New vehicles for city fire brigades
Published: 01 September, 2006
What do fire brigades really need from firefighting vehicles: reliability, structural integrity, the right accessories? Aidan Turnbull looks at five new innovatory types which recently went into service.
Bronto’s world record unit, the F 90 HLA, exhibited at the 2005 Interschutz show, continues to draw attention from fire brigades around the globe. In 2004, 39 Bronto Skylift hydraulic platforms formed an vital part of
the Athens Olympic Games firefighting protection plan. At that time Bronto Skylift delivered thirty five 22m units, two 53m units and two 88m units to Greece.
“Bronto Skylift’s HLA Range represents the ultimate in highrise rescue and firefighting capability,” a spokesman told F&R.
This range includes the highest truck-mounted aerial platform in the world: the F 90 HLA with a working height of 90m. Superior vertical and horizontal outreach at all heights, fast and safe operations and an integrated corrosion-resistant waterway represent the main advantages of the HLA range.
“Built on a standard truck chassis it remains flexible and compact and can reach emergency sites using ordinary roads and streets. With the auto-jacking function, the unit can be fully stabilised for rescue in just 40 seconds and any rescue can quickly proceed from as high as 33 storeys.
“Bronto Skylift HLA units work at their best in or city centre locations, whether in an old-town or a modern city. Protruding roofs can be avoided and dormer windows can be reached. Even for under-floor operation like e.g. banks of rivers or from bridges, current operational limits are clearly exceeded,” he reports.
New GRP units from The Netherlands:
The latest newly developed cabin extension from Netherlands-based Plastisol comprises an Econic composite body which looks exactly like the original Mercedes-Benz product. A completely self-supporting construction which meets EC safety regulations, the tiltable Econic cabin extension can be ordered in any colour, with or without interior finish, and can be mounted behind the original cabin or as a separate module.
In April 2006 Plastisol supplied the last of five Mercedes-Benz Actros units for the Scandinavian market. The cabin extension and the superstructure were supplemented by new features such as a high-roof with integrated blue-light covers and a pneumatic mounting steps under the cabin. Amongst the most innovative features are the mudguards which can also be used as a step.
Small is beautiful, says Rosenbauer:
Interviewed by F&R, Rosenbauer’s company spokesperson, Gerda Königstorfer, comments: “Rosenbauer has developed a multifunctional concept for its standard vehicle range up to 10 tons. Called the Compact Line (CL) vehicle series, its design allows the use of a diversity of superstructures and chassis, such as the MB Atego, MAN, MB Sprinter and Renault Master Pro. “Firefighters will note this is a slim, selfsupporting superstructure shell which cuts the dead weight of the traditional superstructure and which eliminates fixed inner walls which could restrict the use of space. The Mittersill Voluntary Fire Brigade is the latest German fire service to receive a VRF-A tunnel vehicle, here designed for rapid response in the 5.3km long Felbertauern Tunnel. “The Mittersill fire brigade was very pleased with the delivery of this vehicle based on an MB Sprinter 416 4x4 CDI with a wheelbase of 3.55mm, produced using the CL design I mentioned previously,” says Gerda.
‘Dead Man’s Handle’
“Situated at the rear of the tunnel vehicle is a unique innovation - a pneumatic lowering device for an equipment trolley equipped with a ‘Dead Man’s Handle’. This carries rescue equipment and other accessories, such as a Weber E60 hydraulic rescue device with four quick attack hosereels (each 20m long) is ready for operations.
Designed for a team of three the vehicle has a number of features: the SCBA fixture for the driver can be rotated and both passenger seats are fitted with integrated breathing apparatus holders for twin-pack devices with 6.8-litre carbon-fibre reinforced cylinders. “This greatly facilitates the transport of the rescue equipment and the related accessories to the point of operations,” comments Gerda.
Those firefighters interested in power systems should note that onboard is an integrated 15kVA generator, which is powered by an auxiliary drive. The UHPS (Ultra High Pressure System) is connected to the generator by a hydraulic shaft. This provides a rapid initial response with particularly effective extinguishing performance. The features of this vehicle are further enhanced by a pneumatic lighting mast (4x500 W) with a light point height of 4m above ground level and a reversing camera.
