Delivered on time: Performance Advantage Company discusses firefighting tool mount systems

by Breaking NewsProducts
Greg Young, Vice President of Performance Advantage Company discusses how the industry has changed and the lessons it has learned in the wake of the pandemic

Performance Advantage Company (known as PAC) has been a key component manufacturer to the fire industry for around 30 years. Dick Young, the founder of PAC, spent his entire career building fire engines of all sizes. When he pivoted toward the tool mounting industry, he brought that knowledge – building fire trucks – which gave PAC the values it still follows today.

Over the last decade manufacturers across all industries moved toward a just-in-time approach to sourcing, purchasing and fabricating. Just-in-time means that goods and raw materials are brought in house only when they are needed. There are many benefits that businesses can reap with this approach such as minimised damage or loss or freeing up more cash available for other business needs. Some manufacturers, like large ship builders, have very stringent requirements regarding delivery dates because they utilise enormous receiving docks.

PAC never followed this approach. We carry large quantities of stock – raw and finished – allowing us to accommodate our customers needs at a moment’s notice. Large or small order sizes and moderate demand fluctuations could all be managed by our stocking methodology. Having a large on hand quantity is an investment few are willing to make. PAC, though, stands with our customers and believes in our line. To serve the critical needs of the emergency services as well as the manufacturing community PAC will not waiver from making the necessary investments.

Historically our products are final components; something to be installed last. In most instances, our products will be received just-in-time by a manufacturer of fire apparatus. And so, our values dictate we must have stock on hand. We are actively investing in stock levels that allows for timely deliveries. We will not hold up our manufacturing partners when it comes to their final dates.

PAC has achieved notoriety and a solid reputation as a tool mounting system manufacturer. Our customers find that our support and shipping is industry-leading. Our OEM (truck builders and other manufacturers) partners have found that our shipping times support their manufacturing deadlines. These are achievements we do not take for granted.

Market pressures

Like other manufacturers, our ability to keep the pipeline full has been impacted by raw material shortages, labour shortages and other supply chain issues. Much effort has been made to keep our materials stocked but nevertheless some delays and shortages out of our control have occurred.

Manufacturers, including PAC, must now operate in a difficult environment whereby delays and availability are causing unprecedented decisions. These issues are forcing us to adapt to maintain full capacity. While the industry is shaken these challenges are making us stronger in certain ways. We are fortunate for those early lessons learned and most of all we are thankful for our original values based in manufacturing fire trucks.

This unprecedented environment has given us new ideas on how to improve our overall performance as a company such as adapting to these new challenges by emphasising on alignment within our internal teams. When we look at our existing product line with a whole team focus, we ask ourselves relevant questions regarding vendor quality, product reliability, sales trends and industry feedback. This ensures our tool mounts provide the utmost value to our customers.

Also, we are going even further. Sometimes the success of an item cannot be measured simply by product costs or profit margins. We must ask ourselves how successfully we may have marketed our tool mount systems. Are we giving out enough information about this mounting bracket? Have our dealers been educated on this tool board system? Can end users understand the value and features of our tool mounts from the information we have provided so far? Has enough investment been made in marketing and training so the public can utilise this tool mount appropriately?

The challenging business environment has also forced us to strengthen our vendor relationships. Long periods of relative stability had led many businesses to remain comfortable, failing to remain innovative or adaptable. We saw, however, that even the demands of our own customers have changed in unexpected ways. For example, some customers are buying in larger quantities to save on freight costs. This relates to our procurement team operating at a higher frequency or at higher volume, with some vendors unable to scale as needed. For reasons like this, manufacturers like ours have had to double-up vendors where necessary. This requires finding and approving new vendors we can rely on. Doing this ensures that we are well poised to launch new items, switch vendors, or to double-up if required.

Time to innovate

Finally, the pandemic related slowdown affecting tradeshows has given us more time to innovate. We have been using our time to look at other tool mounting opportunities we have not traditionally been interested in. These new products cross industry lines from fire to law enforcement to agriculture.

For example, 5 gallon buckets are used in many industries, including the fire industry.  They are commonly used for storing absorbents, de-icer and biohazard material. Our new bucket mount (part number BKM), which can also hold large traffic safety cones, provides a way to hang buckets or cones on a wall instead of taking up floor space.

Another new product is our rectangular pocket kits (part number K5081). This pocket kit can hold non-traditional cutters like the new models available from Holmatro and Hurst. Several new electric cutters are electric with incline blades or with very unique blades. These unique cutter models do not fit into our existing mounting brackets. When added to our existing tool mount kits for spreaders, rams, and cutters these new rectangular pocket kits can now accommodate more rescue tools in use today than ever before.

We’re currently innovating our marketing approach including our literature and web content. Several important changes are being made. We’re focused on helping customers solve challenges with our industry proven tool mounting solutions.

Many well-known OEMs continue to partner with us as a supplier to their product line. PAC is widely known in the industry for making tool mounts but our products can be found on OEM equipment in many industries. Many products including trucks for fire and military, skid units, electric fans and many more include our products as original equipment.

Not just for fire trucks

When we participate in tradeshows, new visitors will ask what our company does. It was always easy to answer by showing the line of products and the examples of how they are used in the field. In later years, we added that we not only manufacture tool mounting systems, but we provide components used as original equipment, mentioned above.

And now, which is more than likely pandemic related, we could also describe ourself with a third facet as an OEM manufacturing partner.

Very robust demand for fire fighting vehicles stands in contrast to pandemic era labour shortages. Our partners that build fire apparatus need to scale their production capacity to meet that demand. While the customers still need quality systems to complement their vehicles, labour shortages mean that these manufacturers must fabricate less and purchase more.

There are two types of situations where we have been approached by OEMs for manufacturing assistance.

