By Bill Adams

Part 1 described the development of custom fire apparatus cabs.

Part 2 described how safety standards developed for the commercial trucking industry were adopted by reference in National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1901, Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus. All fire apparatus manufacturers that build their own cabs and chassis were invited to explain how their products are constructed. Their responses follow my questions.

1 Cab skins, including doors, are constructed from 3⁄16-inch aluminum plate. Also shown is the engine tunnel sidewall, which is constructed from ¼-inch aluminum plate and welded to the front wall, floor, and vertical roof support posts. (Photos 1-5 courtesy of E-ONE.)

Describe your Cab Substructure.

Mark Bartlett, engineering manager, Spartan Motors: “Cab designs are an extruded aluminum substructure platform, using a dual-roll-cage design with aluminum flat panel outer skins.”

Dave Reichmann, national sales manager, Rosenbauer: “Extruded aluminum design, using 6061-T6 extrusions. Our 3⁄16-inch-thick extruded design creates an extremely safe environment for our customers.”

Yoseph Setiadi, operations manager, Sutphen Hilliard, Ohio, facility (cab and chassis plant): “The Sutphen cab is designed similar to a roll-cage design. While strength is a very important design factor, weight is also a great design consideration. We want to design a cab that results in a lower center of gravity for the overall truck. We have chosen aluminum as the primary material used in the construction. The frame construction all around the cab uses extruded 6061-T6 aluminum, which is stronger than the 5052-H2 aluminum we typically see on a sheet metal part.”

2 The 3⁄16-inch cab sidewalls and cab roof are welded to the perimeter roof extrusions. Slots are CNC-machined into extrusions for wiring.

Joe Hedges, product manager, E-ONE: “E-ONE cabs use a combination of 6061-T6 and 6063-T6 high-strength aluminum extrusions and 0.188-inch 3003-H14 aluminum plate to create an extremely durable structure. The cab foundation features a wishbone style floor substructure that measures 3.0 inches × 2.25 inches with a substantial 0.435-inch wall thickness. The cab also features two centrally located 3.0-inch × 3.0-inch × 0.188-inch wall vertical posts that support a 3.0-inch × 3.0-inch × 0.375-inch wall roof crossbeam. The vertical posts are also welded to the 0.25-inch engine tunnel side plates that extend all the way forward to the front cab wall. At the rear of the cab are two 6.0-inch × 1.438-inch rear wall extrusions that are also welded between the floor substructure and roof extrusions. The roof structure consists of a perimeter extrusion measuring 4.125 inches high × 7.5 inches wide with an internal grid of 1.5-inch × 3.0-inch x 0.188-inch wall rectangular tubes to suppor

Globe Manufacturing Company launches ATHLETIX™, turnout gear like nothing you’ve ever experienced. New material technology enables the all-new athletic design with stretch fabrics that allow closer, body-contoured fit to provide unprecedented range of motion with less bulk, more flexibility, and lighter weight.

Firefighters informed and inspired ATHLETIX™, a step-change in firefighter personal protective equipment. We interviewed hundreds of firefighters to get a 360-degree view of their experience wearing turnout gear and shared our findings with our supplier partners to develop the technology that enables this all-new design.

Globe ATHLETIX™ won the 2016 International Achievement Awards (IAA) Award of Excellence and Best in Category for Advanced Textiles by Industrial Fabrics Association International. IAA recognizes excellence in design and innovation in the specialty fabrics and technical textiles industry.

At FDIC, attendees are invited to experience the unprecedented range of motion that is possible with the new ATHLETIX™ turnout gear in a virtual reality experience for firefighters in the booth.

“At Globe, we are celebrating 130 years of innovation this year,” said Rob Freese, senior vice president of marketing at Globe Manufacturing Company. “When we previewed ATHLETIX™ at FDIC last year, we were continuing our ‘voice of the customer’ process that inspired this revolutionary change in turnout gear design and capability. With the certified garments at the show this year, Globe is delivering turnout gear that firefighters want and that enhances their performance. We are proud to continue delighting our customers after 130 years.”

Globe will continue its partnership with the Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund at the Globe booth. Try the new gear for yourself in the virtual reality experience and Globe will make a donation to the Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund in your name.

Terry Farrell was a father, a husband, a brother, and a dedicated firefighter who lost his life on September 11, 2001, during the World Trade Center attack. Among the 343 heroes who died that day, he was in Tower Two when it collapsed. A decorated member of Rescue 4/FDNY and chief of the Dix Hills Volunteer Fire Department, Terry was a devoted firefighter who embodied the spirit of courage and giving. The Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund was established in his memory to assist firefighters and families across the nation with financial, educational and medical support, and to provide equipment donations for fire departments in need.

