IFF Issue 27

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

FIRE FIGHTERI N T E R N A T I O N A L

FIRE FIGHTER

An MDM PUBLICATIONIssue 27 – August 2010


www.mdmpublishing.com

Reporting Worldwide to Municipal, Industrial and Fire Training ProfessionalsReporting Worldwide to Municipal, Industrial and Fire Training Professionals

OFC IFF27 August 2010 13/8/10 2:30 pm

WILLIAMS FIRE & HAZARD CONTROLEXPERIENCE AT WORK ...

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INTERNATIONAL FIRE FIGHTER 1

Cover picture courtesy of WS DarleyInc. Darley CAFS Pumpers wereselected by the Beijing Fire Service forprotection during the 2008 Olympics.The Beijing Fire Service, have justplaced an order for 22 more which aredue for delivery in 2010.

PublishersDavid Staddon & Mark Seton

Sales ManagerMark Bathard

Group EditorGraham Collins

Contributing EditorsJames Humpoletz, Mark van der Feyst,Graham Collins, Duncan White, SuzieIzzard, Luc Jacobs, Andrew Shiner,Greg Richardson, Lori Peace

IFF is published quarterly by:MDM Publishing Ltd The Abbey Manor Business Centre,The Abbey, Preston Road, Yeovil, Somerset BA20 2ENTel: +44 (0) 1935 426 428Fax: +44 (0) 1935 426 926 Email: [email protected]: www.mdmpublishing.com

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DISCLAIMER:The views and opinions expressed inINTERNATIONAL FIRE FIGHTER are notnecessarily those of MDM Publishing Ltd.The magazine and publishers are in noway responsible or legally liable for anyerrors or anomalies made within theeditorial by our authors. All articles areprotected by copyright and writtenpermission must be sought from thepublishers for reprinting or any form ofduplication of any of the magazinescontent. Any queries should be addressedin writing to the publishers.

Reprints of articles are available onrequest. Prices on application to thePublishers.

Page design by Dorchester Typesetting Group Ltd

Printed in the UK



FIRE FIGHTER





August 2010 Issue 27

Follow International Fire Fighter on

62-63

4-14 News andproduct profiles

MUNICIPAL SECTION

17-20 A ClearerView of ThermalImaging

23-26 SCBA SafetyChecks: Back toBasics

29-30 Cut, Crushand Prop

33-36 It’s FestivalTime

INDUSTRIAL SECTION

39-41 AlcoholResistant Foams andViscosity

43-46 TheChanging Face ofFire PumpTechnology

49-52 SpecifyingA FirefightingVehicle

TRAINING SECTION

55-60 Are YouPrepared For AStructural CollapseResponse

62-63 WhyConfined SpaceRescues Can Fail

64 Advertisers’Index

43-46

39-41

29-30

23-26

17-20

55-60

49-52

Contents

P. 01 Contents 16/8/10 9:55 am Page 1

Save the Dates.

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Flagship Media Sponsor: Owned & Produced by:

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EDITORIAL


Wildfires engulfing 200,000 hectares ofcentral Russia have, despite the efforts ofwhat we are told is approaching 155,000

firefighters, soldiers and volunteers, alreadyclaimed scores of lives. These fires, which areaffecting several regions of the country, are alsoimpacting on the cost and availability of theworld’s food stocks as vast wheat fields aredestroyed, pushing up global prices of flour-related products such as bread. Ironically, theRussian wildfires come at a time when a RoyalCommission has just completed its final report onthe bushfires in Victoria, Australia that in 2009destroyed 450,000 hectares of the State and killednearly 200 people.

At the same time, the people of Haiti are stillsuffering from the aftermath of the earthquake inJanuary that killed between 217,000 and 230,000people, injured an estimated 300,000, and leftaround 1,000,000 homeless. And now we haveflooding affecting a vast tract of Pakistan, whererescue service officials are reported to be anticipat-ing that the death toll may be as high as 3,000.

Some of these tragic events are either partiallyor totally beyond our ability to anticipate or con-trol, while others bear the menacing trademark ofthe careless or malicious hand of man. Either way,it is to the professional firefighter and rescuer thatwe all turn to in such troubled times, and place analmost unbearably heavy burden. Their resilience,courage, skill and resourcefulness frequentlyalmost beggars belief.

It is with this in mind that International FireFighter continues with every edition to endeavour,through its pages, to keep professional firefightersaround the world up to date on new andemerging firefighting techniques, equipment

innovations, training issues, experiences andknowledge gained at the sharp end.

As the recent disaster at the Love Festival inGermany so clearly showed, open-air festivals have the potential to be anything but easy-going,carefree events. So significantly, in this issue welearn how the fire and rescue service achieved azero incident event at this year’s GlastonburyFestival in the UK, the largest green-field musicand performing arts festival in the world.

In this issue, we are also looking at the latestdevelopments in thermal imaging, structuralcollapse and confined space rescue, reflecting thechallenges faced in the aftermath of many naturaldisasters. We also review the latest hydraulic

rescue tools unveiled by some of the leadingmanufacturers at the recent Interschutz fire andrescue exhibition in Germany, and take a closelook at the latest thinking on foam concentratesand the latest developments in fire pump tech-nology. There is also a timely article about theneed for safety checks on self-contained breathingapparatus.

Fire chooses its own place, and its own time.So, no doubt, by the time the next edition ofInternational Fire Fighter comes around new – andwho knows, possibly more demanding – emergen-cies will be being tackled. This places a very highpremium on experience, and the value of sharingthis experienced with other firefighters around theworld cannot ever be over estimated. It is anendless challenge; one in which International FireFighter has a role to play. Which is why we arealways keen to learn about innovative solutions tonew or old problems and share the knowledgethrough timely articles in the pages of themagazine. IFF

By Graham Collins

EndlessChallengeAs we go to press with this latest edition of International Fire Fighter, ourtelevision screens are once again filled with the depressing images of massivetracks of the world being devastated by fire and natural disasters.

International Fire Fighter continues with every edition to

endeavour, through its pages, to keep professional firefighters

around the world up to date on new and emerging firefighting

techniques, equipment innovations, training issues, experiences

and knowledge gained at the sharp end

P. 03 Editorial 13/8/10 2:40 pm Page 3

4 INTERNATIONAL FIRE FIGHTER

NEWS

Personnel working in dangerousenvironments now have a new option forlimited-life chemical-protective gas-tightsuits with SAINT-GOBAIN PERFORMANCEPLASTICS’ ONESuit® Pro. With a single-skin design, ONESuit Pro hazmat suits offerfire, chemical, military and industrialorganisations certified protection againstchemical and biological agents, coupledwith significant wearer comfort. Customisedversions for Industrial, emergency teamand chemical, biological, radiological, andnuclear situations are available.

Certified to both EN 943-1 (Protectiveclothing against liquid and gaseouschemicals, aerosols and solid particles.Performance requirements for ventilatedand non-ventilated “gas-tight” (Type 1)and “non-gas-tight” (Type 2) chemicalprotective suits) and EN 943-2 (Protectiveclothing against liquid and gaseouschemicals, aerosols and solid particles.Performance requirements for $0Qgas-tight$0R (Type 1) chemical protective suitsfor emergency teams). These are thehighest level of certification recognised inthe EU and Asia.

The suits are proven to serve effectivelyas a barrier against hazardous materials;they also exceed significantly therequirements for tensile strength, flex-cracking and puncture resistance. Alongwith EN certification, the ONESuit Pro lineis certified in the United States to bothNFPA 1991 (Standard on Vapour-ProtectiveEnsembles for Hazardous MaterialsEmergencies) and NFPA 1994 (Standard onProtective Ensembles for First Respondersto CBRN Terrorism Incidents).

Saint-Gobain’s patent-pendingCoreTech™ Barrier Membrane technologyenables the lightweight – under 5kg –suits to deliver protection against chemicaland biological agents in both liquid andvapour form. The flexible and robustsingle-skin is engineered formanoeuvrability and user comfort in themost challenging environments. Wearersalso benefit from good visibility andsuperior flame resistance.

For more information:Saint-Gobain Performance Plasticswww.saint-gobain.co.uk

Shanghai HongqiaoInternational Airport in Chinahas taken delivery of twoOSHKOSH® Striker® 3000aircraft rescue andfirefighting vehicles.Following earlier orders fromPudong International Airport,it means there are now sixOshkosh Striker vehicles inthe region.

The Oshkosh Striker 3000offers a 6x6 all-wheel-driveaxle configuration andproprietary technologies suchas TAK-4® independentsuspension, triple-agentfirefighting capabilities andCommand Zone™ advancedelectronics for enhancedmanoeuvrability, firefightingpower and reliability. Otherfeatures include a 3,000-gallon (11,356-litre) watercapacity, 420-gallon (1590-litre) foam capacity, roofturret and six under-truck nozzles.

Hongqiao International Airport is thefirst civilian airport in Shanghai and,following a series of renovations, it hasbecome one of the three international air

transit centres in China. Ninety-one airlinescurrently operate between the airport andother domestic and international cities.The airport’s Terminal Two was openedearlier this year and a new 3.3 kilometrelong runway is capable of supporting large

aircraft, including the Airbus A380.

For more information, Oshkosh CorporationTel: 920 235 9150www.oshkoshcorporation.com

Shanghai Airport’s new strikers

New gas-tight suits ensureprotection and comfort

P. 04-11 News 13/8/10 2:41 pm Page 4

We are a family owned and managed British Company proud to be manufacturing and supplying specialist safety systems to Emergency Services and Industry across the World Kevlar Lined Sharp End Protection Kevlar Steering Wheel Airbag Protection RTC Jackets & Hi Visibility Surcoats BSEN471 Class 3 High Visibility Clothing Incident Command System Wallets BA Cylinder Covers BA Facemask Bags & Log Book Pouches Paramedic & Trauma Bags Bariatric Rescue Kits Specialist & General Purpose Lines BA Guide Lines & Personal Lines Line Bags & Line Pouches Salvage & Hearth Sheets Bespoke Leather Goods Flags & Banners

Tel: +44 (0)191 523 99 33 Fax: +44 (0)191 523 99 55Email: [email protected]

Please visit our NEW website and online store

www.speedingsltd.co.ukPlease remember that our ‘Consultancy, Design & Manufacture’ service allows us to take a customer’s initial thoughts and ideas and convert them into a detailed product design and then forward to manufacture. This means that you get exactly what you require.

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Following a two-year developmentprogramme, HAIX® has launched FIREHERO®, a brand-new firefighting bootwith a patented lace-zipper system thatensures the boot can be fitted perfectlyand securely in a matter of seconds. Witha single-motion “step in, zip up, fasten”closure system, the boot is also claimed tobe the safest firefighting boot ever made,with more than nine cutting-edgeinnovations.

An ingenious system of protectorsshields the ankles, instep and shin bone,plus there is also cut protection up to Class2, which is particularly important whenworking with chain saws. A sophisticatedshock-absorption system gently protects

the spine and a choice of threedifferent orthopaedic insolesenables individual fitting formaximum comfort. Specialtechnology incorporated intothe leather reflects the rays of

the sun instead of heating upthe shoe, and

anti-slip solesperform onany surface. FIRE HERO is

designed to fulfil thehighest safety requirements of

fire and rescue services around the world.CrossTech® membrane incorporated intothe boot prevents the penetration of

liquids, bacteria and even viruses into theinterior. This means that firefighterswearing FIRE HERO boots can, for example,confidently wade through ankle-deep bursttest tubes and exploded laboratory bottle“laboratory soup” following an accident ina biochemistry laboratory.

Officers at the southern fire service atMunich Airport tested the boots duringtough training exercises. The lace-zippersystem “ensures the boot can be fittedperfectly and securely in seconds,”confirms firefighter, Wolfram Gerhard.

For more information: HaixTel: +49 (0) 8751 8625 225. www.haix.com


NEWS

In hero’s footsteps

PACKEXE SMASH is a time critical glassmanagement product used within the fire& rescue industry for extrication at roadtraffic collisions. It supports the quick andeasy rescue of the passengers as the filmreduces the risk of the glass breaking, alsoallowing fire fighters to remove the glassquickly and in one piece.

Packexe SMASH is going from strengthto strength and the most recent show,Interschutz 2010 turned out to be anextremely successful exhibition for them.The fire and rescue exhibition takes placeevery five years in Germany and this year ithad 1350 exhibitors from 46 countries.The show experienced a heat wave withtemperatures in Leipzig reaching 34°C inthe shade! However, visitors still venturedto the stands and visitor statistics werepredicted to total a dramatic 125,000.

Packexe SMASH kick started the showwith daily live demonstrations in theoutside showground. Fire Fighters fromLeipzig used Packexe SMASH during a fullextrication exercise, showing PackexeSMASH’s performance under severaldifferent scenarios including wetconditions. The demonstrators showedhow glass can be left in place during

extrication or broken andremoved in one piecewith the application ofPackexe SMASH.

Packexe were pleasedto welcome friends fromextrication challengesacross the world ontothe stand alongside newenquiries fromthroughout Europe,North America, SouthAmerica, Australasia,Africa the Far East andAsia. Interest in thePackexe SMASH standnot only came from fire fighters anddistributors from a across the globe butalso television crews interested in thelatest innovation. The interview betweenRetter television and Andrew Orchard,CEO of Packexe, can be seen atwww.interschutz.retter.tv.(http://interschutz.retter.tv/de/interschutz-beitrag.html?ereig=-Extrication-Solutions-Save-Time-Lives-with-Packexe-SMASH%C2%AE-&ereignis=3231)

CEO Andrew Orchard said “Thereception in Germany was fantastic, and

as we expected the productwas very well received. Theshow is only every five yearsand the visitors expect to seenew innovative products thatwill enable them to improvethe extrication process. AtPackexe SMASH we prideourselves on innovation andproducing products that willenable the highest standardof protection with anundisputed and unmatched

ease of use and we certainly gave them aninnovation that opened their eyes to newforms of glass management. The showproved to be a great success for PackexeSMASH and we have generated a lot ofawareness both with potential distributorsand end users”.

