Smoke alarms are incredibly important for safety, but they come in a variety of different technologies, and customers may not be fully aware of which type to get. How do different smoke detecting technologies work, what challenges do they face with consumers, and why is it imperative to get critical information to customers?

What smoke detecting technologies exist?

Smoke detectors are a critical piece of infrastructure that can, and often do, mean the difference between life and death. Detecting a fire as early as possible can give precious moments for those nearby to either prevent the fire from getting worse or time to escape with others. But not all fires are the same, and different fires need to use different detecting technologies to provide adequate time to escape.

The most common type of fire alarm found in domestic properties is the ionising radiation variety. These utilise a small piece of americium that is placed in the path between two electrodes. Under normal conditions, the alpha-emitter ionises the air and allows a small electric current to flow between the two electrodes. However, a fire that produces thick particulates will block the electrical current, thus detecting the fire.

The second type of fire alarm is photoelectric and works on the principle that even fine smoke hinders light transmission. Essentially, a laser is shone onto a small mirror, which reflects the light onto a sensor.

Under normal conditions, the beam is unaffected by the air, and thus the output of the sensor is at its maximum. The presence of smoke reduces the beam’s intensity, which translates to the detection of smoke. While not a smoke detector, fire detectors also play an important role in not reacting to smoke. Instead, these devices use IR sensors that react to hot flames over a period of time. Thus, they do not trigger when detecting a sudden flame but will instead react after a minute or so from the first detection.

What challenges do smoke alarms face?

Due to their life-saving requirements, smoke alarms are designed to be highly reliable, and newer versions now have two power sources; the mains for normal operation and batteries for times of power cuts. However, smoke alarms are only as good as their owners, and smoke alarms are very often removed due to their nuisance when beeping falsely.

However, recent statistics on fire alarm use show that users worldwide could be vulnerable to the changing nature of fires. According to The Signal, modern fires often produce smouldering fires that release thick smoke but very few particulates. This means that ionisation smoke alarms will be less effective in a modern fire, and information regarding smoke alarm technology is rarely placed on smoke alarm product packaging.

While the data presented was for a district in Canada, it is still worrying that only 10% of households in that area use photoelectric fire alarms while the rest continue to rely on ionisation. Considering that the UK is home to many older buildings and that public information on smoke alarm technology is virtually non-existent, it would be safe to assume that there are also many vulnerable properties from modern fires.

Why it is so important to get the correct information to customers?

In the case of smoke alarms, it makes sense for homeowners to have multiple detectors, including ionisation, photoelectric, fire, and CO alarms. But when purchasing smoke alarms, the only real clue as to the technology used is a small radioactive symbol on the back of the packaging, which only technically minded individuals recognise.

As an engineer, it is very tempting to talk about standard features of a product such as dimension, material, and weight, but any information that may be critical to its operation must always be given priority. For example, new smoke alarm packages should make it clear to the user what type of smoke alarm it is and how it should be used with other alarm technologies.

In an attempt to alleviate the unemployment in the Eastern Cape, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment’s Working on Fire (WoF) programme has recruited 40 young people to be trained as veld and forest firefighters.

The new recruits will be based at five Forestry Support Project (FSP) teams across the province.

Provincial spokesperson for the WoF, Nthabiseng Mokone said the young men and women were recruited earlier this month in the Libode FSP team, Nomadamba FSP team, Ntywenka FSP, Manzamnyama FSP as well as Katberg FSP team.

She said every candidate who attended had to go through a fitness test.

The criteria of the fitness test included 40 push ups, 40 sit-ups and running 2.4km for 14 minutes for women and 12 minutes for men.

“All the new recruits will be taken to the training academy in Nelspruit and will undergo training courses that include advanced firefighting, fire safety and other specialised skills.

“These recruits will be taught extensively on the essentials of integrated fire management.

“This is also part of the WoF objectives to develop skills for the young men and women in the province.

“The opportunity will also help alleviate poverty in the homes of those fellow firefighters,” Mokone said.

She said the recruitment was also done to top up the existing teams to maintain team strength in order for them to work as full teams in their day to day fire prevention work like fuel load reduction, firefighting and community awareness.

“This was also done in preparation for the upcoming winter fire season,” Mokone said.

As a wildland firefighter, you must have a range of fire hose nozzles to suit the variety of different problems and conditions you may encounter while on the job. While a smooth-bore nozzle may be ideal for certain situations, other scenarios may call for an automatic spray nozzle. Ultimately, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Be familiar with the many different fire hose nozzles available so that you’re prepared for any situation. To learn more about some of the different types of fire hose nozzles, continue reading.

