Monitors & firefighting
Published: 01 April, 2007
Various styles of monitors are fixed to fire appliances and pumpers. There are roof-mounted, manually-operated or remote-controlled deck guns, telescopic extending monitors and bumper-mounted turrets for wildland operations. Here are some of the latest developments.
AWG - specialising in fittings
Based in Germany, AWG develops, manufactures and markets end-to-end solutions for mobile and stationary fire prevention systems, with a broad range of products for an even broader array of applications. Some of its latest products include:
• THE AWG Z-Select dosing attachment offers more effective extinguishing thanks to a wetting agent mix. The AWG Z-Select is an accessory for regulating the wetting agent quantity for all standard Z2 and Z4 DIN 14384 inline inductors. The Z-Select provides an exact dosing of 01, %, 05 % and 1%.
• AWG Adapters NightLight provides a valuable aid when visibility is poor. Fittings equipped with AWG Fixed Couplings NightLight are easily seen in the dark thanks to their fluorescent paintwork.
• The new AWG Siamese A-3B (see picture) makes it possible to increase the quantity of the collected water. The three clappered inlets work independently of each other to make the most of the power found in modern firefighting pumps.
AWG also makes foam inductors designed to feed foam concentrates at a set mixing rate into the hoseline. Inductors are placed in the delivery line between the pump and the foam nozzle and can be used for medium and heavy foam nozzles. The venture system creates a vacuum in the body of the inductor and the foam concentrate is picked up via a suction hose ND 19 with a Storz D 25 coupling.
At the foam inlet Storz D 25 adapters are generally mounted, allowing a mixing rate between 0% and 6%. AWG-Foam inductors are also available with an individual foam pickup rate on request.
More information? Visit:www.awg-giengen.de
TFT’s new remote controlled valve
Task Force Tips’ new remote controlled Jumbo Ball Intake Valve (RC BIV) not only sets new standards with the industry’s largest waterway, but it also breaks the friction loss barrier, giving up as little as 3 psi @ 2,000 gpm.
“The remote control cuts down on firefighters having to climb up and down the truck,” said Rod Carringer, TFT’s vice president for sales & marketing. While the increased size allows a better match to your inlet, giving you a less restricted flow. It’s a win/win design development that lends itself to top-mount pumps, as well as trucks with larger (gpm) pumps.”
Nearly a year in development, the newest member of TFT’s RC (remote control) group sailed through prototype field trials. Using the top selling BIV with its 3-5/8th inch waterway as the industry’s benchmark, mechanical engineers doubled the waterway size, while adding less than an inch in unit height and 1-1/2 inch in length.
“The 30 degree elbow swivels 360 degrees, allowing hose connections from any direction with minimal kinks and coupling stress,” Carringer explained. “It also has TFT’s triple coating protection, meaning that it’s been powdercoated, poly impregnated and hardcoat anodised. Some think of that as overkill. But that protection is what allows all of our BIVs to work for years under extreme conditions.
For apparatus with smaller (4” and 4 1/2”) intake valves, TFT has two adapter rings that are featured in its new catalog. For information about adapter rings, the BIV, the RC BIV, the Jumbo BIV, or the RC Jumbo BIV, phone TFT at (800) 348 - 2686 or visit TFT’s website at www.tft.com.
Alco’s water cannons
Alco stationary or mobile monitors can be oriented both horizontally and vertically with flow volumes of up to 60,000 litres per minute and ranges of up to 180 metres.
Alco monitors are ‘one-offs’, specially-developed and built by company engineers employing a modular system. Alco’s fire extinguishing cannons for water, foam or powder - or a combination of extinguishing agents - are equipped with pipes and jets adapted to suit the potential danger involved.
They feature infinitely adjustable spray jets. Manual targetting is achieved by levers and hand wheels or by means of electrical, pneumatic or hydraulic actuators. The actuators can even be controlled remotely via a joystick from outside the danger zone.
Complete extinguishing agent supply system integrate the pumps, a shut-off mechanism and foam mixing systems - all programmable and activated either automatically or by push button release.
“Despite the proverbial ‘indestructible’ reputation of Alco products, should problems arise, we assure you that a quick, customer-oriented solution will be the response!” comments a spokesman for Alco.
Since large amounts of water are usually available in marine environments ranges of up to 180 metres and high-volume flows of extinguishing agent are characteristic feature of monitors used on ships.
Monitor features
The kinds of monitors fully comply with the specifications for Class 1, 2 and 3 (FiFi 1, 2, 3) firefighting vessels. Alco monitors, mounted on telescopic masts, can be extended vertically.
Vehicle monitors feature compact weight-saving designs coupled with a highly effective output volume of extinguishing agent. “Alco appliances are suitable for use with water, foam, powder or a combination of extinguishing agents. Mounted on cabin roofs, supplied as front units, on turntable ladder cages, on articulated masts or on trailers, they fully meet customer specifications,” says the spokesman.
The appliances are controlled manually, hydraulically, electrically or electronically. All remote-controlled appliances are equipped, as standard, with emergency manual operating facilities.
“Greater orientation angles are achieved through the additional use of pneumatic telescopic extensions. Collision-free manoeuvring around the vehicle contours is facilitated by equipping the monitors with our electronic programmable controls,” says Alco.
More information? www.alco-frankfurt.de