Packexe worked with UK Fire Stationsfor two and half years testing anddeveloping products that will enable themto improve and speed up extrication atroad side collisions. Packexe SMASH hassince been launched globally through theUK Fire & Rescue Show, FDiC andInterschutz 2010. The company have alsosponsored many international Fire &Rescue Challenges to generate awarenessof the product and to give the fire fightersthe opportunity to have hands onexperience with the product in real lifescenarios.

For further information you can visit thewebsite and blog atwww.packexesmash.com. or contact KateHarvey, Marketing on 01392 438191, email [email protected]

Packexe SMASH Receives a Red HotWelcome in Germany

P. 04-11 News 13/8/10 2:41 pm Page 6

System offersintegratedrescue hose

MSA describes its new ExtendAire IIas an emergency breathing supplysystem (EBSS) option that usesintermediate pressure air to providefirefighters with another level ofemergency air. It allows firefighters toquickly and easily connect to andbreathe from a fellow firefighter’s aircylinder, and is integrated with SCBAto provide unrestricted mobility aswell as easy access during criticalsituations. The system uses a quickconnect system with check valves tohelp ensure that both recipient anddonor are not exposed to ambient air.

The new ExtendAire II systemoffers an integrated rescue hose thatcan be used with the PR14™ First-Stage Regulator and has both maleand female quick connect fittings. Awaist pouch houses the hose andmanifold that integrates with thecarrier and harness assembly to avoidsnagging and accidental opening.

For more information:MSATel: 1-877-MSA-FIRE.www.MSAFIRE.com

NEWS

New dosimetermeasures upCASELLA CEL has redeveloped its lightweight, cable-freedBadge noise dosimeter to increase its robustness,allowing the dosimeter to be used in the harshest ofenvironments with absolute reliability.

The redeveloped dBadge now features rubber over-moulding on the case to increase toughness, andprovide protection from water and dust that isprevalent in mines and similar environments. Thecompany has also added a new model to its noisedosimetry range – the CEL-350L dBadge “Lite”.This offers simple functionality at what is claimedto be a very affordable price. The “Lite” measuresthe same occupational noise parameters as theoriginal dBadge, except for the time history ofexposure to noise levels, so is aimed at usersneeding straightforward, low cost noise doseresults.

For more information:Casella CELTel: +44 (0)1234 844100www.casellameasurement.com


P. 04-11 News 13/8/10 2:41 pm Page 7


By John Vieweger

Vice President Sales &Marketing, ChemguardFire SuppressionDivision

PROFILE (CHEMGUARD/WILLIAMS)

In late 2009, Chemguard and Williams Fire &Hazard began a collaboration to advancealcohol-resistant aqueous film-forming foam

(AR-AFFF) technology. The initial resulting products– ThunderStorm F-601B 1x3 AR-AFFF andThunderstorm F-603B 3x3 AR-AFFF – exhibitsignificant improvements in effectiveness andefficiency. These new, high-performance, low-viscosity formulations offer improved burn-backresistance and high extinguishment speed andexceed the highest performance standards in theindustry — even on high-octane gasoline.

AR-AFFF attributesEffective at knocking down, controlling, andextinguishing Class B hydrocarbon fuel fires andpolar solvent, water-miscible, fuel fires, AR-AFFFalso suppresses the hazardous vapours emittedfrom the fires and spills of these fuels.

Polysaccharide gums and other stabilisers in AR-AFFF offer notable benefits on hydrocarbonfuels, such as increased foam stability, increasedwater retention in the foam, increased effective-ness in creating vapour seals against hot steelsurfaces, and increased resistance to re-ignition ofthe fuel. AR-AFFF excels on large hydrocarbonfires, especially large flammable storage tank fires,because of its extended foam life and positive rimseal characteristics.

Firefighting foam systems in facilities thatmanufacture and refine a variety of polar solventfuels often rely on AR-AFFF foam concentrates. Inparticular, with ethanol expanding as a fuel forautomobiles AR-AFFF foam concentrates will alsobe required by many municipal fire departments.

Chemguard-Williams advancementsF-601B and F-603B was developed to far exceedcurrent industry performance standards. The newAR-AFFF foams went through rigorous live firetests at Chemguard’s Fire Test Facility, including:● UL testing: Obtained a 3% listing for F-601B

and a 1% listing for F-603B on hydrocarbonfires, and a 0.10 gpm/ft2 (4.07 lpm/m2) applica-tion rate on isopropyl alcohol for both agents.

● EN 1568 testing: Received a “1A” rating onboth hydrocarbon fuels and polar solvent fuels.

● LASTFIRE testing: Achieved performance level“good” for all nozzles in both fresh water andsalt water (except the system nozzle with a

saltwater premix, where F-601B achievedperformance level “acceptable”).

● Williams “Plunge” test: Documented 15%faster extinguishment times than any previousproducts. Importantly, these new firefighting agents pro-

duced superior results on the Williams “plunge”test, which assesses a product’s suitability fordemanding storage tank firefighting.

Chemguard formulated F-601B and F-603Bfrom special fluorochemical and hydrocarbonsurfactants, high-molecular-weight polymers, andsolvents. The key components are fluorosurfac-tants, which affect film formation, fire controleffectiveness, and extinguishment speed. Theseconcentrates offer improved performance in foamproportioners, in-line eductors, balanced-pressuresystems, and other equipment in part becausethey exhibit a dramatically lower viscosity thanmany 1x3 and 3x3 AR-AFFF products.

F-601B and F-603B also offer improved rimsealing for storage tank applications using freshwater and saltwater solutions, longer foam life,and better water retention, which leads toimproved resistance to re-ignition and firefightersafety. IFF

For more information pleasecontact:Chemguard Inc204 South Sixth Avenue,Mansfield, Texas 76063, USATel: +1 817 473 9964 Website: www.chemguard.com

Chemguard-Williams Allianceproduces AR-AFFF advances“A partnership of two industry leaders improves the performance and expands theapplications of AR-AFFF firefighting foam concentrates.”

New Chemguard-Williams high-performanceAR-AFFF formulations achieved 15% fasterextinguishment times than other agents onthe demanding Williams “Plunge” test.Exhibiting improved burn-back resistance,even on high-octane gasoline, these new AR-AFFF formulations also offer longer foam lifeand enhanced water retention

P. 08 Chemguard Profile 13/8/10 2:44 pm Page 8

According to INFOTERRA, following arecent order from Lothian and Borders Fireand Rescue Service, six of the eightservices in Scotland now use thecompany’s SAFEcommand mobile solution.Lothian and Borders has equipped 78 of itsappliances with Infoterra’s Vehicle

Mounted Data System (VMDS) to enhancethe management and distribution of riskdata and assist in ensuring front-linecrews’ operational safety at incidents.

The Infoterra equipment enables front-line personnel and back-office informationmanagers to have access to the complete

picture of an emergency situation. Itenables users to look beyond the risks atthe incident property or location, andconsider other essential information, forexample, how to gain access to a nearbystretch of river. With a single touch,firefighters can switch between maps,

premises information, ComputerAided Design plans, brigade orders orChemdata.

Due to its intuitive user interface itrequires minimal training, keepingtraining costs low and making it apractical option for deployment. Inaddition, each fire and rescue servicecan process, manage, share and useits data without the need for third-party intervention. Crews can use thesolution to reach emergencylocations quickly with, for example,accurate route planning and mappingof access routes to emergency watersupplies. The solution also providesaccess to essential locationinformation, including the siting ofhydrant locations or details of localhazards, such as the proximity to gasmains or chemical stores.

For more information:InfoterraTel: +44 (0) 116 273 2400.www.infoterra.co.uk


NEWS

Mobile solutionscores in Scotland

P. 04-11 News 13/8/10 2:41 pm Page 10


NEWS

New firefighters’helmet

Described as lightweight, rugged and comfortableto wear, the new ergonomic DRAEGER VFR ProHelmet is designed for use in firefighting, industrial,marine, offshore and military applications. Availablein two versions to suit the needs of high-heatenvironments, such as those found in structuralfirefighting, flash-over training and wildlandfirefighting, it is also equally suited to rescue andtechnical assistance operations.

The helmet is designed for both comfort andperformance and is believed to be the lightesthelmet to meet EN 443: 2008-B (Helmets for firefighting in buildings and other structures).Maintaining clear visibility, even when worn with agold-tinted visor, it offers the highest EN 166(Personal eye protection) and EN 14458 (Personaleye equipment) optical performance levels withClass 1 for both eye shield and face shield. Thehelmets are available in thermoplastic andcomposite materials.

For more information:Draeger Safety UK Limited Tel: +44 (0)1670 561200. www.draeger.com

The new DRAEGER X-am 5600 is said to be the smallestportable gas detection instrument for the measurementof up to six gases. With an ergonomic mobile-phonedesign, it features innovative infrared sensor technologyand provides accurate, reliable measurements of explosive,combustible and toxic gases and vapours, as well asoxygen. For personal monitoring applications, this lightyet robust detector is designed for single-handedoperation in tough industrial environments and is ATEXapproved for use in explosive areas classified as Zone 0.

Using a combination of Draeger IR sensors and thelatest Draeger XXS miniaturised electrochemical sensors,the Draeger X-am 5600 can detect a wide variety ofhazards. These include O2, CO, H2S, H2 , CO2, Cl2,HCN, NH3, NO, NO2, PH3, SO2 and organic vapours.

Immune to poisons such as hydrogen sulphide (H2S),Draeger IR sensors provide dependable warning againstexplosive and combustiblehazards such ashydrocarbons and carbon

dioxide. They feature an extended sensor life of up toeight years, and require calibration only every 12months, significantly reduced maintenance costs.

The new detector features gas inlets on both the topand front, a large illuminated display, and a clear 360degree visual alarm. Equipped with a data logger asstandard, the unit also allows data, such as measuredvalues and configurations, to be transmitted via infraredinterface to a PC. The data can then be analysed usingthe Draeger Gas Vision software, with optional userregistration being carried out via the Draeger CC-Visionsoftware. An optional external pump is available withhoses up to 20 metres for pre-entry measurements intanks or pipelines.For more information: Draeger Safety UK Limited Tel: +44 (0)1670 561200. www.draeger.com

FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRESimulation provide customised hot fire training

simulators (static and transportable), designed to

meet the needs of many different sectors including:

Our highly personal approach has seen us

become a simulator supplier for so many

organisations, to find out how we can help you

contact us on: +44 (0)1283 213395 or email

[email protected]

www.simulation.uk.com

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Oil & Gas

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MobileTraining

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New detector measures up to six gases

P. 04-11 News 13/8/10 2:41 pm Page 11


PROFILE (ISG)

Our in-house specialist development teamworks tirelessly on improving our products,as well as developing the technology avail-

able to the industry. This enables ISG to remain atthe forefront of infrared technology development,allowing us to offer leading thermal imagingproducts on a global scale.

ISG Thermal Systems Ltd was founded in 1992by two thermal imaging professionals specialisingin firefighting. After developing and supplying arange of infrared fire detection products, during1994 the company launched its first firefightingthermal imager – the ‘Talisman K90’, utilising pyro-electric vidicon tube technology and achieving per-formance levels far superior to other firefightingthermal imagers of the time. The product soonbecame popular with fire brigades in the UK, USAand Europe.

Building on commercialisation of solid-statedetector technology by Texas Instruments andRaytheon Corporations in the United States, dur-ing 1996 ISG became the first in the industry toutilise UFPA (Uncooled Focal Plane Array) technolo-gy in the revolutionary Talisman K90C. It becamean instant success, establishing ISG as the leadingprovider of thermal imaging for firefighting, andcontributing to ISG winning the Queen’s Awardfor Enterprise in International Trade in 2001.

2002 saw the launch of the Talisman Spirit, utilising the size and cost benefits provided by �-Si(amorphous silicon) microbolometer technology tointroduce a new generation of compact, “small-format” imaging products.

Another industry revolution occurred during2003, as ISG launched the ‘Talisman Elite’, the firstfull-resolution microbolometer imager to appear insmall format. The Elite also featured the ground-breaking Dual Transparent Colour feature, providingthe user with 1000°C imaging and measurementcapability. For the first time, the firefighter had atool that could provide clear, intuitive imaging andmeasurement in flashover temperatures andbeyond. These features were introduced in thelower-resolution, economy Elite Lite version in 2005.

Since 2006 the company have continued to suc-cessfully develop new and innovative products,further enhancing the quality of the thermalimage with new technologies exclusive to ISG.

ISG’s innovative products incorporate some ofthe world’s most advanced imaging technologies,many of which are exclusive to ISG. We offer abroad range of thermal imaging cameras, suitablefor use in firefighting, search and rescue, surveil-lance, detection, and many other applications. Wespecialise in providing industry-leading enhance-ment of the image quality of the thermal scene,allowing you to see more detail, and make better-informed decisions, even in the mostextreme environments.

The latest essential innovation from ISG is ICE™(Intelligent Contrast Enhancement) technologythat has been developed specifically for use in fire-fighting, although this technology can be appliedto law enforcement and search and rescueproducts as well.

