EQUIPMENT DIGEST
DEPARTMENTS
Chemical suit
Chem-Tex Corp. introduces its Model #400-13B, early-warning indicator, butyl rubber, encapsulated chemical suit. The suit has several layers of butyl rubber that will change color when excessive wear and abrasion affect the chemical resistance of the garment. This visual alert will indicate when to take the suit out of service for repair or replacement.
The suit also has an internal suspension that allows the hood to turn with head movement in any direction for unobscured vision.
Circle No. 3 on Reader Service Card
Haz-mats data storage safe
Supra Products Inc. introduces the SupraSafe HMI, an organized safe designed for fire department hazardous-materials data storage. It can be used to house various facility keys and pertinent material safety data sheets. The SupraSafe HMI can be mounted inside lobbies or on exterior wall locations.
Circle No. 36 on Reader Service Card
Protective garments
A new line of chemical protective garments has been introduced by ChemTex Corp. Called the “Chemtane” Green Line, this new fabric is a combination of a urethane coating on PVC that produces added strength and increased chemical permeation resistance, according to the manufacturer. The fabric is also self-extinguishing.
Circle No. 14 on Reader Service Card
Suspension systems
Air Lift Co. introduces air-spring suspension systems which are engineered to support overloads for types I, II, and 111 ambuiance/emergency vehicles. The air springs help reduce body roll/sway and spring crash-through (bottoming) for front and rear suspensions.
The front Polyair Spring system supports up to 1,000 pounds and is designed to fit within the standard equipment coil spring. The rear Ride Rite system has special mounting hardware for adapting to the rear leaf spring and handles loads of up to 2,000 pounds.
Circle No. 40 on Reader Service Card
Emergency sticker
A flame-shaped, glow-in-the-dark sticker imprinted with the message “Get Alarmed!” and the emergency phone number for the local fire district is now available from The Reflectory. The sticker is to be used in residences and has been part of a community-wide fire prevention program.
Circle No. 29 on Reader Service Card
Noise-attenuating headset
Magnum Distribution Inc. announces the HS-800 Series high-noise, attenuating headset with a boom-mounted, noise-canceling microphone. The HS-800 Series can interface with most two-way radio systems. It can also be used with Magnum’s vehicular intercom system, the Magnacom.
Circle No. 16 on Reader Service Card
Protective outerwear
Fyrepel Products Inc. announces the addition of PBI Kevlar Knit aluminized, protective outerwear to its line of protective clothing. The new outerwear is recommended for wear over Fyrepel’s inner chemical suits. It weighs only seven ounces per square yard and is designed to provide maximum protection from high radiant-heat loads while permitting comfort and freedom of movement, according to the company.
Circle No.17 on Reader Service Card
Air-pressure pump
To compensate for the periodic loss of air pressure in vehicles with air brake systems—especially fire, rescue, and emergency vehicles—Kussmaul Electronics Co. has introduced Auto-Pump, a completely automatic air compressor pump.
Kussmaul’s 091-9 Auto-Pump air compressor system turns on automatically when vehicle tank pressure drops below minimum levels. Powered by the vehicle’s 12-volt battery, the pump doesn’t interfere with the operation of the engine-mounted air compressor. This ensures that fire and emergency vehicles may respond immediately—unhampered by automatic, lowpressure lockup of the air brake system.
Circle No. 25 on Reader Service Card
Firefighter helmets
Safety First Industries announces two new firefighter helmets. The Chieftain 911 has a thermoset-composite, resinsystem technology that provides comfort and safety. The Chieftain 911K, constructed of Kevlar, is a strong, yet lightweight, helmet.
Circle No. 4 on Reader Service Card
Protective clothing improvements
Globe Firefighters Suits announces that the following new design features have been incorporated in its turnout suits. The outer shell is now constructed of three pieces with reinforced upper back and shoulders; the outside, five-inchwide center storm flap now has a built-in moisture barrier; and zippers now have bonded needlepunch reinforcement.
Circle No. 2 on Reader Service Card
Turnout gear cleaner sprays on to remove stains
Turnout-Clean, available from Haz-Mat Safety Co., is a spray designed to remove gasoline, diesel fuel, motor oil, tar, carbon black, solvents, clay, common dirt, and so on, from turnout gear. Turnout-Clean contains no acids, is nonflammable, and increases firefighter visibility by removing dirt. Spray it on the soiled garment, scrub, soak, pressure wash, rinse, and allow the garment to air dry.
