With the invention of tools came the ability for humans to overcome physical limitations, increasing the odds of ongoing existence. And in general, so far, so good. Today, tools are an integral part of everyday life in some manner. We are also aware that some jobs require specific tools, and that some tools are more effective than others. Using the right tool, the right way can result in higher productivity and efficiency on the job, often providing a level of added safety at the same time.
But for some professions, simply doing a better job more easily may not suffice. These professions require tool quality and performance superior to that needed by the average person, and that could very well be the difference between life and death. Firefighting is one of these professions, and the positive pressure ventilation (PPV) fan is one of the tools used to provide improved environmental conditions for firefighters. Introducing cool and/or fresh air to build pressure in the structure helps to reduce or eliminate smoke, particulates, toxins, poisonous gasses, etc. from the structure while providing better visibility and potentially a cooler environment as well. This can help provide both short-term and long-term safeguards for the firefighter.
BlowHard brought the first dual powered PPV fan to the market capable of being powered while plugged into an AC outlet, or by its integrated battery. This was also the first ergonomic ‘Ergo-fold’ fan that folded up into a well-balanced and compact carrying and storage position. Since that time other companies have come out with their versions of battery-operated PPV, marketing their view of what value their fans bring to the market.
Currently, the most sought-after characteristics firefighters look for in PPV fans include size, weight, performance, reliability, ease of ownership and the cost of ownership. Every characteristic empowers the firefighter to increase productivity and focus on the job. The tool that is able to best optimize the combination of characteristics for a given function will provide the highest value to the organization/department and empower the firefighter with the highest productivity potential. Tools that are lacking in even a single characteristic will limit the firefighter, decreasing productivity potential and value.
These characteristics are woven into the very design of BlowHard products. BlowHard fans are small in size, big in performance. BlowHard fans have higher performance per size and performance per weight than any other battery-operated PPV fans in the fire industry. The Quickee takes up less space than any other battery-operated PPV fan on the market and is among the lightest in weight, yet performance is not sacrificed. Compared to some competitors, it will perform similarly to the largest PPV fans in its category despite being less than half the size. In a league of its own, the Commando has the highest performance of any battery-powered fan, far exceeding the closest competitor yet is not the largest or heaviest fan in the market. The compact size of BlowHard’s high-performance fans makes it so they are easily carried through narrow hallways and openings, up ladders or staircases and across other challenging and potentially dangerous terrain the job site may present. The extreme performance level of BlowHard fans relative to their size provides a strong foundation of characteristics which empower the firefighter as well as provide value extending into other areas.
Reliability, ease of use and cost of ownership are value-based characteristics proven over time. Nearly every component in a BlowHard fan is designed and engineered by BlowHard to be as durable and rugged as needed to qualify as ‘firefighter tough’. Today many BlowHard fans that are over a decade old are still in service without issue, a testament to the reliability of a BlowHard fan.
The total cost of ownership is the initial cost of the tool plus the total cost of maintenance and repair over the life of the tool. Despite increased performance combined with decreased weight and size, BlowHard fans are consistently very competitively priced in the market, often less than other battery-powered PPV fans. Maintenance comes with nearly no cost: simply charge after every use, maybe give the fan a rinse and cycle the battery if the fan has not been run in a while. BlowHard fans are engineered to be firefighter tough and have an ingress rating of IP-67 to keep the components free from water damage, but should repairs be needed, replacement parts are reasonably priced and BlowHard support is second to none. Every point of interaction with a BlowHard fan is intentionally designed to provide ease for the firefighter.
Every fire department has its own value metrics for the tools it chooses, and it could be one, many or all of the included list above. When a firefighter arrives on a call site, there is no need for a complicated tool; there’s enough complexity in the job itself. BlowHard fans pack a lot of performance into a small package, making them easy to store and easy to transport. The infinite attack angles available from 0 to 180 degrees are easily and precisely set. Ventilation can be done anywhere, anytime and with ease, powered by a high-capacity integrated battery and one simple knob. Controlling the ventilation is easy by using the variable speed to adjust and sustain airflow simply by twisting the one knob one way or another.
The tools a firefighter chooses to use must have the value required to complete the job. BlowHard fans: total value.
For more information, go to: www.blowhardfans.com
About the Author
Benjamin Hadlock is Vice President of BlowHard.
For nearly 10 years Benjamin has been a driving force in BlowHard’s strategic journey in the research and quantification of fan performance as part of product development. These efforts by BlowHard have redefined the capabilities of PPV fans, specifically with regard to overall fan effectiveness while leveraging the convenience and power of the latest battery technology. Helping to lead the quest to be a true service to the fire industry, he has been instrumental in the release of the new fan series using High Flow Jet Technology from BlowHard.