ICE™ is ISG’s exclusively developed imageenhancing technology, available in all ISG prod-ucts. Conventionally, a thermal imager will operatewith maximum sensitivity in low-heat environ-ments ((Normal Mode). However upon detectingscene temperatures above a predefined threshold,the sensitivity level is switched to minimum (Fire-fighting or Thousand Plus Modes). This enablesthe high level data to be viewed by increasing the dynamic range of the detector – but at the expense of contrast in the cooler parts of thescene.

To overcome the compromise between dynamicrange and low-contrast sensitivity in high-heatscenes, ISG has introduced its patented ICE™technology. Developed specifically to enhancethermal imaging performance for infrared applica-tions, ICE™ enables ISG thermal imagers toprovide uniquely detailed background images even when viewing the hottest scenes.

ICE™ technology ensures the user sees theclearest and most detailed image at all times,helping them to make best-informed decisions, no

For more information pleasecontact:ISG Thermal Systems Ltd Tel: +44 (0) 1268 527700 E-mail: [email protected]: www.isgfire.co.uk

ISG Thermal

ISG has been developing thermal imaging technology for almost 20 years. Wepride ourselves on our exceptional product range and customer service, as wellas our world famous image clarity, unrivalled in the industry worldwide.

P. 12-13 ISG Profile 13/8/10 2:42 pm Page 12

matter how severe the conditions or how high thetemperature.

Our exceptional range of products are simple touse, with a variety of fully automated featuresinstalled to provide maximum information withminimum intervention. In addition, we offer severaloptional features to help further enhance yourproduct to suit your desired needs.

ISG designs, develops and manufactures avariety of infrared products at our own specialistdevelopment facility in the UK, dedicating substan-tial investment resources to the development ofthermal imagers and technologies to improveimaging capability for the most extreme conditions.

Thousands of progressive fire, law enforcementand naval departments worldwide choose to relyon ISG thermal imagers because they know thatwhen you purchase from ISG, you get a qualityproduct that provides outstanding image clarity,ease of use, powerful functionality and ultratoughness.

ISG offers a range of high-performance thermalimaging products, including the 1000 Series, 250Series and X3 Surveillance. These products eachhave a unique feature set, designed to suit avariety of specific applications.

1000 SeriesThe 1000 Series are the highest resolution fire-fighting thermal imagers available today. Theseunique cameras use a 384 x 288 resolutiondetector in conjunction with our exclusive ICE™technology to produce the sharpest, clearestthermal image available. This ensures the user hasthe maximum amount of scene information on thescreen, enhancing decision-making ability andhelping to save lives.

In addition, the 1000 Series has a x2 and x4Zoom function and Image Capture facility amonga variety of extra features, providing super-richfunctionality without any complicated operations.The 1000 Series are quite literally the best valuefor money high-resolution thermal imagersavailable anywhere in the world.

250 Series The 250 Series combine our standard resolution160 x 120 resolution detector with our Eco-ClearSensor technology and the latest essential ICE™Technology, developed exclusively by ISG for use infirefighting.

This combination of state-of-the-art technologi-cal advances provides the user with unrivalledimage clarity and extra headroom, ensuring all thekey scene information, such as an exit route or atrapped victim, is available to the user at all times.

The 250 Series also include built-in Image Capturefacility amongst other features, are simple to use,and all available at an economical price.

X3 Surveillance The X3 Surveillance thermal imaging camera is auniquely crafted, high specification product withnumerous features exclusive to ISG. The X3 Sur-veillance uses an ultra high-resolution detector(384 x 288 pixels) that provides a crystal-clearimage of even the most distant scenes. Its superiorresolution detector, and extra-long range lensenables the user to detect a man sized object at2000 metres.

The X3 Surveillance also has a x2, x4 and x8Zoom feature as well as polarity adjustment, con-trast and brightness enhancement and variousoperating modes. The latest X3 Surveillance is also available with Image Capture as a standardfeature, enabling the user to record 30 images fortraining or reviewing at a later date.

And in addition, this incredible product is alsosuitable for hand-held or fixed installation imag-ing, offering even more versatility in one product.All these features, and more, ensure this thermalimager offers all the functionality you need.

If you have any questions or would like to knowmore about our exclusive product range please donot hesitate to contact our customer services teamwho would be delighted to assist you. IFF


ISG THERMAL SYSTEMS PROFILE (ISG)

Systems

SD1000

K250

X3Surveillance

P. 12-13 ISG Profile 13/8/10 2:42 pm Page 13


PROFILE (IVECO)

In 1872 Conrad Dietrich Magirusintroduced the first free-standing,mobile fire brigade ladder. The

company, which still bears the nameof its founder, has been carrying onthis great tradition for nearly 140years. Today MAGIRUS remains theleader in technology and innovationin the field of turntable ladders usedby fire brigades. Time and again,developments from Ulm in Germanyhave set standards for the entireindustry. It was IVECO MAGIRUS, forexample, that introduced the world’sfirst articulated turntable laddertechnology in series production backin 1994. Their functionality andreliability are borne out by an impressive mile-stone when receiving recently its 500th order.

Proven hundreds of times, the “MAGIRUS GL” with CS technology (Computer Stabilised) is now available in its second generation. Theoperating height of the articulated ladder waspreviously limited to 30.5 metres, but has nowbeen extended considerably. The new GL-T 35reaches a rescue height of 33.5 metres, permit-ting an operating height of an unrivalled 35 metres. So far, turntable ladders with theseperformance value have been supplied only toAsian customers.

The 35 GL-T fits a five-section MAGIRUSladder set. To this a 3.50-metre-long articulatedsection is added, together with a 1.20-metre-long telescopic section, resulting in a wholetelescoping articulated section with a total lengthof 4.70 metres. This additional three metresrepresent a full storey of a building!

The new MAGIRUS 35 GL-T ladder is mountedon a two-axle IVECO EuroCargo 160 E 30 chassiswith a wheel base of 5.315 metres and a totalweight of 16,000 kg. This means this turntableladder complies with all European standards andcan be used by all fire brigades. The engine israted for 220 kW (299 hp) and the Allison 3000PR automatic transmission is fitted with anadditional retarder. Automatic snow chains onthe rear axle ensure safe progress under winterdriving conditions. The entire vehicle is paintedan appealing RAL 3024 fluorescent red.

The modular AluFire equipment lockersprovide ample space to store the standardequipment, along with an extensive supply ofadditional equipment. A generator and apositive-pressure blower are carried on the turret.A stretcher rated for up to 200 kg can be

mounted on the three-person rescue cage. Inaddition to a colour imaging camera mounted tothe cage as standard, an optional thermal imag-ing camera is also available. Images from bothcameras are displayed on the same MAGIRUSscreen used to monitor the turntable ladder.

Manual branch pipe or a remote controlled,electrically operated water monitor can bemounted in the cage. Because of the two avail-able multi-function columns, both monitors canalso be mounted simultaneously for operationsrequiring relatively large quantities of water.

The works fire brigade of the BoehringerIngelheim plant in Biberach, Germany, recentlytook delivery of Europe’s first 35-metre turntableladder from IVECO MAGIRUS.

Boehringer Ingelheim is one of the world’sleading pharmaceutical companies. The Biberachproduction plant is home of the company’sCampus for Research, Development and Bio-technology. Some 4,000 employees and morethan 250 trainees work at the facility.

The works fire brigade is staffed by more than50 full-time and volunteer fire fighters. The teamis extremely well trained and equipped with all ofthe operational vehicles and equipment neededto handle fires and hazardous materials. Thelatest addition to the fleet is the IVECO MAGIRUS35 GL-T, a state-of-the-art, high-efficiency aerialrescue unit.

With facilities at six European locations, theIVECO MAGIRUS Group develops and produces arange of vehicles and equipment unlike any otherin the world for firefighting and civil protection.IVECO MAGIRUS is one of the world’s biggestand most technologically advanced providers inthe sector, and has an international sales andservice network. IFF

For more information pleasecontact:Iveco MagirusMagirusstrasse 16, 89077 Ulm, GermanyTel: +49 (0) 731 408 0Website: www.iveco-magirus.de

IVECO MAGIRUSbuilds the world’slongest articulatedturntable ladder

The new Iveco Magirus 35 GL-T ladder fitted onto the IvecoEuroCargo 160 E30 chassis

P. 14 Iveco Profile 13/8/10 2:44 pm Page 14

MUNICIPAL

Pic courtesy of Reuters

P. 15 Municipal Section 13/8/10 2:45 pm Page 15

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IMAGING

By James Humpoletz

ISG Thermal Systems Ltd


Thermal imaging technology has become oneof the most important vision-aiding tools of modern-day scientific development. Its

availability in hand-held, fixed and pan/tilt systemsoffers enormous flexibility in terms of installationand practical use. Its installation in a wide numberof different applications has led to an extraordi-nary amount of technological development beingcarried out to offer more advanced, smaller andlower cost systems with enhanced functionalityand better usability.

Thermal imaging can be found in a whole hostof different applications and industries all over theworld, from military and security surveillance, tofirefighting and marine search and rescue. Thistechnology provides the user with essentialinformation about the surrounding environment,helping to keep them safe while offering a visualaid to help them to do their job.

For many years, thermal imaging has been usedin military applications, such as weapon sights andnight vision devices, although many of the early

systems required bulky cooling arrangements.However, it was the arrival in the late 1980s ofsmaller, more compact infrared sensors that, whencombined with the advances in micro-processing,allowed thermal imaging to diversify into othernewer applications.

Most notable was its introduction into firefight-ing, where the use of hand-held thermal imagingtechnology enabled firefighters to operate com-pletely unimpeded by smoke or darkness. Highlevels of heat and humidity, the possibility of build-ing collapse, as well as fatigue and stress levels,are all major contributors to making the firefight-er’s task incredibly challenging. However, with theuse of thermal imaging technology, the firefightercan now combat a fire with more visual informa-tion about the surrounding environment than everbefore, helping to keep him or her safer andbecome more effective during search and rescueoperations.

More recently, thermal imaging technology hasbecome more and more an essential navigational

A Clearer Viewof ThermalImagingFor firefighting applications, thermal imaging is still often considered to be an optional piece of equipment, but this attitude is changing, as JamesHumpoletz explains.

P. 17-20 Thermal Imaging 13/8/10 2:45 pm Page 17

and information tool, providing the firefighter witheven clearer thermal images of the surroundingenvironment, as well as providing other key datasuch as the temperature of the scene.

When used with breathing apparatus, the ther-mal imaging device enables the user to see anddirect the firefighting crews, readily locatingunconscious casualties and speeding-up the totalsearch of the smoke filled structure. The user canalso identify the thermal flow of hot gases fromthe fire source, see hazards such as hanging wires,holes in floors and unprotected openings, whichcould otherwise seriously endanger the safety ofthe firefighting crew.

Elsewhere, thermal imaging has becomeincreasingly popular in various other industries.Most notable of these is within surveillance,security and law enforcement applications, wherelong-wave infrared technology can offer a superioralternative to image-intensified night vision, andhas aided police officers and border guards alike in upholding the law and protecting innocentcivilians.

Whether searching for drug farms, illegal immi-grants, unauthorised personnel or even suspectson the run, thermal imaging can provide theessential information that these agencies need tocrack down on lawbreakers. Its installation intovehicles, such as cars and helicopters, as well asthe development of smaller hand-held devices, has helped make this technology more readilyaccessible and even more useful.

Aside from firefighting and law enforcement,other industries have also been identified aspotentially benefiting from thermal imagingtechnology. In particular, is its use within a marineenvironment, and for assisting car drivers in low-visibility situations.


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In the marine environment, hand-held and fixedinfrared systems are being used for such applica-tions as search and rescue, on-board firefightingand piracy detection. Significant enhancements ofinfrared technology have helped to provide evenclearer thermal images at long distances, making itideal for security and surveillance applications.

As for vision enhancement for drivers, fixedthermal imaging systems offer the user a differentvisualisation of the environment, which makes itan ideal support tool when driving at night or infog. Many car manufacturers are already installingthermal imaging devices into their products as anadded feature and it is likely that, with the advan-tages this technology can offer, these systems willbecome a standard feature in many vehicles inyears to come.

Realising the full benefits that come with thecorrect use of thermal imaging technology islargely dependent on providing the user with theappropriate level of training, both in operation ofthe system and in understanding the characteris-tics of thermal images. A number of thermalimaging camera providers offer training to users toensure the safe and proper use of their products.

An important aspect of the proper use of ther-mal imaging cameras, and to make the most oftheir capabilities, is the ease with which the usercan correctly interpret the heat images displayedby the camera. The thermal image is displayed incolour scale and the spectrum of colours assistswith interpretation of the thermal scene. Thecolours in the thermal image correspond to tem-perature boundaries associated with the colourscale. For example, if the scale is from black towhite, then the hotter the object, the whiter itwould appear on the camera display. In manyproducts, especially for firefighting applications,


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colours such as red or yellow have been intro-duced to provide instant visual representation ofhigh temperatures, further improving ease ofinterpretation.

However, thermal images are dynamic – theyare changing constantly as the user advances intodifferent temperature environments, and theimportant information contained in the heatimages has to be understood and evaluated aspart of the overall operation. The interpretation ofthe changing heat images from white throughvarious shades of grey to black, and successfulapplication of the relevant information to operationalstrategies and tactics, requires regular training, justas with any other piece of equipment.

The use of thermal imaging cameras shouldnever, of course, replace standard operating safetypractices – thermal imaging cameras should beregarded as an important navigational and infor-mation gathering tool, which in well-qualifiedhands can help save lives and enforce the law. Asthermal imaging technology has improved, theindustry has become increasingly more competi-tive, resulting in a broader range of products beingmanufactured, and all at competitive prices.