Smooth-Bore Nozzles

Smooth-bore nozzles, a type of manual nozzle, have a simple, cylindrical design that doesn’t consist of any internal parts to facilitate the control of gallonage or pressure. They are known for producing the greatest reach/gpm combination of all other wildland firefighting nozzles. Despite producing the greatest reach/gpm combination, they also use the lowest engine pump pressures.

Additional benefits of smooth-bore nozzles include their ability to easily pass debris because of their simple design, easy operation, and low reaction force. Plus, smooth-bore nozzles are also the most inexpensive fire hose nozzle option.

In terms of their stream, smooth-bore nozzles exhibit a solid, consistent water pattern. The pattern is compact and allows a substantial amount of water to be transported to the seat of the fire. As a result of their solid stream, smooth-bore nozzles provide maximum reach and penetration to the fire’s seat.

However, the solid stream of smooth-bore nozzles isn’t always beneficial. In order for the water from the smooth-bore nozzle to absorb as much heat as nozzles with broken or fog streams, the water pattern of the smooth-bore nozzle must be broken up by nozzle movement.

Constant Gallonage Spray Nozzles

Another different type of fire hose nozzle is the constant gallonage spray nozzle. A constant gallonage spray nozzle is a type of firefighting nozzle that discharges water at a consistent gpm, which is predetermined by the manufacturer, provided that they are issued the required nozzle pressure. In other words, it issues a consistent, unchanging amount of water.

Key benefits of constant gallonage nozzles include their ease of use, ample reach and foam production, and variable stream, which can be straight stream, narrow fog, and wide fog. In addition, constant gallonage nozzles are also often a more economical option in comparison to other nozzle versions, such as variable gpm and automatic nozzles.

While the flow of a constant gallonage spray nozzle is constant, the water pattern can be adjusted to a variety of different options at various nozzle pressures. For example, a constant gallonage spray nozzle can be adjusted to have several different patterns ranging from a straight stream to a wide spray stream. When changing patterns, the orifice size of the constant gallonage nozzle remains the same, which allows it to retain a constant gpm.

Typically, constant gallonage nozzles come in a variety of nozzle pressures, such as 50, 70, or 100 psi. The higher the nozzle pressure, the more water that it issues, which can make a high psi nozzle quite beneficial in many situations. That being said, a higher psi also creates the potential for more nozzle reaction—the pound-force (lbf) of pushback that results from the combined volume and pressure leaving the nozzle—which is an important factor to consider when choosing a wildland fire hose nozzle. To reduce engine wear caused by nozzle reaction, it can be advantageous to opt for a more low-pressure version.

Potential downsides to be aware of when opting for constant gallonage nozzles include their larger and bulkier design and their high number of moving interior parts, which can make it more challenging to pass debris and potentially lead to water deposit buildup or mechanical failure. In addition, a constant gallonage spray nozzle has more moving internal components than a smooth-bore nozzle. The presence of such components may increase the potential for the constant gallonage spray nozzle to experience mechanical failure or water deposit buildup. As such, proper maintenance practices must be carried out in order to keep the nozzle operating properly.

Automatic Spray Nozzles

Also known as constant pressure spray nozzles, automatic spray nozzles refer to a type of adjustable fire nozzle that has variable water patterns and maintains a relatively consistent pressure as flow rates increase or decrease. Examples of potential water patterns that an automatic spray nozzle can output include straight stream, narrow fog, and wide fog.

As flow rates change, the stream of an automatic spray nozzle has the unique ability to maintain its proper shape, retain the designated nozzle pressure for the gallonage, and obtain optimum reach with the water provided. The automatic spray nozzle is able to accomplish these objectives because of the presence of a preset internal spring mechanism. Depending on the pressure of the water, the spring will either expand or contract. Greater amounts of pressure cause contractions that allow the nozzle to open more, while smaller amounts of pressure cause the spring to expand, subsequently tightening the nozzle.

While automatic spray nozzles have several benefits, such as constant nozzle pressure, variable streams, and ease of use, they also have a few downsides that should be taken into consideration. For example, if the pressure of the hose is too low, then the nozzle may not open sufficiently, which will result in a weak stream. In some cases of extremely low pressure, the nozzle may not even open at all. On the other hand, extremely high pressures can result in a more inconsistent stream, which makes the nozzle harder to control. Additionally, like all hoses with several different internal components, it is important to maintain the nozzle properly to prevent the interior mechanisms from breaking.