The first situation is when a manufacturer no longer has the ability to fabricate their own custom compartment organisation systems per customer demands or specifications. Designing and building custom wall mounted, slide out, and swing out tool boards are not the most important steps needed to build a fire truck. PAC produces custom tool mounting systems – wall mounted tool boards, slide out units and swing out units – as standard kits. These are made to order, shipped assembled within a few days of ordering.

Several manufacturers have begun to pivot toward using our systems as their standard available accessories or upgrades to the basic fire trucks they produce. In doing so they know their costs upfront when they receive a fully assembled, ready to install, unit at the finish line. The customer receives a fully customisable tool mounting system that they can use for the life of the truck and beyond.

The second situation is when a manufacturer is looking for our help with their product, not necessarily with a standard kit of our own. We have been asked to provide sub-components with secondary operations such as machining, anodising and powder coating. In this way, manufacturers can bring in ready-to-install components at a fixed price. They can better focus on the important tasks at hand while reducing overhead, inventory and waste.

Now more than ever OEMs are realising the need to source ready-to-install components and assemblies. Tool mounting systems are becoming more of a procured item – than custom manufactured at the factory – in a similar way pumps, sirens and lights are sourced. More than ever, OEMs know our products as a quality and dependable item. They know that PAC provides components of the highest quality. They know that by sourcing tool mount systems from PAC will free up their engineering teams for more pressing matters. We’re proud to work side by side with these OEMs.

This article was originally published in the August edition of IFSJ. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.

FBU calls for government investment as England braces for another heatwave

by Breaking News

A health alert lasting until Saturday has been issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) set to last until Saturday evening.

The alert will be in place from midday Tuesday 9 August to 6pm on Saturday 13 August for all regions of England the UKHSA said.

Whilst Temperatures are not forecast to reach the record-breaking levels of the most recent heatwave but are expected to rise throughout the week, potentially reaching mid-30 degrees Celsius on Friday and Saturday in the South East, London, the South West, and the East and West Midlands.

Dr Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said: “Temperatures will feel very warm again this week, particularly in southern and central parts of the country.

“We want everyone to enjoy the warm weather safely when it arrives but remember that heat can have a fast impact on health. It’s important to ensure that people who are more vulnerable – elderly people who live alone and people with underlying health conditions – are prepared for coping during the hot weather.

“The most important advice is to ensure they stay hydrated, keep cool and take steps to prevent their homes from overheating.”

UKHSA also noted that high temperatures also present a risk of wildfires, especially after long dry periods and that people with pre-existing heart and lung conditions such as asthma are most susceptible as breathing wildfire smoke may worsen their symptoms whilst children and older people may also be susceptible to health impacts.

Firefighter shortages

The Fire Brigades Union has warned that the fire service continues to be understaffed and needs huge investment, with another heatwave set to hit this week.

Andy Dark, Fire Brigades Union assistant general secretary, said: “Just over a fortnight ago firefighters had to deal with many serious wildfires across much of the country. Several firefighters were injured and many people lost their homes.

“Heatwaves have been on the government’s National Risk Register since its first iteration in 2008. Wildfire as a national risk was added to the register in 2013. Instead of improving fire and rescue services we’ve had 11,500 firefighters cut since 2010. Understaffing has been so bad that throughout the last period of wildfires nearly all fire and rescue services in the most severely affected areas had to call up off-duty firefighters and ask them to perform extra shifts.

“If we are to properly protect life and property from wildfires the fire service urgently needs huge investment.”

Streamlight launches its new and improved Survivor right-angle torch

by Breaking NewsProducts

Portable safety torches are an essential bit of kit for emergency response teams, and thanks to their consistent use in high risk environments they need to be both powerful and easy to use. Streamlight Inc., a leading manufacturer of high-performance flashlights for fire and rescue and industrial professionals, recently introduced its new Survivor X ATEX at Interschutz 2022.

Based in Eagleville, Pennsylvania, USA, Streamlight has been around for more than 45 years, developing tough, durable, long lasting flashlights designed to serve the specialised needs of fire safety professionals. Since 1973, the company has designed, manufactured and marketed high-performance flashlights, and today offers a broad array of lights, lanterns, weapon light/ laser sighting devices, and scene lighting solutions for professional law enforcement, military, firefighting, industrial, automotive, and outdoor applications.

Its latest product is an updated version of its compact Survivor right-angle torch, now offering 250 lumens, new features for improved operation and multiple power options to suit user needs and budgets. The low-profile light is available as a Rechargeable System or in an economical Alkaline model and is pending approval for use in Zone 0 gas and Zone 20 dust atmospheres. Also from Streamlight is the Survivor X USB, a budget-friendly USB rechargeable option for use in Division 2 conditions.

As a provider of high-performance lighting, Streamlight has a reputation for making tough, ultra-bright flashlights and their advances in lighting technology have resulted in many specialised products for the fire market. Whether fighting fires, investigating fire scenes, signalling others in emergencies, or conducting rescues, Streamlight has been working to meet the needs of the fire industry by developing and manufacturing products built with precision and performance, featuring the latest technology, top tier performance, and durability that can be depended upon.

“The Survivor personal light, known the world over for its toughness, compact size and reliability, just got even better with the new Survivor X ATEX, which not only offers enhanced brightness and added features, but also multiple power options, including the Survivor X ATEX Alkaline model which provides a 25 percent cost savings on batteries, as well as the Survivor X USB which offers an economical USB rechargeable alternative and also accepts alkaline batteries,” says Streamlight Chief Revenue Officer Michael F. Dineen.

“Fire and rescue personnel, industrial firefighters, utility workers and others now have an even more powerful and versatile tool to use when operating in the trying conditions they often face.”

