New Commander Safety Box from Check Fire Group

by Products

New this year, the Commander Safety Box from Check Fire Group offers a very practical solution for the protection and storage of fire safety equipment.

– Smooth, flat roof for sign application
– Ground fixing kit. Sold separately
– Plastic material with high resistance to: water and dust ingress, UV rays, high and low temperatures
– Logistics optimisation thanks to the stack-ability

For fire extinguishers in an outdoor setting, this time of year brings more need than ever to provide protection to ensure they work as they should in the event of a fire. Fire safety equipment stored outdoors should take cover from bad weather.

The Commander Safety Box is the ideal storage solution for extinguishers in a variety of outdoors settings, including holiday caravan parks, construction sites, festivals and garage forecourts.

www.checkfire.co.uk/

SAM transforms traditional fire truck pump operations

by Americas - ProductsProductsPumps

SAM manages multiple lines at different pressures and maintains set pressures. It also monitors intake pressure too and switches back to tank if there are any interruptions in the supply lines. After water supply is established, the system automatically refills the tank so it is always full. If there is an issue with the supply lines, SAM will switch back to tank and alert the operator so the issue can be addressed.

SAM will:

  • Maintain set pressure on all active lines
  • Re-fill the tank
  • Monitors intake pressure and switches to tank if intake is lost
  • Keeps the pump cool
  • Alert you if there is a problem with water flow or equipment

The saved presets in the SAM interface allow pump operators to set discharge pressures fast. Even before charging lines, the system automatically opens the tank to pump valve so water is in the pump and it’s ready to go.

With one swipe, SAM:

  • Charges first line to preset pressures
  • Maintains set pressures for each discharge

SAM is an integrated total water control system that manages the truck’s pump, tank, intakes and discharges. The SAM system replaces the pressure governor and takes care of opening and closing valves based on operator settings. Instead of a complex fire truck pump panel, firefighters can have all of the pump controls in a 10″ touch-screen display.

www.samflows.com/

EHang flies out rapid responder, firefighting drone

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So far, much of the development focus of China’s EHang has been on providing air taxi and air tourism services, but now the air mobility company has its eyes on proving the versatility of its autonomous aerial vehicle platform with the launch of a firefighting version of its two-person multi-rotor flying pod.

Back in May, EHang secured approval from the Civil Aviation Administration of China to use its air taxis for heavy lift logistics, and the latest variant of the EHang 216 puts that capability to good use by carrying up to 150 liters of foam and six extinguisher bombs per trip to high-rise fires within a 5 km (3.1 mi) radius of the station where they’re based.

Upon arrival at the scene, the 216F makes use of a visible light zoom camera to locate the fire, hovers in position and uses a laser guidance system to launch a window breaker, followed by extinguisher bombs and finally sprays the flames with foam.

China has a good many tall buildings, and out of 233,000 fires reported in 2019, according to a survey undertaken by China Fire Magazine, nearly 7,000 were in high-rise buildings. With a maximum flight altitude of 600 m (1,968 ft), the 216F should be of use for all but the tallest. EHang also points to significantly shorter response times thanks to the autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV) zooming over inner city traffic.

Though no performance specs have been released for this version, the passenger 216 can reach a top speed of 130 km/h (80 mph) and has a maximum flight time of 21 minutes. Thanks to its autonomous flying capabilities and with the help of centralised management technologies, a fleet of firefighting AAVs could be remotely dispatched as a first response to a high-rise fire up to 5 km from base.

“We are pleased to introduce the EHang 216F AAV aerial firefighting solution, which solves difficult challenges in high-rise firefighting,” said EHang’s Huazhi Hu. “The high-rise fire use case highlights the practical application of our passenger-grade AAV platform to different smart city management needs. The potential of our intelligent AAV technology platform is boundless. We will explore and develop more aerial solutions and use cases to empower smart cities.”

The EHang 216F has initially launched in China, but the company has plans to release the firefighting flyer globally in the future. The video below shows the aerial firefighting solution in action.

www.ehang.com/

Bristol Uniforms releases new stock styles for structural PPE

by Products

Bristol Uniforms’ new stock styles for structural PPE are proving popular with fire and rescue services around the world, with orders received from Malaysia to Germany to Saudi Arabia, and many customers already putting their new kit through its paces.

