Often said, but entirely true: It's not the fire itself that poses the greatest danger to humans, but its by-products: hot fumes, mists, and smoke. These can be highly toxic and are responsible for the majority of fire-related deaths. When called out on extinguishing operations, one of the most urgent tasks of fire brigades is to extract the smoke from the building as quickly as possible.
The corresponding tactical approach is called positive pressure ventilation. This uses high-performance fans, such as those developed by Rosenbauer within the FANERGY series, which offers different performance classes designed specifically for use in firefighting operations.
Enhanced smoke extraction
The deployment of the fans accelerates smoke extraction from the building and improves visibility for the crews
The deployment of the fans accelerates smoke extraction from the building and improves visibility for the crews "with the wind in their backs," so to speak. This speeds up the process of deployment to specific areas, allows firefighting and rescue operations to begin earlier, and speeds up locating and evacuating trapped persons. In addition, the heat load faced by personnel is reduced, and water vapor is extracted. All of these aspects make operations safer.
The Wallinghausen fire department in Lower Saxony does not want to be without this extra security. It is one of ten local fire departments in the city of Aurich and can be alerted in the event of a major incident along with other fire departments. If it is called out to a fire in one of the large industrial companies around Aurich, or a tunnel, or a large underground car park, it will deploy with its new large fan equipment cart (GW) in tow. The vehicle is manned by a squad and is operated as an independent tactical unit.
GW large fans
The GW large fan was built by Rosenbauer and Germany's Hensel Fahrzeugbau. The vehicle carries a rotatable and swiveling FANERGY XL63S large fan at the rear, and, in its front equipment rooms, four mobile high-performance fans, in addition to power generators and other technical equipment. The large fan is driven by hydraulics via the chassis power take-off.
The unit generates an axial thrust of 2,500 N and a volume flow of over 213,000 m3 of air per hour at a discharge velocity of approx. 133 km/h. The fire department is thus able to ventilate entire industrial halls or underground garages within a very short space of time.
FANERGY XL63S
The Wallinghausen fire department undertook a comparative demonstration before deciding for the FANERGY XL63S
Rosenbauer has collaborated with the Institute of Internal Combustion Engines and Thermodynamics of the Graz University of Technology in the development of the FANERGY large fan series. In addition to simulated fire scenarios to determine the design parameters, detailed measurements from real fire tests were also included in the development.
The Wallinghausen fire department undertook a comparative demonstration before deciding for the FANERGY XL63S. Crucial factors were the size and performance of the device, but also the simple operating concept and the possibility of equipping the fan with accessories in order to facilitate the dispersal of water with the air flow.
Large fan equipment cart
- Chassis: MAN TGL 10.220
- Vehicle and equipment design: Hensel Fahrzeugbau
- Fans and fan design: Rosenbauer
- Fan: FANERGY XL63S
- Fan output: 2,500 N axial thrust
- Discharge velocity: approx. 133 km/h
- Volume flow: Approx. 213,000 m3/h airs
- Diameter: 1,600 mm (= 63")
- Drive: Chassis PTOs
- Accessory: Water ring
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Rosenbauer is a globally renowned manufacturer and provider of fire service technology, fire safety equipment and solutions. The international company is a major player in the field of fire and disaster protection, and supplies the global firefighting sector, covering over 100 countries with a wide range of custom fire and rescue apparatus and services.