July 2007

 

Fire Research Develops New Safety Products

Fire Research Corporation (FRC) has introduced a host of new products, including a seat belt monitor and an apparatus data acquisition system.

Called Seat Monitor, the electronic device indicates to the driver and officer in an apparatus whether all occupants in the vehicle are secured with seat belts before moving the vehicle. Built-in smart seating logic detects if the sit and buckle sequence is not followed, alerting the officer that someone may have tried to defeat the system simply by buckling the belts before sitting, the company said. An LED is illuminated and an external alarm sounds if all occupants are not properly belted. The device indicates the location of the seat or seats in question.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends that all people responding in emergency vehicles be secured by safety restraints at all times while the vehicle is in motion.

In addition to checking seat belts, the Seat Monitor alerts the driver and occupants of side forces as they increase during cornering or working on a slope. The Lateral “G” Force indicator illuminates with LEDs as the side motion increases.

Additionally, the electronic device collects vehicle speed, engine RPM, throttle position, ABS events, seat belt status and accelerations on three axis – vertical, lateral and longitudinal. The data is stored with a date and time stamp and is downloadable from its memory via a USB port to a computer for viewing, sorting and printing.

Another product is a new portable scene light system. Called BrytteDay, the tripod-mounted scene light has its own rechargeable power supply.

The FRC lighting system is designed to go wherever and whenever it’s needed regardless of power source.

Its battery pack can operate the system’s 650-watt HID Optimum high-intensity lamp head for two hours at full power. The battery charger is built into the battery pack and the power supply can be recharged from an AC or DC electric power source. The on/off switch, charge level, operating LED indicators and directions are located at the top of the power supply pack.

FRC has long been known for its pressure governors and engine controls. The company recently introduced two new INCONTROL pressure governors. Its 300 series features push button throttle controls and its 400 series has a knob throttle control.

Both series have engine monitor and master pressure displays and, according to FRC, feature faster and smarter engine controls.

Each has message displays that show operation settings and warning or fault messages, and each is easy to operate, says FRC. Also, the LED indicators automatically adjust for day and night time operations.

FRC is also known for its lights, particularly its brow lights. The company has developed a new universal light bracketing system designed to fit all apparatus cabs.

The brackets allow apparatus builders to mount FRC’s Focus and Optimum lamp heads on a cab.

A turnbuckle adjusts up to 2.5 inches to accommodate any roofline, according to FRC, and the mounting bracket pivots to allow horizontal adjustment of the light beam.

FRC also manufactures assorted accessories like a new rope search system called Safer Search Device (SSD).

The simple rope search line deploys from a heavy-duty fabric bag making it easier to account for search team members and to search large, difficult areas.

The SSD is given to the lead searcher who secures it at the safe entrance/exit point and deploys the line into the area to be searched. The search team follows with their tag lines connected to the SSD at one of the attachment loops.

The SSD, according to the company, will slide along the line to the first distance marker where it will automatically lock and stop the search team. The team then performs a local search limited by the length of the tag lines. To release the SSD and move along the main line, the team uses the press-and-go unlocking lever. The team then repeats the process, moving up to the next distance marker where it will again automatically be stopped.

The lock is also a directional marker with a taper that points back to the safe exit where the rope is attached. Distance markers, in different shapes connected to the main line rope alert searchers to the distance they have covered and must traverse to get back to the exit.

FRC says the SSD makes searches safer by keeping rescue crews and firefighters orientated, together and informed.

For information call 800-645-0074 or go to www.fireresearch.com.

BrytteDay is Fire Research’s newest scene light, a battery operated portable unit designed to go wherever lighting is needed, independent of power supplies.

Fire Research’s InControl pressure governors have been improved with easy-to-use controls and faster and smarter electronics.

Fire Research has designed a universal brow light mounting system that allows apparatus builders to attach its Focus and Optimum lights to the roofline of any cab and chassis.