The Supply Cache is committed to providing wildland firefighters with the gear and equipment you need in order to effectively combat fires and stay safe on the job. When it comes to fire nozzles, we know that you need a variety of different options in order to combat whatever nature throws at you. As such, we stock an extensive variety of reliable, high-quality forestry fire nozzles—from constant flow firefighting nozzles to adjustable fire nozzles.

Planning Your Fire Department’s Rescue Tool Evaluation

“Hands-on” is an especially important term in the rescue industry – and for good reason. The skills and aptitudes necessary to be a first-class first responder cannot be taught in books or read online. If seeing is believing for the rest of the world, for emergency personnel, “seeing” is only the beginning; doing is believing, and the best way to do is to gear up and put hands-on.

So it’s no wonder that rescue tool evaluations have become the pivotal point in the decision process of fire departments shopping around for their next rescue equipment set. Call us skeptical, but in this industry, facts and figures can only tell part of the story – the rest is borne out in the junkyard and on the streets.

Setting up the elements of a rescue tool “demo day” might seem pretty straightforward, but take it from us – there are a lot of details, many of which are overlooked, that may affect how thorough and accurate an analysis your department can eventually complete. We know from our experience that there are common mistakes and pitfalls that hinder your buying decision. That’s why we’ve compiled some helpful tips and factors to consider when organizing and executing a tool evaluation.

“Rescue tool evaluations have become pivotal in the decision process of fire departments shopping around for their next rescue tool set.”

1. Have Enough Car

First and foremost, plan to have enough cars for you and your personnel to cut apart given the number of tools and number of people that will be involved. Typically, rescuers will spend 20-40 minutes taking one car apart at an evaluation. If you have multiple shifts or multiple days lined up with one brand of tools, you probably need a car for each of them. If you have multiple rescue equipment brands coming out for a head-to-head demonstration, you will probably want a car for each tool brand.

A common mistake is planning for multiple shifts or multiple tool brands to work on the same car. Usually, this won’t give your personnel enough material to work on to really determine the user differences between the products, the battery life, the weight after prolonged use, or even the force capabilities. If at all possible, it is better to secure too many cars than too few.

Last but not least, not all scrap cars are created equal, so make sure not to mix up old car models with recent ones.

“You will need at least one car per rescue tool brand and/or personnel shift.”

2. Know your skill level

Many fire departments use their tool evaluations as a chance for their personnel to undergo extrication training, and that’s a great way to make the most of your tool time. It is extremely important to know the skill level of your department beforehand!

Undertaking difficult scenarios or techniques that rescuers are not familiar with can severely inhibit their ability to judge the quality of the equipment! Too often, firefighters will get held up or frustrated by a training difficulty, which will change their view of the tool they are supposed to be analyzing. Correct this issue by setting a standard and manageable scenario before moving into more difficult evolutions.

If you intend to use the rescue tool evaluation as a training opportunity, please let all your tool reps know beforehand! These reps would be happy to come ready with extrication tips and insights or a lesson plan, so please give them a chance to prepare.

“Make sure that the personnel evaluating the equipment are using rescue techniques they are familiar with.”

3. Use the tools as you would on a live scene

As mentioned above, taking on a new, difficult extrication technique with rescue tools you’ve never handled is a tough way to analyze the pros and cons of each brand. A great way to train and analyze prospective tool models is to treat the evaluation like a live rescue scene – after all, you want to practice how you play.

Furthermore, the tool reps that are eager and excited to show you their excellent products also expect a reasonable level of respect from your organization. Proper glass-breaking and glass management, cribbing and stabilizing, handling of tools, and smart, controlled cuts and spreads show that you respect and appreciate the time and tools they’ve loaned to you for the day.

“It is respectful to use the tools properly, like you would do in a real-life situation.”

4. Do your homework

No matter what brands of tools are invited to your evaluation, there are a lot of ins and outs of hydraulic rescue equipment to consider – too many to cover in the short time the reps will be allotted on the “demo day”. Manufacturer websites and the reps themselves can be great resources to help you prepare for your evaluation by eliminating tool options that don’t meet your organization’s needs, comparing test data, and building out evaluation criteria.

If a group of people will all have a say in the final decision, it will be in everyone’s best interest to understand the evaluation criteria and establish a ranking system before the evaluation day. A ranking system makes a “feel” into something comparable across different categories and people. With established criteria and rankings, you can weigh all decision-makers’ opinions evenly. Go without, and you risk bias toward the most recent or loudest opinions.

