Fire Rescue Hardware 101

Fire rescue is one of the most important industries out there. Should a fire break out and put people in danger, having trained professionals there to help puts everyone's minds at ease. That said, if you are new to fire rescue, it is important for you to have a basic understanding of the key pieces of hardware that are used to conduct fire rescue operations. B/A Products Co. is here to provide some information on such hardware so that your fleet can be doing its job of keeping us all safe to the best of its ability.

Straps

Straps play a number of different roles, making them one of the most versatile tools available to fire rescue teams. In the context of fire rescue, straps are often used when a vehicle needs to be removed from somewhere. If a vehicle is trapped underneath debris or other vehicles, a strap can provide several hundred pounds' worth of pulling force, making it easier to rescue people who are trapped. There are different types of straps available from B/A Products Co. that can handle different amounts of weight based on their Working Load Limits and widths.

When deciding on a strap to buy for your fire rescue fleet's applications, it is important to know that the straps you are considering are able to withstand the weight and pressure of the challenges you may face. This is why it is important to be aware of a strap's Working Load Limit.

The Working Load Limit (WLL) of a strap is considered to be the global best practice for measuring its strength. It is the amount of weight it is able to handle while still retaining its rated level of strength, durability, and efficiency. This is not the same as a strap's Breaking Strength, which is the amount of weight it is able to handle before experiencing critical failure. To find the WLL of a strap, take the Breaking Strength and divide that by 3. For instance, if you were to look at a strap with a Breaking Strength of 15T, you would divide it by 3 to get a WLL of 5T.

You must never exceed the working load limit of the strap for any reason. It is not a suggestion or a simple guideline. If you use a strap that has a working load limit that is weaker than the total weight of object, the strap could fail and break, which could lead to potentially dangerous results.

Chains

Chains have a number of different useful applications in the context of fire rescue operations. In situations where extra strength, power, and durability are needed to move heavy objects like vehicles, construction equipment, telephone poles, or any other things, a strong fire rescue chain is exactly the tool your fleet needs.

Chain can be used to help in a wide variety of situations. Someone may be trapped in a vehicle that is trapped under another vehicle. A chain can be used to pull that other vehicle away to get that person to safety. Alternatively, someone may be trapped under piles of debris that human hands cannot lift. The right kind of chain can be applied to move it away in quickly and safely in order to save that person's life.

There are numerous types of grades of chains used in fire rescue, but the most commonly used and recommended ones by global fire rescue experts are grades 70, 80, and 100. This is because they have the strength and durability necessary for the types of situations your fleet may encounter while conducting a fire rescue operation.

As is the case with straps, it is also crucial to strictly abide by a chain's WLL during a fire rescue operation. This can prevent avoidable problems and save many lives.

Wire Rope

Wire rope is one of the most useful tools a fire rescue fleet can have at its disposal, as it can provide stability, security, and strength while also providing more flexibility than other assemblies. Wire rope assemblies are mostly engineered and manufactured with either a durable fiber core or a solid steel core for superior strength and flexibility.

Wire rope is especially helpful for debris or vehicle extrication when in a situation where space for straps or chain may not be widely available or the objects in question are at a difficult angle. For instance, if a vehicle is blocked off by large debris in a ditch, a wire rope may still be able to get to the vehicle and help pull it out while still providing the necessary security and strength.

Like chains and straps, wire rope also comes with various types of hooks attached to the ends in order to be easily latched onto the object that needs to be moved and remain in place while force is being applied to it.

Additionally, as is the case with any tool used to secure or pull significant amounts of weight, it is of the utmost importance to abide by a wire rope's Working Load Limit when purchasing and applying it to your fire rescue fleet's personal needs. B/A Products Co. provides lengths of wire rope from 50', to 75', to 100', to 150', to 200', with widths of 3/8", 7/16", 1/2", 9/16", and 5/8".

Hooks

Chains, straps, and wire rope that are engineered for fire rescue have hooks on them so that they may be used in a number of different ways. For example, sometimes a chain may need to be shortened to provide extra strength. In some instances, a well-engineered hook is the best way to pull or lift a heavy object. Regardless, there are numerous different hooks for a variety of different fire rescue applications.

One of the most common types of hooks that many extrication tools come with is a grab hook. A grab hook is a type of hook that is often used for overhead lifting applications. This is especially useful when someone needs to be rescued from underneath a vehicle.

Another common type of hook used in fire rescue operations is a J Hook. Though not used for the heaviest of lifting, J Hooks are able to get into chain links or other small areas that larger, more heavy-duty hooks cannot while providing reliable positive connections. This is especially useful for pulling building debris away from an area that needs to be accessed during a rescue.

R Hooks are often used in auto transport, but they can play a significantly useful role in fire rescue as well. They are a kind of hook that can provide extra security in times when your fleet might need it the most, making them a reliable choice for transporting large amounts of weight.

T Hooks can be used to secure things rather well, but they can also be used to pull heavy-duty objects effectively. The T-shaped design allows for extra grab and reliability when you need to ensure that whatever large debris or object that is being moved will be well within your fleet's control throughout the process.

Safety

When saving people's lives via fire rescue, the safety of your fleet and bystanders should be one of the first priorities tended to. Fortunately, there are a number of safety items that can be implemented to better ensure the well-being of everyone involved in fire rescue. This includes things like Class II reflective safety vests, rubber wheel chocks, reflective traffic cones, safety triangle kits, first aid kits, and more. The more your fleet makes use of items like this, the safer they will be, and the more lives they will be able to save in the long run.