might be hazardous to handle. Grout containing asbestos can be recognised by its pink or reddish colour and it may have a fibrous structure.
Sources and further reading
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