IFSJ Exclusive: Put your best boot forward with HAIX

by Breaking NewsIFSJ ExclusivesPPE
Simon Ash, UK & Ireland Sales Manager at global footwear specialist HAIX, talks innovation, the Fire Eagle 2.0, and firefighting boot maintenance and longevity

What is HAIX working on just now?

For fire specifically, we’ve recently launched the Fire Eagle 2.0. The original Fire Eagle has been our hero product for the last five to six years. During research and development, we looked at the changing role of the firefighter, considering that as fewer house fires break out, more firefighters are supporting with wildfires and road traffic accidents and need footwear that can handle the evolving demands of the job. We also wanted to respond to customers who were looking for a structural fire boot and a moorland fire boot and asked if we have anything that does both.

We launched the original Fire Eagle in 2015 at INTERSCHUTZ, the world’s leading trade fair for the fire and rescue services, civil protection, safety and security solutions. We wanted the entire typical safety features one would expect in a HAIX boot combined with less weight, more flexibility and greater comfort. The boot has seen recognition worldwide, with the Bavarian fire service among the first to test the boot and compare it to “a comfortable sports shoe”.

The most critical difference between the original boot and its successor, the Fire Eagle 2.0, is an updated design and a new, innovative quick-fit fastener system which is a world first. The RAPIDfit system gives firefighters the quickest way to pull a boot on and fits to the individual foot in just one movement, critical when a call comes in and every second counts. 

We’ve also just launched a wildfire boot, the Missoula 2.0. With wildfire firefighting, firefighters are on their feet for a long time. Walking miles and miles across moorlands and challenging terrain requires footwear that feels like a hiking boot. While a lot of wildfire firefighters wear the Fire Eagle because it is comfy, our wildfire boot is best for all terrains and offers a classic lacing system.

HAIX footwear is a premium product, how do you overcome the cost barrier?

There may be cheaper boots out there, but HAIX boots will last longer HAIX footwear also offers advanced postural support, meaning less time off sick. And ultimately, a happier firefighter.

We understand that budgets are tight in all industries, and we will be as competitive as we can. But not all PPE is created equal, and we cannot fall into the false economy of buy cheap, buy twice. Firefighters deserve more than uncomfortable boots that could leak and need replacing after a year.  This is particularly an issue when departments only do a tender every five to seven years, and boots aren’t replaced unless they have become contaminated or need to be issued to new recruits.

Long-lasting quality has been the HAIX ethos since its founding in 1948 by Xaver Haimerl. Xaver’s son, Ewald, had risen to the rank of deputy chief of Mainburg fire service while working as a certified master shoemaker in his father’s factory. In 1992, when finding that he and his colleagues weren’t satisfied with the rubber boots they had to wear on duty at the time, Ewald decided to design a collection of functional leather firefighting boots for his colleagues that would set new standards of functionality, protection and comfort. The boots were so well regarded that HAIX began selling them, expanding into developing footwear for rescue workers and the police the following year.

Do you have any tips for boot maintenance?

Decontamination is key. Fires produce a cocktail of toxic, irritant and carcinogenic chemicals in the form of aerosols, dusts, fibres, smoke and fumes or gases and vapours, thereby increasing cancer risks and lung deterioration. Decontamination and cleaning procedures enroute to, during and after a fire can reduce, minimise or eliminate exposure hazards.

Wearers exposed to hazardous chemicals and pathogens need to follow the relevant cleaning and decontamination precautions in line with legal regulations to limit exposure and risk of harm to themselves and others. Anyone involved in the handling, sorting, bagging, transporting and laundering of contaminated footwear must wear utility gloves and appropriate PPE to prevent exposure.

We work with The Boot Repair Company to support our customers with proper decontamination or replace the boot in part or in whole. Regularly inspecting safety boots is particularly important for emergency service workers to avoid unnecessary injury. However, while a sole is vulnerable to wear and tear, a nicely broken-in upper can escape virtually unscathed and have tons of life left in it. We’ve found that HAIX boots can be re-soled around three times because the thick upper leather is so strong.

Our partner, The Boot Repair Company, can repair, stitch and welt each boot by hand using original HAIX components, which are 100% manufactured in Europe to meet socially responsible guidelines. A full resole offers renewed grip and posture and can double the life expectancy of HAIX footwear.

From a boot care perspective – wearers should use proper polish, wash them down, keep the leather nourished, and avoid over-drying them by exposing them to prolonged heat as the leather might crack.

Why should firefighters invest in their footwear?

Selecting safety footwear should be taken seriously, considering both the long-term benefits and potential impacts incorrect choices can have. From a financial perspective, buying quality items saves money – even if the initial expense is higher.  But you can’t put a price on health and safety. Ill-fitting or poor-quality footwear can leave firefighters vulnerable to developing or worsening musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Research has shown that at least 50% of workers are exposed to the risk of MSDs due to spending prolonged hours standing at work.

Firefighters can reduce the risk by choosing footwear designed with superior cushioning technology and constructed from smarter materials. Modern materials used in the interior lining of boots can help prevent blisters and soft-tissue injury by reducing friction and pressure. Discomfort, whether from ill-fitting footwear or from friction injuries such as blisters, can lead to changes in natural body posture while standing or walking.

When suffering such injuries, we may tend to ‘favour’ weight bearing on a non-injured foot (limping, for example), or standing in an unnatural position to avoid pain or discomfort. This can lead to strain or injury in turn, or if left uncorrected longer term can potentially lead to more serious musculoskeletal disorders. It is important to invest in boots with a climatic control system that regulates temperatures within the boot because damp feet are more likely to experience friction injuries. Quality is also vital to ensure longevity.

Every outside component of a HAIX firefighter boot must survive ten seconds of flame treatment without damage or burning and be able to withstand 250°C for 40 minutes without major damage to the sole. Although laboratory testing and development is a foundation of any high-quality product, HAIX’s commitment to wearer trials takes things a step further.

Testers are equipped with boots for months at a time to use during their day-to-day routine activities to ensure boots are built to last. Ultimately, investing in high-quality footwear provides a long-term investment that supports wearer health as well as safety.

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

IFSJ Exclusive: Improving early wildfire detection with GRIDWIDE FIRE-SPY

by Featured NewsIFSJ Exclusives
Alan Snook, President at GRID20/20 tells IFSJ about the fire detection solution that helps catch wildfires early

For many, the threat of wildfire is omnipresent and its ability to devastate is unpredictable and unprecedented. On 8 November 2018, the Paradise fire in California spread over seven miles in 90 minutes, crossed a large canyon, claimed the lives of 85 and resulted in over $25.5 billion in costs and settlements. For Alan Snook, President at GRID20/20, the Paradise tragedy was a catalyst for innovation. And annual wildfire damages of $50 Billion to $100+ Billion assures him they are on the right track.

While watching a documentary about the Paradise fire, Snook considered how his team could leverage their company’s intra-grid sensor expertise and capitalise on the height, location and density of existing overhead transformers to create proactive always-on fire/wildfire monitoring canopies throughout communities. And so GRIDWIDE FIRE-SPY was born.