Launched at the end of last year, the three stock styles (XFlex, Ergotech Action CEN and Ergotech Action NFPA) are particularly suited to international customers since they adhere to a variety of international standards and offer a cost-effective means of obtaining excellent quality PPE.

As the kit is ready-made, customers benefit from swift delivery times, while each coat can still be personalised by adding a heat-sealed patch to the back. Firefighters at Shannon Airport in Ireland were in need of a PPE upgrade and arranged a competitive tender.

According to Brian Casey, Airport Police & Fire Service Training Manager at the Airport, the XFlex stock kit was the clear frontrunner. He commented, “XFlex is good value and certainly offered the best quality. It was also recommended to me by others in the industry.”

Brian Casey’s team ordered 73 sets of XFlex stock PPE from Fireguard, Bristol Uniforms’ distributor in Eire

Brian Casey’s team ordered 73 sets of XFlex stock PPE from Fireguard, Bristol Uniforms’ distributor in Eire. The new kit was delivered in May. He continues, “The Bristol Uniforms stock kit is by far the best kit we’ve ever had. I can honestly say we’ve had no issues whatsoever with any of the items we received. They fit very well and are comfortable to wear. My crew is really pleased with them.”

Other satisfied customers include Kettershausen Fire Brigade and the Verallia Glass Factory in Germany, who recently received their stock XFlex PPE.

Uwe Raschel is the Owner of Fritz Raschel Feuerschutz GmbH, Bristol Uniforms’ distributor in Germany. He comments, “Both customers are fairly small fire services with a limited number of firefighters. They were impressed by the quality of the kit, but also particularly keen on the swift availability.”

The XFlex design is based on Bristol’s flagship XFlex structural firefighting range, providing excellent range of movement and breathability. It is certified to CEN standard EN469 Level 2.

The two Ergotech Action stock styles have been adapted for different certifying bodies. One adheres to the CEN standard EN469 Level 2, featuring a navy Hainsworth TITAN1220 outer layer and a Gore Crosstech Fireblocker moisture barrier. The second conforms to NFPA 1971:2018 and comes in a Desert Tan color, with box bellow pockets on both the coat and trousers.

Interest in the stock styles continues from all corners of the globe, with orders for Ergotech Action EN469 PPE received from customers in Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong. The Ergotech Action EN469 kit was also recently delivered to Kennelbach, Rothis and Riefensberg fire brigades in Austria, and to the Petronas oil and gas company in Malaysia.

www.bristoluniforms.com/

Resilient communications for tall buildings with the Hytera E-pack 100 from Radiocoms

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Lack of radio coverage inside buildings can severely hamper the ability of fire services to tackle fires, locate occupants or oversee emergency evacuation procedures. Poor communications can lead to increased loss of life and damage to property.

Maintaining voice coverage in tall buildings, tunnels and basement areas is critical for firefighters. But radio signals can be severely reduced or even blocked entirely inside tall buildings due to height and space propagation issues and difficulties in penetrating modern construction materials. A simple and reliable way to overcome this challenge is to deploy an ad hoc repeater such as the digital wireless Hytera E-pack 100for resilient communications in tall buildings.

Based on DMR Tier II technology, the E-pack 100 offers fast and flexible networking for situations that require a temporary communications system based on simplex voice calls. The E-pack functions as a radio to make and receive calls or to create a wireless mobile ad hoc network up to a maximum of 32 repeater nodes – all on one frequency, greatly increasing spectrum efficiency.

An unlimited number of DMR radios can be supported, but as they operate in ‘simplex’ direct mode, only one person can talk at a time. E-pack also supports emergency calls, GPS location services and DMR Tier 2 services such as radio checks and remote stun and revive.

Self-configuring network software ensures each repeater node immediately looks for other repeaters when powered up and automatically ‘buddies up” with them. The E-pack is a self-healing network. If a node moves out of network range or malfunctions, voice calls will automatically route to another node to guarantee link continuity.

The E-pack also features an embedded GSM card slot for backup, so if two meshed networks are separated, they can stay in touch via a public cellular 2G network. The repeater’s display shows the caller’s ID, their location within the tall building using the in-built GPS function, and change of talk groups. It can also support a list of GSM phone numbers, so it can be used to ring a mobile phone if the number is in the pre-listed call list. It can also see alarms triggered by the DMR radios.

The E-pack nodes are light, small and rugged (IP67 and MIL-STD-810G certified for dust and moisture, shock and drop resistance), so they can be deployed in harsh environments like a fire. They can be carried in a backpack, so this provides a highly mobile network to enable fire crews to communicate with each other on different floors inside a tall building and to keep in touch with colleagues outside.