“Eliminate equipment options that don’t meet your needs BEFORE the evaluation and make sure to establish your criteria and a ranking system.”

Need some help with your rescue tool evaluation?

Holmatro Sales Managers have been a part of hundreds of rescue tool demos and evaluations, and they are ready and willing to help your organization set up a fair, effective, and efficient evaluation process – or even just offer some insight as you plan your purchase.

Please reach out to discuss further, offer critiques or additional insight to this blog post, or begin planning your “demo day” in coordination with our trusted local dealer partners.

ILUS International has announced the launch of a handheld firefighting nozzle with integrated low-pressure water misting capabilities for electric vehicle fires, flammable gas fires and more.

The company acquired FireBug in January 2021, who already had its own patented water mist technology. Now, it has launched the Maxi A-1, the world’s first handheld firefighting nozzle with integrated water misting capability.

It is the only nozzle of its type which can provide several selectable flow water jet streams of up to 160 GPM, as well as a ‘single click’ 13 GPM water mist mode. It can operate from most standard firefighting vehicles as well as from fire hydrants.

Traditionally, standard firefighting nozzles would require the use of additional chemicals to efficiently extinguish some types of fires. Months of testing by FireBug engineers has proven the Maxi A-1’s success in tackling blazes of multiple classes: including electric fires, flammable gas fires and cooking oil/animal fat fires.

Managing Director for ILUS International, John-Paul Backwell, said: “In short, I believe this nozzle will save more lives and within a couple of years every fire brigade will have it on hand to fight a wider range of fires more efficiently and safely. No longer are separate pumps and vehicles or added chemicals required to extinguish a flammable gas fire or electric vehicle fire efficiently. No longer are six fire trucks required to turn up at the scene of a Tesla fire. Why should the fire services spend an entire week and divert all their resources to extinguish an Energy Storage System fire? This nozzle changes the game – period!”

He continued: “The Maxi A-1 nozzle will shift our disruptive water mist technology for firefighting from being niche to mainstream. As a result, we are confident that we will be able to exponentially increase our nozzle sales without sacrificing the high margins we already make on the products. The ILUS team remains hard at work on the technology front and whilst acquisitions and deals are often what gets talked about, there are many more amazing technology developments going on under the hood of the company which we look forward to announcing soon.”

Intersec – the world-leading emergency services, fire and rescue and safety event – will mark its return in 2022 with a ground-breaking, elevated new program uniting global and regional leaders as they explore solutions for the rapidly evolving challenges facing the industry. Never-before seen additions to the event will see Cybersecurity and technology take centre stage, along with some of the world’s best speakers in the UAE for the first time.

The 23rd edition of the flagship event, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, will be staged under the theme of ‘Uniting the world’s leading industry specialists for the safety & security of future generations.’ His Highness said: “Intersec will be the most important platform of the year for businesses and governments to collaborate and continue on their paths of building a sustainable, safer and more secure world for our generation and those that follow. We look forward to hosting our communities once again, safely, physically and live in-person.”

The first industry gathering of 2022, staged at Dubai World Trade Center from 16-18 January, is the only event in the region that brings the entire ecosystem of emergency services, security and safety together at one time. Demonstrating Intersec’s strategic importance to the UAE, long-standing Official Supporters include Dubai Police, Dubai Civil Defense, Security Industry Regulatory Agency (SIRA) and Dubai Municipality while additional government partners for 2022 will be announced shortly.

Intersec’s innovation and technology focus will include its first ever Cyber Lab offering a vital platform for knowledge. Organizer Messe Frankfurt has worked closely with industry stakeholders, from both the private and public sector, to develop an event that reflects both their current and future needs that offers attendees bespoke platforms to gain expert insight on future capacity and capabilities.

Christine Davidson, Intersec’s Group Exhibition Director, said: “There has never been such an intense focus as there is today on the security and safety industry which has been at the frontline of protecting the world’s communities over the last 18 months during this time of significant global disruption.

“Having invested heavily to deliver an outstanding program that will address the sector’s most vital issues and opportunities, Intersec 2022 brings the industry together at this crucial juncture to share knowledge from recent experiences and look to the future with the event’s most powerful series of conferences including multiple platforms for strategic G2G, G2B and B2B discussions and deep dive sessions into key sector verticals.”

