Fuel Hose Reel Installation: Best Practices for New and Existing Fuel Storage Tanks

As an OEM or tank manufacturer, you probably typically recommend adding a hose reel to storage tank installations with a large length of delivery hose connected due to the benefit of easy, convenient and neat storage of the hose. In addition, installing a diesel hose reel brings some other benefits for your customers, including preventing trip hazards, ease of use and even prolonging the life of the hose. However, no matter why your customers want a hose reel on their fuel tank, knowing the best practice when installing it is important. Following the guidelines will ensure that the fuel hose reel delivers the best possible performance and prevents health and safety hazards.

As a leading supplier of fluid handling equipment for 35 years, we have developed unrivalled technical knowledge. Therefore, we asked our technical experts to share with you some of their best advice for installing a diesel fuel hose reel. In this article, you can find their advice and tips that can help save you time and money.

The first step of installing a fuel hose reel is to consider where and how to mount the reel to the fuel storage tank. Our technical experts always recommend mounting the diesel hose reel off the floor using a plinth or mount the reel to the wall above the catchment area so that it is not sitting in any spilt fuel. Once you decide where to position the reel, you need to ensure that the mountings are strong enough. Make sure you check the product manual to find more detailed information about the weight and dimensions of the reel and if you are installing the fuel hose reel on a plastic tank, check if the tank cabinet can support the reel. Another factor that you need to consider is the space around the hose reel and how easy it will be to pull the hose out straight and retract when refuelling is completed. This is important as you don’t want your customers to damage the reel because they are having difficulties using it. To prevent any problems when it comes to using the hose reel, consider installing a swivel plate to make pulling the hose out easier.

Probably one of the most important bits of advice is to install a pressure relief valve in the suction system to safeguard the whole system from over pressurising, especially if you are installing a Piusi pump with a hose reel. This is because when the fuel hose reel retracts, the pressure in the pumping system increases, and without a pressure relief valve, it can result in damage to the fuel equipment and even fuel spillage. Luckily, a pressure relief valve can prevent this from happening as it limits the pressure in the pumping system, returning it to the tank and ensuring a nominal pressure remains in the system at rest. In addition, a pressure relief valve helps with the thermal expansion of the hose and retains the system at nominal pressure. However, you need to keep in mind that you will need to use a different type of pressure relief valve depending on the fuel tank material. For example…

Like every other piece of fuel handling equipment, diesel hose reels require regular maintenance to ensure optimal performance and prolong their service life. Although this is something that the end-users (your customers) are responsible for, we highly recommend reminding them how they should take care of their diesel hose reel when you install it or deliver their fuel tank. Otherwise, they might come back to you complaining about the quality of the equipment, when actually the problem is the lack of maintenance.

To help you out, we asked our technical experts to shortlist some of the most important maintenance tips that you can share with your customers.

• Inspect the hose daily for any damage/wear and replace it if required.
• Inspect daily fluid path joints to the reel.
• Regularly check the mounting bolts and frame.
• Check that the hose stop has not moved and has been fitted in the correct position.
• Make sure you re-wind the hose correctly and don’t cross overlap.
• Check for spillages and clean off any spilt fuel from the hose regularly.
• Ensure the hose is not kinked when the nozzle is in the parked position.