15 Must-See Products from FRI 2013

What’s hot in the fire service? FireRescue editors and contributors combed the aisles of the Fire-Rescue International exhibit floor to discover new and innovative products that improve safety and enhance response. Here are our 15 top picks.

Bullard’s T4N Thermal Imaging Camera/www.bullard.com
Bullard’s new T4N is one of just a few thermal imaging cameras (TICs) on the market that meet the requirements of the new NFPA 1801: Standard on Thermal Imagers for the Fire Service, which standardizes TIC operation and sets minimum performance standards for criteria such as heat, water and impact resistance, as well as image quality. For fire departments wanting an NFPA-compliant TIC, the T4N is a good option. Its wide video display (4.3″ widescreen format) and 450:1 contrast ratio produce a vivid image, while 2x and 4x zoom allow you to get closer to the action without jeopardizing safety. The T4N is intuitive and easy to use and includes two Bullard exclusive features: Electronic Thermal Throttle, which reveals hidden fires and distinguishes hotter objects, and Super Red Hot, which gives firefighters the ability to see heat levels by color.

Draeger’s Comfort Vest/www.draeger.com  
When you think of Draeger, you probably think of high-end SCBA and thermal imaging cameras, and in fact, the company recently released a new TIC and is close to having a new line of NFPA 1981-compliant (2013 edition) SCBA on the market. But at FRI, we noticed something else in the Draeger booth: the Draeger Comfort Vest CVP 5220. Worn tight around the body, these vests have small chemical packets inside that react when the wearer’s skin temperature exceeds 82 degrees. The packets gradually become liquid by absorbing the heat; Draeger says this reduces skin temperature by almost 40 degrees F. When the packets need recharging, either store at room temperature for three to four hours, or place in a cooler for about 20 minutes. The vests are ideal for use under chemical suits and turnout coats and during rehab. Under the hot lights of their booth, the Draeger representatives definitely seemed to appreciate their cooling power.

E-ONE’s Metro 100 Ladder/www.e-one.com
In this age of tandem-axle ladders, it’s a pleasure to see one manufacturer reinvent an old design, but with new features. E-ONE’s Metro 100 Ladder features a single rear axle and a short (220 feet) wheelbase, combined with a 100′ aerial ladder reach and an 11′ jack spread. The vehicle was designed with urban and suburban fire departments in mind, but even major cities should take note because the vehicle is highly maneuverable. An added plus is that it’s being manufactured on the Cyclone II cab and chassis, which measures in at a height of just 10 feet seven inches–low enough to fit in most fire stations.

Ferrara’s F-Shield/www.ferrarafire.com
Corrosion of fire apparatus parts is not a new problem, especially for Northeast and Midwest fire departments, where streets are regularly coated with snow and salt in the winter months. But recently, corrosion has gained more attention due to shifting weather patterns in the U.S. and fire departments’ need to keep vehicles in service longer due to budget constraints. F-Shield is Ferrara’s answer the corrosion problem. F-Shield coats chassis and frame rails under the apparatus body to prevent rust and corrosion. With F- Shield, the chassis frame rails, cross members, fuel tanks and air reservoirs are encapsulated in a ruggedized, protective coating. The air reservoirs, reservoir hanger straps, fuel tanks and fuel tank straps are treated separately prior to assembly. The frame cross members, bumper backing reinforcement plates, radiator skid plate, spring hangers, cab lock mounts and all required bolts are in plate prior to treatment, to ensure complete coverage.

FireDex’ Gear Tracker/geartracker.firedex.com
The new edition of NFPA 1851 requires fire departments to maintain detailed records on personal protective equipment (PPE), including who PPE is issued to; manufacturer information; dates of inspections, cleanings and repairs; and when and how PPE is retired. [Tim: Is this correct?] For many departments, this is a challenging and time-consuming requirement. FireDex’ Gear Tracker NFPA 1851 gear management system makes it a lot easier by putting all the information into an easy-to-use, Web-based system that can be accessed by any member. Prepopulated fields and prompts help ensure that you enter all the needed information and stay on top of all the NFPA 1851 requirements, and reporting features let you sort the information to determine factors such as lifetime cost of an item, what gear is at what stations, and what PPE is about to expire. Future updates will include alerts that notify personnel of key inspection and cleaning milestones. Already keep some or all of this information in a spreadsheet on a department computer? The Gear Tracker provides a template that you can paste the information into, then upload it to the Web-based system.

Hale’s Qmax-XS/www.haleproducts.com
What department doesn’t want more storage compartment space on their apparatus? Hale’s Qmax-XS strives to meet this need; the “XS” stands for “extra space.” The pump is rated at 1,500 gpm and has a one-piece design that minimizes piping; it can be installed in a compartment as narrow as 28 inches with electric valves or 34 inches with manual valves. Twelve 4″ discharges come standard. If you’re in the process of writing specs for a new pumper or rescue pumper, you might want to take a look at this compact design.

KME’s AerialCat Platform/www.kovatch.com
Any fire department looking to buy a new aerial device should check out the new KME 102′ AerialCat Platform. This is a short wheelbase platform with a greater working space for firefighters inside and outside the platform bucket. The platform has been redesigned to offer 22.6 square feet of work space and 6.7 square feet of external working space. A moveable platform control station gives you the ability to control the device from the left, right or center of the platform, and the modular construction means repairs are easy and can be done without fully replacing the platform. Another new feature is a continuous ground pad that prevents “hang ups” on building structures, designed to prevent the platform from getting caught up on obstructions during operation. The AerialCat offers a 94′ horizontal reach, a 2.5:1 structural safety ratio, and a -12 degree below-grade operation.