In development

Initially, says Snook, the wildfire mitigation product was an add-on sensor pack to the face of his company’s legacy Advanced Transformer Infrastructure® device: “Our first generation product was a piggyback design that was sealed onto our legacy ATI hardware,” he explains.

Following multiple lab and field tests, the second-generation product is a fully-contained technology that now simultaneously includes fire detection and/or intra-grid monitoring capability. This second generation version is designed for both single phase and poly phase overhead transformers. Thus enabling deployment upon virtually every overhead distribution transformer used by operators within their existing grid architecture. GRIDWIDE FIRE-SPY devices can be mounted on most overhead transformers in 5-7 minutes causing no service interruption to customers.

Throughout the nearly two-year process of bringing GRIDWIDE FIRE-SPY to market there have been many lab and field tests. This includes: four separate field tests at a major Investor-Owned Utility’s fire training centre in Virginia, a field test at a volunteer fire department in Virginia, a field demo in Hawaii for first responders and utility personnel, and another comprehensive field demo in Ventura County California in September this year for first responder personnel, and representatives of Western Fire Chiefs Association, California State Firefighters Association, and FirstNet® Ready built by AT&T; the latter being a dedicated cellular network by which GRIDWIDE FIRE-SPY is certified.

The solution

GRIDWIDE FIRE-SPY is a turnkey wildfire mitigation solution that involves patented field sensors, automated alert capability and seamless interfacing for expedited field conditions reporting to authorised users. Snooks calls it a ‘set it and forget it’ technology; but one that users can remotely adjust as needed using over the air upgrade capability.

“Via 24/7 monitoring, our patented sensors use Infrared for ‘seeing’ fire/wildfire heat-induced conditions, plus onboard smoke/gas detection, humidity monitoring, and ambient temperature monitoring,” explains Snook. “These features are designed to detect conditions that are commonly associated with an unfolding fire.”

“The GRIDWIDE FIRE-SPY sensor data is typically driven by various types of cellular communications, thereby facilitating important auto alert capability. Our software and analytics can be seamlessly integrated with existing utility and first responder platforms and made available to authorised users via Graphical User Interface (GUI).”

GRIDWIDE FIRE-SPY uniquely reports latitude/longitude GPS coordinates thereby enabling utility operators and first responders to more accurately dispatch personnel to where wildfire conditions are being detected.

“Ongoing empirical data flow enhances situational awareness intel so the authorities can remain informed during unfolding events,” Snook explains. “The unique intra-grid monitoring capability of GRIDWIDE FIRE-SPY simultaneously reports transformer asset and intra-grid conditions insights for certain fire prevention purposes.”

GRIDWIDE FIRE-SPY presents a wildfire mitigation solution that helps to address important community-wide monitoring needs. Proactive atmospheric, environmental, and intra-grid conditions monitoring all wrapped into one sensor solution is novel, versatile, and cost-effective.

System integration

During GRID20/20’s 11-plus year intra-grid sensor experience, including the last two years experiencing the wildfire mitigation learning curve, Snook says his team has gained several insights. One of the most important realisations, he says, is that true wildfire mitigation will not be achieved by a single ‘solution’ or practice. Genuine wildfire mitigation will undoubtedly require multiple process improvements strategically combined with multiple technology tools.

To this end, he says that GRIDWIDE FIRE-SPY is a solution unique in its ability to simultaneously drive early detection, auto alerts, certain wildfire prevention capabilities, ongoing situational awareness information, and localised longitude/latitude GPS coordinates reporting for helping to pinpoint where operators and first responders must quickly target.

He notes that whilst GRIDWIDE FIRE-SPY can operate as a ‘stand-alone’ always on, overhead outdoor monitoring solution, it is strategically built to interface with other solution providers to yield the best possible outcome for at-risk communities, and all stakeholders.

Looking ahead

Near term, Snook says the intention is for GRIDWIDE FIRE-SPY to be adopted by utility operators and all stakeholders for the purpose of protecting at-risk communities. This, he says, will require decision-makers to recognise that the solution presents a comprehensive set of value propositions; achieved via the deployment of this versatile technology onto existing overhead grid architecture; right where we all live, work, sleep, commerce, and play.

By the adoption of GRIDWIDE FIRE-SPY, he anticipates that utility operators will continue to demonstrate their sincere interest to protect the communities they serve; while they too will benefit from increased wildfire protection gains to avoid or lessen damage to their grid assets, reduce corporate liability risk, and better protect the environment.

He adds that whilst video cameras have become the ‘latest tool’ being desired by authorities, he believes that people will soon recognise the comprehensive upsides that their solution presents: “GRIDWIDE FIRE-SPY doesn’t have to wait for a plume of smoke to emerge and then be sighted. Rather, we are deployed on the proverbial frontlines; improving our ability to ‘see’ and ‘sniff’ fires sooner.”

“By uniquely using infrared capabilities to ‘see’ fires, and onboard sensors to ‘smell’ wildfire conditions (e.g., smoke, gas, humidity, ambient temp) we enhance early detection opportunity. Our auto alerts feature will help to accelerate notifications to authorities. And we uniquely help to locate unfolding events via our use of longitude/latitude GPS coordinates to accelerate the pinpointing of where to deploy response resources.”

He adds: “As seen repeatedly, these nasty events are typically fanned and dispersed by wind.  Hot embers can land anywhere including substantial distances away; igniting additional fires. Time is of the essence regarding fires. The most effective solutions will detect fire conditions at, or near the source.

“Our solution is substantially based on early detection. This is how we will help to accelerate responses. This is how we help to make fire events smaller, and help to reduce or avoid disasters. By being deployed on the frontlines, GRIDWIDE FIRE-SPY is intended to provide a legitimate chance for early detection, and accelerated response effectiveness.”

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

IFSJ Exclusive: Head to Head with Greg Young, Vice President at Performance Advantage Company

by IFSJ Exclusives
Greg Young, Vice President at Performance Advantage Company, speaks with IFSJ about innovation in tool mounting and the future of the company

Greg Young has always been surrounded by the fire truck industry. He grew up around the family business, Young Fire Equipment, going to trade shows with his parents before heading to college to follow a career in mechanical engineering, gaining a broad array of experience on his journey back to fire trucks.

When I sit down with Greg and he tells me about his professional background and the road that brought him to Performance Advantage Company (PAC), he says that that having worked in a lot of different companies and projects over the years it always came back to vehicles: being around them from the arrival of the chassis, adding components, painting, welding, electrical system fitting. All of this together, he says, set the stage for his current role.

Tell me about your role at PAC and your views on the industry?

I am the Vice President of Operations and Sales. My role is to oversee and implement policy that keeps our organisation running and growing. I also look for business opportunities that will help our organisation grow as well as solving the needs for other manufacturers or dealers out there in different industries looking for tool mounting solutions.

 I’ve been back in the fire industry for ten years now here at Performance Advantage Company. I’ve made a lot of new relationships, some of them because they were business relationships but also just because we’re all in the industry together and we’re all of the same background, just trying to do things for the common good. I really understand the dynamics and the challenges of the manufacturing as well as this industry, so I’ve been having a great time making new connections and new relationships in this industry.

What have you been working on recently?

