By Mike Ciampo
In 2019, when Dave Prescott, a 20-year veteran of the fire service and Captain with the Palm Beach County (FL) Fire Rescue, attended a firefighting seminar, he felt embarrassed and frustrated about his lack of knowledge on some high-rise firefighting operational tasks and equipment.
Pressure Reducing Valves (PRVs) was one of the main topics presented at the seminar, and admittedly he lacked knowledge about these devices. These devices allow the diversion of liquid to limit excess pressure in a system. In general, a PRV is a safety device designed to protect a pressurized system during an over-pressured event. In addition, his department was in the process of updating its high-rise equipment and tactics, so, as a training instructor, he wanted to absorb all the information he could about this subject at the seminar.
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While there he attended a class that focused on the numerous types of PRVs found in the field and went over some of the problems the Philadelphia (PA) Fire Department encountered at the One Meridian Plaza fire in 1991. Coincidentally, this class was presented by one of his co-workers, Lt. Mike Casanova, who has a background in fire prevention. The class was very enlightening to him, and, after sitting in the lecture portion, outside hands-on classes followed which allowed the students to flow some water and work with a variety of valves.
One of the major valve manufacturers was there doing a grand unveiling of its newest Field-Adjustable PRV. Not being shy and wanting to learn for himself, Dave put himself first in line to adjust the valve. When the sales rep handed him the aluminum 3/8-inch thick adjusting rod for the PRV, he asked where he was supposed to find this rod on the fireground? The reply was a little disheartening to say the least; the representative simply stated the tool “should” be in the fire pump room or some firefighters carry their own. Dave realized at that time locating this rod below grade in the fire pump room could be difficult and time consuming, especially during a fire on the upper floor of a high-rise with a PRV on the standpipe outlet and that frustrated him. Plus he didn’t realize it at the time, but there were many other adjustable valves out there that needed different types of tools to calibrate them. As Dave’s frustrations began to grow, they also led him to be motivated and begin researching the possibility of combating the problem these valves can give to firefighters.
After speaking with Lt. Casanova, a readily accessible friend who possesses a wealth of knowledge about these valves, Dave set out to investigate all the material he could as his mission was starting. Googling every trade article he could find, referencing Chief Dave McGrail’s “Firefighting Operations in High-Rise & Standpipe-Equipped Buildings,” watching videos on YouTube, and spending countless hours on the internet investigating every valve manufacturer he could, a plan was starting to formulate in his mind. While looking at the valve’s specification sheets, if he had questions about sizes or shapes, he would reach out to the company’s engineers to get it “straight from the horse’s mouth.”
After gathering all the information and data, it was compared to the tools that are commonly carried by fire department units to address these valves and so began a proof-of-concept phase. After finding out the tool characteristics that were an absolute must, it came down to layout and orientation, and those things seemed to come together pretty naturally. The Fastwrench—whose acronym is Field Adjusting Standpipe Tool—features are intuitive, and that’s a big reason many firefighters are enjoying it in their standpipe kits.
The Fastwrench weighs 3.5 pounds, likely half the weight of the tools it replaces in the standpipe kit. It is CNC machined—Computer Numerical Control machining is a manufacturing process in which pre-programmed computer software dictates the movement of factory tools and machinery; with CNC machining, three-dimensional cutting tasks can be accomplished in a single set of prompts—from solid billet 6061 aluminum and is anodized and hard-coated to military specifications.
The jaw assembly is nickel-plated steel, and the 3/8-inch adjusting rod, 5/32-inch security hex key, pull ring, and fasteners are all stainless steel. The Fastwrench will show some surface wear when it gets used heavily (dropped on concrete/kicked down stairs, etc.), but it will maintain its strength and functionality. Most hose couplings are anodized aluminum and they get dinged up and keep their strength—and so will the Fastwrench.
The Fastwrench can be personalized however the customer likes: their department name, tool ID#, and company identification number can be engraved on the red reflective insert on the handle of the tool. The color red was chosen for the handled insert and spacers on the adjusting nut to resemble the color of most standpipes. Currently, the manufacturer is actively exploring different insert materials and colors and there may be a reflective option in the future.
The Fastwrench is actually 10 tools in 1. It has the following features, which provide the listed uses:
1.) Adjustable Wrench: When the wrench is fully opened it has a 2 7/8” gap, the exact dimension of the removable bonnet on a Zurn Z3000 valve. The wrench can be closed down to open a Zurn 2100 bonnet, or closed even more to clamp on a valve stem, or hand-wheel spoke on a sticky wheel.
2.) Striking Face: To break the tamper-proof shield on a Zurn Z5000 valve, or to strike the pin lugs on a sticky valve cap.
3.) Three Squared Valve Stem Slots: Three different sized slots which fit over the end of a valve stem if the wheel is missing.
4.) Valve Cap Remover/Spanner Wrench.
5.) 1 1/16” Socket: Used to adjust the nut in the Z3000 valve once the bonnet is removed.
6.) 15/16” Socket: Used to adjust the nut in the Z2100 valve once the bonnet is off.
7.) ⅜” Stainless Steel Adjusting Rod: for operating externally adjustable valves (Elkhart URFA, Zurn 5000 series, Giacomini A200 series).
8.) 5/32” Stainless Steel Security Hex Key: for removing the security hardware on Elkhart URFA and Zurn 5000 valves.
9.) Gas meter shut-off.
10.) Hydrant operating nut opening.
Although the gas meter shut-off and hydrant operating nut opening aren’t necessarily for standpipe operations, these knockouts are useful for other firefighting operations, and they help lighten the overall weight of the tool.
As with so many other tools introduced to the market, all kinds of feedback will be received by the creator. Dave’s been awestruck at the positive feedback he’s gotten from the field. Firefighters are really appreciative of its light weight, intuitive design, and that they are shedding pounds from their standpipe kits. In addition, in pressure situations, there is less clutter and tools to move around in the standpipe kit to find what tool you need for the job at hand.
Some firefighters may question why the sockets aren’t the ratcheting type design. Here’s why: first, a ratchet mechanism will corrode in time. Secondly, adjustments to field-adjustable valves should be done in quarter-turn increments, and the Fastwrench’s direct-drive sockets allow for greater control when making these adjustments. As for future versions of the Fastwrench, the creator is always thinking about how it could be improved, there are some ideas in mind, but when it boils down to it, they think it’s right where it needs to be.
Right now the company is focused on getting the word out about how good of a tool it is. It’s a very practical and sturdy tool guaranteed to be an asset to engine company operations when operating off a standpipe system. The company is also interested in creating a distribution network to make the Fastwrench available to everyone in the fire service.
For more information, questions or purchasing the Fastwrench, please go directly to the website at www.fastwrench.net or email them directly at fastwrenchfire@gmail.com.
**Special thanks to Dave Prescott, the patented inventor and manufacturer of the Fastwrench, for providing the information for the article.
