By Alan M. Petrillo

Elkhart Brass Co. and Tyndall Air Force Base, in Florida, have partnered for more than a dozen years to develop monitors, nozzles, and ultra-high-pressure (UHP) pumping systems that might signal the future of firefighting.

Partnership Origin

Paul Albinger, director of government sales and fire protection systems for Elkhart Brass, says the company began its association with Tyndall Air Force Base in 2004 when an Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) staffer at Tyndall, Doug Dierdorff, Ph.D., approached it about modifying an Elkhart Brass monitor for use in a high-pressure pump and aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) delivery system for aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) responses. “We made the Sidewinder, which was originally a wildland monitor,” Albinger says, “that typically flows 125 gallons per minute (gpm) but can flow up to 500 gpm. The Air Force wanted to take that 125-gpm flow rate and knock it down to 30 gpm with a nozzle pressure of 100 pounds per square inch (psi).”

1 The Sidewinder EXM UPH Hero monitor and nozzle was developed by Elkhart Brass Co. in cooperation with Tyndall Air Force Base’s ultra-high-pressure firefighting system program. (Photo courtesy of Elkhart Brass Co.)

Albinger says that the goal of the project was to develop a very effective ARFF firefighting system that reduced the amount of agent needed to extinguish an aircraft fire. “So, we started a grassroots program to develop a series of products for them and tweak those products to provide ultimate solutions to the challenges faced,” he says.

In fewer than 12 months, Albinger points out, Elkhart Brass engineers and technicians reconfigured the Sidewinder into a monitor that could handle the pressure and flow combinations that the Air Force required as well as developed two handline nozzles-one that flows 1,500 gpm at 1,000 psi and a second that flows 20 gpm at 1,000 psi.

UHP Challenges

Eric Combs, marketing manager for Elkhart Brass, notes that redesigning monitors and nozzles for ultra high pressures presents a number of obstacles and challenges. “Taking a monitor that’s designed to operate at 100 psi and increasing it to 1,500 psi creates extreme forces that you typically would not see,” Combs says. “So instead of using ball bearings, we added thrust rods and thrust bearings in the monitor. A stainless steed rod is inserted through the joint and the additional thrust bearing allows the monitor to have higher motor loads and an easy swivel action.”

