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3 Hot New Products from Fire Research Corp.
One Proactive Manufacturer: Fire Research Corp. pumps out 3 new innovative products
By Bob Vaccaro
Long Island, where I hail from, is not really known as a hotbed of fire industry manufacturers. However, one company that calls this place home is actually a major player in the game—a player that may sometimes get overlooked: Fire Research Corp. (FRC).
If you attend the various fire service shows around the country like I do, it would be really unusual if you didn’t notice the large display of products manufactured by FRC.
The company was created by Jack McLoughlin in his basement back in 1968. At the time, Jack was an aerospace engineer who had been a member of the Hauppauge (N.Y.) Fire Department.
“I saw some of the products that were being developed for fire service use at the time and thought that I could engineer them and produce them better,” McLoughlin says.
For those of you who have been in the fire service as long as I have, you might remember some of Fire Research’s early products, such as the ManSaver safety bars, Skull Saver ladder end-covers, hose washers, level gauges, pump simulators and pump-pressure governors.
A lot has happened to the industry since that time, and FRC didn’t stand still. In the 1980s, the company expanded and has since become one of the largest and trusted names in the industry. The company now occupies more than 35,000 square feet of space in two buildings and employs more than 110 employees, including a large engineering department. All of its current products are designed, developed, manufactured and tested in house—by Jack, his partners and his employees.
FRC was one of the first companies to utilize a paddlewheel-type flow sensor, and its TankVision gauge has an ultra-bright LED with a wide-view lens for use as a water and foam tank indicator. Plus, the safety twist lock for telescopic light poles as well as the Focus and Optimum lampheads for emergency lighting are all FRC products.
The company has recently developed three new products.
1. In the scene lighting area, it has developed new Ultra-Brite LED Technology, one product that can be used on all of the current FRC telescopic poles, tri-pods, non-telescopic and brow-style mounts. It consists of eight LED lights rated at 16,000 lumens. It also has full brightness at startup; no warm-up is necessary. Its bulb life is rated for 50,000 hours.
2. The second light unit is a surface-mounted LED scene light that’s being marketed for ambulances and heavy
rescues. It’s a low-profile light that produces 7,000 lumens. Both products direct light onto the scene; there’s no wasted light with either product.
3. The third innovative product deals with seatbelt monitoring—a heated topic in the fire service. FRC’s Seat Monitor allows the driver and officer to know if all persons are seated and secured with seatbelts in the
apparatus. In addition, the Lateral G Indicator alerts the driver and officer of side forces that are increasing as the vehicle is cornered or operated on a slope. The message display will show vehicle speed, engine rpm and throttle position, as well as each seating position, and indicate if a seatbelt is not fastened. All data collected is stored with a date and time stamp, and can be uploaded via wireless technology to portable handheld data collectors or a laptop.
This overview of FRC just touches some of its unique. If you’re planning on ordering a new piece of fire apparatus, take a look at FRC’s wide variety of products before you write the specs so you can incorporate some of them into your vehicle.
Fire Research Corp.
26 Southern Blvd.
Nesconset, N.Y. 11767
631/724-8888
www.fireresearch.com
Bob Vaccaro has more than 30 years of fire-service experience. He is a former chief of the Deer Park (N.Y.) Fire Department. Vaccaro has also worked for the Insurance Services Office, The New York Fire Patrol and several major commercial insurance companies as a senior loss-control consultant. Vaccaro is a life member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs.
Copyright © Elsevier Inc., a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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By Bob Vaccaro
Long Island, where I hail from, is not really known as a hotbed of fire industry manufacturers. However, one company that calls this place home is actually a major player in the game—a player that may sometimes get overlooked: Fire Research Corp. (FRC).
If you attend the various fire service shows around the country like I do, it would be really unusual if you didn’t notice the large display of products manufactured by FRC.
The company was created by Jack McLoughlin in his basement back in 1968. At the time, Jack was an aerospace engineer who had been a member of the Hauppauge (N.Y.) Fire Department.
“I saw some of the products that were being developed for fire service use at the time and thought that I could engineer them and produce them better,” McLoughlin says.
For those of you who have been in the fire service as long as I have, you might remember some of Fire Research’s early products, such as the ManSaver safety bars, Skull Saver ladder end-covers, hose washers, level gauges, pump simulators and pump-pressure governors.
A lot has happened to the industry since that time, and FRC didn’t stand still. In the 1980s, the company expanded and has since become one of the largest and trusted names in the industry. The company now occupies more than 35,000 square feet of space in two buildings and employs more than 110 employees, including a large engineering department. All of its current products are designed, developed, manufactured and tested in house—by Jack, his partners and his employees.
FRC was one of the first companies to utilize a paddlewheel-type flow sensor, and its TankVision gauge has an ultra-bright LED with a wide-view lens for use as a water and foam tank indicator. Plus, the safety twist lock for telescopic light poles as well as the Focus and Optimum lampheads for emergency lighting are all FRC products.
The company has recently developed three new products.
1. In the scene lighting area, it has developed new Ultra-Brite LED Technology, one product that can be used on all of the current FRC telescopic poles, tri-pods, non-telescopic and brow-style mounts. It consists of eight LED lights rated at 16,000 lumens. It also has full brightness at startup; no warm-up is necessary. Its bulb life is rated for 50,000 hours.
2. The second light unit is a surface-mounted LED scene light that’s being marketed for ambulances and heavy
3. The third innovative product deals with seatbelt monitoring—a heated topic in the fire service. FRC’s Seat Monitor allows the driver and officer to know if all persons are seated and secured with seatbelts in the
This overview of FRC just touches some of its unique. If you’re planning on ordering a new piece of fire apparatus, take a look at FRC’s wide variety of products before you write the specs so you can incorporate some of them into your vehicle.
Fire Research Corp.
26 Southern Blvd.
Nesconset, N.Y. 11767
631/724-8888
www.fireresearch.com
Bob Vaccaro has more than 30 years of fire-service experience. He is a former chief of the Deer Park (N.Y.) Fire Department. Vaccaro has also worked for the Insurance Services Office, The New York Fire Patrol and several major commercial insurance companies as a senior loss-control consultant. Vaccaro is a life member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs.
Copyright © Elsevier Inc., a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
SUBSCRIBE to FIRERESCUE
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