We have been looking at our current product line and looking at ways that we need to adapt to what’s been happening in the industry. We’ve been mounting tools for a long time but there are new designs out there that make us go back and look to see if our mount is still applicable for what’s on the market and there are some changes that we’ve had to make to accommodate different thicknesses and dimensions. We’ve been rethinking our standard brackets and tweaking them so they can accommodate what is available on the marketplace.

We’ve also been looking at new problems for which there haven’t been solutions. One of these is hand sanitisers. They’re such a small thing but they are out there and they’re rolling around in trucks. We want to get them in a place where everyone can find them and use them, so we made a mount for that and it is being received well. Buckets are another product which there hasn’t previously been a need to mount. We’re doing our best to get them up and visible in a place where people can access them in a safe and ergonomic way.

Are there any trends in the industry that have been impacting your business and your product development?

Rescue tools generally haven’t changed much over the years, but the electrification of tools is a big deal. Things are getting smaller and the tools are getting longer because the battery is now a fuel source. There isn’t an external hydraulic power source anymore – everything is self-contained.

These footprint changes of each tool are causing us to go back and look at our bracket and tool mounting lines and ask so ‘is this still appropriate for mounting a line of cutters or rams, extrication tools in general. Now that they’re electrified, we have to go back and look to see if the footprints match up with what we’ve been producing which has been for the hydraulic and gas powered tools, not really knowing what’s coming next.

We have to keep a watch over what’s coming out and get our hands on as many of these new models as we can. If we’re calling something a chainsaw mount or a cutter mount then it had better be all-encompassing and work for all different power sources. We need to make sure that what have works for the wide variety, cast a big net and make sure our products work for everything in that net.

Are there any solutions, tool mounting or otherwise, that you think will become more prominent in the years ahead?

There’s going to be a big push in the years ahead for fully cleanable and decontamination systems for tools, tool mount systems and compartments. Everything is going to have to be chemical-resistant. We talk about clean cab concepts and washing down tools and we want to remove harmful contaminants from tools and protect those using them.

All-electric extrication tools are going to become the norm which means we are going to see a rise in chargers and batteries that are brand specific, which are likely to change from year to year as they innovate and change sizes. One of the things that will be difficult for us is to mount chargers and batteries when there is no standard yet. Departments are going to need a lot of batteries and a lot of chargers so they can stay running as long as they need to when they’re in the field. The challenge for us is how to organise these electric tools.

As fire departments design new trucks they’re going to want charging outlets in the compartment. Where will they be placed? Will they interfere with other elements in that cab? This is going to be a conversation that will become increasingly commonplace among manufacturers.

Decontamination is a prominent issue for the fire industry – is that impacting the way you’re designing your mounts?

It is something that we’ve been looking at. There are tools that will want to be mounted, we need chemical resistance and drains in the tools so the fluids don’t pool and puddle. They need to be cleanable. This is something that is going to become a normal conversation down the road. We’re not there yet, but clean cab concepts are important and tools will be the next thing.

What challenges have you faced as a result of the pandemic or supply chain issues and labour shortages?

We have always had a goal that we manage our stock in a way that allows us to serve the fire industry as quickly as possible. Our products are something that go into a truck at the last stage of assembly and we don’t want to hold up a truck going into service.

We carry our stock in a way that allows us to ship quickly. If you want something we ship within a 24-hour time frame. However, because of the pandemic several of our vendors and suppliers are having much longer lead times, so it is taking them longer to get our product together. We were bringing in more at one time to accommodate for those longer lead times.

We’re having conversations with our vendors to guarantee long term purchases, give them forecasting and blanket purchase orders. It is starting to subside now but it caused us a big headache during the pandemic because we had to carry more material earlier which was a challenge in terms of floorspace. These challenges are new territory in the marketplace, we just have to make sure we have material to keep our customers running and keep trucks on the road.

Are there any regions you’re currently focused on working in/increasing your presence in?

We have a general space which we focus on which is tool mounting on vehicles, that’s our specialty, and that can be in any industry or region of the world. We’re looking at all situations where there is a need for tool mounting on vehicles, making sure that we have a fit there. We have a proven track record of creating solutions in those areas and in all industries. That includes military, law enforcement and of course fire.

There are situations where manufacturers of other things need to mount something to their apparatus, whether that is an industrial machine or a pump system. We welcome the opportunity to talk with manufacturers, we actively pursue those opportunities. Those are situations where we’re open to discussing those opportunities, and I don’t think people originally think of us as that. We’re here to have conversations that go above and beyond.

What plans does PAC have for the future?

One thing we’re getting closer is to overhaul our customer database software. We want our customers to know that we are here, we are strong, and our product line is diverse. We want to put the tools in place that let our team do that effectively and efficiently.

We are busy, we’re getting busier, and we’re looking at ways for the software to work for us and take care of these manual operations, streamlining this automation. The fire industry as a whole isn’t always the most technology minded. The industry is gaining momentum towards automation and embracing the future and we need to do the same, so we are exploring this area.

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

IFSJ Exclusive: Inside Bullard’s TXS Thermal Imager

by IFSJ Exclusives
IFSJ takes a look at Bullard’s new, lightweight thermal imaging camera the TXS Thermal Imager

Small in both shape and weight, the new TXS Thermal Imager from protection equipment manufacturer Bullard joins its range of firefighting thermal imaging cameras. The new model was created as an affordable option in order to offer all firefighting teams the ability to be fully equipped during an emergency.

The lightweight TXS offers a clear image that will help firefighters better understand the situation in front of them using the device’s high-resolution infrared sensor and proprietary image enhancement technology.

Bullard thermal imaging cameras were first introduced to the fire service market in 1998 with its first high-resolution thermal imager, the Bullard TI. The latest model follows the same formula that has made its predecessors a success: robust design, high quality and ergonomic form factor.

The new device also aims to prove that Bullard’s footprint is more international than ever. Developed in the Swiss-based Bullard Technology Center and in close cooperation with European fire departments, the Bullard TXS is manufactured in the Unites States and distributed in the US and Europe via Bullard’s close[1]-knit, proven dealer network of firefighting professionals.

“Like all our developments for the fire safety products market, the new Bullard TXS delivers on what we call the Bullard Tough promise”, says Martijn Bosch, Bullard Thermal Imaging Product Manager at the Swiss Bullard Technology Center, noting that the camera is built for the most demanding of situations and comes with 5 years warranty.

Bosch says the device is purposely built for the fire service and was designed with the input of end users from across the world. The result is a lightweight thermal imager the features a compact but highly durable design.

Lightweight design

Bullard TXS is robust, easy-to-handle and lightweight. Clocking in at just 750g including battery, the compact, ergonomically designed camera is shaped to fit comfortably in the gloved hand and is to be stowed easily via lanyard. At the touch of a button, the TXS is immediately ready for action capable of functioning for 6 hours of continuous use due to its Li-Ion battery and intuitive charging options.

The yellow-orange-red coloring is standard, as is the numerical and graphic temperature display. Thanks to the resolution of 320 x 240 pixels and a 3.5” screen with 30Hz frame rate, the thermal imager delivers a clear image that provides attack squads with all important information which Bosch says is presented: “At a price that makes the Bullard TXS Thermal Imager the TI solution of choice when budget, quality, and performance are essential. TXS gives you all the vital information you need, without ever weighing you down – all that at an incredible value.”