User-friendly design

The new torch features several improvements in response to user feedback, including:

  • An easy-to-operate battery door that provides a tight, dust-resistant seal.
  • A battery status indicator in the switch that turns red when the battery is nearing low voltage, flashes continuously when there is 15 minutes of battery life left and turns green when the battery is fully charged.
  • An improved charge cradle design that locks the light securely in place, while also featuring a quick release latch to permit one-handed “grab and go” removal, even with gloved hands. In addition to energising the new Survivor X ATEX, the new charger also charges all existing Survivor models.

The Survivor X ATEX features the latest power technology for extreme brightness and offers microprocessor-controlled high and low intensity and emergency flash modes. The Rechargeable System model operates on a 2.6Ahr Lithium-Ion battery pack which can be recharged up to 1,000 times. The Survivor X ATEX Alkaline uses three AA alkaline batteries.

On high, all models deliver 250 lumens and 50,000 candela over a beam distance of 447 meters. The torch’s custom optic produces a narrow beam, ideal for cutting through smoke, fog and mist, while also providing optimum peripheral illumination to aid in navigation. Operating run times for all three models range from 3.75 hours on high to 15 hours on low, with 8 hours on the flash setting. 

Rechargeable System models are available with AC and DC chargers. An indicator in the charger turns red when charging and green when the light is fully charged. A bank charger accessory that charges five units simultaneously is also available. An eight-unit SL-B26 Li-Ion USB battery bank charger that charges eight USB batteries simultaneously is available as an accessory for the Survivor X USB model.

The Survivor X ATEX features a low-profile, compact bezel designed to eliminate snagging when putting on equipment or other gear. The torch’s reinforced, built-in attachment D-ring and updated spring-loaded clip offer superior retention, ensuring the torch consistently hangs forward, and conveniently latches to belts and harnesses. Its rubber dome push-button translucent switch is easy to use, even with gloves, and its super-tough nylon housing provides exceptional durability.

All openings are O-ring sealed to resist moisture, including the torch’s unbreakable polycarbonate lens with silicone anti-scratch coating, assembled in a heavy-duty bezel. The torch has an IP67-rated design for dust-tight use and waterproof operation to 1 meter for 30 minutes; it also is impact resistance-tested to 2 meters. In addition to the Division 2 Survivor X USB, Streamlight also offers a Survivor X model that is Class 1, Division 1 rated.

This article was originally published in the August edition of IFSJ. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.

Digitising The Golden Thread to ensure fire safety standards

by Breaking News
Robert Norton, UK Team Leader at PlanRadar talks the digitisation of The Golden Thread

The UK government has set out plans to introduce a stringent regulatory regime to create and maintain a ‘Golden Thread’ of information. The Golden Thread is the information about a building that allows someone to understand it. Therefore, keeping the building and its residents safe, as well as ensuring the building information is accurate, easily understandable, can be accessed by those who need it and is up to date.

Implementation of the Golden Thread will require individuals and organisations responsible for a building to have good information management systems and a clear understanding of how information management supports building safety. Going forward this will need to be embedded across the sector to ensure greater levels of safety. PlanRadar, a platform first established in 2013 as a means for the construction industry to digitise all onsite procedures, has positioned itself as the digital solution for The Golden Thread.

At its most basic, PlanRadar is a means to capture evidence on the go and create a tamper-proof audit trail, as well as acting as a communication platform for fire-safety measures across digital plans and Building Information Models.

It is designed to immediately capture and resolve risks on-site by: easily documenting facts during fire risk assessments, retrieving fire protection documents at any time, completing fire risk assessment forms, capturing evidence on the go, communicating fire safety measures, documenting passive fire prevention, creating fire safety documents at the touch of a button and ensuring compliance and accountability above all else.

“Since Dame Judith Hackitt recommended the introduction of a ‘Golden Thread’ as a tool to manage buildings, clients approached us for support, as they realised, we had many of the features ready and available on our platform. We support clients in digitising their fire safety procedures, providing total compliance and peace of mind,” explains Robert Norton, UK Team Leader at PlanRadar.

“If we are looking at fire doors, as an example, clients use PlanRadar across the whole lifecycle of the door, from the manufacturing process through to installation and continued door maintenance. Photographs and videos can be taken at each stage, creating a record of who has done what and when. Furthermore, the tool is used for ongoing checks and maintenance of each door. Every time the system is touched it creates a full, tamper-proof audit history so you know who is accountable for actions taken, and when they were completed.”

Fire Door Inspections

NFC tags are quickly gaining popularity in the construction and real estate industries for their ability to improve on-site information and data capture. These tags use near field communication (NFC) technology, a communication technology which allows the transfer of information between two chips, derived from RFID (Radio Frequency Identification). In simple terms, when you bring your mobile device near an NFC tag, information stored on the tag is easily accessible right on your device. PlanRadar integrates with this technology, installed on or built into fire doors, enabling the tag to be scanned by an individual to bring up the door´s full audit history. This connects to a ticket in the platform showing the exact location and audit details on the building plan.

Norton says fire door surveyors use the platform to document passive fire prevention and complete fire risk assessment forms. On the benefits of NFC tags, he says: “If the door has an NFC tag, fantastic, you can upload that inspection back to the NFC tag and create the audit trail. If they don’t have the NFC tag, then this could be a great chance to create a digital record.” He adds that some fire consultancy specialists are installing NFC tags into hospitals and schools to ensure there is an up-to-date digital record on a system.

“PlanRadar enables fire inspection teams to gather building information quickly and efficiently, whilst significantly reducing the time required to process and present this data. A typical fire door inspection takes 5-10 minutes per door. We’ve streamlined that process to 1-2 minutes per door inspection to record the data.”

Quality Assurance

Clients who are in need of an External Wall System Fire Review certificate (EWS1) are using PlanRadar to conduct Quality Assurance (QA) processes on site. Users can put a pin directly onto the plans of the drawings at the exact location that the EWS1 inspection is going to take place. They can then do a QA form, based on each individual location.  

