Spotlight on Safety - New Firefighting Equipment for 2000

Every year, firefighters must combat ever harsher dangers on the job. They demand better air masks, gas detectors, and firefighting equipment, and MSA works harder to improve quality products and develop new, exciting, even better tools.

At the FDIC show (Indianapolis, Indiana, March 3-5, 2000), MSA introduced protective products that have expanded technology farther than ever!

Thermal Imaging Cameras (TICs)
Thermal imaging cameras are the most revolutionary and important tool for firefighters and emergency teams in the past decade. And they keep getting better! MSA is now selling the Argus 2 TIC, with the latest technology available today. We are also adding a new family of Evolution™ TICs, with premium and basic versions to be available this summer.

ICM™ 2000 and ICM 2000 Plus Integrated Computer Modules
Firefighters are excited about MSA's new PASS alarm that feels the heat (and more!) in one small, easily accessible package that activates and functions automatically.

Worn as part of the SCBA, the ICM 2000 device will sound a series of alerts if the firefighter falls down and remains motionless. It can also sense the temperature and tell the firefighter how many more minutes the air cylinder will last, based on his/her current breathing rate. A pivoting coupling allows for optional use of MSA's Quick-Fill® System to replenish air cylinders.

The ICM 2000 Plus version adds datalogging and downloading capabilities to record up to 30 hours of SCBA usage information for everything from routine maintenance to incident investigation.

RescueAire™ Portable Air-Supply System
Another new product related to SCBAs is the RescueAire Portable Air-Supply System, an emergency breathing system for Rapid Intervention Teams (RITs). This system consists of a 60-minute lightweight Stealth™ carbon cylinder with Quick-Fill® emergency breathing system supported by a flame-and-heat-resistant carrying harness (made from Nomex and Kevlar materials).

During rescue operations, the RescueAire System allows firefighters to provide air, quickly and easily, to other firefighters wearing an MSA Air Mask equipped with a Quick-Fill System.