As well as helping to ensure the customer isoffered the best possible product at the best possi-ble price, competition has also encouraged othertechnological developments to take place tofurther improve the functionality of thermalimaging cameras across-the-board.These developments include additionalfeatures such as video recording sys-tems, zoom functions, and interchange-able colour palettes, as well as newer,more advanced techniques for imageprocessing and image enhancement.

Several manufacturers have alsodeveloped hands-free thermal imagingmodules and although these develop-ments are still in the early stages, wecan expect this technology to improvedramatically in time, offering even moreflexibility for the user.

Other factors have also impacted onthe direction these developments havetaken, such as the recent introductionof the new NFPA 1801 [Standard onThermal Imagers for the Fire Service] in

the United States. In some respects this standardmay offer limitations to customers, as this docu-ment will standardise the production of thermalimaging cameras. However, since this standard isonly applicable in the US, other parts of the worldshould not be affected by the new legislation.

These developments have been key in the pro-gression of thermal imaging technology and haveled to even more advanced concepts of technolog-ical improvement being drawn up for the future.As with all modern-day technology, thermal imag-ing is constantly being updated and improved andthe next generation of thermal imaging break-throughs may in fact not be very far away.

Products currently available are already becom-ing much smaller and more compact, in spite ofthe additional features that have been developedto accompany the infrared technology. It is morethan likely that this reduction in size and weightwill continue and, as such, more practical hands-free technologies will be developed in future forlightweight head mounted applications.

For firefighting applications, thermal imaging isstill often considered to be an optional piece ofequipment, but this will most likely change in timeand its use become compulsory, just as other fire-fighting equipment has in the past. Breathingapparatus was not compulsory for firefighters until 1955 and yet it is unimaginable that, lessthan 60 years ago, firefighters had to hold theirbreath when entering a burning building. In thesame way, it is not unreasonable to think that inthe near future this essential technology thatallows the user to see will become just as vital asbreathing apparatus that allows the user tobreath.

Overall, thermal imaging has become increas-ingly more accessible in all applications right acrossthe globe and as costs continue to decline, wewould expect that the technology’s accessibility inless developed parts of the world would increaseas well.

The thermal imaging industry has grown sub-stantially within the past two decades, and thisgrowth has helped ensure the continued develop-ment of the technology itself, as well as the appli-cations for which it can be put to use. And withmore and more people understanding its varioususes, features and benefits, thermal imaging willcontinue to offer the world enormous advantagesin vision aids and image enhancement for manymore years to come. IFF


A CLEARER VIEW OF THERMAL IMAGINGIMAGING

James Humpoletzco-ordinates the marketingactivities at ISG ThermalSystemswww.isgfire.co.uk


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Scott Health and Safety 10/3/09 3:51 pm Page 1

SCBA

By Mark van der Feyst

Fire Star TrainingServices


Your SCBA is a vital piece of the PPE (PersonalProtective Equipment]. With this piece ofequipment we are able to protect our respi-

ratory system – which is the biggest system thatneeds protecting in order for our bodies to func-tion – from any and all hazardous atmospheres. Itis also the easiest system to penetrate withhazardous environments. One breath of a toxicsubstance can have immediate effects on yourhealth. Time and time again we read about fire-

fighters who are dying today because of what theyinhaled years ago, when SCBA was not as popularor available. The WSIB (Workplace Safety andInsurance Board) of Ontario, Canada has gone onan advertising campaign within the fire service topromote the wearing of our SCBA. It seems thatwe still are not getting the message.

Our SCBA equipment is tested to stringent stan-dards as set forth by NIOSH (National Institute ofOccupational Health and Safety], and every piece

SCBA SafetyChecks – Back to BasicsWe all know the routine; every time we come on shift or conduct our monthly orbi-weekly truck checks, we are supposed to check our SCBA [Self-containedBreathing Apparatus]. In the full time departments, this is part of the StandardOperating Procedures or Guidelines. In volunteer departments, this is also a partof the basic operational procedures. So how come we are not checking ourSCBA’s correctly and routinely? This is a question that every firefighter mustanswer for himself or herself. Do you check in your SCBA on a consistent basis,and are you thorough about it?

Another type of SCBAwith the O ring present;

P. 23-26 SCBA 13/8/10 2:46 pm Page 23

of SCBA we use today in the fire service is NIOSHapproved. This means that NIOSH took the SCBAand tested it to their standards, NFPA standardsand other pertinent standards to ensure that it willprotect us in an IDLH (Immediate Danger of Life orHealth) environment. Our SCBA is given a rating of10,000 by the NIOSH people, which means that,for every 10,000 particles of substance in the envi-ronment, only one particle will make it throughthe SCBA. This is the highest rating that we couldhave for our respiratory system protection. OurN95 mask has a rating of only ten. A full facerespirator has a rating of 50. We are given thebest protection for our lungs and we do not evenknow it.

I have seen many people in the course of mytime on the job check their SCBA, both full timeand volunteer, and I must say that – for the mostpart – we do a very poor job. Most people justlook to see if they have a full bottle and that is it. Ihave seen others who rely upon the driver of thetruck to check their SCBA. This I donot understand. How do you knowif your SCBA is working properly ornot? The only way to know is if youcheck your own SCBA. This is yourprotection for your lungs, so do notrely upon some other person tocheck for you. Perhaps that otherperson does not hold as high aregard for checking in a SCBA asothers do or even you. So, check ityourself!

So how should we check ourSCBA’s? There is a simple check sys-tem that I am going to share withyou. If you follow the points entirely,you will have completed a thoroughcheck of your SCBA. It may a littletime in the beginning, but after afew times, you will be able to com-plete this check in as little as five

minutes. This system will work with anyname brand SCBA. 1 Visually inspecting the complete res-

pirator for worn or aging rubberparts, worn or frayed harness web-bing or damaged components.

2 Check the air cylinder for the latesthydrostatic test date to ensure it iscurrent. Aluminium cylinders every fiveyears and carbon fibre every five years.

3 Aluminium air cylinders. Visuallyinspect the air cylinder for dents orgouges in the metal. Cylinders thatshow exposure to high heat orflame, such as paint turned brown orblack, decals charred, gauge lensmelted, or the elastomeric bumper isdistorted should be removed fromservice, emptied of compressed air,tagged and sent for repair.

4 Carbon Fibre Air cylinders. Visuallyinspect the cylinder for cuts gougesgreater than the stamping on thebottle. Check for signs of structuraldamage, such as bulges or concaveareas. Check for signs of heat asmentioned above.

5 Check the air cylinder for fullindication.

6 Ensure all air is bled-off the system by openingthe purge valve located on the regulator. Remove the reducer hose couplingand check the condition of the nylon nipple seal. Be sure there is an O ring present.Close the purge valve.

7 Check to ensure the reducer hose coupling ishand-tight to the air cylinder valve outlet.

8 Check to ensure that the breathing regulatorpurge valve is closed.

9 Check face piece assembly. Inspect the following:a Check the overall condition of the Kevlar

head harness and four-point adjustable straps.

b Check the overall condition of the rubberseal.

c Check to ensure that the nose cup is intactand attached to the mask by way of plastic retaining ring.

d Check to ensure both exhalation valves arefirmly attached to the nose cup.


When checking yourcylinder, it is a good ideato check the hydrostaticdate, the initial servicedate and the cylinder’srated pressure

SCBA SAFETY CHECKS – BACK TO BASICSSCBA

One type of an integrated PASS alarm

P. 23-26 SCBA 13/8/10 2:46 pm Page 24

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e Check to ensure that both voice emitters areattached to the nose cup.

f Visually check for any cracking of the face-piece lens. Check the outside of the facepiece to ensure that both plastic tabs are inplace and free from any cracking.

g Check to ensure the voice emitters mount-ing bracket is secured.

h Don the apparatus and attached the facepiece.

10 Fully depress or push in the donning switchand release.

11 Slowly open the air cylinder valve fully. Com-pare the chest gauge with the bottle gauge toensure that both pressure readings are within100 psi of each other.

12 Don the face piece and ensure you have agood seal.

13 Inhale sharply to automatically start the airflow.

14 Breathe normally from the face piece toensure proper operation.

15 Remove the face piece from your face. Airshould freely flow from the face piece.

16 Fully depress or push in the donning switch.The flow of air should stop.

17 Rotate the purge valve a half-turn counter-clockwise. Air should flow freely from the reg-ulator.

18 Return the purge valve to the closed position.Air flow should stop.

19 Fully close the air cylinder. Open the purgevalve slightly too slowly vent the residual airfrom the apparatus. As the residual air vents,the remote gauge needle will swing from theFULL mark and move towards the EMPTYmark. Close the purge valve when the gaugeneedle crosses the quarter mark, but beforethe beginning of the RED empty band. Slowlyopen the purge valve again, the Alarm Assem-bly and Audible alarm from chest gaugeshould actuate as the needle crosses the quar-ter mark. When the air flow has stopped,return the purge valve to the fully closed posi-tion. Deactivate the alarm by needed meansrecommended by the manufacturer. Thegauge will not stop chiming until deactivated.The test is complete. If the purge valve or don-ning switch fails, tag and take out of service

As for the PASS alarm, someSCBA has integrated PASS alarms and some do not. If your SCBA does have an inte-grated PASS alarm, follow thesesteps:1 Check to ensure battery is fully

charged.2 Turn on SCBA The PASS alarm

should activate.3 Let the PASS alarm or SCBA sit

motionless for 20 seconds. Thepre-alert alarm should sound.At this point reset the alarm byshaking the SCBA or the PASSalarm.

4 Let the SCBA sit motionlessagain for 20 seconds. Whenthe pre-alert alarm sounds,deactivate by pushing theappropriate button on thePASS alarm.

5 Let the SCBA sit motionless again. When thepre-alert alarm sounds, let it go to full alarm.Reset the alarm by pushing the appropriatebuttons on the PASS alarm.

6 Manually turn on the PASS alarm by pushingthe full activation button. Reset the alarm as instep number 5.

7 At this point you have checked in your PASSalarm completely. Deactivate your PASS alarmwhen you have drained all the air from yoursystem and then depress the appropriatebuttons. If you have a manual PASS alarm, the only

different step will be to turn on your PASS alarmmanually.

This generic system of checking in your SCBAcan be customised to suit the operational differ-ences of your particular SCBA model. This simplecheck will ensure that your SCBA will be fit forduty when you need it most.

Remember that your SCBA can be divided into4 main parts: face piece, back plate assembly,cylinder and regulator. If you check each one ofthese components thoroughly, as described above,your SCBA will be ready for service every time, allthe time. Be sure that your SCBA is ready. It isthere to protect you! IFF


When checking yourSCBA, it is a good ideato lay it out

SCBA SAFETY CHECKS – BACK TO BASICSSCBA

Mark van der Feyst is aninstructor with Fire Star Training Serviceswww.firestartraining.com Here we can see the O ring is present

P. 23-26 SCBA 13/8/10 2:46 pm Page 26

Safety requires real-time information and monitoring. The Dräger Bodyguard® 7000 electronic unit is akey element of the Dräger PSS® 7000 personal safety system. It combines innovative ergonomic designwith advanced monitoring and warning features. Dräger Bodyguard® 7000: safety in the palm of yourhand. Interested? Take a look at the innovative system solutions of Dräger under www.draeger.com

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RESCUE TOOLSLucas Cutter


According to the World Health Organisation, globally a staggering 1.2 million people die every year in road accidents and a further

50 million are injured. Add to this the fact that, sofar this year, well over a quarter of a million peoplehave been killed in natural disasters, and it is easyto see why there was such widespread interestshown at Interschutz on the latest hydraulic rescueequipment.

Certainly, several of the global market leadersused the show to unveil their latest developmentsor focus on their best-selling solutions. This includedhydraulic cutters that today have enormous powerand have become even more vital pieces ofequipment on the rescue scene than ever before.This is due both to advances in vehicle design andconstruction and improvements in cutter techno-logy. Spreader tools also featured prominently; apowerful tool that can prove invaluable during thevictim extrication process. Rams too are an essen-tial part of the hydraulic tool set and can play adecisive role in situations where the front of thevehicle is causing entrapment of the occupants.

German manufacturer, Lucas, launched what it

describes as the first complete set of rescue toolsworldwide that works entirely without power unitsand hoses. The new line-up uses what thecompany calls eDRAULIC technology that is aimedat setting new standards in vehicle extrication.

With eDRAULIC electrohydraulic technology, anordinary power socket is all that is needed to pro-vide the same power as a large and heavy petrolor electrical power unit. The eDRAULIC tools,which comprises a cutter, spreader and rescueram, deliver at least as much power as hose-bound rescue tools. Thanks to modern lithium-ionbatteries, the eDRAULIC series can also be usedwithout cables – but with full power – which is amajor advantage in multiple crashes or off-roadwork.

Since with eDRAULIC technology power unitsand hoses are no longer necessary, rescue teamsalso save space on their trucks, freeing-up roomfor other items of rescue equipment. The newLucas tools are also claimed to weigh 50 percentless when compared with conventional rescue sets.

Each of the tools can be started simply by press-ing a button; they are then ready immediately for

By Graham Collins

Cut, Crush andProp The latest hydraulic rescue tools atInterschutz The recent Interschutz exhibition in Leipzig, Germany saw a flurry of activity fromthe leading hydraulic rescue tool manufacturers. IFF Editor, Graham Collins,overviews just a few of the headline-making tools.

