By Alan M. Petrillo
Nozzles and monitors make up the forward tip of most fire suppression systems, whether they are on handlines, deck guns, or portable monitors or at the end of aerial ladders and platforms.
Recent improvements to existing versions and new models of nozzles and monitors offered by manufacturers are helping firefighters in engaging fire on both attack and defense.
Nozzles
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1 Elkhart Brass introduced its XD (Extreme Duty) redesign of handline nozzles, starting with its Chief XD, shown here. (Photos 1 and 2 courtesy of Elkhart Brass.) |
Phil Gerace, vice president of marketing for Task Force Tips (TFT), says TFT’s Vortex™ nozzle is an improvement “on the age-old concept of the smoothbore nozzle to give firefighters more capability should they need it.” Gerace notes the Vortex has all the benefits of a smoothbore but with a quick twist of the tip can change to a dispersed water pattern. TFT offers a number of different diameters of smoothbore tips on the Vortex, Gerace says, “and the extra capability of a dispersed pattern is there when you need it and does not disturb the flow.”
Gerace says that TFT is introducing a new product, the Decon PRO/pak, a handheld portable system to be used to decontaminate turnout gear. “When firefighters come out of a burning structure, they have a lot of debris on their turnout gear,” he says. “Using the Decon PRO/pak, they can rinse off with a solution and a brush to get the debris off and help reduce the cancer risk.”
Chris Martin, manager of Elkhart Brass’s municipal product line, says his company is seeing a renaissance of engine company work, focusing on more accurate fire flows and attack packages and making sure that hoses match flow rates. “We are doing two major efforts to be a part of that movement,” he says, “one through our products and the other through education.”
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2 The Magnum EXM is a high-flow monitor made by Elkhart Brass that is capable of 5,000 gpm. |
On the product side of things, Martin notes that Elkhart Brass has introduced its XD (Extreme Duty) redesign of handline nozzles. “We started with the Chief nozzle and gave it a complete redo,” he says. “We went to an aluminum forged shutoff body and forged metal bail handle for maximum strength and beta tested the Chief XD with 30 of the busiest departments around the country. It’s now in full production and available in both high- and low-flow fog nozzles.”
The XD Smoothbore is another redesign by Elkhart Brass, using the same forged body and bail handle, Martin says. “The tip has been redesigned so the numbers are easier to read and have the flow rates on it,” he says. “One of our most popular combinations is the 7⁄8-inch smoothbore paired with a 160-gallon-per-minute (gpm) at 50 pounds per square inch (psi) fog nozzle.”
In addition, Elkhart Brass makes the RAM XD, which features a hydraulic stability system that harnesses reaction force to stabilize the monitor. It ha