Conversely, if one node is too close to another intelligent software in the E-Pack will turn one of them off to avoid interference. The nodes have a battery life of about 10 hours with a blue light display to show how much battery time is left.

E-packs provide firefighters with reliable, fast deployable, temporary wireless networks inside tall buildings to ensure they can stay in contact with each other at all times.

Hytera E-pack 100s can also be easily installed within tall buildings for instant resilient communications as there is no need for cabling, thereby greatly saving on infrastructure and installation costs. By installing critical communications equipment, organisations not only address risk but also provide a solution to manage it.

In the event of loss of normal communications or an emergency evacuation, for example, building safety and fire teams can use the equipment to manage incidents when they occur. By being proactive organisations can also mitigate their insurance risk.

Deploying critical communications equipment like the Hytera E-pack 100 either on a temporary or a permanent basis can minimise disruption, reduce the loss of life and damage to property and potentially lessen the impact of a disaster.

Hytera Communications Corporation Limited is a leading global solution provider of Professional Mobile Radio communications, dedicated to bringing the most valued and user-centric solutions to clients across the world.

Radiocoms Systems Ltd support clients in both the public and private sector globally. Their team of experienced radio communications and software manufacturer qualified experts are based at five offices around the UK.

www.radiocoms.co.uk/

The PSS® 4000 from Dräger

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The Dräger PSS® 4000 is one of the lightest professional self-contained breathing apparatus for firefighters. Combining comfort with exceptional pneumatic performance, this SCBA is designed for applications where simplicity and ease of use are crucial. Lightweight yet robust, and easy to don, the PSS® 4000 provides outstanding breathing protection.

Supported by a carrying harness with a quick release fastener and simple pull forward mechanism you can quickly and easily adjust the carrying harness.

The extremely durable carrying system features our ultra-lightweight, high strength composite carrying space frame, which provides outstanding thermal, impact and chemical resistance properties. The professional carrying system of the harness follows the natural contours of the body, improving stability and reducing back strain, stress and fatigue.

The system offers optimal comfort for the wearer’s shoulders and waist with an even load distribution, which is comfortably and securely in line with the body‘s centre of gravity. Aside from maximum comfort, the Dräger PSS 4000 also uses the most rugged and durable materials available in order to minimise the impact of even the most hostile of environments.

www.draeger.com/

The all new Portatank® from Coltraco Ultrasonics

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Identify liquid levels in large industrial containers/tanks/storage units using portable handheld ultrasonic liquid level indicator technology.

The Portatank® from Coltraco Ultrasonics is a portable handheld device with a greater operating range up to tank diameter range 0.5-15 metres, of most common tank types such as steel, plastic, aluminium, etc. It is advanced, lightweight, accurate technology that is designed to improve safety by enabling the user to more easily and quickly identify the contents non-invasively. The portable, handheld device can be used for periodic checks of tanks.

  • For tanks that already have an in-built system, our portable non-invasive technology allows operators to verify liquid levels in tanks with existing in-built level indicators, as some of these can be from an old technology that can be inaccurate such as float level or sight-glass methods.
  • For tanks without any form of liquid level indication, the Portatank®  can detect the liquid levels non-invasively through the outer walls of the tank.
  • Portatank® requires no installation for either application

Typical Applications

  • Food and Drink Processing
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Oil & Gas
  • Chemicals
  • Petrochemicals
  • Water Treatment Facilities
  • Fire Safety Engineering
  • Breweries
  • Process Industries
  • Transformers

Accurate

With clear LIQUID / NO LIQUID result (presence/absence), the Portatank® is accurate to +/- 10mm, providing a safe, quick and accurate method to monitor contents. This adaptable technology can work with liquid levels that fluctuate over time, as well as test a wide range of tanks and liquids. Coltraco’s equipment is designed to improve safety and best practice, ensuring the equipment used to inspect tanks is accurate and efficient.

