FW: [firebulletin] PPE Face Piece Failure Report - NIST

FYI.

Subject: [firebulletin] PPE Face Piece Failure Report - NIST
An article last week on ASM Internationals webpage shared a story about some recent work done in Chicago by NIST and SCBA Face Piece Failure. http://www.asminternational.org/portal/site/www/NewsItem/?vgnextoid=4d13d52c3f914310VgnVCM100000621e010aRCRD
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), conducted experiments which demonstrated a range of realistic thermal exposures and environmental conditions that firefighters could be exposed to. Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) facepieces were exposed to thermal environments from propane-fueled calibration experiments and furnished townhouse fire experiments. The rooms and the facepieces were instrumented to measure temperatures of the environment and the facepieces. The fire experiments lasted 5 minutes to 10 minutes and produced ceiling temperatures of approximately 500 °C (932 °F) to 750 °C (1382 °F) in the room adjacent to the fire. A heat flux gauge was also installed next to the facepieces and measured peak heat fluxes from approximately 2 kW/m2 to 55 kW/m2. Eight facepieces were tested in six different experiments, with three facepiece lenses showing evidence of thermal degradation from the exposure. Maximum exterior lens temperatures were as high as 300 °C (572 °F) in these cases. The environments that caused the failures were identified in an attempt to characterize the thermal performance of SCBA facepieces. Although much was learned about conditions associated with thermal degradation of SCBA facepiece lenses, more experiments are needed to be able to understand the thermal degradation and more definitively predict the conditions that are likely to cause a facepiece lens failure.  For additional information on this study please go to the NIST webpage
http://www.nist.gov/manuscript-publication-search.cfm?pub_id=909917
To access the 45 page NIST report on this issue please go to: http://www.nist.gov/customcf/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=909917

Genesis Spark Plugs

An extra spark plug for the Genesis has been placed in the extrication bag on 2522. The old plug showed a lot of build up on it so we thought we better have a spare plug handy.
Mark

New mini TIC

The new mini TIC that is mounted on the driver side is not charging. One of the two charging prongs that make contact with the battery is stuck in. I believe that Deputy Chief Straily Is aware of this problem and will take care of it. The spare battery is still charging and one could swap it out with the battery in the mini TIC until this problem is fixed.

-Brett

Sent from my iPhone

As we were driving around today the "door open" light kept coming on. The positive pressure fan compartment was loose and Kevin fixed that but the problem was the driver side rear compartment (jaws). The indicator switch was loose and needed to be tightened.

Sent from my Windows Phone

Aerial test of 2541

I just got off the phone with Mark Disney from Diversified who will be conducting our annual aerial inspection for 2541.  He is planning to be here on Tuesday, December 20 around 1000 hours.  We usually take it over to the parking lot by shops so the ladder can be fully extended, horizontal.  Let me know immediately if that date doesn’t work.

Chief

Recycling

Subject: Recycling

 

A few notes on recycling.  We seem to be having some issues:  1.   Cardboard needs to be flattened.  2. Waste plastic and other trash needs to be removed from cardboard.  3.  When placing recyclables outside remove items from plastic bags.  Even clear plastic bags are trash.  4.  Shredded paper should be placed in the blue commercial paper bin in the front of the building.  5.  If you must place shredded papers in a red top recycling container they must be in a paper bag and stapled shut.  6.  If the recycling bins are full don’t place items on the ground.  Consider using the dumpster instead.  7.  Consider walking your refundable containers to the apparatus bay. 

Whelen M7 Red/White warning light

Hello All,

FYI a new Whelen M7 Red/White warning light for 2522 has been ordered under warranty from our Whelen Rep Garrett.  The light head should be here in a couple of weeks.  Also the 025 Stihl chainsaw that was taken out of service by Intern Adam C and placed on work bench has been repaired by Intern Adam C and returned to service, thanks Adam.  Two new Green ALS Airway bags have been ordered from Life Assist; they should arrive in a couple of weeks, the bags will replace the red airway bags on 2522 and 2541.    This is all I have for now.  Thanks Aaron B