Q  - Isn’t 300 bar dangerous?

A  - UK Fire Kit will protect fire fighters from accidental water strikes.  Water is dangerous and so is fire.  Both are essential to human survival and comfort.  The same is true of many firefighting and rescue tools and the solution is appropriate training, PPE and good operating procedures.   This has been proved when hydraulic cutting equipment, cengar saws and high pressure pumps were introduced.   The Nimbus System is amongst the safest of these systems which are now fully accepted.

Opening a door to a fire compartment is potentially very dangerous and the Nimbus System removes the risk of backdraft.   With basic common sense and training, the Nimbus System more than justifies itself with its potential to save lives in a way which has not been previously possible.

 

Q  - Could it kill casualties inside a building?

A  -  For the full effect of NIMBUS we aim the water jet into the hot gases at the top of a compartment, if in doubt we revert to conventional fire fire fighting using the NIMBUS general purpose lance.  There are no reports of members of the public or fire fighters worldwide being injured by high pressure fire fighting techniques.  In most situations where Nimbus is used to greatest effect it would not be possible for anyone to survive as it reduces temperatures from a lethal 900c to a tolerable 90c in seconds.  In Julien GSELL's paper on the use of water mist, it has been proved that the space where a casualty would be is maintained safe and the chances of survival improved by a temperature reduction.

Q  - Will 30L per minute put a fire out?

A  - Yes! NIMBUS provides the water droplet at the optimum size (1 micron) for the best value of oxygen depletion and coupled with ‘blow down’ it is truly remarkable.  It also allows the water vapour to hang in the air rather than making property wet or raising the temperature, and provides protection for a long period of time like the new sprinkler code.  This radical reduction of water use has the bonus of preserving evidence when necessary and keeping property damage to a minimum.

Q  - Can any of the equipment be operated remotely?

A  - Yes, for example the Thatch Prop can be positioned in an upper room against the ceiling and operated from an external position of choice (no radio).  The operator has to position the lance though.

Q  -  What is the thatch prop for?

A  - In thatch fires the roof space gets extremely hot and is detrimental to fire fighting operations, so to cool and protect the roof void is important.  NIMBUS can do that with or without loft access points, the prop is located and water is sprayed through a tiny hole in the plaster board and insulation leaving a continuous cloud of water vapour in the roof space.  It will work on normal roof fires as well.

 

Q  - Will NIMBUS aid PPV?

A  - Yes, it aids air flow and provides a cooling atmosphere for Fire fighters and others to work in or if people are escaping.

Q  - Will NIMBUS deal with a large tyre dump fire?

A  - No, the fire loading is too great but NIMBUS can be used to control the situation whilst conventional techniques are being made ready.  Its portability and manoeuvrability mean it can be in place very rapidly.

Q  - How does NIMBUS deal with 'wind driven fires' / ‘blow torch’ in high rise incidents?

A  - After completing a dynamic risk assessment there is a choice of three tactical approaches:

1.If the door to the property is safe and secure the cutting lance is used through door or frame to spray water vapour into the compartment

2.If the door is not felt to be safe (imminent failure), but means of escape for fire fighters is adequate, NIMBUS can be used to inject water vapour through the wall of a neighbouring property.

3.If it is not safe to be on the floor on which the fire is located, Nimbus can be used to go through the ceiling or floor, above or below the seat of the fire, using the general purpose lance with cutting head and reservoir of abrasive.

Q  - What about using NIMBUS on oil fires?

A  - Water mist can control and extinguish oil and fuel fires very effectively.  Additionally Nimbus can be used with a dry powder extinguisher in a dual attack mode with extremely impressive results.    A bonus is that the dry powder can be a normal BC powder rather than the expensive Monnex® as used on airports.  It is ideal for large trays type fires and aircraft engine situations.

 

Q - Will NIMBUS FIRE attend a fire in our Service area so we can see how good it is?

 

A - YES, with the relevant MoU and risk assessments in place NIMBUS FIRE will attend when it is available at no cost to the host Service.  It really depends on how open minded Services are to 21st Century fire fighting.

Using NIMBUS fire fighting systems preserves evidence and DNA. 

It has been proved that sympathetic fire fighting helps the investigation process.

 

NIMBUS on rapid response vehicles can be extremely effective before the arrival of conventional fire fighting vehicles.