Circle No. 5 on Reader Service Card
Fire ladder locator
The Ladder Beacon, a new product developed by a firefighter and manufactured by Loughlin Enterprises Inc., may reduce injuries and even save a firefighter’s life. It was developed to help the firefighter find the tip of the ladder in the low visibility and disorienting excitement of structural firefighting.
The Ladder Beacon is a stroboscopic device that’s mounted on the underside of the top rung of an aerial or any portable ladder. Its waterproof, high-impact, heat-resistant case encapsulates circuitry that’s powered by a single AA battery. Its Xenon tube gives off 25 to 45 flashes per minute, generating 250,000 lumens for a period of eight hours. Its pressure-sensitive switch automatically deactivates the signal in any position except when raised vertically. The Ladder Beacon is mounted by using three alien bolts with the proper fitting tools, which are all included in the package.
Circle No. 61 on Reader Service Card
Foot pump
The Zico Jet Foot Pump from Ziamatic Corp. provides a steady, rapid water supply system for firefighting. The pump rapidly transfers water from a dump tank to a drafting tank from which the fire apparatus draws water for firefighting.
The Zico system needs no outside energy source other than the pumper in operation. The Jet Foot Pump operates with at least two tanks. A dump tank—filled from a tanker truck—supplies water to the drafting tank via the jet pump. The drafting tank, in turn, supplies water to the pumper. Because large supplies of water are used in a short time, several dump tanks can be used for continuous water replacement in the drafting tank.
Circle No. 24 on Reader Service Card
Portable warning light
The new Dash-Master II from Whelen Engineering Co. expands the technology used in the Dash-Master portable warning light by incorporating two separate, high-intensity directional strobe modules to provide an alternating flash pattern. This low-profile system is for interior vehicle use, on either the front dashboard or rear deck. It’s designed to supplement other safety signals on primary vehicles, such as fire and rescue trucks, ambulances, and law enforcement vehicles.
Circle No. 6 on Reader Service Card
Portable cable reel
Hannay Reels introduces its new Model CR 16-14-16 portable cable reel. It comes equipped with a three-conductor collector ring assembly, which is housed inside the drum, and a prewired supply cord for direct hookup. The reel is compact and lightweight, yet handles a large amount of power cable, according to the company.
Circle No. 7 on Reader Service Card
Leather cases protect pagers and portable radios
Alexander Manufacturing announces the availability of nine new leather cases for two-way portable radios and a complete line of pager cases.
The radio cases are for the following radios: King II Tall, Maxon Omni, Maxon Heavy Duty, Midland 70150 and 701250 Short, Midland 70150 and 701250 Tall, Motorola Expo Short, Motorola Expo Tall, Motorola STX Short, and Motorola STX Tall.
The pager cases are for the following pagers: Motorola Director/Monitor Pagecorn, Pageboy II FNC, Pageboy II XL, Spirit, Wilson VP-150, G.E. Execupage, G.E. Execupage II, and NEC.
Circle No. 9 on Reader Service Card
Current-sensing device
The Auto Current D.C. Current Sensor is now available from Kussmaul Electronics Co. It’s designed to detect current in a circuit and to close a switch to provide a remote indication that the current is flowing.
The device may be used as an “open door” indicator in emergency vehicles to indicate the operation of remote accessories to the driver or in any application where current sensing and indication is desired. Circle No. 12 on Reader Service Card
Lock cover
Rapid-entry key control devices from the Knox Co. now feature a lock cover of ⅛inch stainless steel designed to protect the lock against weather and vandalism.
A special edge allows fire personnel to easily lift the lock cover wide open even when wearing gloves.
Circle No. 19 on Reader Service Card
Blow gun
Zeph-Air blow guns, now available from New Hartford Machine, have dead-ended pressure of 2 to 6 psi. Obstruction of the front nozzle orifice or air shield can’t increase nozzle pressure. The body valve can’t be removed, and each unit is self-regulating.
Circle No. 23 on Reader Service Card
SCBA switch option
Scott Aviation, a division of Figgie International Inc., has developed a new, manual switch option for its line of positive-pressure Model 2.2 and Model 4.5 Air-Pak selfcontained breathing apparatus. The manual press-and-release switch stops the flow’ of air to the facepiece. Inhaling into the facepiece automatically restarts the air flow. The new switch saves air and time during donning and doffing.
Circle No. 8 on Reader Service Card