P. 29-30 Rescue Tools 13/8/10 2:47 pm Page 29

action. Changing from battery to cable operationis also quick and easy, resulting in a considerablereduction in the time between arrival at the emer-gency site and the start of rescue operations.

The latest introduction from Weber-Hydraulik inGermany is its new Xtreme cutter. It is beingheralded as combining perfectly balanced powerwith unrivalled cutting performance that ensuresthat the materials used in modern car, bus andtruck manufacture are tackled with ease.

The new hydraulic cutter incorporates forgedhigh-performance blades with a bolt cuttingrecess. The cross-over, high-performance bladesensure a “perfect” move-in cut, fully utilising allthe available power to complete the cuttingoperation. A 360 degree rotatable and detachablehandle boosts its ease of handling and makes theXtreme cutter ideal for use in restricted orconfined spaces, while its lightweight constructionresults in Weber-Hydraulik claiming that theXtreme cutter achieves the highest power-to-weight ratio.

Netherlands-based Holmatro unveiled a wholeraft of rescue products at Interschutz. This includ-ed a number of hydraulic rescue tools including anew mini cutter, a new concrete crusher and anew ram. All utilise Halmatro’s CORE – CoaxialRescue Equipment – technology that controls theway in which hydraulic oil is directed from thepump to the tool and vice versa.

The new Holmatro Mini cutter CU 4007 (C) issuitable for both round and flat profiles. It isdesigned for applications such as cutting carpedals and head restraints in vehicle accidents,and cutting reinforcement bar in urban search andrescue operations. Its ease of use in confinedspaces is thanks to its extremely compact designand push-button, one-handed operation. It is theideal tool to use alongside the new Halmatro

mobile concrete crusher, which is engi-neered to break up large, thick chunks ofconcrete – up to 230mm thick – toprovide access into collapsed structuresfollowing an earthquake or explosion.

The company’s new Extendo ram XR4360 (C) offers both manual and hydraulicextension, saving valuable time whenevery second counts. Manual extensionenables quicker and more precise position-ing, allowing spreading to start almostimmediately.

Like all of the leading suppliers, Ger-many’s Lancier Hydrauliks took the oppor-tunity to show a broad spectrum of itshydraulic rescue equipment. Its hydrauliccutting equipment on display, forexample, featured a selection of cuttingtools with different blade openings up to 250 mm and blades – that are exchange-able and can be re-ground – with acutting force up to 1102 kN.

The company’s spreaders also featuredprominently. Manufactured from high-strength yet lightweight metal alloy, theyboast spreading widths up to 820mm andspreading forces up to 694 kN. Lancier’suniquely designed combination cutter andspreader has the potential to reduce thenumber of items of equipment carried byrescue vehicles. These have a spreadingwidth up to 460mm and a cutting force of

up to 729 kN.In the final analysis, of course, each rescue tool

has its own unique benefits and these have to bematched against the type of incidents and theirprobable locations the purchasing fire and rescueservice is most likely to have to face. It is all amatter of having the right tool, at the right time,at the right place. We are fortunate to have such awide choice of equipment available but we shouldnever forget just how lucky we are to also havethe skilled and dedicated people to use them. IFF


Holmatro ConcreteCrusher

Holmatro Extendo Ram

CUT, CRUSH AND PROPRESCUE TOOLS

P. 29-30 Rescue Tools 13/8/10 2:47 pm Page 30

EVENT SAFETY


Glastonbury Festival – or to give it its fullname, The Glastonbury Festival of Con-temporary Performing Arts – is known as

the largest green-field music and performing artsfestival in the world. This year it celebrated its40th anniversary and, for six days, the event trans-formed a rural part of the Somerset landscape intoa virtual seven-square-mile city with an entireinfrastructure to support the 177,500 festivalgoers, performers and staff.

Undoubtedly, the annual event is a uniqueexperience for the public. It also represents amajor challenge for the emergency services thatare engaged to ensure public safety throughoutthe duration of the event which creates a tentedcity for a population approximately one and a halftimes the size of Exeter.

Much of the task falls to the Devon andSomerset Fire and Rescue Service (DSFRS) that pro-vides around-the-clock resilience and support aspart of a multi-agency approach. To ensure thatpublic safety is maintained, it assigns resources tocover operational response, fire protection andenforcement, fire prevention and education, and astrategic command team.

To facilitate a ready exchange of informationand ensure an orchestrated “partnership”approach, the fire service on-site team worked

from a compound it shared with the South West-ern Ambulance Service NHS Trust, and alongsidethe Avon and Somerset Police compound. SilverCommand command-and-control meetings tookplace three times a day and allowed the DSFRS torespond in support of other agencies, while alsobuilding rapport and close working relationships.

DSFRS’s on-site operational resource at the festi-val consists of ten personnel crewing a Mercedeshigh-mobility, all-wheel-drive multi-terrain fireappliance and a Land Rover equipped with a smallwater tank and high-pressure Brendon Pump. Thecrew was made up from the DSFRS SpecialOperations Team that has capabilities in firefighting,water rescue, rescue from height, extrication,enhanced search and rescue, together with the abilityto deal with incidents of a catastrophic nature.

Lee Howell, DSFRS’s Chief Fire Officer, visitedcrews on site to gain a firsthand appreciation ofthe risks involved in such a huge crowd. He com-mented: “ Glastonbury is such a diverse meltingpot of cultures, people and risks, but througheffective pre-planning and flexibility on site, DSFRShas again helped ensure the safety of all thoseattending.” He continued: “I never cease to beamazed at the sheer professionalism of Devon andSomerset staff who again demonstrated the veryhighest standards the public has come to expect.”

By Duncan J Whiteand Suzie Izzard

Devon and SomersetFire and Rescue Service

It’s FestivalTimeOpen-air festivals have the potential to be anything but easy-going, carefreeevents, as the recent disaster at the Love Festival in Germany so clearly showed.So here, Duncan White describes how the Devon and Somerset Fire and RescueService achieved zero fire related injuries at this year’s Glastonbury Festival.

P. 33-36 It’s Festival Time 13/8/10 2:47 pm Page 33

Councillor Mark Healey, Chair of Devon andSomerset Fire Authority, who also hosted the Chairof Somerset County Council, added: “Glastonburybrings in a lot of money to the local economy andis recognised internationally as a major annualentertainment event. The eyes of the world focuson this quiet village in Somerset and I am delight-ed that our Fire and Rescue Service works so wellwith partners to ensure safety throughout thisevent.”

Fire prevention and educationThe Glastonbury Festival provides DSFRS withexcellent opportunities to engage with everyoneattending the site, be that ticket holders or thoseinvolved in the management, administration or theday-to-day running of the event.

Basic fire safety information is contained withinthe event guide that is given to each festival goerwhen they receive their ticket, and during thefestival event-specific fire safety messages are sentout to mobile phones via Bluetooth technology.Daily broadcasts, including proactive advice inresponse to incidents / activities are aired onGlastonbury’s local radio station, Worthy FM,which broadcasts directly from the site 24-hours-a-day throughout the festival. Event-specific safetybanners are erected in all on-site car parks.

A dedicated Glastonbury Festival page isincluded on the Devon and Somerset Fire andRescue Service website, which has links to dailypress releases relating to event-specific issues.These press releases also generated interest frommedia across the counties.

The travelling communities of gypsies, travellersand showmen attend Glastonbury to workthroughout the festival and the opportunity

was taken to visit the mixture of caravans, vansand trucks offering fire safety information, as wellas distributing free smoke alarms and carbonmonoxide detectors.

Liz Clegg, a retained firefighter from Totnes,was one of two officers that undertook this task.She said: “Community safety work is an importantpart of our role in the fire service. In order to helppeople stay safe it is important that we under-stand, talk to and listen to them in a languagethat they can relate to. By walking around andchatting to gypsies, travellers and showmen wecan focus on their needs and tailor our homesafety visits to suit them.” She concluded: “Weknow that many are not accessing the range of


EVENT SAFETY


services that settled people do automatically, sowe make sure that we take the message to them.”

Fire protection and enforcementA large number of entertainment marquee venuesare set up within the bounds of the festival site,many of which are large capacity structures thatcan take audiences of 5070, 3740 and 2670.There are also open-air stages with capacities forover 90,000, plus an array of 19 market areas thatcontain food catering outlets, bars and generalstores that cater to the general public.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005applies to on-site entertainment venues, marketstalls and to the off-site sleeping accommodation.DFSRS is the enforcing authority for this fire safetylegislation and has the statutory duty to see it iscorrectly applied. The main focus of our activitieswent on gauging the level of compliance byresponsible persons with the emphasis oneducation and informing.

Prior to the festival opening to the public, teamsof experienced fire safety protection and enforce-ment officers, drawn from group support teamsfrom across the Service, carried out audits on theprinciple venues and market traders using a specialevent check sheet that has been specificallydesigned by DSFRS for this type of event. Theteam also visited the smaller market traders whohad been sent basic fire safety risk assessmentforms as part of their traders’ pack. Their premiseswere audited to ensure they were in compliancewith the Fire Safety Order and advice was offeredwhere necessary.

The teams completed 143 audits during theweek, with 89 satisfactory outcomes and 54unsatisfactory; the consistent reason for failurebeing that traders were simply not completingtheir risk assessment. In future it may be necessarythat, in order for traders to be able to book theirpitch, they will need to complete their assessmentpack. Market stalls were also being incorrectlysited and not leaving sufficient room at the rear toallow for a means of escape. Lastly, inappropriatematerials were being used in the construction ofstalls, such as plastics and other combustiblematerials.

One trader was reported to be selling Chineselanterns, which have been banned at Glastonbury

for some time. Marc House, Station Manager fromthe Yeovil Group Support team said: “On discover-ing a gentleman selling Chinese Lanterns theCommunity Safety Prevention and CommunitySafety Protection team worked closely with themarket manager to deal with the problem. Themarket manager involved her staff and security toensure that this individual and any others thatwere found to be selling lanterns were removedfrom site.”

World cup festival feverThis year the Glastonbury Festival coincided withthe World Cup Finals and for the England gameon Wednesday the Festival’s Pyramid Stage wasused to show the football, attracting an estimatedaudience in excess of 80,000. For the Sunday matchbetween England and Germany, a giant screen inthe specially-created 55,000 capacity football fieldhad been set up. Following the popularity of the


IT’S FESTIVAL TIME EVENT SAFETY


Wednesday game an additional area with a capac-ity of 30,000 was highlighted and resourced.

DSFRS’s Special Operations team set up itsdecontamination tent to the edge of the field toprovide shade for festival goers suffering in theheat during the match, as the field provided noshelter from the hot sun. Even though the matchwas due to start at 3pm, the public started to fillthe field from 1.30pm, heightening the potentialrisk from sun stroke and sun burn.

Community Safety Officer Chris Snook: “On thesecond day of the festival the weather forecastshowed that temperatures would be reaching thehigh 20s and possibly the early 30s. Workingalongside the other multi-agency partners we putin place contingency plans to deal with festivalgoers who potentially may suffer from heatstroke.” He continued: “Following the success ofthe English football team on the first day, and thecrowds that were watching on the Pyramid stage,the festival organisers decided that the primaryfootball site was potentially not big enough, sothey opened a second one, which appears to havebeen the right move as that field was full withover 30,000 fans.”

“The fire service staff created a high profilepresence by walking among the football support-ers in uniform. The ambulance service had issuedus with information on how to recognise sun-stroke and dehydration and we spent the matchinforming fans about the location of additionalwater tap sites.” She added: “The way that theService showed flexibility and willingness to sup-port the Ambulance service at such short noticewas a real credit to all DSFRS’s staff.”

Derek McCullough, Operations Manager forSouth Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust said:“The fire service communicated sun safetymessages, making sure spectators were hydrated,put on their sun screen and stayed in the shadewherever possible. Working together in this waymeant everyone could enjoy a safe festival.”

Throughout the festival the Service demon-strated a high level of emergency response,undertaking invaluable risk reduction in the area’sfire prevention, fire protection and enforcement.With rapid and relevant responses made to allemergency incidents, there were no reports ofanyone being injured by fire throughout the four-day festival. IFF


IT’S FESTIVAL TIMEEVENT SAFETY

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Duncan J White is theGlastonbury Festival ProjectLead Officer for Devon andSomerset Fire and RescueServicewww.dsfire.gov.ukwww.glastonburyfestival.co.uk


Solberg IFF27 p40 6/8/10 10:24 am Page 1

FOAM


Luc Jacobs

Solberg Scandinavian AS

AlcoholResistant Foamsand ViscosityToday, we can fly to the moon and yet we still have problems with the mixing ofpseudo-plastic foams. Luc Jacobs explains.

Every day there are issues with mixing foam atthe right proportioning. Is this due to thefoam? Is it due to the system? Is it due to lack

of knowledge? Who does put the requirements offoam mixing in the specification when ordering anew system or fire truck?

One of the standards that lists foam concen-trates and equipment is UL 162 (Foam equipmentand liquid concentrates). The foam is listed incombination with a specific piece of equipment,so having a UL approval does not necessarily meanthat particular piece of equipment works with anyfoam, or the other way around. The EU EN 1568(Foam extinguishing media – foam concentrates],which is similar to the ISO 7203 (Fire extinguishingmedia – foam concentrates) will approve a foamaccording a certain expansion range. In theory theuser should than be able to use that foam in anyequipment designed for that foam expansion. Thissame EN 1568 standard gives some directions on the limitations in connection to the foamconcentrate viscosity.