Also at FDIC, Globe will sponsor the International Networking Event and International Lounge and encourages all of its partners who keep first responders safe all over the world to take advantage of these resources.

The nation’s largest firefighter training conference and exhibition is being held April 24-29 at the Indiana Convention Center & Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Globe’s booth (#2411) is located in Hall D at the Indiana Convention Center.

About Globe

Firefighters need to be prepared to perform at the maximum of their ab

The AVIVA half mask is the latest innovation from Scott Safety, a world leader in the design and manufacture of respiratory protection equipment. AVIVA ensures workers' wellbeing is a priority with its low profile head harness offering greater stability and compatibility with PPE. Workers will appreciate the comfort that comes from the AVIVA half mask.

“It’s not every day that innovation and technology describes a half mask, but this is exactly what AVIVA delivers to our customers,” said Candace Pride Allen, Product Line Manager for NIOSH Air Purifying Respirators. “We listened to the market and worked hand in hand with users to develop a comfortable half mask that fits a high percentage of adult face shapes and sizes while easing respiratory burden.”

Innovative design elements such as a hybrid reflex seal allows for added movement and flexibility combined with an easy-to-use positive user seal check mechanism that enables the user to have confidence in the integrity of the mask’s fit. The integrated voice panel and goggle “pinch” have all been incorporated into the AVIVA with superior user comfort and protection in mind. The AVIVA half mask is available for use with a wide range of filters permitting use in a variety of applications and industrial situations such as asbestos removal, manufacturing, welding, and pharmaceuticals.

Last year, around 33,000 workers suffered breathing or lung problems thought to be caused or made worse by their working environments. One of the industry’s biggest issues is badly fitted, uncomfortable equipment, discouraging workers to use their respirator correctly. Scott Safety is helping to eradicate this problem with the introduction of this easy-to-use half mask that provides complete respiratory protection, low breathing resistance and increased comfort and fit. The AVIVA half mask is available in small, medium and large sizes and a variety of packaging types including READY-PAK options for specific applications, some of which have the advantage of permitting the user to regularly store the half mask, keeping it clean and correctly formed for optimum fit.

AVIVA half mask is now available from Scott Safety approved distributors. For further information, please visit www.scottsafety.com.

About Scott Safety
Scott Safety is a premier manufacturer of innovative respiratory and personal protective equipment and safety devices for emergency services and first-responders including firefighters, industrial workers, law enforcement, military, civil defense, national security, and rescue teams around the world. With five global manufacturing locations, Scott products protect thousands of individuals each day from environmental hazards that are inherent in the industries which they serve. The Scott product line includes self-contained breathing apparatus, supplied air and air-purifying respirators, gas detection instruments, thermal imaging cameras, and firefighter locators.

With the rise of consumers looking for more comfortable clothing options, including workwear, Mount Vernon FR is expanding its collection of flame-resistant (FR) FlexTex fabrics. The FlexTex line is engineered with stretch for increased comfort and mobility, but with no reduction in FR protection or durability. The flex program now includes six denim and four piece-dyed FR fabrics. Many of the fabrics were developed in conjunction with stylists at apparel manufacturers to provide optimal comfort and stretch in the resulting garments, while capturing the authentic look and characteristics of traditional non-stretch denim.

FlexTex fabrics are made using an elastomeric fiber that adds mobility to fabric, so workers experience increased range of motion in their FR apparel. Most FlexTex fabrics can stretch from 12 to 15 percent, but the latest Mount Vernon FR fabric developments incorporate TreFlex® yarn, which may allow as much as 20 percent stretch. Treflex, a hybrid yarn, provides excellent stretch properties and shrinkage control. The expanded offering of FlexTex fabric constructions includes twill, canvas, and oxford, and a variety of desirable vintage appearances can be achieved through increased yarn character and slub effects.

“We believe workers should have comfortable clothing options on the job and off,” said Mike Woods, vice president of FR fabrics for Mount Vernon FR. “We’ve developed our line of FR FlexTex fabrics with the comfort and character of everyday denim and piece-dyed fabrics, combined with the exceptional protection and durability of Mount Vernon FR fabrics.”

Mount Vernon FR FlexTex fabrics meet the performance requirements of ASTM F1506 and are NFPA 2112 component recognized. Many of the world’s leading apparel manufacturers and brands turn to Mount Vernon FR for their flex fabric needs.

About Mount Vernon Mills & Mount Vernon FR:
Mount Vernon Mills is a 175-year-old manufacturer of textile, chemical and related products for the apparel, industrial, institutional and commercial markets. Mount Vernon FR is part of Mount Vernon Mills’ Apparel Fabrics Group, which produces denim, flame resistant and piece-dyed fabric. It is the largest of all the Mount Vernon Mills groups, accounting for more than half of all company sales. More information can be found at www.mvmfr.com.