“Every time a ticket is received by a sub-contractor to carry out work, they can upload all the corresponding photographs of work completed, and then the site manager can come in and approve it,” says Norton. “You then have a specific sign-off field for an external inspector. Only they are allowed to sign off this line to say that the work has been done to the necessary standard.”

This, he says, is where organisations like Kiwa come in to see all the historic data related to each pin on the plan, they will then note down any additional site observations, certify it and close off the certificate or issue a report. “A Fire Assessment Report (FRA) in our system, once they go back to the home office, takes 20 seconds to generate,” says Norton. “Normally an FRA report takes a couple of days for someone to send off.”

Fire Risk Assessments

Someone going to do a Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) can carry out the full inspection using PlanRadar, uploading paper forms to PlanRadar, reducing time spent on paperwork, with the ability to highlight pins on plans where applicable. Forms can be custom built, enabling teams to complete them in the field. If there are actions that need to be carried out, they can be made via ‘live recommended actions’ on the platform which can be sent back to the client or main contractor. They can then close these actions out within the system and upload return photographs as a proof of completion that can either be inspected electronically or alternatively a further site visit can take place.

The platform has automatic read receipts so if, for example, a contractor tries to say they have not read something PlanRadar shows that not only have they read it, but they have signed it off to say they have read it, ensuring accountability for these actions. Communication is automatically logged for a secure, tamper proof audit trail.

The PlanRadar platform is free of charge to customise. Norton points out that this is going to be a huge requirement because the system needs to be adaptive and agile at any point, so if there is a new piece of legislation, users can customise the system free of charge, with no hinderance or any major downtime.

A universal platform

At this stage, Norton says that PlanRadar works with clients to support their own needs and requirements to meet the obligations of the Golden Thread. PlanRadar is flexible enough to recognise that each client needs a tailored approach to how information is collected, collated, and stored and each needs different processes. 

PlanRadar has reached out to influential figures within the fire industry as well as building safety regulators to understand how the platform can be designed and updated to be totally fit for purpose and relevant to the needs of the end user. Another one of the questions he says people are talking about a lot is competence: “It has become a key cornerstone of all the fire safety regulations. You still need competent people to deliver even with the very best systems in place.”

“We want to make the system as simple as possible so that anyone with the right qualifications and therefore the right so-called competence (possibly the Responsible Person, as laid out in the Building Safety Act) can then work through the system, record the information they need and take out the relevant information in report format.”

This article was originally published in the August edition of IFSJ. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.

London’s Fire Commissioner calls for ban on disposable BBQs

by Breaking NewsSafety

London’s Fire Commissioner has called for a total ban on disposable barbecues following one of the busiest weeks in London Fire Brigade’s history.

The call comes ahead of a possible second summer heatwave and an unprecedented number of large grassland fires London’s firefighters worked in tough conditions to tackle in recent weeks.

New statistics show that week commencing Monday, 18 July the Brigade received 8,302 calls and attended 3,231 incidents. In addition: Firefighters attended more than 1,000 fires, the number of 999 calls received was more than double taken for the same period last year and thirty-four grass fires required an attendance of four fire engine and above.

London Fire Brigade (LFB) has said that disposable barbecues pose a significant fire risk if they are not put out properly as they can cause grass fires in open spaces and scorch the grassed areas. The recent dry weather has increased the chances of a fire caused by a disposable barbecue.

LFB also noted that people should not barbecue on balconies and during this exceptional dry spell and that Londoners should not have any barbecues or open fires in parks and public spaces.

London’s Fire Commissioner Andy Roe has already written to local authorities asking for a temporary ban on the use of barbecues in all public parks and open spaces. 

Retailers, including Waitrose and Aldi, have announced they will no longer stock disposable barbecues because of the detrimental impact they have on the environment and wildlife.

Marks & Spencer has also stopped selling disposable barbecues in stores over the increased fire risk. Marks & Spencer tweeted: “Given the unusually hot and dry conditions, we’ve taken the precautionary step of removing them from sale across the UK.”

The London Fire Brigade has backed a petition set up by Toby Tyler whose son Will was severely burned by a disposable barbecue. The petition can be found here https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/618664.

Commissioner Roe said: “Despite our grass fire warnings, we’ve still seen some people behaving carelessly and recklessly. On Saturday (23rd July) firefighters prevented a serious blaze at Wanstead Flats caused using a disposable barbecue. We need urgent action now to see a national ban on the sale of disposable barbecues. They can be bought for as little as five pounds and can cause untold damage, especially when the grass is as dry as it has been over the last few weeks.

“Last week is another example of how we are increasingly being challenged by new extremes of weather as our climate changes and we’re developing long-term strategies to deal with more incidents like this in the future.”

Rosenbauer America: electric vehicle fires and the BEST way to put them out

by Breaking NewsProducts

As the number of electric vehicles on the roads have risen so too have the number of electric vehicle fire incidents. For many car manufacturers creating electric options has become a priority, but the technology is quite clearly still a work in progress with the likes of GM, Hyundai and Ford all recalling large numbers of electric vehicles because of fire-related faults.

A recent study by AutoInsuranceEZ which used data from the National Transportation Safety Board revealed that electric cars in the US caught fire at a rate of 25.1 per 100,000 sales – significantly lower than compared to internal combustion engine (ICE) and hybrid vehicles which saw a catching fire rate of 1,520 and 3,475 per 100,000 respectively.

Despite the relatively low risk of electric vehicle fires when compared to their ICE counterparts, it stands to reason that being able to extinguish them effectively is something that is going to become more and more important. As the number of electric vehicles on the road is undoubtedly rising so to will the fire service call outs to deal with electric vehicle fire, particularly as key issue that has been identified with a car battery fire is that it is more difficult to extinguish as in some cases the fire has reignited days after initially being put out.

