Fire Equipment Digest
departments
Gas Detector
Harco Corp., offers Gastrac, a highly-sensitive gas leak detector, capable of detecting as little as 10 ppm methane-in-air. It is capable of warning, via audible alarm, of the presence of most types of combustible gases. Gastrac should detect the presence of gasoline or lighter fluid fumes when arson is suspected, according to the manufacturer.
Circle No. 12 on Reader Service Card
Rectangular Strobe
Whelen Engineering Company, Inc., has added a rectangular sealed beam strobe to its emergency lighting line. A single Max Beam strobe provides 180 degrees of warning light. The Whelen System 11 light output is nearly double that required by the federal ambulance standard KKK-A 1822A.
Circle No. 10 on Reader Service Card
Pump Shaft Change
Waterous Company has added a detachable, two-piece impeller shaft to its CM/CS fire pumps so that the pump and transmission can le separated without disassembly of either component. The benefit of this new design, according to the company, is simplified repair procedures. The separate impeller and transmission shafts are coupled hy a slip-fit spline while a pilot keeps them in precise alignment. The impeller shaft assembly is supported at both ends by ball hearings.
Circle No. 9 on Reader Service Card
Protective Clothing
Cairns & Brother offers the neoprenecoated Nomex Aquamid protective garment system consisting of pants and coat. The garments provide watertight, thermal protection. Major seams are sewn with double-stitched Nomex thread and are neoprene-strapped to prevent water intrusion.
Cut from a raglan sleeve pattern, the coat has a neoprene-coated vapor barrier and a Nomex batt liner sewn in at the neck. Reflexite trim for high visibility is used and pocket and collar closures are Velcro.
Circle No. 19 on Reader Service Card
Respirator Cleaner
Georgia Steel & Chemical Co., Inc., offers Fresh-Kit, a respirator cleaning system for individual use. The kit uses a cleaning program with built-in controls. The system will clean, disinfect and store SCBA, and consists of a cleaning pail, tools, sterile storage bag and an EPA-approved cleaner. The system meets the recommendations issued by ANSI, NIOSH and OSHA.
Circle No. 1 on Reader Service Card
Halogen Lantern
Streamlight, Inc., offers the Litebox, a 6.7-pound lantern built around a six-volt, 10 amp-hour battery rechargable 300 times. Its halogen lamp has 25,000 candlepower, which last for eight hours, according to the manufacturer. It comes with a charging rack that can he mounted on a flat surface and a positive locking device that holds the lantern until a quick-release push-bar is tapped. When in the rack, the lantern is on continuous charge. It can be used as a portable or fixed light. The lamp may be set at a fixed angle to throw light where needed.
Made of orange high-impact plastic, the lantern uses an 8-watt floodlamp, good for 8 hours. The beam covers an area more than 20 feet wide at a distance of 60 feet.
Circle No. 13 on Reader Service Card
Chimney Fire Tool
N. A. Taylor Co., Inc., has introduced the Chim-Ram, for fighting chimney fires. It allows a roof climber to unblock a plugged flue by placing the tool into place and releasing it down the chimney. The ChimRam slings over the back, leaving hands free for climbing.
Circle No. 3 on Reader Service Card
F.D. Software
Fisco, Inc., offers a computer software system called The Fire Inspection System. It receives information from fire/safety inspections of eligible locations and reinspections of those locations cited for violations, automatically issuing inspection and re-inspection worksheets prior to assigned inspection dates. The system maintains a current history file for each location, provides a master address listing for quick reference and issues management reports.
Also, for each location inspected, an emergency data card is printed on a card, containing information such as shutoff locations to be used when responding to a fire or other emergency. The FIS can be installed on most cities’ existing computer systems.
Circle No. 7 on Reader Service Card
Emergency Light
Firestar Inc., offers a ceiling mounted emergency light, the Firestar Beacon, that is connected to a building’s smoke detector. When smoke is detected, the light drops and shines two feet above the floor. The bright, pulsating strobe light can guide people crawling to safety. It uses 2.3 watts of power when inactive, and will shine for eight hours on its battery power.