EU EN 1568-3 tells the user that if a pseudo-plastic foam with a viscosity above 120 mPa.s (at aspecific temperature and at 375 s-1) or a Newton-ian foam above 200 mm2/sec could need specialproportioning systems. This lets us assume thatbelow those viscosities there would not be a

problem. However, in our testing, with someviscous products or at lower use temperatures (sothey get close to the 120 mPa.s) we have beenseeing large deviations. With some equipmentconfigurations we noticed no foam induction atall. Even “Newtonian” products, do not alwaysmix properly, particularly when operating tempera-tures are lower.

When designing a foam mixing system, a fewfoam types, or at best, one foam type, are usedfor testing. The approval and last verification isoften done with water only. If we take a simpleinline inductor, one could say that water will mix

Basic understanding of pseudo-plasticviscosityDistance X Diameter (area) is the key.

Pouring (or sucking) a pseudo-plastic viscosefoam through a sieve or filter is not a big issue,but sucking it up through a straw can becomeso difficult, that the straw collapses and closes.

For example, a pseudo-plastic AR foam canbe filtered through a 25 µm sieve, but cannotrun through a 1m long, 6mm diameter tube.This can be explained by the fact that theorifice is not the mixing issue, but the lengthand diameter of the pick-up tube is.

P. 39-41 Foams 13/8/10 2:49 pm Page 39

at 6%, AFFF close to 7%, and FP close to 5%.When switching to AR type material it is evenmore important to keep a close check on the pres-sure drop over the inductor, a minimum of 30% isrequired (10 bar to 7 bar). Special AR type inlineinductors will generate up to 50% pressure dropand are therefore generating more under-pressureto pick up the foam concentrate.

The orifice will then regulate the “proper” foamamount induced into the water flow. Often, aftersome years a poorly trained fire crew will have for-gotten what the original configuration of nozzle,in-line inductor and foam concentrate they had.Switching equipment all the time will make them

vulnerable to all kinds of mixing errors. I haveoften seen people switching their low expandedfoam branch to a medium expansion foambranch, which then suddenly operates at 4,5 bar.If the inline inductor is then designed for a 10 barin 7 bar out low expanded foam branch, you willhave problems.

Lowering the pump pressure will bring you tothe required 4.5 bar nozzle pressure but thatmakes you unsure about the foam mixing. Typical-ly, lowering inlet pressure (lower flow) will increasethe foam mixing over the inductor. Another erroris that when switching the nozzle more back-pres-sure can be generated, getting you below thecritical 30% and not mixing any foam at all. Withsome equipment foam combinations will still workbelow the critical 30% pressure drop but this ismore the exception than the rule. The good thingis that with proper knowledge and experience,one can almost always induce foam through an in-line inductor.

This example of the “simple” in-line inductorlists some of the proportioning issues; most of thesame problems or obstacles can be encountered inbigger systems. Some foam manufacturers –including Solberg – developed AR multi-purpose“Newtonian” (or low viscous) foams. These foamsperform on polar liquids and do not contain thespecial polymeric sugars which cause the pseudo-plastic properties. Still, their performance in tankfires and on polar liquids is not as good as thestandard AR foams containing polysaccharides.

After listing all the issues it is time to thinkabout the solutions. The first and most important


FOAM

Temperature influenceSay, you allow tolerances on the proportioningof a 3% foam concentrate of 0 percent to 30percent (3,0% to 3,9%). You run the test andpass with 3,1% (temperature was 15°C). Nexttime, you run another system test and this timeit is 5°C. Possibly you end up at 2.5% or lower.What now? Do you need to adjust the system?

The UL standard lists foam-equipment witha specific temperature range. EN 1568 tests ataround 15°C.

From the EN 1568-3 standard:Newtonian foam concentrates: foamconcentrates that have a viscosity which isindependent of the shear rate.Pseudo-plastic foam concentrates: foamconcentrates that have a viscosity whichdecreases with increasing shear rate.

P. 39-41 Foams 13/8/10 2:49 pm Page 40

is training. Know your foam, equipment advan-tages and limitations. Secondly do not get fixedinto the parameters and avoid buying fixed con-centration mixing equipment, or if you do, at leastbe sure that the temperature influence is minorand that the foam has some performance flexibili-ty, meaning that it works at lower and higher con-centrations as listed and that the system is testedat several variable parameters and proven to mixproperly.

Again the cold of winter and the heat ofsummer will have a bearing. Personally I favour theflexibility of foam use. Start the attack with a loweror standard concentration, increase foam mixingtowards the end to make the stiff foam cover yourneed for burn-back and vapour suppression. Evenon polar liquids one can easily start at low concen-tration, kill the heat, then close in, try to applyindirectly, and increase the concentration all theway up to give that strong foam blanket you need.

It is clear that I prefer a 3X6 foam, or a 1X3, ifyour equipment can mix as low as 1%.

Of course, this means that you need to calcu-late more foam than required – for example,60,000 litre of 3% or 20,000 litre of 1% – butexperience tells me that you will end up usingmore foam than was calculated. People want tobe sure it foams so there is a strong temptation toincrease the mixing. Inevitably in critical situationsyou will increase the foam mixing (even theexperts do) if you do. In cases where you cannot itmay mean that you will need to fight longer andhope that your foam quality is good enough tofinally extinguish the fire.

Today I personally think that there is notenough direction on concentration flexibility. Stan-dards and guidelines list minimum applicationrates but talk little about minimum foam concen-tration for initial attack, prolonged attack and finalcoverage for vapour suppression.

So, to finally repeat some of the points:● Train. Know your equipment, foam concentrate

and mixing issues.● Test your equipment and measure the mixing

concentration in different circumstances,temperature conditions and pressures.

● For manual application, buy flexible mixingequipment, and buy flexible foam concentrates.

● Know your equipment.● Know your foam.● Know the potential and optimal combinations

of your foam and equipment. IFF


ALCOHOL RESISTANT FOAMS AND VISCOSITY FOAM

Use a Flexible foam:Even on a polar liquid, such as the new E85 carfuel, Solberg Re-Healing foam 3X6ATC, willgive rapid fire control, even with lower than a3% concentration. This heat control will allowyou to approach, move in and then attacktowards indirect application and increase theconcentration. This will allow you, with lessrisk, to make that necessary, indirect applica-tion on polar liquids in a safe way.

Key issues to use an in-line inductorwith pseudo-plastic foams:1 Type of foam and temperature: Viscosity (so

back-pressure) will change with foam type and temperature.

2 Pressure drop <30% will mostly lead to lowerfoam pick-up or even no pick-up at all.

3 Inlet pressure: Typically an in-line proportion-er will list an inlet pressure (often 10 bar).

4 Outlet pressure: Should be minimum 30%lower. Dependent on several parameters:● Back-pressure of the Nozzle.● Length of hose or elevations.● Flow.● Inlet pressure.

5 Flow: The concentrate mixing orifice iscalculated on the water flow.

6 Pick-up tube: Constrictions, length, eleva-tion.

7 Other parameters such as maintenance, orpotential blockage of the “ball-bearing”.

Luc Jacobs is a foams expertwith Solberg Scandinavian ASwww.solbergfoams.com

P. 39-41 Foams 13/8/10 2:49 pm Page 41

DAFO FOMTEC AB P.O Box 683 SE-135 26 Tyresö Sweden

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PUMPS


Firefighting is a risky business and the loss oflife statistics embracing both professional fire-fighters and members of the public caught up

in fires is enough to ensure that companiesdesigning and building firefighting systems areconstantly striving to improve the performance,versatility and reliability of front-line equipment.Fire pump manufacturers are no exception. Thisfocused mindset is, of course, sharpened by thehuge sums of money that, every year, are lostthrough fire damage, or spent on rebuilding fire-destroyed facilities.

When it comes to vehicle-mounted pumps,professional municipal, military and industrial fire-fighters around the world have never been offered

such an extensive array of high-performanceoptions. However, what most distinguishes onemanufacturer’s pump from the next is how manystages are needed to generate the different pres-sure outputs required. For the past four decades,the accepted standard in the UK has been highflow/low pressure simultaneously with lowflow/high pressure, and that combination hascome about as a result of innovative pump designand the harnessing of the latest advances inmechanical and electrical engineering.

Thanks to the innovative development the uni-versal multi-pressure pump, whereby two impellersare placed on a single shaft, Godiva became thefirst manufacturer to introduce a low and high

Andrew Shiner

Idex Fire SuppressionGroup

The ChangingFace of FirePump TechnologyThe effectiveness of front-line firefighting often comes down to the efficiencyand reliability of the equipment being used. Andrew Shiner looks at the latestdevelopments in one mission-critical area – fire pumps.

P. 43-46 Pumps 13/8/10 2:51 pm Page 43

pressure stage on a single shaft. The result was acompact installation that offered easier fitting,greater efficiency and outstanding performance.

European EN, British BS, and North AmericanNFPA compliance standards are valuable bench-marks for assessing pump capability, and providingperformance ratings based on the discharge flowand pressure. For example, 2000 litres-a-minute at10 bar, 3000 litres-a-minute at 10 bar, 4000 litres-

a-minute at 10 bar and 6000 litres-a-minute at 10 bar.

Innovation & designThe introduction of the universal multi-pressure pump, along with the use oflight alloy in the construction, saw suc-cessive Godiva pumps became standardfirefighting equipment in the UK’s fireand rescue service and a number ofbrigades in other countries from the1960s. The advantage of using light-weight aluminium had immediateappeal in the portable pump sectorwhere weight, portability and compact-ness are considerations of paramountimportance. The latest in two-cylinder,air cooled engines for portable pumpswere also quickly taken up as animpressive power source, and as afurther means by which both weightand size could be minimised.

The drive to achieve the lowestpossible installation envelope for

vehicle-mounted pumps has particularly come tothe fore in recent years as fire and rescue vehicleshave been equipped with an ever greater varietyof equipment. The equation is simple; if the pumpis more compact – without, of course, jeopardisingreliability – the vehicle builder can offer morespace for ventilation fans, hydraulic extricationtools, thermal imaging cameras and a whole vari-ety of other life saving and firefighting equipment.

Installation mattersThe need to make pumps easier for vehiclebuilders to install, and provide easier access formaintenance technicians access has gone hand-in-hand with the desire to minimise the pump’sfootprint envelope. The addition of an integralmounting platform was a major step forward,which has several beneficial features for thebuilder.

As the platform is designed to suit the narrow-est vehicle chassis structure, the pump can bequickly and easily secured in place. The platformalso has built-in water and oil drainage taps at thefront. These are linked to the bearing housing foroil replacement and pump volute for water drain-ing, both of which are essential parts of themaintenance regime. The mounting platform isalso fitted with anti-vibration mounts that helpreduce noise during firefighting operations.

Avoiding any clashes with the vehicle pump bayfloor structure has been achieved on the latestvehicle mounted pumps by making the suctionconnection project from the pump body at ashallow angle or even completely horizontal. This isalso a bonus when the pump is low fitted, or whenthe vehicle specification calls for an increaseddeparture angle on the vehicle bodywork.

These and other features make the pump morecompact to install for the vehicle builder, andeasier for the firefighter to use. Again as examples,an optional integral collecting head for hydrantfeed operations is included, while multiple tank-to-pump feed points ensure that greater flexibilityfor pump installation.

Designers have also improved pump priming inrecent years. The most up to date reciprocatingpiston primer systems take up less space in the


PUMPS

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P. 43-46 Pumps 13/8/10 2:51 pm Page 44

overall design, and are more effi-cient and reliable when incorporat-ing an electromagnetic clutch. Theoutcome is fewer moving parts towear, less noise, lower fuel con-sumption and reduced emissions.The current generation of pistonprimer uses less water – and so isexposed to fewer abrasives – primesat a lower idling speed, and is fullyautomatic. They now occupy asmaller proportion of the wholepump and there is no external pipebetween the suction tube and thepriming mechanism.

Material selectionThese days, cost, and particularlywhole-life cost, is a major consider-ation, with buyers striving to ensurethe longest possible trouble-free working life forevery piece of equipment, with the lowest possiblemaintenance bills in terms of replacement partsand labour. Hence, pump designers use of thelatest materials to ensure a long pump life,reduced maintenance costs and the most robustpossible pump construction.

Today’s vehicle pump uses stainless steel in thecritical areas and high-grade aluminium elsewhereto boost resistance to the corrosion problemsassociated with deteriorating water quality and foruse in corrosive industrial and marine environments.The inclusion of polymer wear rings is another fea-ture designed to further improve the pump wearcharacteristics. More parts are of a modular designand important parts such as seals can be accessedin-situ without major castings being removed.

Environmental concerns are increasingly influ-encing the thinking of pump designers, as fire andrescue services come to terms with issues such asfuel consumption and exhaust emissions. Theprincipal, of course, is the more efficient the pumpdesign, the less power it will draw from the vehicleengine, so improving fuel use and reducingpollution.

Triple-pressure pumpsThere is now a third option. In addition to thetwo-pressure discharge pump, there is now atriple-pressure pump that meets the needs of anew type of vehicle – the CARP or combined aerialrescue platform.

CARP vehicles provide the water-pumping

capability of a standard appliance with the optionto use an aerial ladder. To provide water dischargeat the top of the ladder, the vehicle pump has todeliver a flow of approximately 2400 litres-a-minute at 14 bar, while simultaneously supplyingthe hand line discharge at 1500 litres-a-minute at6.5 bar, and the high-pressure hose reels with 400 litres-a-minute at 40 bar. An example of thetype of pump that is capable of supplying thesedischarge pressures from one unit is the GodivaPrima Triple Pressure Range pump.