In order to understand just how best to deal with this electric vehicle fires, IFSJ spoke to Rosenbauer America’s Field Demo Specialist Ernie Young – who has 28 years of firefighting experience – and Dealer Development Specialist Joe Caughey, who trains dealers on Rosenbauer America’s latest apparatus and fire service innovations, for some expert insights and to learn about Rosenbauer’s Battery Extinguishing System Technology.

What makes an electric vehicle fire different from a regular vehicle fire? Is one more prone to fire than another?

Both EV and traditional vehicles have a class A fire component to them (plastics, seating materials, carpeting, etc). It is the battery pack that is the differing aspect in the two. With an EV you have both a class A fire to extinguish and an electric battery pack. Statistically what we are seeing is that EV’s are less prone to fire events that their internal combustion (ICE) counter parts. However, the fire events are significantly more severe when a battery pack is involved due to fire intensity and duration.

Are there different things to consider when putting out electric vehicle fires?

Yes, a traditional approach will still be taken by the arriving crew to extinguish the class A vehicle fire. We must then identify if we in fact do have a battery fire as well. It should be noted, you can have a class A EV fire that does not involve the battery pack. However, if you have an EV battery pack fire you will ALWAYS have a class A vehicle fire as well. It is important to extinguish the class A vehicle fire to then deploy a thermal imager to scan the battery pack to identify heat level, while listening for the distinct EV pack noises that occur during a fire, as well as look for jet flames or low-lying white smoke emitting from the pack. If these are found, then we must address the battery pack fire component.

What are the main symptoms to look for when identifying an Electric Vehicle Fire?

Key signs and symptoms that you have a lithium Ion battery fire is: Low lying white smoke emitting from the bottom of the EV; crackling and popping sounds; if there is fire present you may notice jet flames either from the sides or rear of the vehicle where the packs safety blow of ports (burst valves) are located; you may also see the fire activity come and go in waves (also called a pulsating fire effect) as individual cells/modules release their energy. It is easy to assume the fire is out when it is in fact not, so take extreme caution.

Is there any equipment that can help with this process?

There is currently one product on the market in North America to address EV battery fires: the Rosenbauer Battery Extinguishing System Technology (BEST). Rosenbauer BEST is the most extensively tested and deployed system for this purpose worldwide and is trusted by manufacturers and the fire service.

What is BEST and why was it created?

BEST is the first system specifically designed to address the challenge of stopping thermal run-away events in EV battery packs. Conception and development of BEST began in 2016. After reviewing safety data sheets from automotive manufacturers, we found that they suggested a minimum of 8,000 gallons of water applied over the course of several hours. Anecdotal real-world stories, we heard cases using more than 30,000 gallons of water over 6 hours. Looking at the resource drain on the local fire department this would cause, along with significant environmental and safety concerns. We knew we needed to develop a fast, efficient, and safe system to deal with this new challenge.

How exactly does it work in putting out EV battery fires?

The BEST pierces the battery pack powered by a standard SCBA cylinder. Once the BEST has pierced the pack, a valve automatically opens beginning the flow of cooling water filling the pack. The BEST flows at just 8gpm at 100 psi per minute. Flowing just water we see cooling of the cells within the modules/pack come under the 260-degree temperature (the temperature at which thermal runaway begins within 15-50 minutes, dependent on state of charge, extent of thermal runaway event propagation, and the battery pack size/design.

Any other comments on Electric Vehicle Fires?

Electric vehicles are by in large very safe and are undeniably the direction we are heading. It is important to consider that the day your department will be asked to face an EV fire is not a matter of if but when. Consider the traditional “external cooling approach” and then consider where you can’t afford a single vehicle fire event to burn for 4+ hours in your community, i.e. on freeways, under bridges/overpasses, in parking structures, down-town or densely populated areas, or at charging infrastructure located at the main entrance to malls and other local infrastructure. BEST is the tool to meet the challenge in a fast, safe, efficient manner.

This article was originally published in the August edition of IFSJ. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.

Market analysis: Tool mounting and storage

by Breaking News
International Fire and Safety Journal analyses the current state of the equipment storage industry

Over the course of the pandemic, attitudes towards the storage and maintenance of equipment have changed. There has always been a level of emphasis on keeping departments and vehicles as safe and clean as possible, and the storage of equipment plays a key role in this. The pandemic put hygiene under the microscope, and this is surely to be exacerbated following the declaration from the World Health Organisation agency that the act of firefighting is carcinogenic.

As attitudes have changed, more departments have looked to incorporate better storage and maintenance solutions so potentially dangerous equipment is stored safely away from crew members.

The renewed focus on cleanliness follows a pivotal year in the firefighting equipment and maintenance storage industry as post-pandemic issues plaguing all manufacturers including labour and material shortages and shipping delays continue across the globe.

Supply chain issues

Despite economic worries as a result of the pandemic or otherwise, emergency services remain a critical asset and it is an asset that must be maintained and continuously improved. Like all manufacturers, the equipment storage industry’s ability to keep the pipeline full has been impacted by raw material shortages, labour shortages and other supply chain issues. Whilst great efforts have been made to keep materials stocked, there have been unavoidable delays and shortages due to unpreventable circumstances.

Greg Young, Vice President at Performance Advantage Company, said: “For us the supply chain issues haven’t been too bad – our products are made within this part of the US so we’ve been well poised to survive those shortages.

“However, some of our suppliers have been impacted because they’re using chemicals or additives or components sourced worldwide so some of their operations have been impacted by material shortages just like everyone else. In addition to the labour shortages that have been plaguing all manufacturers, we’re waiting for freight to be picked up, to be shipped – it’s been quite a struggle in those regards.”