Circle No. 14 on Reader Service Card
Talking Exit Signs
Exit-Us, Inc., offers Talking Exit Signs, a multi-message unit, and a multi-lingual unit, controlled by a microprocessor programmed to broadcast safety messages from synthesized speech. Messages available are: Attention – Fire – Exit This Door; Rower Failure – Remain Calm; Warning! This Exit Not Safe; For Your Safety – Remember The Location Of All Exits, and a public address function. The multi-lingual exit sign broadcasts the word “exit” in up to three languages in continuous rotation. Choices include English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Hebrew, Arabic, Japanese, Portuguese, and two Chinese dialects, Mandarin and Cantonese. The signs meet current building codes and comply with the NFPA 101 Life Safety Code.
Circle No. 18 on Reader Service Card
Mobile Antennas
The Antenna Specialists Co., has introduced a complete line of Avanti on-glass, half-wave antennas, to cover low band, high band and UHF. The antennas feature a “duo-bond” adhesive system to attach the base and coupling units to glass, fiberglass or other non-conductive surfaces. Avanti onglass antennas can be installed in about 15 minutes, and no special tools are needed. Because the antenna does not use a ground plane, pattern distortions are minimized and the antenna is broad-banded.
Circle No. 15 on Reader Service Card
Pump Packing
Waterous Company offers Grafoil packing, a pump packing designed to eliminate leakage probl§ms. The pure graphite packing minimizes leakage, and shaft wear is negligible. Heat dissipation should improve. Grafoil packing is an option on Waterous CM, CS, CG, CL, CP-1 and CP-2 series pumps.
Circle No. 6 on Reader Service Card
Encoder/Decoder
Selectone Corporation has added model ST-301 to its line, a two-tone sequential decoder with a CTCSS encoder on a miniature circuit board. It is designed for applications requiring a selective calling decoder and a CTCSS encoder to access tone-controlled repeaters or base stations. Featuring full field tunability, the decoder provides a latched output to unmute receiver audio upon receipt of a call.
Two versions of the ST-301 are available; model ST-301A compatible with high-speed, high-frequency (800 hz to 2800 hz) tone formats, and the ST-301B, compatible with slow-speed, low-frequency (300 hz to 1600 hz).
Circle No. 16 on Reader Service Card
Rescue Tool
I’aratech Inc., offers the Biel Tool, a personal size multi-purpose rescue and forcible entry tool that can cut sheet metal, pry and chop. The tool weighs three pounds, is 15 inches long, closed, and can be carried in a hunker coat pocket or worn on a belt. The tool extends for extra leverage prying and can he separated for two-tool efficiency.
Circle No. 2 on Reader Service Card
Air Splints
Kerno-Washington, Inc., offers full leg and foot and ankle air splints that open to the toe. They feature two-wall vinyl construction with nylon zippers and screw-type air valves, and are available individually or as components of model 663, an inflatable splint kit. The kit rolls up into a package 6 by 18 inches.
Circle No. 11 on Reader Service Card
Pager Holder
Professional Products, Co., offers the Sure-Grip pager holder, with a lock-hold design, made of cowhide. It fits any belt size, and a pager will not push loose or fall off even when forced, but is easily released. The holder has a one-year guarantee.
Circle No. 17 on Reader Service Card
Hydraulic Extrication
H.K. Porter, Inc., offers the RX5000A and RX5000B hydraulic extrication equipment with a maximum spreading force of 10,000 pounds each. The power ripping and opening tools have a maximum spread of 12 inches. The power for the RX5000A is supplied by an air/hydraulic foot or hand-activated pump. For the RX5000B, there is a finger-tip control handle and pump assembly. Both work from standard air bottles, air brakes or a cascade system. Each weighs approximately 50 pounds.
Circle No. 8 on Reader Service Card
Soft Trauma Pack
Zee Medical Products Co., Inc., offers a soft trauma pack that is also a backpack. The Soft Trauma Pak is fully stocked for emergencies ranging from airway and breathing difficulties to severe trauma.
Circle No. 4 on Reader Service Card
Vapor Tracer
American Gas & Chemical Co., Ltd., offers the CG Tracer model 501, a handheld battery operated vapor tracer capable of sensing traces of gasoline and fuel oils. The CGT can check for truck, train or storage tank leaks, or to verify gasoline leaks into ground water. The detector can detect concentrations as low as 2 ppm of propane and 10 ppm of natural gas. The meter gives an indication of the quantity of vapor present, as well as the location. An audible alarm can be switched on to aid in the detection or to act as a monitor. The sensitivity is adjustable to three detection ranges.
Circle No. 5 on Reader Service Card