The Godiva Prima Triple range is the next gener-ation of the tried-and-tested World Series model.It combines the existing WT low pressure centrifu-gal impeller and high-pressure re-generativeimpeller with a modified discharge manifold toprovide the three different pressures required forCARP vehicle applications.

Another notable development of vehicle pumpsis the inclusion of a Compressed Air Foam Systemor CAFS. This technology is being adopted increas-ingly by fire and rescue services as a more effectiveand environmentally safe method of fighting mosttypes of combustible material fires includingstructural fires. An appliance equipped with CAFScomprises a high-volume air compressor ofbetween fifty cubic-feet-a-minute and 200 cubic-feet-a-minute that is integrated with a foamproportioning system and the normal centrifugalvehicle pump.

A typical CAFS unit is the Godiva Prima withintegrated SmartCAFS, a unit where all the mainCAFS components are part of the pump package:


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P. 43-46 Pumps 13/8/10 2:51 pm Page 45

air compressor; foam pump and mixing manifold.This compact unit is easier for vehicle builders toinstall and connect, as all parts are in one locationinstead of being distributed around the vehicle.SmartCAFS is the latest type of easy-to-use switchcontrol for selecting wet or dry foam mixtures, andthe Smart switch allows discrete increases ordecreases in foam mixture across the wet to dryrange and enables pre-programmed positions tobe selected.

The integrated design of the Godiva PrimaSmartCAFS includes safety interlocks to preventhazardous conditions due to operator error, as wellas providing for easier installation and service.CAFS has increased firefighting power, but thispower is only available when all three elements:water, foam, and air are correctly utilised. TheSmartCAFS Integrated System is designed toorchestrate the mixture of the three elements withminimum operator effort; a real advantage whenoperator training time is at a premium.

Pre-engineered pump to nozzlesolutionA new concept in vehicle-mounted fire suppres-sion that has been recently introduced is theSafeBuy system – a collaborative developmentbetween Hale and Task Force Tips. SafeBuy is acomplete suppression agent delivery system com-prising pump house, hoses, monitors, valves,safety devices, diagnostics and plumbing system,that is pre-engineered to work together to ensurean uninterrupted flow of suppression agent.

From the fire and rescue service’s viewpoint,there is an assurance that the firefighting packageis certified to perform as specified. It allows theequipment buyer to stipulate the required pumphouse design, and allows for standardisation ofpanel layout for easier pump operational trainingacross a number of vehicles. Plumbing layouts arealso consistent, so service and maintenance iseasier to perform.

SafeBuy uses the Hale Qmax single-stage pumpthat is designed to increase the efficiency of waterflow. Oversized discharge passages and additional100mm outlet ports are designed to facilitatefirefighting methods using large diameter hose.

Booster pump kitAnother new development is the high-volumebooster pump kit.

This can be installed below the chassis top offrame, allowing more space for body componentsor additional tank capacity. This results in a lowercentre of gravity, making the vehicle easier tohandle and safer to operate.

The high-volume booster pump kit is ideal for avariety of fire suppression vehicles, such as tanker,small compact, rescue and midi-pumpers, as wellas for rural urban interface apparatus and initialattack apparatus. The pump is equipped with themost advanced and safest pressure governor avail-able, and features a quick pump service drop-outto ensure that repairs are fast and easy. Stainlesssteel plumbing and manifolds is a major boost tocorrosion resistance. IFF


THE CHANGING FACE OF FIRE PUMP TECHNOLOGYPUMPS

Andrew Shiner is VicePresident, International Salesand Marketing at Idex FireSuppression Groupwww.godiva.co.uk andwww.haleproducts.com

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Plastisol IFF21 13/12/09 1:32 pm Page 1

VEHICLES


Afirefighting vehicle is a major capital investment, whether it is destined for a municipal brigade, a civil or military airport

authority or a high-hazard industrial emergencyresponse organisation. In the case of the latestvehicle designed and built for Sembcorp, the billcame to £270,000.

Like its identical predecessor, which went intoservice in 2009, the new vehicle features some ofworld’s best firefighting and chemical spill protec-tion technology, and was designed and built tocombat a set of very specific fire safety challenges.These include being capable of tackling bothcurrent and anticipated future fire scenarios, plusit has to perform alongside other equipment aspart of a fully integrated and reliable fire andrescue solution.

Background to the acquisitionThe specification for a new first-turnout firefight-ing vehicle to boost Sembcorp’s emergencyresponse capability was originally established justprior to the acquisition of a new water supportvehicle in mid-2007. This is a high-capacity, fast-support unit that is fitted with the latest technol-ogy to enable the transference of water wheneverand to wherever it is needed in the right quantityand at the right pressure. The unit incorporates2,000 metres of 125mm diameter hose that isstored flat and can be deployed from the unit in amatter of minutes, enabling water to be movedquickly over long distances with minimal frictionloss. The unit also has capacity for a further 2,000 metres of hose to increase the reach to4,000 metres.

By Greg Richardson

Sembcorp Protection

Specifying aFirefightingVehicleSembcorp Protection, which is responsible for protecting hundreds of millions ofpounds worth of industrial assets on key sites in the Tees Valley on Teeside in theUK, has just boosted its arsenal of firefighting equipment with another newfirefighting vehicle. Greg Richardson explains the buying process.

P. 49-52 Vehicles 13/8/10 2:52 pm Page 49


SPECIFYING A FIREFIGHTING VEHICLEVEHICLES

This support unit joined a high-risk environmentemergency response fleet that includes two appli-ances – one delivers 22,701 litres-a-minute offoam or water, and the other 11,355 litres aminute. There are also four triple-agent appli-ances, each with a maximum pumping capacity of4,500 litres-a-minute, and one appliance with acapacity of 10,000 litres-a-minute that holds up to4,500 litres of AFFF foam and up to 750kg of drypowder. This is supported by 120,000 litres offoam concentrate – the largest industrial stock offoam concentrate in the UK.

Fitness for purposeWhen preparing a specification, the first task is toestablish as precisely as possible the threats andchallenges with which the new appliance is likelyto have to contend.

In this instance, the new vehicle was destined toplay a leading role in safeguarding £14 billion ofhigh-hazard chemical processing and storageassets on a number of sites on Teesside in thenortheast of England. This immediately suggesteda short-form specification that included high-per-formance systems and equipment, various types offoam proportioning, water/foam monitors, andcomplementary extinguishing systems such as drypowder chemical agents.

This assessment also took into account theoperational experience gained from attending inci-dents, and the facilities already available within theexisting arsenal of firefighting and support appli-ances. To ensure that the new vehicle would meetfuture emergency needs, detailed discussions alsotook place with Sembcorp’s customers to ascertain

any significant changes that might have an impacton the current fire strategies that would need tobe taken into account. Similarly, discussions werealso held with existing and potential equipmentsuppliers to review the latest technology andimminent developments.

Shopping listThis resulted in the creation of a broad-brush“shopping list” for the new appliance. It had to:● Be a first-turnout appliance that could deliver

large volumes of water or foam for larger fires,and have the technology for large pressure andflowing fuel fires.

● Be compatible with other recently purchasedSembcorp appliances and had to offer bothpump operation and equipment retrieval thatwas swift and user friendly.

● Incorporate a 10,000 litres-a-minute waterpump supplied by four 64mm inlets and two128mm vacuum or pressure inlets.

● Have water and foam delivery via a dosiforfoam injection system through four 64mmwater/foam units, two 64mm and two 128mmwater-only units and a 3,800 litres-a-minute to11,400 litres-a-minute roof monitor with thetechnology to extinguish three-dimensionalfires involving liquids and gases under pressure.

● Have internal tank capacities of 600 litres of water, 3,000 litres of AFFF one-percent and three-percent concentrate, 250 litres offluorine-free training foam, and 500kg of dry chemical powder, discharged via twobranches that are located on either side of theappliance.


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Equipment selectionIn contrast with appliances in the existing Semb-corp fleet that are either first-turnout appliancesor large “pumpers”, the new unit is a versatilehybrid of both. This allows its role to be changedto reflect the firefighting demands of a developingfire. Instead of having to withdraw one applianceand replace it with another, it is necessary only toadd to the water supply and increase its deliveryoptions using the roof-mounted monitor orexternal monitors via 128mm outlets.

However, dependence on such versatility doesmean that the chosen firefighting systems, equip-ment and accessories have to be of the highestuncompromising standard.

All of the equipment and firefighting agents –including the pump, tanks, the monitor, outlets,foam concentrates and chemical powder – wereselected because of their proven performance inthe global petrochemicals firefighting arena. Mostof the equipment specified is also currently usedon other Sembcorp appliances, so is familiar to theoperational crews. Nevertheless, demonstrationsof all of the key pieces of equipment were held toensure that each item delivered the requiredperformance.

For example, the partic-ular extinguishing systemwas chosen because it usesthe foam solution to propelthe dry chemical powderagent approximately three-to-four times farther thanis achievable with con-ventional dry chemicalequipment. This gives thefirefighter a safer and moreefficient means of deliver-ing the dry chemical ontothe large pressure andflowing fuel fires that,potentially, Sembcorp fire-fighters have to face.

The technology alsoallows ground or spill firesto be extinguished usingfoam only, which harnesses

the three-dimensional fire,greatly reducing flame intensity.After this heat reduction, drychemical is then injected intothe foam stream, resulting in amore efficient extinguishing ofthe fire.

The tendering processFirefighting and rescue vehiclebuilding is a truly internationalbusiness; few manufacturersare dependent upon their homemarket. In this instance fivecompanies were approached –two British, one American, oneGerman and one French – all ofwhich met Sembcorp’s baselinedesign and manufacturingcapabilities requirements.

Two companies were short-listed before the final selectionwas made; both were inspectedand the people who would be

responsible for the completion of the project weremet and assessed.

While the vehicle design utilises a conventionalcommercial chassis, the superstructure of the vehi-cle was custom-built and all of the componentswere to Sembcorp’s specific requirements. Thisinevitably caused occasional delays. However, thebuilder’s experience in building one-off firefightingtrucks, the way in which the factory is set up forbuilt-to-order production and the professional wayin which the company does business kept these to a minimum. Issues did occasionally arise overinterpretation of Sembcorp’s specification, so adegree of flexibility regarding delivery times and acontingency for minor changes are sensible pre-cautions. Again though, these were minimised by building into the programme formal site visitmeetings at the pre-build, intermediate build andcommissioning stages.

In the event, the initial project took two years tocomplete from specification to delivery. The chassiswas ordered in April 2007, was delivered to thebuilder in February 2008, and the first commis-sioned vehicle was finally placed “on run” inTeesside in January 2009. The latest engineentered Sembcorp’s service earlier this year. IFF


SPECIFYING A FIREFIGHTING VEHICLEVEHICLES

Greg Richardson isEngineering & TechnicalManager at SembcorpProtection www.sembutilities.co.uk/protection


TRAINING

Pic courtesy of Texas Engineering Extension Service

P. 53 Training Section 13/8/10 2:52 pm Page 53


P. 54 ads 13/8/10 2:53 pm Page 54

STRUCTURAL COLLAPSEPic courtesy the UnitedNations DevelopmentProgramme


Structural collapses resulting from earthquakeshave gained a great deal of media coverageand have been a challenge for rescuers world-

wide due to the amount of devastation and thenumber of resources required to affect a com-petent response. Many of us believe that since wedo not work in an area known for seismic activitythat we will not encounter a structural collapse ofany significance. From small towns to large metro-politan areas, response crews in recent years havehad their resources quickly overwhelmed by bothnatural and man-made situations that have result-ed in structural collapse. Government buildings,residential buildings, shopping centres, sportsarenas, schools, airport terminals, subway systems,

bridges and many other structures have collapsed. Responding to a structural collapse is a high risk

activity that we could encounter at any moment.Are we prepared for this type of response? Do weunderstand enough about the discipline to avoidmaking mistakes that will endanger more people,including our firefighters?

Response to structural collapse includes expo-sure to unique hazards for which we are nottrained in our basic firefighter classes and is a sep-arate specialty discipline that requires a great dealof training. From using specialised equipment torecognition of special hazards, even working assupport to a structural collapse team carries with itrisks that can jeopardise the operation. Training

By Lori Peace

Texas EngineeringExtension Service

Are You PreparedFor a StructuralCollapseResponse?Waiting until a structural collapse occurs is a recipe for turning a disaster into acatastrophe as Lori Peace, Associate Training Specialist in the Weapons of MassDestruction Defensive Operations Program at TEEX, explains.

P. 55-60 Structural Collapse 13/8/10 2:54 pm Page 55

collapses, more victims, exposure to multiple haz-ards and can create a safety hazard for responsepersonnel. Firm control of the perimeter early inthe response can help prevent the response frombecoming an out-of-control, dangerous situation.

There are many standard operating proceduresand job performance requirements that have beenwritten concerning the appropriate actions to takeduring response to a structural collapse. NFPA1006 [Standard for Technical Rescuer ProfessionalQualifications] addresses many of the essentialobjectives a rescue technician should be capable ofachieving during such an event. What guidelinesexist in your department? What areas of expertiseexist within your department? How can yourpersonnel assist technicians who will be arriving?Pre-planning and training together with all poten-tial responders for an event of this nature isnecessary. It builds confidence within yourdepartment and can reveal weaknesses in the planthat can be resolved prior to a collapse.

Causes of collapse and a few examplesGeneral reasons for structural collapse includeground instability – for example, excavation andrain – poor construction methods, poor workman-ship, faulty materials, structural defects, ignoranceof or illegal construction, disregarding buildingcodes, structural vibrations such as earthquakes,accidental or intentional explosions, vehicularimpact with wall supports, ice loading on the roofor other loading matters just to name a few.