Ms Davidson added: “The phenomenal development in the framework of the show will see the best minds in the industry come to the table with the most content-rich program ever seen at Intersec. We have the most comprehensive line-up of international and regional speakers, dynamic networking opportunities, coupled with world-class exhibitors to bring the most relevant value to Intersec’s attendees. We have built a world-class team to deliver this event and over the coming weeks we will be sharing further details of our elite speakers and conference program that will demonstrate the extraordinary value of the event to our attendees.”

Seen as a nexus for the industry, Intersec will bring together thousands of its most powerful stakeholders for bilateral government and business discussions on mitigating and addressing vulnerabilities of the future. They will be joined by leading regional and international brands exhibiting the most innovative systems and solutions in a dynamic environment that will enable face-to-face and virtual exchange through interactive roundtables, workshops and ‘closed-door’ confidential conversations.

The Austrian-based international fire department supplier Rosenbauer has presented a new extinguishing system for burning traction batteries in electric vehicles. Also in Austria, a study has been published on electric vehicles fires in Austrian road tunnels.

First, let’s go to the Rosenbauer development: The manufacturer claims that the system can be used to extinguish high-voltage batteries based on lithium-ion technology “safely and efficiently”. Efficient, because the system is supposed to enable direct cooling of the battery modules or the cells within the modules and thus a quick stop of the chain reaction of the cells passing through. Safe, because only a short stay at the burning vehicle is necessary for the emergency forces and the system can be activated at a sufficient distance.

According to Rosenbauer, the extinguisher is ideally positioned when utilised on the vehicle while standing between the vehicle and the roadway, which of course only works if the car is standing on all four wheels. Alternatively, the extinguishing unit can act on the top of the battery via the interior and boot when the vehicle is on its side or roof. The fire extinguisher has a hose that connects it to a control unit.

When the system is activated at the control unit (from a distance of about eight metres), the extinguishing spike is driven into the battery with a force of several tonnes and the extinguishing water is spread directly inside the battery through the perforated extinguishing lance. The water is then supposed to completely fill the battery casing. Important for the fire brigades is that the amount of water of a “normal TLF/HLF” (i.e. a tanker or an auxiliary fire-fighting vehicle) should be sufficient “to ensure extinguishing success”, according to Rosenbauer.

Rosenbauer says it has tested the system on batteries with pouch cells, prismatic cells and round cells in various vehicle platforms. Various plant fire brigades (including those of the Porsche plant in Leipzig), professional fire brigades and volunteer fire brigades in Europe have also had the system in training, apparently proving with their crews that it is “compatible with existing resources and tactics”.

The battery-powered firefighting system can be ordered now, according to the manufacturer, and will begin shipping early next year.

Study on electric car fires in tunnels

Another piece of useful information regarding burning electric vehicles also comes from Austria: a team from Graz University of Technology, and the University of Leoben, the Federal Fire Brigade Association and the consulting firm ILF Consulting Engineers Austria, has investigated the safety-relevant effects of fires involving battery-electric vehicles in road tunnels and evaluated methods for fighting fires. Based on these investigations, the hazard potential assessed as not being significantly more critical than in the case of fires of passenger cars with combustion engines.

“Austrian tunnel systems are fit enough for the challenges posed by burning electric vehicles,” concludes Peter Sturm, professor at the Institute of Internal Combustion Engines and Thermodynamics at TU Graz.

The previous state of knowledge on tunnel fires of electric cars was based on tests with individual battery cells and small battery packs, which was then used to infer the hazard potential of entire burning passenger cars, according to TU Graz. For the current tests, three electrically powered and two diesel-powered vehicles were deliberately set on fire in the new tunnel research centre called Zentrum am Berg at the University of Leoben. Some of the compact cars, SUVs and vans were new cars built in 2020 and thus represent the latest lithium-ion battery technology available on the market.

To simulate the usual time until the arrival of the emergency services, the fires were not extinguished for ten minutes, only then did the waiting fire brigade intervene – but not with the Rosenbauer solution described above. “We were able to gain valuable data in these first ten minutes, after which it was the fire brigade’s turn,” says Peter Sturm.

More than 30 temperature sensors were used to measure the heat release rate, i.e. the fire load of a vehicle. The fire load of a conventional car is about 5 megawatts (MW), or roughly equivalent to a burning stack of 25 wooden pallets. The heat release rate of the burning e-vehicles in the tunnel, at 6 to 7 MW, was somewhat higher than that of the diesel-powered comparison vehicles, but this does not entail any new risks or dangers. Today, tunnels are designed for the fire load of a conventional truck – and this is 30 MW.

We’ve all experienced it, the deafening sound of a smoke detector, but resist the urge to take down your alarm or remove its batteries.