Non-Invasive

Unlike traditional methods of testing, the Portatank® boasts its core capability of non-invasive testing. The Portatank® measures levels of fluids, particularly hazardous liquids where the tank cannot be opened for safety reasons and a float gauge cannot be installed. With the external, non-invasive, non-intrusive technology, the Portatank® is suitable for testing hazardous liquids without the risk of contaminating the liquid. As the liquid storage system is undisturbed during testing, with no removal of lids needed, the risk to the personnel conducting the test is minimised. The unit has a simple and straightforward testing process, requiring only the simple application of the sensor to the container wall.

coltraco.com/

BIG Fire & Ventilation Smoke Blocking Curtain assists rescue teams in disaster situations

by Products

BIG Fire & Ventilation have been designing and developing some of the world’s most innovative equipment to assist rescue teams in disaster situations and firefighting teams across the world with improving visibility and operating temperatures for rescue situations.

With the easily operated tension lever, the BIG Fire & Ventiliation’s portable smoke blocker made out of heat resistant fabric can be installed quickly into a door or entrance opening. The door to the affected area can then be opened so firefighters can enter the room behind for their operations without the spread of smoke and heat in the building. Escape routes for the residents and retreat ways for the fire fighters can then be kept smoke-free.

It is possible for the security backup to stay close to the attacking firefighters so the time for a rescue operation in case of a breathing protection emergency is considerably reduced. Dangerous situations through the spread of smoke and heat are effectively minimised or avoided because the portable smoke blocker allows control of the inflow of air to the area of the fire for directed and controlled ventilation.

www.vimpex.co.uk/big-fire

The HD-RAKSHAK IHP CO2 System protects electrical cabinets and enclosures

by Products

The HD RAKSHAK is a specialised In-Cabinet Fire Suppression System, utilising CO2 extinguishing agent. RAKSHAK In-cabinet suppression system is a fire suppression system designed for specific application of protecting electrical cabinets and enclosures.

In-Cabinet fire suppression systems are used because these are efficient as well as economical in protection of Computer Server cabinets, Electrical cabinets, CNC machines, IT closets, UPS switchgear cabinets, and archive storage enclosures to name a few. Rather than a total flooding of the whole room with an agent, only the specific cabinet is protected. RAKSHAK In-cabinet suppression system is a StandAlone Automatic Fire Suppression System.

The effectiveness of a genuine HD RAKSHAK System, happens by utilising the best Fire Detection Tubing, which detects a fire due to precise temperature sensitivity, allowing our systems to react quickly and effectively. This unique detection can be run through the smallest or most complex enclosures to ensure detection is always close at hand. RAKSHAK System can be utilised anywhere that a fire poses a risk, and it is flexible enough for virtually any Industrial Equipment, Traditional as well as Emergency Vehicles, Storage Compartments, Control Cabinets or various types of Remote Installations From CNC Machines and Fume Hoods.

RAKSHAK direct system quickly detects and suppresses fire, directly at the source, efficiently and automatically by discharging CO2. It is a totally self-contained, requiring external electric power and remains active and operational 24×7. After use, naturally-occurring element, CO2 dissipates into the air allowing easy usage. The CO2 discharge also leaves no residue, eliminating the need for agent cleanup and helping reduce downtime.

CO2 is discharged through an indirect IHP Valve, which is a differential pressure piston valve that engages immediately when a fire is detected.. The IHP Valve is approved by Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO), India.

hdfire.com/

Viking launches emergency phones with ADA standards for handsfree communication

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The same strength and reliability and durability experienced with Viking’s standard ADA compliant emergency phones is now available in a compact chassis.

When the button is pressed, the compact emergency phones automatically dial a pre-programed emergency phone number or central station number. The phones will roll to the next number if there is a busy signal or no answer, and will continue to dial until the call is answered. The red ‘Call Connected’ LED is built into the button and can be initiated manually or automatically to indicate the call was received.

“All the function and long-lasting durability of a Viking emergency phone all wrapped up in a sleek compact chassis, plus – we have some new colours!” – Greg Yocom, Engineering Manager, Viking Electronics.

Viking’s compact emergency phones meet ADA standards for handsfree emergency communication in elevators, areas of refuge, or any place an emergency phone is needed. The ADA compliant phones provide a single push-button auto dialer, call indicator light, pre-recorded location announcement, and a tactile braille label.

All programming parameters, including phone numbers and location numbers, are stored in non-volatile memory. The units are phone line powered, requiring no batteries or external power and are compatible with common Central Station Monitoring equipment. The compact phones are available in 6 different models: red, yellow, black, stainless steel, or blue chassis with ‘Emergency Phone’ verbiage, as well as a blue chassis with ‘Police’ verbiage.

www.vikingelectronics.com/