The purpose of the TXS, says Bosch, is to support as many firefighters as possible to have access to this time and life-saving technology with a clear image quality that allows users to see more earlier and make decisions faster, making it beneficial for any firefighter task.

Bosch points out that earlier this year the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which is part of the World Health Organization, classifies the occupational carcinogenic exposure experienced by a firefighter in the highest category. The rating changed on June 15th, 2022, from IARC category 2b (potentially carcinogenic risk) to IARC category 1a (known carcinogenic risk).

“The longer you are exposed the higher is the risk of being exposed,” says Bosch. “Using a thermal imager correctly can potentially help fulfilling tasks quicker. The thermal imager not only allows the user to see differences in temperatures but also to make heat radiation and its movement visible. You can also see physicochemical reactions.”

A device in every department

Twenty years ago, says Bosch, a fire department might have had one thermal imager. It would be a piece of kit that would cost a fortune would more than likely be locked away and only taken it out on the most critical missions. “I’m exaggerating a bit of course, but the use has changed enormously since,” he says. “Now departments want their firefighters to bring thermal imagers on all missions as more eyes and thermal images on the fire increases the safety and effectiveness of all.

“Bullard wanted to support this trend and talked to many firefighters and chiefs on specific needs to enable them to equip more firefighters with imagers. We established that a compact and lightweight design was key, to reduce the combined weight of all the gear, while maintaining a great image quality at an incredible durability, safe for structural firefighting. Of course, also the price is critical and we have managed to make the TXS our most affordable imager by a great leap.”

In order to ensure the TXS does what it is supposed to, the device underwent multiple stages of testing throughout the development process. Bosch says that a lot of the functional testing Bullard carries out is done together with fire stations in order to fine-tune the design to their feedback. Following that, there is a large batch of lab tests, loosely based on the NFPA1801 standard, to ensure the durability and safety of the device. The testing process is finished off with the compliance tests necessary for market admission, such as the CE standard.

High-definition imaging

The key things to note about the TXS is that it is a compact, lightweight and genuinely robust thermal imager. In addition to its structural soundness, some of the key innovations are to be found in the image quality. “You’ll notice a very low lag – the image follows without stuttering if you look around or change from a low to high temperature scene,” Bosch tells. “We have achieved by carefully designing the image pipeline (lens – sensor – computing – software – display) to be blazingly fast at every stage.”

Bosch adds that in his experience, there are many imagers in the lower priced segments that he believes make sacrifices on the image quality, which is why Bullard worked to ensure that the TXS captures a clear image at a lower price point: “Try to get your hands on one, take it into a burn and I guarantee that you won’t go back to your bulky old imager.”

Better after fire

Earlier this year at the INTERSCHUTZ trade show in Hannover, Germany, the Lohmar Volunteer Fire Department presented its concept for operational hygiene. At its heart was the hygiene unit: three tents which were divided into black and white areas where its members ensure that comrades could get rid of contaminated fire protection clothing and helmets as quickly as possible. The emphasis was to show the effectiveness and benefits of removing contaminated gear at the scene of the incident rather than back at the station.

Two hygiene specialists were on hand in the rapid change of clothing, showing that this would involve their coming into contact with contaminated equipment. To prevent negative health effects of being exposed to contaminated gear, the Lohmar Volunteer Fire Department relied on the new EVA powered air-purifying respirator from Bullard.

The advantages of the reusable system, which is available with different hoods and filters, are obvious, says Sub-Fire Chief André Neff: “The lightweight respiratory protection always sits where it belongs; even for beard and glasses wearers. Even when bending down and handling contaminated equipment, nothing slips. This allows our hygiene unit to concentrate fully on its task.”

Exclusive: Realistic fire training with LION

by IFSJ ExclusivesTraining
Martin Joosen, Managing Director at LION (EMEA), talks the latest in digital training solutions that can save on cost whilst preserving efficacy

From digital propane to carbonaceous (class A) fire training solutions, the realism of real-life training is a constant factor in training program development. However, with the recent rise of gas prices in Europe and the rising interest in clean systems, new ways of training need to be developed. Down the line, the goal is to reduce resource expenses like gas usage and lower health and environmental risks during training exercises.

This new approach includes a long-term strategic vision and regular and adequate control over resources and their costs. Everyone considers these essential aspects when developing a training program or looking at healthy turnover for private fire training structures.

Training programs and courses are costly to create in time and resources, to put in place and to keep going regularly. Moreover, a vast audience must also be addressed, from firefighters and special intervention teams to security professionals, training schools and training companies. And even if you managed to get all the above together, the logistic and organisation necessary to get the expected return on investment on the training program is not always as high as we would like.

These days, the elaboration of fire and safety training is closer to a “magical” ground-breaking algorithm than the traditional “create and plan” processes we use. Power and fuel supply like electricity or gas are becoming a heavier part of the budget of training centres, public or private, if it has not already the most significant part.

The cost of fire training

A fire point consumes in 10 minutes up to 4.3 kg of propane gas and a rollover uses 1.5kg of propane gas each time it is turned on, therefore we can calculate that a minimum of 10 minutes of fire training using one gas simulator piles up to a gas usage of 5.8kg.

At the end of September 2022, the gas prices are around €1.65 per kg. Thus a 10-minute fire training using one gas simulator costs nowadays €9.57. To this extent, a training session of 12 people with minimal training set-up and only 1 simulator being used will have a price tag of €57.42.

On the other side, we also know that repetition creates “muscle memory,” which is key to a successful training outcome. You must train as often as possible and within a realistic environment, focused on realism, safe use, and cost-effectiveness. So how can you balance regular training and keeping your cost of operations under control?

Digital fire training equipment

Repetition is one of the most critical parts of good training. Digital training simulators are supplied with electricity, facilitating regular exercise without bearing unforeseen costs due to fluctuating gas pricing. Those training simulators also lower the exposure time of the trainees and instructors to dangerous situations or environments with digital systems.

Not all trainees are fire professionals with adequate protection (such as PPE, SCBA) that need to get used to intense flame and heat. Another great advantage is that the training can occur where the fire hazard is. For example, exercises can happen in the trainee’s building, site, or area. Think of the kitchen for a hospital where the most significant risk is. You can also train during summertime when water restrictions and high temperatures forbid you from using water, gas, or wood.

Realism is key

With the first generation of digital training equipment, it was not possible to train with a high level of realism. After implementing user feedback and advice, the new generation of digital products allows you to get familiar with all firefighting techniques; within all environments such as offices, real-life airplanes, and engine rooms.

You can use water or adapted laser-driven portable extinguishers and nozzles. You can also use your own equipment. No virtual reality or simulation, virtual prop that might make you seasick or nauseous, only actual and singular products. You can take the training to the next level, anywhere, anytime.

After several years on the market, digital fire training products are reaching a new level of realism. They can perfectly replicate the responding fire behaviour on used firefighting techniques in most well-known and standard fire classes. You can now add smoke and heating elements and enhance your training scenario and create a combined simulation with the right amount of cold smoke behaving like real smoke.