“Always assume there’s a fire. When you’ve determined that it’s safe, then you can get to the root cause. Some of the things that will cause an alarm to go off are dying batteries, steam from a shower, dust, or even spiders inside the alarm,” said Bernie Deitrick, a Consumer Reports tester.

Let’s start the fixes with an easy one: the battery. Replace it every six months. If it’s sealed in the unit, replace the unit every 10 years to reduce other alarm triggers.

There are two main types – photoelectric and ionization.

“Photoelectric alarms respond to particles in the air — created by smoldering fires or steamy showers. They’re less prone to false alarms caused by cooking, so consider them for areas near kitchens,” Deitrick said.

Ionization alarms, on the other hand, are triggered by the small particles given off by an open flame so an active kitchen will often produce false alarms. They’re better installed near steamy bathrooms.

For the best protection, Consumer Reports recommends dual-sensor alarms which use both types of technology or a combination of photoelectric and ionization alarms throughout your home.

Brandschutztechnik Müller is one of the leading German manufacturers of fire extinguisher test techniques. Founded in 1980, the company has 65 employees at three locations. As a classic mechanical engineering company, the company manufactures equipment for the production, inspection and service of fire extinguishers.  An additional business segment is the trade with fire protection equipment, which, for example, also offers the Quicklight lighting unit developed in-house.

PowderSuctionMachine as the cornerstone

In 1980, company founder Herbert Müller laid the foundation for the company’s success with a powder suction machine. Meanwhile, Brandschutztechnik Müller produces a wide range of filling devices for fire extinguishers, the corresponding test and measuring devices as well as tools and innovative high-pressure fire extinguishing units. The range also includes carbon dioxide filling units, hydrant testing pumps and flow meters for riser pipes and hydrants.

Used in more than 90 countries

All of the family business’s products come from its two locations in Zierenberg in northern Hesse and one in Günthersleben in Thuringia. All the necessary individual parts are manufactured exclusively in Germany. Voluntary fire brigades, professional and factory fire brigades as well as service companies in far more than 90 countries rely on the high quality of Brandschutztechnik Müller for testing units and accessories.

Specialized trade for fire protection equipment

More than 11,000 articles are available through the specialized trade for fire protection equipment of Brandschutztechnik Müller GmbH. The range extends from personal protective equipment to hydraulic rescue equipment and the in-house developed universal lighting units Quicklight as well as Quicklight LEDmini, which are portable and ready for immediate use. As many Müller employees are active in volunteer fire brigades themselves, customers benefit from practical know how and an intensive expert dialogue.

Contact:

Brandschutztechnik Müller GmbH

Kasseler Strasse 37-39

D-34289 Zierenberg, Germany

Phone +49 (0) 5606 . 51 82 50

Fax +49 (0) 5606 . 51 82 55

Mail: info@brandschutztechnikmueller.de

www.muellergermany.com

Altronix, the recognized leader in power and data transmission solutions for the professional security industry, introduces the latest additions to its extensive line of NAC Power Extenders with a unique rack solution. These new units are ideal for installations where wall space is limited or not an option, providing system designers flexibility when specifying fire alarm systems.

“This rack mount solution streamlines system design and provides installers with a versatile option to deploy fire signaling power, vertically – saving valuable space,” said Ronnie Pennington, Director of Sales, Americas for Altronix Corporation. “The units’ extendable drawer simplifies installation and service – increasing total cost of ownership.”

R1002ULADA offers 2-Class A or 4-Class B outputs and model R1042ULADA offers 4-Class A or 4-Class B outputs. Both provide 24VDC at 10A and interface with virtually any Fire Alarm Control Panel (FACP). Outputs can be independently programmed for steady, temporal code 3 or strobe synchronization, as well as repeating a specific signal utilizing Input to Output Follower Mode. These units synchronize with Potter/Amseco^®, Gentex^®, System Sensor^® and CooperWheelock^® notification appliances. Built-in battery charging provides system backup when coupled with RE2R, rack mount battery (red) enclosure which accommodates four 12VDC/7AH batteries.

Special features include a horn/strobe sync mode that allows audible notification appliances and visual notification appliances to be silenced at the same time, signal circuit trouble memory to help identify intermittent loop problems, and common trouble input and output for external trouble signals.

The Altronix R1002ULADA and R1042ULADA NAC Power Extenders are NDAA and TAA compliant and carry a lifetime warranty.

For more information on Altronix’s extensive line of products, call toll free 1-888-258-7669, e-mail info@altronix.com or visit www.altronix.com.