New equipment

A growing consideration for equipment storage manufacturers comes in the form of new technology. As departments increasingly shift away from hydraulic-powered equipment to battery powered equipment – which are generally larger as they need to accommodate the battery – the question is whether or not their existing products are capable of securely holding new equipment or if new solutions must be developed.

Greg Young says that PAC does not design products specifically for one brand or model: “Tool manufacturers innovate and change. Different manufacturers become popular and their design for the tool might be different than the last. What we prefer to do is invest in products that accommodate a wide variety of the chosen brands in the field. Even when a new tool comes into the market we are fairly confident that our existing line will accommodate the geometry that would be present on another axe or tool.”

Regional considerations

Another issue is the need for storage and maintenance equipment to remain flexible to reflect the needs of each individual department. Across the world each department will operate with different equipment and PPE and different vehicles. In many cases, storage equipment must be able to be produced bespoke to the department. Depending on the needs of the local fire department, they have needs to mount fire tools – and it may not be on fire trucks.

Different regions will require vehicles depending on the terrain firefighting teams will be operating on, whether its using motorbikes, boats, or even bespoke-designed transit vans which are becoming more popular in Asian countries. In terms of regions there are the likes of wildland, urban settings, industrial settings – all of which will have different types of vehicles and different types of equipment, not to mention budgets as well. There are a wide variety of factors that go into tool mounting solutions that would be selected for each.

Greg Young says that PAC recently worked with an OEM to develop a solution for a custom-designed firefighting vehicle: “We have worked with sprinter vans – small transit vans – and there are some departments in Asian countries that have turned those into rescue vehicles and built their own fire trucks.”

Looking ahead

With the short-term effects of the pandemic still waning, it is likely that the changes in attitude will carry on into the future. More departments may look to find solutions to store their equipment in their department and on vehicles in a safe way that keeps any hazardous substances away from firefighting crew.

Manufacturers involved in tool storage and maintenance products will be tasked with keeping up to date with the latest equipment changes to reflect the developing products in departments. With increasing innovation in tool development, innovation can also continue within tool mounting and storage equipment. As such, the industry looks set to be in a strong position as we near the end of 2022, which could result in an uptick in sales across the globe.

This article was originally published in the August edition of IFSJ. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.

Volume Control: mitigating the risk of occupational noise

by Breaking NewsProducts
Craig Storey, Noise Measurement Expert at Cirrus Research, discusses the importance of monitoring firefighters’ noise exposure

Occupational noise exposure is a hazard associated with many professions. The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, sets out clearly defined exposure limits for noise that all employers must ensure their personnel do not breach. This is key to protecting people from Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) amongst other debilitating conditions, such as tinnitus, hyperacusis, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and stroke.

Firefighting is arguably one of the most hearing-critical occupations. The hearing health of firefighters concerns much more than just the conservation of hearing, however. Hearing is crucial in preventing injury in the firefighting environment. Smoke minimises visual cues, and high levels of background noise and stress-related distractions can affect the safety and ability of personnel.

Firefighters should have adequate hearing acuity to hear someone call for help; the low-pressure alarm from self-contained breathing apparatus that indicates that the device is running out of air; sounds associated with imminent building collapse; and to hear sounds associated with changes in a fire pattern.

The key to ensuring the safety of firefighting personnel is to understand what noise levels they are exposed to while carrying out their duties. Firefighters must have their hearing protected from the loud noises associated with their duties, while ensuring that any PPE provided does not obscure their hearing for the reasons referenced above. To get this balance right, it means monitoring personnel’s noise exposure in all work scenarios correctly and accurately and using the data to inform choices on the hearing protection they need. However, this is not an easy task when there is a huge variety among the many roles carried out by firefighters.

How to assess the risk of noise effectively and accurately

The most effective solution to assess firefighters’ noise exposure is to use a noise dosimeter that features octave band filters. A noise dosimeter, often called a personal noise exposure meter, is a small wearable device that fixes to a person’s shoulder. It is a compact and lightweight instrument that can be worn throughout the course of the wearer’s shift while gathering all the noise data required to comply with the Control of Noise at Work Regulations.

Octave band filters break the recorded noise levels down into their frequency bands, which when analysed using specialist software, can be used to select the most appropriate hearing protection specific to the noise levels recorded.

Contrary to what many people think about hearing protection, it is entirely possible to be either under or over-protected. Both come with their own set of risks. In the case of under-protection, the chance of a firefighter developing noise-related health conditions increases. Over-protection may inhibit their ability to hear important sounds related to the safe and effective discharge of their duties.

A noise dosimeter, such as the Advanced doseBadge5 from Cirrus Research, provides all the functionality required to effectively measure and monitor personal noise exposure for fire and safety professionals. With octave band filters as standard and the ability to measure all occupational noise parameters simultaneously, the Advanced doseBadge5 makes personal noise monitoring straightforward.

Cirrus Research supplies every noise dosimeter with its licence-free data download, analysis and reporting software, NoiseTools. NoiseTools features an extensive database of hearing protection that, based on the octave band data captured by the Advanced doseBadge5, provides a comprehensive list of the most suitable PPE based on the specific noise levels and frequency measured.

Where does the noise risk to firefighters come from?

Noise is a part of the causal mechanism leading to hearing injury and can cause hearing loss. Firefighters are exposed intermittently to high-intensity noise. However, firefighters can tend to accept noise exposure as inevitable.

When you look at the potential occurrence of exposure to high noise levels on a typical firefighter’s day, the risks can come from three main categories of activity. These are scheduled activities such as BA tests, compressor tests, and siren tests; training exercises on various pieces of equipment; and actual call-outs.