Give it shot

Do not let hesitations on realism or global instability around gas supply stop you from fire training – instead try digital fire training. Save on your operations recurring costs and keep on training. Take it to the next level. Add LION digital products to your traditional training equipment. At this point, this is one of the most promising answers to the growing concerns and questions surrounding gas prices, fire training, environmental impact, and natural evolution in this challenging world.

Exclusive: Stopping electrical fires before they start

by IFSJ ExclusivesSafety
Matthew McKaig, Director of Communications at Thermarestor, talks about the electrical overheating detection system that is preventing ignition.

Anything that uses electricity as a source of supply has the potential to cause a fire. In the UK alone there are approximately 25,000 fires of an electrical origin each year. Unfortunately, the problem is not just confirmed to this country; in many countries around the world electricity is the most significant factor in terms of the cause of fires. In electrical fires the source of ignition – the thing that actually causes a fire – is excessive heat.

Thermarestor was created because there was not a low cost and accessible product on the market which could alert a third party to excessive, pre-ignition heat in electrical locations. As a pre-ignition solution to the problem, it represents a step change in fire safety. The vast majority of fire safety measures are post-ignition and seek to contain the effects of a fire. Thermarestor prevents such fires from happening in the first place.

The major cause of fires involving fixed wire installations is localised resistive heating – loose, poorly made and oxidized electrical connections generates excessive heat, often confined to a relatively small area. If the heating process continues unnoticed over a period of time, ‘thermal runaway’ can occur, whereby the heat generated cannot be dissipated, resulting in temperatures exceeding 1300˚C, hot enough to ignite any adjacent combustible materials. Prolonged electrical overload can have a similar effect, especially in relation to electrical intakes.

Unfortunately, existing circuit devices such as MCBs and RCDs offer no protection, as they are unable to detect heat generated at the points of connection. Similarly, regularly inspecting and testing the electrical installation (an EICR in the UK) does not necessarily provide protection, because it is primarily concerned with determining if the installation is electrically safe for continued use, rather than focusing upon the risk of an electrical fire. Given the recommended interval between inspections – and the fact that only a sample of the connected accessories, such as sockets, are routinely inspected – a resistive heating fault can easily develop unnoticed.

Identifying hotspots

Thermal imaging using infrared cameras to detect ‘hotspots’ is another means of assessing the health of an electrical installation. However, the usefulness of such a survey is dependent upon all electrical loads being present at the time of inspection, as the survey only records a snapshot at that moment in time when the camera passes over the connection point. As an example, many older properties rely upon ‘off-peak’ electric heating and this is perhaps their biggest electrical load; unless the thermal survey is undertaken at night during the winter months this load will not be present.

The advantage Thermarestor has over thermal scanning is that it is present 24/7 and has the added benefit of being able to notify someone the instant that excessive heat is present. This means that a potential emergency situation is avoided – becoming a maintenance issue instead; the fault causing the overheating can be investigated and rectified.

Pre-ignition warning

Thermarestor provides continuous monitoring and protection of electrical components and accessories in a variety of environments. It actively prevents electrical fires from happening. It is a heat detection system that can be installed to permanently monitor the temperature of electrical connections and components. In the event that abnormal temperatures are detected, it can be configured to instantly notify occupants, and/or make a power disconnection.

The technology protects installations by sensing heat from high resistance connections and overload. It is fundamentally a small electro-mechanical switch which, on activation, closes a circuit – which means that it can send an alert to a third party, and/or disconnect the power.

As a fire prevention system, Thermarestor provides protection against the most common cause of electrical fires in low voltage electrical installations – localised resistive heating, caused by loose and poor connections. It can be installed to both new and existing installations, allowing thermal monitoring of incoming supplies, distribution boards, switchgear and accessories, such as socket outlets.

Connection to existing fire alarm and Building Management Systems is simple and straightforward and provides a highly effective means of notifying occupants of any overheat conditions. We also offer a ‘standalone’ notification system, by means of our ‘MetaCom’ communicator, which sends text messages and e-mail alerts, immediately identifying the location of the fault.

This allows such incidents to be investigated as a maintenance issue, thus mitigating the risk of a fire developing and avoiding the need for an emergency response, by providing permanently installed protection for people and property.

Early detection

Thermarestor can be a game changer because it facilitates the sending of an alert to a third party prior to ignition, whereas most detection systems are post ignition. That is not to say that post ignition measures lack credibility, not in the slightest, but if there is an opportunity to turn a potential fire into a maintenance issue, then – and on balance – this must be a good path to tread. Thermarestor thereby builds further fire safety into the whole dynamic.

The device is also important because it could provide the ‘missing link’ in the IOT dynamic. Whilst Thermarestor’s role within the piece is small, its significance is arguably substantive, as it helps enable the prevention of fires, sending early warning of developing problems to nominated individuals prior to ignition – whereas the current emphasis is on post ignition measures when, some might argue, it’s simply too late.

Looking ahead

To date, Thermarestor’s pre-ignition detection solution has been installed at a number of locations, including Scotney Castle, Salisbury Cathedral, Newbury Race Course Apartments, at a solar farm in Wymeswold, Hinckley Point C Nuclear Data Centre, Forum des Halles and Nestle HQ in Paris. There are also pilot projects taking place at McDonald’s in Switzerland, Germany, England and Chile.  

Looking ahead we have several plans and projects in the works. One is to continue with the installation of ‘standard’ Thermarestor applications, particularly electrical Distribution Boards in all types of building, especially heritage structures. Social Housing estates might also find the device fulfils an important role in fire prevention. There are also plans for a pilot at a large PV Solar farm in Brazil whilst researching similar applications within the same industry.

In addition, we will continue to scope other applications for the device, including within the Lithium-Ion battery industry; with potential for domestic EVs particularly, also with battery charge/storage boxes. We will remain open to further applications for Thermarestor, particularly with white goods, also perhaps with the detection of excessive heat due to friction.

Finally, a certain sector of the insurance industry has shown some interest in the device, as it is thought that this innovation may well be able to reduce the incidence of fire. That it can do this prior to ignition is likely to be an attractive feature from both the insured’s and insurer’s perspectives. This must be an area which should also be investigated more thoroughly.

In terms of emphasis, the Fire Safety industry can sometimes appear to concentrate more on detecting and dealing with a fire than with its prevention. There are complicated reasons for this, but Thermarestor should help contribute towards righting this balance, so that more attention is given to trying to ensure that the fire does not start in the first place – so less smoke/fire damage to property, little interruption in business continuity, lower insurance premiums also a potentially lower level of harm to human life.

Exclusive: Dedicated passive protection with ROCKWOOL

by IFSJ ExclusivesPassive
Paul Barrett, Head of Product Management at ROCKWOOL® UK, discusses the FIREPRO® RANGE and how it was used at London’s digital campus, Here East

Since it was established in 1979, ROCKWOOL has served as the UK’s leading manufacturer of non-combustible stone wool insulation, supporting the creation of buildings that feature high levels of passive fire protection by integrating its insulation into the fabric of a building.

Stone wool is manufactured from naturally occurring volcanic rock which is a vastly abundant material.  Being made from volcanic rock means that stone wool is naturally non-combustible and is capable of withstanding temperatures in excess of 1000oC.