Situations that are naturally occurring events,such as earthquakes, are a significant source ofbuilding collapses. There are examples fromChengdu in China, Kobe in Japan, and Taiwan tothe Caribbean nation of Haiti that illustrate the


ARE YOU PREPARED


destructive forces involved during an earthquakeand its aftershocks. The Kobe earthquake causedthe collapse in the Daikai subway station, whichwas constructed of reinforced concrete.

Other collapses due to nature involve the build-up of snow on roofs. Snow build-up stressesloading and has been named a contributing factorin the collapse of roofs in Moscow and Chusovoyin Russia, in Katowice in Poland, in Bad Reichen-hall in Germany, and many other areas throughoutthe years.

Actions – or inactions – by humans are alsoresponsible for a number of structural collapses.Poor building construction, poor building materi-als, or poor building standards have been blamedin a number of building collapses. In 2008, unrein-forced concrete used in the construction ofschools in Haiti was blamed for the collapse oftwo schools that resulted in the death of around150 people, mostly schoolchildren. These two

separate collapses occurred without any apparentadditional stressors. A boarding school in disrepaircollapsed in a Tichakpura in India killing 11 girls inJanuary of 2007. Lagos in Nigeria has experienceda number of collapses with one notable collapse in2006 resulting in around 25 deaths. And one ofthe largest disasters in South Korea occurred inSeoul in 1995 when over 500 deaths and morethan 900 injuries resulted from the collapse of abuilding in which inappropriate construction forthe intended load was suspected. In Cologne inGermany, subway excavation in a nearby area issuspected to have been a factor in the collapse ofthe historical archives building in 2009.

Events that challenge the intended loading ofstructures can also lead to collapse. Many concert-goers dancing to the rhythm of music in Abbots-ford in British Columbia found themselves fallingthrough the floor as it collapsed in April 2008,injuring around 40 people. Vehicle accidents candamage load bearing elements. In December2007, a motorist in a parking garage crashed intothe structure at a shopping mall in North Carolina.That occurrence is suspected of causing the col-lapse of a portion of the parking area.

Unusual incidences, such as the 1999 collapse ofthe Texas A & M bonfire can pose a challenge to fireand rescue crews because it is difficult to predict theresults of actions taken due to the unique nature ofthe building methods. This particular bonfire, builtprimarily by students at Texas A & M University wasunder construction; about 12 metres high and con-sisted of around 5000 logs placed vertically andwired in place when it collapsed. Twelve peoplewere killed and around 30 were injured.

Of special note is the possibility that an inten-tional act caused the structural collapse. The provi-sion of scene safety is at the top of everyone’s listand is one of the objectives that may requireexamination from a different perspective. Intoday’s environment, one must consider the possi-


STRUCTURAL COLLAPSE

Pic courtesy the United Nations DevelopmentProgramme


bility that the collapse was deliberate. Workinghand in hand with the scene survey and size-up ofthe situation, take the opportunity to evaluate theentire situation from a more suspicious viewpoint.

The inventiveness of terrorist organisationsnever ceases, and terrorist organisations utilise anytactic to accomplish their goals. One of the primarytools of terrorists is explosive devices. Learn about the structure and its purpose. Who are theoccupants of the structure and what events aretaking place within that structure? Take a veryclose look at the damage you see. Could it havebeen caused by a Vehicle Borne Improvised Explo-sive Device [VBIED], a suicide bomber, or explosivestargeting load-bearing building components? Ifthe incident appears to be a deliberate event, con-sider additional threats to your personnel. Couldadditional devices be present? Are the types ofinjuries or symptoms observed in victims consistentwith those present at a structural collapse? Couldchemical, biological or nuclear materials have beenreleased in the area? If intentional acts aresuspected, take appropriate measures to assurecontinued safety of all response personnel. Lawenforcement will take measures to secure thescene, preserve the scene and collect evidence.

Buildings and subways have been the subject ofterrorist bombings. The Moscow Metro suffereddue to suicide bombings in March of 2010,London Underground was targeted in 2005, andadditional attacks can be expected. There hasbeen some research concerning the stability ofsubway tunnels in reaction to internal explosiveevents and, hopefully, this research will lead toimproved construction methods that will furtherlimit the possibility of collapse.

Political targets, such as marine barracks inBeirut in Lebanon, the Murrah Building in Okla-homa City and the US Embassy buildings in Dar esSalaam in Tanzania and Nairobi in Kenya havebeen the focus of terrorist bombings. Even build-ings that do not have obvious political ties, such asapartment buildings in the Russian cities of

Moscow, Buynaksk and Volgodonsk, the WorldTrade Centre buildings in New York, and apart-ment buildings in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia havesuccumbed to terrorist bombings. Any type ofoccupancy could become the target of a terroristbombing. Public houses, apartments, night clubs,restaurants, hospitals, and basically any place thatpeople gather, as is proven by explosions fromUganda to Great Britain to Bali.

Only an acute eye and good evaluation skillscan identify intentional bombings and take actionsto protect firefighters from potential additionaldevices or releases intended to prevent firefightersfrom rescuing victims. With causes of structuralcollapses ranging from acts of Mother Nature toacts of mankind, these examples prove that struc-tural collapse occurs in a variety of locations, andyield many seriously injured victims. There is noinhabited environment that is not susceptible tostructural collapse.


ARE YOU PREPARED STRUCTURAL COLLAPSE

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Use specialist expertiseHazards to firefighters abound at a structural col-lapse scene. In addition to the standard safety con-siderations that exist at a typical fire response, suchas live electrical hazards, gas or liquid releases, struc-tural collapse offers many more. Even your vehicles,equipment or personnel movement could causevibrations that may aggravate the situation. Utilisingspecialists to supplement your response can provideessential measures of safety for your personnel.

Meteorologists, seismologists, structural engi-neers, soil analysts, transit authorities, or heavyequipment operators can provide information thatcan help formulate a sound strategy. Specialists canoffer assistance in recognising and preparing foraftershocks, monitoring for vibrations, anticipationof movement of structural elements, monitoringany widening of fissures, inspecting shoring andstability of remaining structural elements, monitor-ing of air quality, predicting additional rainfall thatmay further destabilise soil, anticipate settlement ofdebris, and provide general observations in theirfield of expertise that may cause a better outcomefor the response and allow for maximum safety ina high-risk response environment.

When performing pre-planning safety inspectionsof structures in your jurisdiction, evaluate the con-struction methods, consider the types of collapsesthat can occur and how safe access could be gained.Consider staging locations where personnel andequipment would not interfere with structural stabil-ity, evaluate equipment that could produce vibrationsor disturb collapsed structures, the ground, or any-thing in the area. Look for natural barriers that couldserve as a perimeter. Ensure contact information iscurrent so that subway, air traffic or vehicular trafficcan be halted if it might endanger the operation.

Structural collapse rescue is multifaceted andrequires a high degree of specialised training.Guesswork or randomly shoring or placing airbags is not the answer. Alerting firefighters to thedangers of structural collapse response and raisingawareness of the discipline will hopefully helpdepartments understand the need for training andplanning for collapses. First steps could includesomething as simple as conducting a refreshercourse utilising basic fire training course materialsto recall collapse patterns and areas where victimscan be sheltered within the collapse.

Many may believe that if a collapse occurs in yourjurisdiction right now, you may be in over your headand will not be able to recover. Remember that evensmaller departments without a number of resourcescould have some type of specialty or expertise thatcould offer support to structural collapse responsecrews. Start now evaluating what risks exist in yourarea, what resources you could utilise locally –consider colleges, universities, and constructioncompanies – and seek to find firefighters with a highaptitude for building construction and an interest in structural collapse. Since response to structuralcollapse is rare and response is quite specialised, evena structural collapse awareness class may provideinformation that could save your life and provide fora better, more confident initial response. IFF


ARE YOU PREPARED

Lori Peace is Associate Training Specialist in theWeapons of Mass Destruction Defensive OperationsProgram at Texas Engineering Extension Servicewww.teex.com


Unifire w/p 18/5/06 5:07 pm Page 1

Conducting a confined space rescue is a riskyendeavour that requires great skill andpatience. Many times we have seen numer-

ous rescue attempts fail due to a lack of patienceand skill being exercised by rescue personnel. Inthe training of technical rescue operations, weprovide instruction on how to avoid a failed rescueattempt by recognising certain factors that areleading to the overall situation. The acronymFAILURE is used to describe the factors that can bepresent at each confined space rescue operation.

The acronym FAILURE stands for: F – Failure to understand the environment.A – Additional medical implications not consid-

ered, such as dust and crush syndrome.I – Inadequate preparation.L – Lack of team work and training.U – Underestimating the logistical needs.R – Rescue vs. recovery.E – Equipment not mastered.Let us look at the first letter in detail to see how

it leads to the overall failure of a rescue attempt.The first letter is F, is describing the failure tounderstand the environment. This encompasses afew different perspectives on how the environ-ment can lead to the overall failure.

First, let us consider temperature extremes,which can bring us either heat-related or cold-related type of injuries while we are conducting aconfined space rescue. Heat stress is a commoninjury sustained by many rescuers, and this can be

generated by different sources: directly from thesun; ambient heat conditions; or by equipmentgenerating heat. Most confined spaces will be hotand humid as there is very little air flow or none at all.

The rise in temperature inside the space as wellas the temperature outside the space will have asignificant impact on the rescue team. Confinedspaces that are located outdoors will have the sundirectly impacting upon the heat inside the space.Heat can also be generated by the personnelinside the space, as body heat can account for theambient heat conditions. Rescue personnel wear-ing chemical protective clothing will have a greaterexposure to heat stress; being totally encapsulatedin a plastic shell will increase the metabolic heatfactor of the rescuer and will limit their time inoperation. Careful attention must be paid to moni-toring the amount of time a rescuer spends insidethe confined space. Adequate time to rehabilitatewill be needed in order to cycle rescue personnelthrough the operation.

Equipment or processes can generate largevolumes of heat, and these must be indentifiedand controlled in order to alleviate the hazardfrom contributing to the heat stress factor. Some-times this cannot be eliminated due totechnical/industrial reasons. If this is the case, thenmanaging the exposure to the heat will benecessary.

On the other hand, some confined spaces are


This photograph showsa series of confinedspaces on top of a grainelevator that is between15 metres and 18 metresabove ground. Access tothe confined space islimited by narrowcatwalks that areaccessible from insidethe elevator; no directaccess is feasible fromthe inside. Stagingequipment will be adifficult challenge aswell as removing thevictim from the spaceand lowering him or herto the ground

RESCUE

By Mark van der Feyst

Fire Star TrainingServices

Why Confined Space

Confined space rescue is a risky endeavour rescue attempts sometimes fail, asfail as Mark van der Feyst explains.

P. 62-63 Conspace 13/8/10 2:55 pm Page 62

damp, wet and very coldand can lead to hypother-mic states, which will beparticularly dangerous forvictim inside the confinedspace. For the rescuers,being exposed to extremecold will limit theirendurance and dexterity.Fortunately with a coldenvironment we can pos-sibly introduce warmth byvarious methods to aid inthe recovery of the vic-tim, whereas with a hotconfined space, we arenot able to reduce thetemperature by introduc-ing air conditioning.

Another aspect of fail-ing to understand theenvironment is in regardto the topography of theland or the work surfacesavailable. Confined spacerescues that occur insidea building are going tohave work surfaces thatvary in type, flatness, size and height. These differ-ing surfaces will present us with a challenge, andfailing to understand or identify them may lead tothe overall failure. Such surfaces may be slipperydue to dust or water on the floor; they may becluttered with debris, and restricted in height orsize. Another environmental factor is obstaclesaround the work site. Many industrial sites aboundwith process pipes, electrical conduit trays, steamlines, water lines, and conveyor lines. These obsta-cles will prohibit rescuers from engaging effectively.

The topography of the land will be an impor-tant factor to consider when dealing with aconfined space rescue outdoors. The slope of theland will lead to the equip-ment being able to be usedin either a full or partialcapacity; the land or soilcontent around the con-fined space may be solid orloose, it may be saturatedwith water or muddy – allwill have an impact on the operation as a wholeand rescue equipment mayhave to be adapted tocompensate for the surfaceconditions.

Other considerationsinclude differing elevationsand access to the confinedspace. Some confinedspaces are not easily access-ible and will present a multi-tude of challenges trying toaccess them. Setting upspecialised equipment willbe difficult with restricted

access, as well as gathering manpower for therescue operation. The difference in height fromthe confined space to the catwalk or access pointswill also contribute to the challenge, withtransporting equipment up the required elevationbeing the biggest obstacle. Transporting thevictim, once extricated from the space, willundoubtedly be the next obstacle.

So, the environment must be evaluated andunderstood in order for our rescue operations tobe a success. Not taking the time to understandthe facts that are presented to us at the size-upphase of the rescue operations will certainly leadto the overall failure of the operation. IFF


This photograph showsthe outside of the grainelevator. Again, noticethe height and theobstacles above theconfined spaces. Theaccess points are limitedby narrow catwalks,which are entered bythe main building

WHY CONFINED SPACE RESCUES CAN FAIL RESCUE

Rescues Can Fail

Mark van der Feyst is aninstructor with Fire StarTraining Serviceswww.firestartraining.com

This confined space hereis the grey square in thecorner of thephotograph. The onlyaccess point is fromabove, where the yellowstep ladder ispositioned. It iscongested with manyoverhead and groundlevel obstructions. Also,notice the wet surfaceof the floor

P. 62-63 Conspace 13/8/10 2:55 pm Page 63


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IFF Issue 27

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