Typical noise levels from, for example, BA board tests within a fire engine’s cabin can often breach the Upper Action Level of 85 dB(A). Similarly, the routine testing of airbags, loud hailers and sounders also creates noise levels above the Upper Action Level. Measurements taken while testing field equipment, such as spreaders and cutters, also generate noise levels well above the Upper Action Level of 85 dB(A).

With the varied nature of firefighters’ daily work, knowing which equipment can pose a danger to them from a hearing perspective is essential. Effective and successful identification of the noise levels generated by specific pieces of equipment can then allow health and safety managers to take proactive measures to minimise the risk. For example, in a daily testing environment, it may be beneficial to ensure that firefighters wear hearing protection for specific tests.

How to reduce the risk of noise

The Control of Noise at Work Regulations aim to mitigate the risk of occupational noise through a hierarchy of control. In order of effectiveness, this emphasises the elimination of noise at its source; substituting the noise source for quieter equipment, for example; isolating people from noise; and changing the way people work. All of this should be considered ahead of reliance on PPE, such as hearing protection products, which the regulations consider a last resort. The reason for PPE being the least effective method of protection is that managing the correct use of hearing protection solutions is difficult.

The correct product needs to be worn in the correct manner for it to do its job effectively. Having a hearing protection product that is damaged in any way, or is not fitted correctly will greatly reduce its ability to adequately protect its wearer. When selecting suitable hearing protection products, consideration must also be given to their use in conjunction with other PPE that is being worn, such as headwear. In an ideal scenario, of course, the noise is completely eliminated from daily work.

Clearly, in the case of firefighters, some of these approaches are not practicable. The nature of their work is such that noise cannot be controlled to the same extent that it can in a more conventional environment such as a factory or warehouse. Even so, there are things that health and safety professionals can do to mitigate the noise levels that firefighters are exposed to.

One of the most effective things that health and safety professionals can do is source equipment that is proven to be quieter than existing tools. Many organisations operate Buy Quiet schemes that mandate purchasing tools and equipment that produce noise levels below a specific threshold. Appropriate training on the correct use of these tools can also ensure that noise levels are kept to a minimum.

Another effective means of controlling firefighters’ noise exposure is to ensure that nonessential personnel are kept at safe distances during noisy tests. Staff rotation is also a useful way to reduce personnel’s noise exposure. By sharing noisy activities among staff, you can ensure that no one person is exposed for longer than necessary. Knowing the noise levels from equipment and systems that personnel are exposed to can provide helpful information to generate procedures that ensure that they are not unduly exposed. Clearly, in an emergency situation, noise levels cannot always be controlled, but knowing typical noise levels in

This article was originally published in the August edition of IFSJ. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.

Danger Detection Devices: The latest products from Teledyne

by Breaking News
IFSJ sat down with Teledyne at INTERSCHUTZ to find out about its latest products for the fire market

Last year, American provider of sophisticated digital imaging products and software Teledyne Technologies Incorporated completed the acquisition of thermal imaging camera manufacturer FLIR Systems, Inc. At INTERSCHUTZ this year, Teledyne FLIR and Teledyne Gas and Flame Detection united on one stand to showcase their latest technologies for hazard detection and keeping firefighters safe.

IFSJ spoke to Stephen Grondman, Key Account Manager Public Safety EMEAI at Teledyne FLIR, and Halim Uzun, Regional Sales Manager Portable Gas Detection for Western Europe at Teledyne Gas and Flame Detection, to find out more about the acquisition, what each brand was presenting at the trade show and plans for the future.

Teledyne FLIR

Fire fighters are regularly faced with extreme temperatures and poor visibility on the job and they need special equipment to aid them through hazardous environments. Thermal imaging cameras can help emergency responders navigate these environments and maintain a better level of safety by giving them the best solution to carry out their job. Thermal cameras see through smoke, offering invaluable situational awareness while evacuating or searching for victims.

Teledyne FLIR designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and distributes technologies that enhance perception and awareness, bringing innovative sensing solutions into daily life through thermal imaging, visible-light imaging, video analytics, measurement and diagnostic, and advanced threat detection systems.

The company has a diversified portfolio serving a number of applications in government and defence, industrial and commercial markets. Its products help first responders and military personnel protect and save lives, promote efficiency within the trades, and innovate consumer-facing technologies, strengthen public safety and well-being and increase energy and time efficiency.

For Teledyne FLIR, INTERSCHUTZ was not so much a launchpad for new product as it was a showcase of the key products it has to offer to the fire industry. Its range can be split into two categories: fixed thermal imaging cameras and portable thermal imaging cameras, such as the FLIR K-Series which is designed to see through smoke, measure temperatures and find hot spots.

Grondman says that FLIR’s fire tech cameras have an unrivalled image quality across their entire range: “Our main focus is thermal imaging. That is what we do. That is what we live and we breathe. A lot of the other cameras that are available on the market are from manufacturers of other products which also supply thermal imaging cameras but their focus is something else.”

Clarity of image is extremely important for people assessing fire in potentially dangerous situations. “The benefit to having a clear image, it can see through smoke – smoke has no effect on the image. A thermal image will always be there whether it’s day or night it doesn’t matter,” he explains. “It will show up because you have the temperature difference.”

The most recent product launched by Teledyne FLIR was an ATEX certified AX housing for its FLIR C5. “ATEX means that it needs to be explosion proof, so for instance take the oil and gas industry, chemical industry: ATEX is a general European certification standard,” Grondman explains.

Looking ahead, he adds: “There are ideas in development, but it is difficult to say where they will lead to. There is a shift towards every firefighter having their own thermal imaging camera, but equally there are moves towards a more sophisticated thermal imaging camera to be used by certain teams in a fire department.”

Teledyne Gas and Flame Detection

Teledyne Gas and Flame Detection’s brand is backed by more than 100 years of gas detection experience and has become a world leader in the design and manufacture of high-quality and innovative portable gas detectors, specifically designed for the oil and gas, chemical and shipping industries world-wide. Its manufacturing site in Renfrew, Scotland, has supplied over 200,000 devices across the UK and many more across the globe.