Over the years, the fire protection properties of stone wool have helped to protect many lives and its unique thermal properties have improved the indoor climate of many buildings and homes. Our products have been installed in domestic, commercial and industrial buildings of all types, from prestige projects including London’s O2 Arena and Hong Kong Airport to family homes, local hospitals and schools in many countries

However, for the past 43 years, ROCKWOOL has expanded its fire protection solutions with the FIREPRO range – products which provide firestopping and fire resistance throughout an entire building, from service penetrations to compartmentation.  

We wanted to extend our passive fire protection range beyond core stone wool products to offer a complete solution. Our aim was to help architects, contractors and developers conform to current fire regulations, making buildings and their inhabitants safer in the event of fire.

The result was the FIREPRO range. The FIREPRO range provides access to a comprehensive suite of passive fire protection products and certified solutions. Today, the FIREPROsuite of solutions includes over 25 product ranges designed for a variety of applications.

For example, ROCKWOOL Fire Barrier and Fire Barrier Slab were developed to offer easy to install solutions that effectively help to prevent the spread of fire and smoke within unseen roof and ceiling voids. The ROCKWOOL BEAMCLAD System provides a complete ‘tool-box’ of fire protection options for the diversity of modern steel construction. To effectively reinstate compartmentation within fire rated walls and floors, we developed the FIREPRO Ablative Coated Batt which offers a property critical fire stopping protection.

ROCKWOOL in action – Here East Digital Campus, UK

The former Olympic Broadcast and Press Centres on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park – a space that captured and lived many of the most memorable moments of the 2012 London Olympic games – is now a world-class digital campus, Here East.

The dynamic redevelopment of Here East involved the transformation of the former Media Campus and more specifically, the Main Press Centre, Main Media Conference Room and International Broadcasting Centre, to provide a first of its kind location, complete with state-of-the-art infrastructure, for creative and digital industries.

The development is home to BT Sport’s headquarters, incorporating offices, restaurants, studio space and a data centre alongside new facilities for UCL, Loughborough University and Hackney Community College. Main contractor, Laing O’Rourke led the transformation of Here East into this all-round multi-use campus which will deliver a lasting educational and commercial legacy in East London. 

The challenge

With an innovative design which has created a modern, multi-purpose campus, Here East was built to the highest performance and fire safety specifications. The team at Laing O’Rourke were tasked with designing the building’s fire protection scheme that also accommodates building movements such as movement between floors and in services. 

This proved a major challenge, as the fire safety design needed to use air sealing and fire stopping systems that were compatible with the structures of the various buildings on the development. 

The ROCKWOOL solution

The ROCKWOOL FIREPRO SoftSeal System in combination with FIREPRO® SoftSeal Coated Strips was selected and installed by fire protection contractor Roseville to meet the project design specification.

ROCKWOOL FIREPRO SoftSeal System is a flexible, firestopping solution particularly suited to service penetrations and linear joints, where a high degree of movement needs to be accommodated, making it ideal for use in this type of application. The system can accommodate movement of +/- 25% and can be used for both vertical and horizontal applications to reinstate the fire resistance and acoustic performance in the re-purposing of the buildings where voids have been created for the passage of services.

At Here East, approximately 1300 linear metres of FIREPRO SoftSeal System were installed. The area between the slab and exterior cladding was filled with SoftSeal Linear Joint Strips, which are designed and tested to meet the fire resistance standard BS EN 1366-3. The SoftSeal system was also incorporated into the service penetrations, in the form of SoftSeal Coated Strips, which are classified to EN 13501-2 and have been tested to the dedicated fire resistance standard BS EN1366-4.

FIREPRO SoftSeal strips coated on both the top and bottom edges were used in this project to provide a clean, white coated finish. These strips help to extend the fire stopping and acoustic performance of the building where voids have been created for passage of services. 

Speaking about the project, Arthur Nelmes, Divisional Director – Passive Fire Protection, Roseville, said: “Fire protection was a major performance criterion for this project. ROCKWOOL was able to deliver products with the long-lasting firestopping performance we needed to achieve on this type of development whilst also being reliable and easy to install. ROCKWOOL FIREPRO SoftSeal system also simplified the application by providing proven fire and acoustic insulation performance all in one solution.” 

The ROCKWOOL solution has played a major role in meeting the performance standards required for the delivery of Here East. The structural fire protection and firestopping solution will effectively minimise the risk of fire spread and protect the people and property within the buildings.

Exclusive: Keeping fire suppression in proportion

by Fire SuppressionIFSJ Exclusives
IFSJ sat down with Frank Preiss, Managing Director at FireDos GmbH, to discuss the development of proportioning systems and extinguishing monitors for fire suppression

Over twenty years ago, FireDos developed and established the proportioning concept consisting of a water motor and piston pump and with it the environmentally friendly and cost-effective testing of the proportioning rate, without the production of foam or premix. Since then, it has delivered more than 14,000 units to municipalities and industrial customers around the world.

In 1979 the technology was initially developed and used in industrial dosing systems. In 1994, the first proportioners were used by fire brigades. In the following year the proportioners were optimised for use for stationary fire protection. In 2013 FireDos made the decision to expand the product portfolio and a range for fire extinguishing monitors was developed. The focus was put on big flow volumes, extended reach, and remote control, but product for mechanical operation with small water flows are available.

“Our focus is on customer service, including technical training and quick response to any industry inquiries,” says Frank Preiss, Managing Director at FireDos. “We have the products certified by globally recognised institution such as FM Approvals and VdS and are certified according to ISO 9001 (Quality Management System) and 140001 (Environmental Management System). All of the systems that leave our plant have been 100% tested over the complete operating range at our state-of-the-art test bench.”

Proportioning systems

Foam, says Preiss, has proven to be the best medium to extinguish fluid fires. It consists of water, foam concentrate and air. The foam concentrate is mixed with the extinguishing water at a precisely defined rate. Air is then added to this premix to generate the foam.

NFPA 11, a standard written be the internationally recognised US National Fire Protection Association, describes various types of foam concentrate proportioning equipment. There are three technologies that are most commonly used: the bladder tank in combination with mainly venturi proportioners, the driven proportioning pumps with flow meter and the water motor with proportioning pump.

Preiss says that whilst there are various differences and advantages and disadvantages for all technologies, tight limits for the proportioning of foam concentrate apply to all of them. He explains: “The proportioning rate must not be less than the permitted values – i.e. 3% for a 3% foam concentrate or 6% for a 6% foam concentrate.

“The proportioning rate must not exceed 30% or an absolute maximum of 1% above the permitted value i.e. 3,9% for a 3% foam concentrate or 7,0% for a 6% foam concentrate. And to guarantee correct proportioning, the proportioner, including the proportioning rate must be tested at least once per year and its correct functioning must be checked.”

FireDos has decided to focus on water motors with proportioning pumps, Preiss tells. “We have engineered a proportioning system specifically for firefighting foams. All other technologies are using pumps that have been designed for various liquids, but we see that with our in-house developed and optimised water motor coupled with a piston pump specifically designed for foam concentrates we get the best results over a wide range of foam concentrate viscosities and operating ranges.

