WATER HYDRAULIC EXTRACTION AND RESCUE TOOLS - Why put fire fighters at risk with dangerous FLUIDS ?

摘要

In response to growing market pressure from within the Fire & Rescue services a new generation of hydraulic cutting and spreading equipment has been developed to operate on only water. 100% water powered, clean and completely safe for people, processes and products, the water hydraulic rescue system of Fenner is playing a vital role in the drive to improve operator safety and reduce contamination risk. As a result of employing advanced materials, high velocity and loaded sliding surfaces are now able to operate with water without loss of performance, alleviating the need for oil and preventing the contamination of the working environment or operator. This paper develops the reasons behind this move to water as the hydraulic fluid for rescue tool applications by highlighting the existing detrimental exposure that current tool systems present to their operator or operational situation. A summary of the exposure from water versus mineral oils and phosphate ester systems is given in table form. An outline of how the move to water as the power fluid has been overcome technically and how this has not affected performance.