Suggestions for Justifying the Purchase of Bullard Products
Thermal
Imagers
Following are general justifications for getting TIs within Firefighting
Operations category:
1. Thermal imagers benefit both the health and safety of firefighters
and the health and safety of the community. By allowing firefighters
to see through blinding smoke, thermal imagers help restore vision
to firefighters, enabling them to find unconscious victims in smoke-filled
rooms and to detect structural dangers before they cause injuries
and deaths to those inside the structure.
2. Thermal imagers can assist in mutual aid responses, enabling fire departments to make the most of this resource. If your department is responsible for mutual aid in your area, note how the area will benefit from the addition of thermal imagers to your department. Departments able to share their equipment with other communities through mutual aid will be given extra consideration in the evaluation process.
3. With the help of thermal imaging, an Incident Commander can see the scope of the fire from outside the structure, allowing direction and deployment of resources where they can be best utilized. Incident command is made even more effective with wireless transmission, as it allows firefighters to transmit an image from inside the fire, enabling the commander to assist in monitoring fire conditions that could endanger those fighting the fire.
4. Using thermal imagers, firefighters can quickly scan large wildland areas for hot spots, aiding them in getting the fire under control quickly, and allowing them to make these decisions from a distance.
5. Thermal imagers can be used for many applications outside of structural firefighting. In hazardous materials applications, firefighters can identify sources of vapors and gases, and determine product levels in sealed or pressurized containers, helping to manage hazardous materials spills and other incidents more effectively. Because thermal imagers enable firefighters to monitor conditions from a distance, they are less likely to be in danger in these situations.
6. In overhaul, thermal imagers allow quick and effective pinpointing of hot spots, a process which can require hours of time without the technology. By extinguishing these hot spots quickly, firefighters prevent further property damage. Using a thermal imager, overhaul can be done in 75 percent less time.
7. Thermal imagers have a range of applications in rural settings, such as extinguishing silo fires, responding to motor vehicle accidents, finding missing persons, and performing technical rescues.
8. While thermal imagers are not required by any standard or regulation,
they are a critical tool for Rapid Intervention Teams. RITs equipped
with a thermal imager will be able to find and evacuate an injured
or trapped firefighter much more rapidly. If your department supplies
RIT for neighboring departments, be sure to include that in your
narrative so the review panel understands it will benefit a number
of departments.
Following are several justifications for buying thermal imagers
for use in training within the Firefighting Operations category:
1. With the help of a thermal imager, instructors can watch and critique
students, ensuring that they develop good foundation skills in areas
including accountability, conducting effective search patterns, and
handling a hose.
2. The wireless video transmitter can be used to provide students who are outside the building with the opportunity to observe training activities inside the building. By watching from the outside, students can learn from others’ mistakes and actions without being inside in full protective gear.
3. Thermal imagers are an excellent tool to enhance training. Using transmitter systems, incident commanders can observe trainees in real time, and they can videotape at the scene. Videos can be used for review and teaching later.
4. Thermal imaging technology allows instructors to monitor heat
and fire conditions inside the building, helping trainees stay safe
during training exercises.
Fire Helmets
Following are several justifications for buying fire helmets with
FIRE Act funds:
1. Your department has grown (or plans to grow), and you need additional fire helmets in order to be fully equipped.
2. If your firefighters are equipped with several different kinds of helmets, this is a good opportunity to get updated with the most recent equipment and to be consistent throughout the department. One major benefit of buying Bullard fire helmets is that the company offers the widest range of helmet sizing in the industry, and maintenance costs are 50 percent less than that of the average helmet.
3. Your equipment should be updated to meet new NFPA standards because:
- Starting in 1997 (NFPA 1971 - 97), firefighters were given a choice between face shields or goggles for eye protection. Any helmet manufactured before 1997 must have a face shield.
- Starting in 2000 (NFPA 1971-2000), any sewing thread used in NFPA-certified fire helmets is required to be made of inherently flame-resistant fiber.
- As of 2000 (NFPA 1976-2000), NFPA recommends that any future purchases of ARFF equipment be required to meet the latest ARFF standard, which focuses on providing better protection from reflective heat. Air rescue firefighters must now use an aluminized shroud and a 6” gold coated face shield. The helmet shroud must be made from a multi-layer aluminized material.
- NFPA helmet standards are revised every 5 years. Many departments are using helmets that are 10-15 years old. Many of these older helmets are not up to current performance standards that include much higher heat tolerance. Many of the older suspension systems would not meet this increased heat resistance criteria.
Technical Rescue Carts
Following are three justifications for buying technical rescue carts
with FIRE Act funds:
1. Technical Rescue Carts benefit the health and safety of firefighters as well as the public they serve, by enabling a firefighter to use the same air source for a respirator and air-powered rescue tool at the same time. This ensures that the firefighter is not exposed to unnecessary respiratory hazards and that the individual being rescued receives the best possible care. Bullard and Air Systems Inc., supply technical rescue carts that comply with appropriate NFPA standards.
2. Technical Rescue Carts can potentially reduce the amount of time required for a rescue by minimizing the amount of equipment taken into the rescue environment, which could increase the likelihood of a successful rescue.
3. Technical rescue carts can supply a trapped firefighter with
an unlimited supply of air, if the fire department has full SCBA
cylinders, high pressure compressor or cascade system. This improves
firefighter safety because firefighters or rescuers located by the
RIT can be supplied with air until the rescue or evacuation is performed.
Multi-Function Air Manifold Boxes
Following are two justifications for buying air manifold boxes with
FIRE Act funds:
1. Multi-function Air Manifold Boxes benefit both the health and safety of firefighters and the public they serve, by enabling a firefighter to use the same air source for a respirator and air-powered rescue tool at the same time. This ensures that the firefighter is not exposed to unnecessary respiratory hazards and that the individual being rescued receives the best possible care. Bullard and Air Systems Inc supply technical rescue carts that comply with appropriate NFPA standards.
2. Multi-function Air Manifold Boxes can potentially reduce the amount of time required for a rescue by minimizing the amount of equipment taken into the rescue environment, which could increase the likelihood of a successful rescue.
Pressure Demand Respirators with Escape Cylinders
Following is a justification for buying a pressure demand respirator
with FIRE Act funds:
- Pressure demand airline respirators with emergency escape cylinders protect individuals involved in rescue operations which often occur in confined spaces that contain hazardous gases or are oxygen deficient. The dangers associated with these hazards can be reduced through the use of an appropriate pressure demand airline respirator with escape provisions.