美投入270万美元 成功研发新技术空气呼吸器

【慧聪消防网】据美国消防工程网（http://www.fireengineering.com/index.html）2010年3月23日报道，根据与美国国土安全部的合同，消防战士国际协会（IAFF）选择了全球海事安全设备制造商建立一个新的自我式呼吸器样品。

IAFF的下一代呼吸器原型将依赖于压力容器技术，该技术有望使空气呼吸器更小，更轻，而且能提高目前的空气呼吸器的救援效率。在经过广泛征求意见后，总部设在宾夕法尼亚州匹兹堡的全球海事安全设备制造商被选中建立自我式呼吸器样品。

“这是IAFF所进行过的最重要的健康和安全之一，因为这新技术的呼吸器将更好地保护消防战士的生命。”IAFF大会主席HaroldA.Schaitberger说。

国土安全部科学技术局（DHS）拨了超过270万美元基金给IAFF，用于研究和发展新一代空气呼吸器。今年晚些时候，结合了新的压力容器技术的全功能呼吸器样品将在消防执法部门测试。

新研发的空气呼吸器样品预计包含先进的新的压力容器技术，将取代传统的单气缸设计消防呼吸器。这种技术可使全功能呼吸器瓶比现有的空气呼吸器瓶更轻。

这种新技术，实际上就是一个扁平的小方块，即将一个特殊的高温内衬放到目前常规使用的空气呼吸器的铝制圆筒中。这些内衬与能预防伤口感染碳纤维交织在一起。这样圆桶内壁就处于一种柔软有弹性的环境中，使得纵向和横向的接口设计变得易如反掌。

“这当然是一个让我们所有人都兴奋的事情。”海事总裁兼首席执行官WilliamLambert说。“IAFF长期致力于保障消防战士的健康和安全，现在海事公司创新技术，发明全功能消防救援呼吸器，能以一种直接的方式来支持这个使命。不用说，有机会与IAFF一起，参与和推动了新的空气呼吸器的技术革命，是我们最引以为豪的事。

为了获得美国运输部的特别许可证，这项研究和开发的第一个阶段涉及到广泛的测试工作，完成这些测试，才能获得使用该呼吸器新技术的许可。

这本研究和开发努力的第一阶段涉及的广泛测试，以支持为从美国运输部的特别许可证的要求，获得许可使用呼吸器的技术。预计在未来两个月内会获得交通部门批准，届时，多功能空气呼吸器样品测试将进行。在不久的将来，这一革命性的消防技术将凸显很大的商业价值。（编译/慧聪消防网羽卒）

此消息系编译自国外媒体，慧聪消防网登载此文出于传递更多信息之目的，并不意味着赞同其观点或证实其描述。文章内容仅供参考。

背景资料：

IAFF，消防战士协会，总部设在华盛顿特区，是北美保障消防战士和医护人员安全的主要倡导者。IAFF代表着超过296,000专职消防队员和医护人员的权益。

全球海事安全设备制造商（MSA）成立于1914年，是一个全球领先的开发、制造保护人民的健康和安全的产品。主要产品包括自助式呼吸器，防毒面具，气体检测仪器，头部保护，弹道防弹衣，防跌落保护装置和热成像照相机。海事拥有大约10亿美元的年销售额，在美国，欧洲，亚洲和拉丁美洲等超过42个国际地点均拥有业务。

原文：

IAFF and DHS Select MSA to Build Next-Generation SCBA Prototype

Washington,D.C. - The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF),under contracts with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security,has selected global safety equipment manufacturer MSA (NYSE: MSA) to build a prototype of a new self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).

The IAFF’s next-generation SCBA prototype will rely on pressure-vessel technology,which promises to make fire fighting breathing apparatuses smaller,lighter and more efficient than SCBA currently in use. MSA,based in Pittsburgh,Pa.,was selected to build the prototype after an extensive solicitation process.

“This is one of the most significant health and safety projects the IAFF has ever undertaken because this new SCBA technology will do more to protect the lives of fire fighters,” IAFF General President Harold A. Schaitberger said.

The IAFF received more than $2.7 million from the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate (DHS) to fund research and development of a next-generation SCBA. A fully-functional prototype SCBA that incorporates the new pressure-vessel technology is to be field tested in fire and law enforcement departments later this year.

Development of a prototype SCBA by MSA is expected to demonstrate the superiority of new pressure-vessel technology that would replace the single air cylinder design of conventional fire fighting breathing apparatuses. As part of its development efforts,the IAFF and DHS Science and Technology Directorate worked with Vulcore Industrial LLC to create the new pressure-vessel technology to make SCBA lighter with a greatly reduced profile when compared to current SCBA cylinders.

The new technology,referred to as a “flat pack,” uses a special high-temperature lining in place of conventional aluminum liners used in current SCBA cylinders. These linings are then braided with Kevlar and wound with pre-impregnated carbon fiber. The entire array is inside a soft,flexible cover,allowing the design to flex horizontally and vertically at the connection points.

“This is certainly an exciting endeavor for all of us at MSA,” said William Lambert,MSA president and CEO. “The IAFF has long been an advocate and leader in the effort to advance fire fighter health and safety,and now MSA has the unique opportunity to help support this mission in a very direct way. Needless to say,the opportunity to be involved in the development of revolutionary new SCBA technology – at a ground level with the IAFF – is a partnership of which we are most proud to be associated.”

This first phase of this research and development effort involved extensive testing to support a request for a special permit from the U. S. Department of Transportation to gain clearance to use the technology in SCBA. Approval from the Transportation Department is expected within the next two months,enabling field testing of an SCBA prototype. The timeline for fire service availability is currently under development due to the need for cooperation from the many industry entities instrumental to the commercialization of this revolutionary technology.

The International Association of Fire Fighters,headquartered in Washington,DC,is the leading advocate in North America for the safety and training of fire fighters and paramedics. The IAFF represents more than 296,000 full-time professional fire fighters and paramedics who protect communities in every state in the United States and throughout Canada.

Established in 1914,MSA is a global leader in the development,manufacture and supply of safety products that protect people's health and safety. Many MSA products typically integrate any combination of electronics,mechanical systems and advanced materials to protect users against hazardous or life-threatening situations. The company's comprehensive line of products is used by workers around the world in the fire service,oil,gas and petrochemical industry,homeland security,construction,mining and other industries,as well as the military. Principal products include self-contained breathing apparatus,gas masks,gas detection instruments,head protection,ballistic body armor,fall protection devices and thermal imaging cameras. The company also provides a broad range of consumer and contractor safety products through retail channels. These products are marketed and sold under the MSA Safety Works brand. MSA has annual sales of approximately $1 billion,manufacturing operations in the United States,Europe,Asia and Latin America,and more than 42 international locations.