“The operating ranges being system pressures and extinguishing water flow rates. In addition, the system is purely mechanical, and the proportioning rate can be tested without creating foam or premix. This is cost-effective and eco-friendly.”

When selecting a proportioning system, Preiss advises first to decide on what foam concentrate to use. Once this has been decided the suitable fire protection concept, including alternative scenarios, must be developed. Only then, he says, should the decision be made on which proportioning system is to be used.

Extinguishing monitors

Extinguishing systems typically consist of a fire pump, a proportioning system and tank for the foam concentrate, discharge devices such as foam nozzles, sprinklers, foam pipes or fire monitors and the corresponding piping.

Firefighting monitors are discharge devices mounted stationary on pillars or towers or mobile on vehicles or trailers and available in many sizes. They are suitable to discharge water to extinguish regular class A (solid combustible materials) fires or foam, e.g., to extinguish flammable liquids such as a surface fire in an oil storage tank. The extinguishing agent flow rate can be over 50 000 l/min and the reach can be up to 180m if the pressure of the fire pumps is sufficient.

The main advantage of using firefighting monitors, says Preiss, is their ability to allow you to place the water or foam on a specific location, opposed to fixed extinguishing systems such as sprinklers, that can only act in their immediate vicinity. In addition, they have far throwing ranges that allow the firefighting personnel to stay outside of danger zones.

The most important consideration, he says, is the question on what must be protected and what functionality is necessary to do this: “Here the minimum and maximum water flow and the maximum required throwing range are important factors.

“For this the available maximum pressure of the fire pump, the pressure drop of the hose system and the pressure drop within the monitor is essential. Here FireDos is especially proud to have engineered their fire monitors using special hydrodynamic modelling that resulted in the innovative, flow-optimised ‘Oval Flat Design’, that ensures minimum pressure loss which in return guarantees maximum throwing ranges.”

Since the introduction of the FireDos proportioning technology over 14,000 units have been installed in over 45 countries worldwide. The installations range from small proportioning systems with a maximum water flow of 500 l/min protecting facilities such as a distillery to an installation with 5 pieces of FireDos FD20000 with a combined flow of up to 100,000 l/min protecting the tank farm of an international airport.

Recently, the company installed its biggest proportioner, an FD25000, in a Methanol plant in the US. Elsewhere for a project in the Middle East at an oil storage facility it supplied the proportioners and firefighting monitors for a mobile extinguishing system.

In recent years, Preiss says he has seen an increasing number of customers combining the FireDos proportioners and firefighting monitors as well as an increase in the quantity of remote-controlled monitors coupled with heat detection systems.

“The early fire detection system allows the full-surface monitoring of large areas using panoramic thermal imaging,” he says. “Combined with intelligent analysing software, this enables the precise localisation of a fire source. The remote-controlled FireDos monitors can then be automatically activated and used for pinpointed extinguishing of a hot spot with water or foam. This reduces the damage a fire can do and helps avoid lengthy and costly system downtime and collateral damage with little effort.”

What’s next for fire protection?

Preiss says that FireDos is seeing is a continued demand for quality extinguishing components and systems: “The industry has seen a lot of fires over the last years that have sensitised the awareness for the need of functioning and reliable fire extinguishing technology. We are also seeing a drive in the recycling and waste management facilities towards modern technology.

“In addition, the transition in a lot of countries from older, fluorine containing foam concentrates to new fluorine free and more environmentally friendly products has opened the door for rethinking the technology that has been used to date.

“Firefighting is essential for all industrial applications, and we anticipate seeing a continued demand for our technology. It will though remain to be seen if we will have a global recession in 2023 and what effect this will have on all safety related installations.”

For FireDos, Preiss says they will continue to be a world class leader in the development and production of innovative and reliable proportioning systems, extinguishing monitors and trailers for firefighting. The company will concentrate on two product lines: “For one the enhancement of our remote-controlled monitor technology in combination with early fire detection and the improvement of automatic fire extinguishing and for the other the expansion of our smart proportioning technology.

“This will allow remote monitoring of our mechanical proportioners to optimise the maintenance process through predictive analysis, allow remote troubleshooting and ultimately increase the equipment reliability and reduce costs.”

Mid-Air Fire Protection and the Internet of Things

by IFSJ Exclusives
Dr Omar Kaddouha, Director Flight Safety and Chief of Accident Investigation at the Lebanese Ministry of Public Works and Transport looks at the Internet of Things in aircraft firefighting

An inflight fire is probably the most hazardous situation that flight crew can face. Once fire in the cabin or other locations of the aircraft gain momentum, even forceful intervention by the flight crew may not prevent a catastrophic loss of that aircraft and within a very short time, it becomes unlikely that the crew are able to extinguish it.

Historically, and in the absence of statistical records of fire in the air, incidents were investigated and mitigated after their occurrence and the civil aviation regulators defined new requirements to prevent these fires from happening. Aircraft and equipment manufacturers developed designs to be implemented at the aircraft production level and, for immediate regulatory compliance requirements, supplied retrofits for older aircraft models.

Most fire prevention designs rely on advance heat and smoke detection sensors to alert other inbuilt systems and crew on the event. Advance technology, however, can take the detection system process further to enable remote fire isolation and control and the Internet of Things (IoT) may become one of them.

Design principles

Aviation safety focuses on fire risk prevention in flight. To prevent fire from occurring, separating the three responsible elements for creating a fire – fuel, the ignition source and oxygen – becomes a major design principle.

In the initial design stages, and while assessing the risk of fire, it is essential to consider passive and active design features that contribute to the reduction of fire risk. During the initial design stages it is necessary to consider the use of fire retardant material such as non-combustible or self-extinguishing materials.

Throughout the detail design stages, passive features such as means of separating of the fire enabling elements by routing, compartmentalisation, isolation, ventilation, drainage, bonding and grounding are detailed. Active design features are necessary to isolate and control fire, particularly in engines, cargo compartments and the landing gear bay. Active design features include fire and overheat detection systems, fire-suppression systems, temperature sensing, air shut-off means and automatic shutdown of non-flight critical systems.

Fire threat types

First there are engine fires. An engine fire is detected and contained by the aircraft fire detection and suppression systems. Fire from an explosive breakup of the turbine may not be contained by the suppression system and it may spread to the wing and/or fuselage. When an engine fire has been successfully contained the risk that the fire may reignite remains and the crew must land the aircraft as soon as possible to allow ground and fire crews to carry out a visual examination of the engine.

Second, there are cabin fires. A fire within the cabin can be detected and contained by the crew using on-board firefighting equipment. Fire in the cabin also necessitates landing the aircraft as soon as possible because of smoke and the potential reigniting of the fire. Ground and fire crews must carry out a detailed examination of the cause of the fire and the resulting damage.

Finally, a hidden fire could start in inaccessible areas of the cabin causing a hot spot on a wall or floor potentially triggered by unusual electrical malfunctions causing smoke or fumes in the cabin. Some hidden fires may be detected by onboard fire detection systems or by the crew or passengers noticing smoke or fumes.