At INTERSCHUTZ, was launched its Gas Laser with highly advanced laser technology, designed to detect natural gas with the aim of enhancing safety and improving detection for fire services, and first responders.

Frequently, fire personnel and first responders are called to natural gas emergencies using equipment that puts them close to potentially dangerous structures. The Gas Laser was created to support remote detection by allowing the operator to work at a safer distance from the hazard location. When access to a property cannot be established, the Gas Laser gives the user an audible and visual indication to the presence of methane.

It performs a quick scan which enables fire personnel and first responders to make rapid decisions and establish control of the gas and ignition sources should a gas escape be detected. It is able to detect gas from a distance of 30 metres, has an eight-hour runtime, features highly visible, sunshine resistant guide laser equipped for location accuracy, graphical interface for easy user interpretation, colour camera with Bluetooth, WIFI, and datalogging onboard and is Certified Intrinsically Safe to Class I, Division 2, Group D, T4.

“When we are talking about our products, their main function is to protect the worker,” explains Uzun. “The Gas Laser is important because it enables them to stay at some distance from the area of risk. Before going in they can use the Gas Laser to check if there is methane inside, which is a flammable, explosive gas.” The Gas Laser was launched at the show and by the second day Uzun says they had already had a lot of firefighters coming and testing it and have given lots of positive feedback about it: “Already a lot of firefighters who want to see it in action – they want us to come onto the field to see how it works in more detail.”

Integral to the design of the Gas Laser, says Uzun, is how easy it is to use: “When we are promoting the Gas Laser to our customers they know that their worker will be able to use the product easily because it is not difficult to use. It only has three buttons on it: you switch it on, you start to use it, you use it where you want to check and see if it is safe or not.”

Also on show from Teledyne Gas and Flame Detection at the show was its improved GT-Fire: an innovative, hand-held solution designed for the fire industry to help isolate gas leaks quicker and easier than before. After normal evacuation procedures are complete, the GT-Fire portable gas detector enables firefighters to conduct more specific leak detection investigations while they wait for gas utility companies to arrive. With this, firefighters have additional information to secure a scene more effectively.

With increased sensitivity and flexible probe, firefighters have enhanced capabilities within a single instrument, meaning they can react faster and with more knowledge. The large backlit display provides meaningful and accurate data, giving them confidence and assurance at the scene.

Uzun adds: “In a world today where a lot of companies are trying to reduce the cost by moving away from Europe, we managed to stay in Europe which is for our customers very important. We are able to answer very quickly any requests from our customers where they are.”

This article was originally published in the August edition of IFSJ. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.

MSA Safety selected by London Fire Brigade for breathing apparatus contract

by Breaking NewsBreathing ApparatusProducts

It has been announced that MSA Safety Incorporated has been selected for a $9 million contract to supply firefighters with the new M1 Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus and telemetry technology, by London Fire Brigade. The delivery of equipment is expected to start towards the end of 2022.

This also marks the commencing of a multi-phase SCBA training and deployment process, including more than 4,500 of the Brigade’s firefighters.

The decision to upgrade London’s SCBA technology was made after an extensive and comprehensive evaluation process.

“The M1 SCBA represents the most advanced, ergonomic and modular SCBA that MSA has ever introduced to the European and International markets,” said Nish Vartanian, MSA Chairman, President and CEO. “We are incredibly proud to establish this new partnership with one of the oldest and most respected fire brigades in the world. Most importantly, we’re honoured that the London Fire Brigade has entrusted MSA with the responsibility of protecting the men and women who keep the residents of London safe each day.”

London Fire Brigade Deputy Commissioner Richard Mills said: “following a competitive tender process, we’re really looking forward to developing our exciting partnership with MSA. The new state-of-the-art breathing apparatus equipment will be lighter and easier to carry and provide enhanced safety for our firefighters. The improved equipment shows how we are transforming as a fire service and investing in the latest technology to help protect London and Londoners.”

The groundbreaking design of the MSA M1 SCBA was a key factor in London’s selection of the new SCBA platform. The breathing apparatus includes several patented and customisable features that help to enhance ergonomics and improve firefighter comfort and hygiene. These include the industry’s lightest-weight backplate with a unique one-handed height adjustment; an advanced hip belt that evenly distributes the weight of the SCBA; and a padded harness that is fully water-repellent, making the entire SCBA system machine washable without disassembly.

Other features that factored into the Brigade’s selection of the M1 SCBA include a high-pressure cylinder connection for fast cylinder exchanges; compatibility with MSA’s industry-leading G1 facepiece; and integration with FireGrid, which gives incident commanders the ability to evaluate and manage multiple situations in real time and from any location.

MSA’s Entry Control Board (ECB), designed specifically to meet the unique needs of the UK fire service, also played a key part in the Brigade’s decision to choose the MSA brand. Serving as a cloud-connected fire-ground management tool that provides Incident Commanders with air and alarm status of all telemetry-enabled breathing apparatus on scene, MSA’s ECB is also capable of providing post-incident reporting and automated documentation.

As part of the contract, MSA will also provide London with a new communications system that provides enhanced voice communications. Called the C1 Headset, the device attaches easily to the outside of the SCBA facepiece.

Vartanian commented that the SCBA contract with London represents the beginning of a new and exciting partnership. “As a company whose only mission is worker safety, we are incredibly proud to be associated with a brigade that is regarded as a genuine industry leader and advocate for firefighter safety. London is one of the most progressive and respected fire brigades in the world and as part of our Voice of the Customer process, we will certainly be seeking their input on future product development initiatives,” he concluded.

For more information, visit: gb.msasafety.com