Thermal Imaging Manfred Kihn
When you look at how the fire service has progressed over the years, significant changes in policies, recommendations, and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards have taken place for the betterment of the service.
My first self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) consisted of a steel tank, the most cumbersome regulator that you can imagine, and a face mask that made you feel like a scuba diver. We won’t mention how much it all weighed!
Just imagine the old black and white TV set that had all those knobs and dials for fine tuning and the rabbit ears on top for channels and picture reception. Now go your local electronics store and see what is in stock for the latest and greatest high-definition smart TVs. You will be amazed by today’s technology, improvements, and competitive pricing. The same can be said of the drastic changes and improvements in the world of thermal imagers (TIs).
For most equipment the fire service uses, there are guidelines for replacement, such as the following:
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)—10 years.
- Fire apparatus, depending on the type of department (i.e., frontline, engine, ladder, rescue)—eight to 25 years.
- SCBA—10 years.
- Fire hose—good until it fails the annual testing, or some departments operate on a six- to 10-year equipment replacement cycle.
However, TIs have no time frame. So, when do you replace them?
NFPA REQUIREMENTS
The current NFPA 1801, Standard on Thermal Imagers for the Fire Service—2021 edition, does not stipulate a replacement time or that a fire department purchase a certified TI. However, it does list the following key requirements:
6.1.2 All thermal imagers shall be capable of continuously operating for a minimum of 120 minutes in TI Basic mode without the power source being changed or recharged.
6.1.5 The thermal imager shall incorporate a sensor engine consisting of an infrared sensor with at least 76,800 imaging pixels.
6.1.7 All thermal imagers shall have a minimum video refresh rate of 25 frames per second in both the detector and the display.
6.6.1 The thermal imager shall have a viewing area that contains operational information for the thermal imager user.
6.6.4.1.4 Where the thermal imager is equipped with temperature measurement, the viewing area shall include a numeric temperature indicator, a temperature bar, or both.
6.6.4.2.2 Colorization shall overlay the grayscale thermal images produced by the thermal imager. Details within the thermal image and within the colorization area shall remain resolvable by the user other than at saturation.
6.6.4.2.3 The colors yellow, orange, and red shall have a corresponding, temperature-dependent change in hue as temperatures increase.
6.6.4.6.1 All thermal imagers equipped with a low sensitivity mode shall have a low sensitivity mode indicator.
Read more
- 67
- Article rating: No rating
Posted: Feb 14, 2023
Rosenbauer—Lincoln County Fire Protection District, Troy, MO, pumper/tanker. Commander 7818 cab and chassis; Cummins X12 500-hp engine; Hale 8FGR 2,000-gpm pump; Pro Poly 2,000-gallon polypropylene water tank; IDEX Fire & Safety SAM program for pump controls; hot-dip galvanized frame rails. Dealer: Brian Franz, Sentinel Emergency Solutions, St. Louis, MO.
PREVIOUS PHOTO OF THE DAY >>
MORE FIRE APPARATUS ARTICLES >>
Read more
- 54
- Article rating: No rating
Posted: Feb 14, 2023
The Norwalk Fire Department originally requested $1.35 million for their 2023 budget in order to replace two pumper trucks, ctexaminer.com reported.
But cost estimates from manufacturers were higher than anticipated, a fire official said, driving the fire department to request an additional $489,225 at a special Board of Estimate and Taxation meeting on Tuesday, the report said.
The approved cost of the two trucks combined jumped to $1,839,225 – a 36 percent increase from the original budget request, the report said.
The fire official said that because manufacturers bear the costs of supply chain issues, they typically reevaluate their prices every few months, the report said.
In addition to increased prices, Norwalk jumped from their typical nine to 12-month delivery delay to a two to three year delay, as the city entered the back end of a long waitlist sparked by rising demand, according to the report.
For more on this story, please go to ctexaminer.com.
Read more
- 83
- Article rating: No rating