Hidden fire is the most dangerous type of fire for two reasons: they are difficult to locate and access for extinguishing, the time spent for locating hidden fires may allow the fire to take hold and do considerable damage to the aircraft; and a hidden fire may be difficult to confirm, delaying the crew from initiating an emergency landing. The consequence of such a delay may be that the fire becomes non-survivable before the aircraft has an opportunity to land.

Flame detection and suppression systems

Aircraft fire protection systems allow the flight crew to detect fire in its preliminary stages, using different sensors depending on the location where the chances of fire are highly probable.

An engine fire detection and suppression system is a dual loop sensing mechanism comprising two sensing elements called Loop A and Loop B. When a fire is detected, a signal is sent to an onboard fire detection control unit that alerts the crew to activate the two fire extinguishers assigned to each engine, by using fire switches in the cockpit.

Another form of automatic sensing devices is the ionisation type smoke detectors installed in lavatories which activate automatic fire extinguishers once it has detected around 77° C. Inside the cargo compartments, photoelectric type smoke detectors are installed to detect any smoke in its early stage. Fire extinguishers are located inside the cargo compartment, cockpit and cabin and can be used by the flight crew to extinguish the fire.

Airport firefighting systems respond primarily to an aircraft crash and the resulting fire eruption caused by that crash, aircraft Rescue and Firefighting require a great deal of information to make informed tactical decisions during aircraft incidents. Preplanning for such incidents saves precious time in the deployment of firefighting assets and personnel.

Aircraft rescue

The outlook is for improving the survival rate of an aircraft accident which necessitates a widespread review of all existing and potentially in-design options that can be made available to regulators and the industry. New design features will, in some cases, involve incorporating new features to the aircraft at the design stage where costs can be more easily absorbed. Retrofits on the other hand may become costly and their implementation delayed.

Implementing an effective cabin safety enhancement measure should consider several different factors that are to be ranked in importance, as potential safety measures: the expected number of lives to be saved; implementation cost of each measure whether a measure can be implemented as a retrofit to existing fleets or is only applicable to new aircraft; and implementation effectiveness.

These factors include: increased aircraft size, increased hydraulic pressures, increased use of advanced composite materials, increased passenger loads, increased fuel loads, unique uses or configuration of space, multi-deck configuration, sill height for accessing upper decks, and crew rest areas in multiple locations, lower level and overhead.

IoT applications across the aerospace industry

In line with the existing flame detection and suppression systems, IoT has become extremely beneficial to aircraft operations as it can push the boundary further and allow for instant and remote knowledge of the behaviour of aircraft systems while in operation. IoT can intelligently detect an anomaly in associated hardware, software, or systems and transmit remotely to engineers, operation control centres, manufacturers or firefighting departments such early alerts which can prevent accidents and potential fires from happening.

IoT in aerospace represents an enormous revenue potential. The aviation industry is already on the trail with the use of inbuilt systems such as ACARS for data reporting and for linking sensors to cockpit instruments to present crew information and alerts. With IoT, the aviation industry is getting ready to maximise benefits from existing systems and ultimately, enhancing aircraft and engine’s safety and reliability.

Exclusive: Firefighting on the runway with Ziegler

by IFSJ ExclusivesProductsVehicles
IFSJ sat down with Fabian Schmidt, Product Manager, ARFF Vehicles at Ziegler to talk about the new Z6 with Hybrid Drive

Can you tell me about yourself, your position at Ziegler and your background in the industry?

I am product manager for aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARRF) vehicles and am responsible for all aspects and issues regarding any firefighting vehicles which are in use at airports to secure safety on runways. It is very important to be in close contact to the end user to know about their needs, wants and wishes. ZIEGLER offers two types of ARFF vehicles, one on commercial standard chassis – the Advancer – and one on non-commercial chassis – our Z-Class product family.

I have worked for ZIEGLER Group for 14 years and since the beginning of my career I have been in close contact with airports and the wide array of people who work there. I come from a background in technical studies with an Engineers degree. In addition, over my career I have gained insights into the work of an airport firefighter on site of several airports.

Can you talk about the Z6 Hybrid: its development, why it was created, and some of its technical information?

The idea behind this development – together with Titan as chassis manufacturer – is to support airports with their efforts to reduce emissions but to still have an operational vehicle which simultaneously fulfils all relevant standards and norms independently from HV-battery charge conditions. For that reason, we have stuck with the diesel engine for the conventional version of the Z6.

Regular journeys and movements the vehicle carries out can be emission-free. For alarm drives, the Z6 Hybrid provides high performance and power levels as both power sources – the combustion engine and electric motor – are working together and lead to better acceleration and shorter intervention time.

The vehicle has both the Diesel engine with 566 kW and an electric engine with 230 kW (continuous) up to 280 kW (peak). There is also a lithium-ion battery pack with an installed energy of 104 kWh on board. Charging this is possible with an CCS 2 – fast charger (650 Volt DC) or an on-board charger (400 V / 32 A / 22kW).

Can you tell me about the planned field-testing for the Z6?

The next step for the Z6 will be testing that it performs safe and stable drive and operation when using the hybrid system. The testing will involve validation and verification of calculated and estimated performance figures, such as its fully electric drive range and its emergency response capabilities in combined hybrid drive mode.

After this basic testing there will be a field test under training and operation conditions carried out in cooperation with Fraport AG on site on Frankfurt Airport, Germany. Due to selection of SCANIA Hybrid standard components, we are sure it will achieve all expected vehicle performance figures and in addition we also guarantee a professional after sales service.

What has the user response been like for the Z6 Hybrid?

There is big interest in the new Z6 Hybrid because everyone is working towards strengthening their environmental and climate protection activity. Airports aim to become greener and more sustainable and the fire departments are confident in the optimised performance of the Z6 as a way to help reach that goal.

What special requirements are needed for airport firefighting vehicles?

Constant readiness. We are talking about a vehicle with a huge gross vehicle weight due to high volumes of extinguishing agents of water, foam and powder. This Z6 Hybrid, for example, carries over 14 tonnes which when combined with the vehicle weight comes to around 39 tonnes. The vehicle must be ready to be deployed to any point of the airport as fast as possible in case of an emergency.

The end user expects easy operation and handling of the vehicle. This is ensured through our intuitive operating concept Z-Control. The vehicles at the airport must manage high speeds whilst driving under extreme conditions with tight curves and turns. For safe cornering, the vehicles have a very low centre of gravity and in a critical drive situation a roll-over warning and stability assistant will activate.

What are your thoughts on the future of electric vehicles in firefighting?

We will continue keep our eyes open and maintain close contact and technical evaluation with our partners like chassis manufacturers. Internally we will continue to work on adequate and compatible solutions for our extinguishing technology. Besides the positive environmental impact, electric engines will provide more efficiency and performance which will be crucial for our business fields.

Is Ziegler working on anything or does it have any future plans of note that you would like to mention?

We are continuously working on the optimisation of our product, based on the very welcome feedback of our customers. In addition to that, our innovation team and product management will keep their eyes on the needs and trends of the customers and the market. The next product launch will be the next generation of our portable pump.

In addition, due to the megatrend of digital transformation, we will also be championing our digital products Z-Connect and Z-Remote and are dedicated to extend our cooperation with the IMBOS network. This will provide holistic vehicle management, operations management, remote and predictive maintenance services including E-mobility.

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