Motorola & Scott Safety’s Accountability Solution
www.motorolasolutions.com; www.scottsafety.com
A major announcement at FRI was the recently signed exclusive partnership between Motorola and Scott Safety, who have teamed up to enhance firefighter accountability and incident command. With the new system, information from the Scott SCBA–such as PASS activation, cylinder level and cylinder ID–will be transmitted via Motorola APX two-way radios and displayed on a screen in the command post. Motorola’s accountability system also allows the IC to initiate a PAR check on screen, and firefighters simply hit their push-to-talk button once to check in. The IC immediately sees on screen any firefighters who haven’t answered the PAR check, which significantly reduces the time to complete the check. The capability to transmit Air-Pak telemetry data through APX radios will be integrated into both existing and new software solutions from Motorola and Scott, and is expected to be commercially available in early 2014.

Power Hawk’s Auto-Crib-It & C-1604 Shredder/www.powerhawk.com
Power Hawk introduced two new products at Fire-Rescue International. The Auto Crib-It is a new stabilization tool for extrication operations. These compact stabilization ramps are piston-actuated and automatically re-adjust and lock. They can also be positioned under and parallel to rocker panels to avoid trip hazards and stabilize both side-to-side and front-to-back. Available in 13″ or 17″ models, the Auto Crib-It is taller than most step chocks but is also lightweight and features a high maximum load capacity. Power Hawk also introduced a new shredder attachment that works with its P-16 Rescue Tool. The smaller profile C-1604 captures material as it closes, making it ideal for cutting pipes, bars, railings and door frames. It features a cutting force of 30,000 lbs. at the blade center. Like all Power Hawk tools, the C-1604 doesn’t require hydraulics; the system operates on 12-volt battery power.

SkedCo’s Bariatric Sked Stretcher/www.skedco.com
We’ve seen a lot of information recently on the news about the obesity problem plaguing the nation. As a result, some fire departments are converting ambulances into specialized bariatric units to transport obese patients. But how do you get an obese patient to the ambulance? Skedco, known for both civilian and military rescue stretchers, has come up with a solution. The Bariatric Sked Stretcher is designed to move obese patients through difficult areas with less risk of injuring your back or the patient. At 4 feet wide, it’s a full 12 inches wider than the standard Sked and is made of tough, non-absorbing polyethylene plastic. It functions just like the standard Sked: You drag it over whatever terrain the patient is in. It can be dragged up a ramp to the floor of the ambulance or hoisted onto a bariatric gurney using lift slings. Also included is a large steel carabineer that has a minimum break strength of 9,000 lbs. and is used to join the sling ends together and clipped into the hoist mechanism. Despite its large capacity, the Bariatric Sked Stretcher folds up into a cylindrical carry case for easy storage on any type of vehicle.

Smiths Detection’s HazMatID Elite/www.smithsdetection.com
As hazmat technology gets easier to use and more affordable, more first-in crews are becoming responsible for unknown substance identification. Smiths Detection’s HazMatID Elite is the next-generation version of a tool you may already be familiar with: the HazMatID. The Elite is 10 times smaller and four times lighter, making it ideal for transport in already-crowded apparatus compartments; encrypted wireless communications allow for mobile response operations. It’s also very easy to use: Smiths Detection estimates most firefighters can be up and running with the unit after about an hour of training. The HazMatID Elite features an intuitive interface and self-guided software and can be used to detect and identify explosives, chemical warfare agents, toxic industrials and narcotics.

Spartan ERV’s MPA 65/www.spartanerv.com
If you attended FDIC earlier this year, you may have seen a prototype of Spartan ERV’s MPA 65. Since that time, Spartan used input from the fire service to enhance the vehicle, and has also conducted rigorous testing, all of which was reflected in the vehicle on display at FRI. The truck is a multipurpose unit that can be used as a pumper with a 1,500-gpm pump; as an aerial with a three-section aluminum 65′ ladder and a 1,000-gpm waterway; and as a rescue vehicle with a body system that has 400 cubic feet of compartment space. The vehicle also has a ladder roller system that eliminates the need to grease ladder sections and an automatic ladder leveling system, which makes set-up quicker and easier. If you’re looking to do more with less and are in the market for a new multi-purpose vehicle, you might want to look at the MPA 65.

Streamlight’s E-Flood HL Litebox/www.streamlight.com
Telescoping lights are great for lighting up incident scenes, but sometimes you need a more portable solution. Streamlight has just introduced the E-Flood HL Litebox, a lightweight, economical LED scene lighting alternative. Choose from high, medium or low modes for output up to 3,600 lumens, and two diffuser systems for different beam widths. The light can work off of 12-volt power cord or battery, and achieves 2 hours of battery life at the highest setting, 4 hours at the medium and 8 hours at the lowest. Plus, it fits any LiteBox recharging/mounting rack–a plus if you’ve bought Streamlight products in the past. Although the E-Flood doesn’t give you the flexibility that telescoping lights do, at 10.4 lbs. it’s easy to carry almost anywhere on the incident scene and easy to place on objects if you need to elevate the beam. It’s also small enough to fit easily in crowded apparatus compartments.

Task Force Tips’ FlipTip Nozzles/www.tft.com
Sometimes you need to switch in between a fog pattern and a straight bore on the fireground. In the past you would have to completely shut down a hoseline and replace the nozzle. The FlipTip Nozzle from TFT allows firefighters to change from a fog pattern nozzle to a straight bore nozzle by flipping a twist-lock mechanism. The front component can be changed with four different orifices; the rear component can be changed with five different orifices. These nozzles promise to save a lot of time when changing tactics. When it’s time for your next nozzle, I really think the FlipTip is the way to go.