How often shall all hoses be tested?

• A. Every 5 years
• B. Every year
• C. Every 10 years
• D. Every 2 years

Answer: (A)

Periodic testing of hoses is required to ensure their integrity under system pressure. Hoses can degrade from aging, flexing, and exposure to the clean agent, leading to leaks or failures at discharge when the system is activated. The standard calls for a hydrostatic test of all hoses every five years to detect such weaknesses before they matter. During the test, hoses are pressurized to the specified test pressure and checked for leaks, swelling, or cracks, with any defective hose being replaced. Other intervals—more frequent or much longer—don’t align with this maintenance approach and could miss or unnecessarily delay detecting deterioration. Therefore, the five-year interval is the appropriate answer.