2 The Air Force’s new P-34 rapid intervention vehicle (RIV) sits next to an aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) truck at Columbus (MS) Air Force Base. The P-34 RIV is a high-pressure fire engine that uses a fraction of the water capacity of previous trucks combined with firefighting foam for much Read more 628 0 Article rating: No rating Posted: May 11, 2016 Elkhart Brass and Tyndall Air Force Base Celebrate 12-Year Partnership By Alan M. Petrillo Elkhart Brass Co. and Tyndall Air Force Base, in Florida, have partnered for more than a dozen years to develop monitors, nozzles, and ultra-high-pressure (UHP) pumping systems that might signal the future of firefighting. Partnership Origin Paul Albinger, director of government sales and fire protection systems for Elkhart Brass, says the company began its association with Tyndall Air Force Base in 2004 when an Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) staffer at Tyndall, Doug Dierdorff, Ph.D., approached it about modifying an Elkhart Brass monitor for use in a high-pressure pump and aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) delivery system for aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) responses. “We made the Sidewinder, which was originally a wildland monitor,” Albinger says, “that typically flows 125 gallons per minute (gpm) but can flow up to 500 gpm. The Air Force wanted to take that 125-gpm flow rate and knock it down to 30 gpm with a nozzle pressure of 100 pounds per square inch (psi).” 1 The Sidewinder EXM UPH Hero monitor and nozzle was developed by Elkhart Brass Co. in cooperation with Tyndall Air Force Base’s ultra-high-pressure firefighting system program. (Photo courtesy of Elkhart Brass Co.) Albinger says that the goal of the project was to develop a very effective ARFF firefighting system that reduced the amount of agent needed to extinguish an aircraft fire. “So, we started a grassroots program to develop a series of products for them and tweak those products to provide ultimate solutions to the challenges faced,” he says. In fewer than 12 months, Albinger points out, Elkhart Brass engineers and technicians reconfigured the Sidewinder into a monitor that could handle the pressure and flow combinations that the Air Force required as well as developed two handline nozzles-one that flows 1,500 gpm at 1,000 psi and a second that flows 20 gpm at 1,000 psi. UHP Challenges Eric Combs, marketing manager for Elkhart Brass, notes that redesigning monitors and nozzles for ultra high pressures presents a number of obstacles and challenges. “Taking a monitor that’s designed to operate at 100 psi and increasing it to 1,500 psi creates extreme forces that you typically would not see,” Combs says. “So instead of using ball bearings, we added thrust rods and thrust bearings in the monitor. A stainless steed rod is inserted through the joint and the additional thrust bearing allows the monitor to have higher motor loads and an easy swivel action.” 2 The Air Force’s new P-34 rapid intervention vehicle (RIV) sits next to an aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) truck at Columbus (MS) Air Force Base. The P-34 RIV is a high-pressure fire engine that uses a fraction of the water capacity of previous trucks combined with firefighting foam for much Read more 569 0 Article rating: No rating Posted: May 11, 2016 Elkhart Brass and Tyndall Air Force Base Celebrate 12-Year Partnership By Alan M. Petrillo Elkhart Brass Co. and Tyndall Air Force Base, in Florida, have partnered for more than a dozen years to develop monitors, nozzles, and ultra-high-pressure (UHP) pumping systems that might signal the future of firefighting. Partnership Origin Paul Albinger, director of government sales and fire protection systems for Elkhart Brass, says the company began its association with Tyndall Air Force Base in 2004 when an Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) staffer at Tyndall, Doug Dierdorff, Ph.D., approached it about modifying an Elkhart Brass monitor for use in a high-pressure pump and aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) delivery system for aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) responses. “We made the Sidewinder, which was originally a wildland monitor,” Albinger says, “that typically flows 125 gallons per minute (gpm) but can flow up to 500 gpm. The Air Force wanted to take that 125-gpm flow rate and knock it down to 30 gpm with a nozzle pressure of 100 pounds per square inch (psi).” 1 The Sidewinder EXM UPH Hero monitor and nozzle was developed by Elkhart Brass Co. in cooperation with Tyndall Air Force Base’s ultra-high-pressure firefighting system program. (Photo courtesy of Elkhart Brass Co.) Albinger says that the goal of the project was to develop a very effective ARFF firefighting system that reduced the amount of agent needed to extinguish an aircraft fire. “So, we started a grassroots program to develop a series of products for them and tweak those products to provide ultimate solutions to the challenges faced,” he says. In fewer than 12 months, Albinger points out, Elkhart Brass engineers and technicians reconfigured the Sidewinder into a monitor that could handle the pressure and flow combinations that the Air Force required as well as developed two handline nozzles-one that flows 1,500 gpm at 1,000 psi and a second that flows 20 gpm at 1,000 psi. UHP Challenges Eric Combs, marketing manager for Elkhart Brass, notes that redesigning monitors and nozzles for ultra high pressures presents a number of obstacles and challenges. “Taking a monitor that’s designed to operate at 100 psi and increasing it to 1,500 psi creates extreme forces that you typically would not see,” Combs says. “So instead of using ball bearings, we added thrust rods and thrust bearings in the monitor. A stainless steed rod is inserted through the joint and the additional thrust bearing allows the monitor to have higher motor loads and an easy swivel action.” 2 The Air Force’s new P-34 rapid intervention vehicle (RIV) sits next to an aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) truck at Columbus (MS) Air Force Base. The P-34 RIV is a high-pressure fire engine that uses a fraction of the water capacity of previous trucks combined with firefighting foam for much Read more 375 0 Article rating: No rating Firetruck Involved in Accident with Car in Clayton County (GA) Posted: May 11, 2016 Firetruck Involved in Accident with Car in Clayton County (GA) A Clayton County fire truck was involved in an accident on Wednesday morning. A 6-year-old child was critically injured in the crash involving a fire truck in Clayton County.  The incident happened at Old Dixie Highway at Upper Riverdale Road right off of Interstate 75. SkyTracker footage showed the aftermath of a collision between a black Mercedes and the fire truck.  According to Clayton County Fire Chief David Vasquez, six people were injured. The 6-year-old child was flown to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston with critical injuries.  An 8-year-old child also suffered minor injuries. Three firefighters were transported to the hospital for observation.  The 18-year-old driver of the Mercedes suffered moderate injuries. Read More at 11alive   Read more 928 0 Article rating: No rating RSS FirstPrevious4426442744284429443044314432443344344435NextLast Theme picker Section Quick Links   Fire Mechanics Documents EVT Discussion Forum Fire Mechanic Photo Gallery Training & Testing 2019 Scholarship Logo Wear Store Upcoming Events Theme picker Sponsors Fire Mechanics Section Board Chair Posted: Oct 21, 2015 Chair Elliot Courage North Whatcom Fire & Rescue Read more 0 0 Article rating: No rating Vice Chair Posted: Oct 21, 2015 Vice Chair Mike Smith  Pierce County Fire District #5 Read more 0 0 Article rating: No rating Secretary Posted: Oct 21, 2015 Secretary Greg Bach South Snohomish County Fire & Rescue Read more 0 0 Article rating: No rating Director #1 Posted: Oct 21, 2015 Director #1 Doug Jones South Kitsap Fire & Rescue Read more 0 0 Article rating: No rating Director #2 Posted: Oct 21, 2015 Director #2 Paul Spencer  Fire Fleet Maintenance LLC Read more 0 0 Article rating: No rating Director #3 Posted: Oct 21, 2015 Director #3 Jim Morris Mountain View Fire Department Read more 0 0 Article rating: No rating Director #4 Posted: Oct 21, 2015 Director #4 Arnie Kuchta Clark County Fire District 6 Read more 0 0 Article rating: No rating Director #6 Posted: Oct 21, 2015 Director #6 Brett Annear Kitsap County Fire District 18 Read more 0 0 Article rating: No rating Director #5 Posted: Oct 21, 2015 Director #5 Jay Jacks Camano Island Fire & Rescue Read more 0 0 Article rating: No rating Legislative Representative Posted: Oct 21, 2015 Legislative Representative TBD TBD Read more 3545 0 Article rating: No rating Immediate Past Chair Posted: Oct 20, 2015 Immediate Past Chair Brian Fortner Graham Fire & Rescue Read more 0 0 Article rating: No rating RSS Theme picker 2020 CAR SHOW Terms Of Use | Privacy Statement - Copyright 2025 by Washington Fire Chiefs Home Members About Us News Calendar Resources Documents Sections County Fire Chiefs FRWC WSAFM