Firefighters put Streamlight torches to the test

UK Fire and International Fire Fighter magazines recently teamed up with Streamlight Inc. to put some torches on trial within UK fire and rescue services.

The Streamlight Inc. SURVIVOR ATEX Rated Right Angle Firefighter’s Light and the Streamlight Inc. DUALIE 2AA Compact, Intrinsically Safe, Multi-Function Flashlight were chosen for the trial due to their intrinsic safety qualities.

A key factor when choosing a personal flashlight for firefighting is versatility – from brightness and runtime to multiple operating modes. As the role of a firefighter is highly varied, having the ‘best’ lighting device for every potential scenario would require a very impractical utility belt, at the very least – and settling for mediocre is not an option when lives are at stake. What every firefighter needs is to be able to deploy and trust a personal lighting device that will cover critical tasks excellently so every operation in the dark is a success. Streamlight Inc. have worked with countless emergency service professionals in their 48-year history to shape their products and deliver lighting tools that have been proven to help save lives.

SURVIVOR ATEX Rated Right Angle Firefighter’s Light

Approved for Zone 0. The redesigned Survivor features a low-profile bezel that doesn’t interfere with gear and equipment. Its spring-loaded clip securely grabs onto gear, and the reinforced D-ring allows your light to hang forward.

The Survivor is an intrinsically safe lightweight, hand-held flashlight with right-angle head designed for use in hazardous locations. This light features a rechargeable lithium battery, reduced bezel length to minimize snag hazards and an updated clip design for better attachment to turnout gear. A large button provides gloved access to microprocessor controlled high and low intensity modes, emergency flash and moonlight mode. Smoke Cutter optic technology offers insertable black or amber plugs for user customizable beam pattern.

The housing is made from high-impact, anti-static, non-conductive super tough nylon, offering exceptional durability, with a one-way valve for case venting. All openings are O-ring sealed for weather resistance, while the spring-loaded clip with built-in D-ring easily attaches to belts and harnesses and reduces unwanted rotation. The Survivor is available in international safety orange.

• Rated for Zone 0 with a low-profile bezel that doesn’t interfere with gear and equipment. The clip securely grabs onto gear, and the D-ring allows your light to hang forward.
• Available in Rechargeable and Non-rechargeable models
• Four lighting modes: High, Low, Flash and Moonlight
• Integrated safety circuit protects battery from overcharge/over discharge

Martin is a Station Manager with 25 years’ experience. Specialising in hazardous materials, he works on the flexible duty rota and provides operational cover as a specialist Hazmat officer across the whole of his fore and rescue service. Martin said: ‘Working in a fire and rescue service covering urban and rural areas, the need for a reliable torch is vitally important. I get called out to incidents in the middle of the night and turn up in my personal response vehicle which is often parked some way away from the incident and I need a torch that I can rely on.

‘Having a torch which remains on charge via the 12v socket in the boot of my car is a huge benefit. There is no need for specialised wiring, it just plugs in and is ready when I need it.

‘As a hazardous materials officer I have the added comfort of knowing that I am using a torch which is certified to Zone O intrinsic safely. The Survivor does everything I want a torch to do, and I will certainly be recommending that my fire and rescue service explore equipping all fire officers with this product. It does exactly what it says on the tin – brilliant.’

DUALIE 2AA flashlight

The Dualie 2AA is an intrinsically safe, high-performance, 2 AA battery powered dual-function LED flashlight. The flashlight features a forward-facing LED spot beam and a side-facing LED flood light that can be used individually or at the same time for enhanced safety. The flashlight has opposing switches for easy user activation of desired function(s). The body features a superior grip texture to provide a comfortable but slip-resistant feel and is constructed of an engineered polymer resin that is virtually indestructible, shock resistant, non-conductive and lightweight. The flashlight also Includes an integrated magnet on the tail end and a removable and reversible metal pocket clip. The clip may be fastened either direction on the flashlight body.

The case material is an impact and chemical resistant engineered polymer resin, v-ring sealed and vented. Class I, Division 1 models are available in high-visibility yellow or black. ATEX/IEC models with antistatic body and integrated and retained face cap lock are available in international safety orange.

• Features two white LEDs and three modes: spot, flood, spot/flood combo (175 lumens)
• Two beams intersect for optimum path illumination and no blind spots
• Dual head switches on either side of the body for easy beam selection and one-handed operation
• IPX4water-resistant

Class I, II, Division 1, Groups A, B, C, D, E, F, G; Class III; CL I, ZN 0, IIC; Exia; T-Code: T4

Alistair is a firefighter with seven years’ experience and works on a busy inner-city fire station with two engines, an aerial ladder platform and specialist rescue unit. He said: ‘It was great to be asked to take part in this trial, the watch regularly see UK Fire magazine and I have read articles from Streamlight before.

‘Because the Dualie is intrinsically safe we can use it for normal shouts and also when we have to wear breathing apparatus. The torches we use now with our breathing apparatus are big and bulky and often get in the way. The Dualie is so light it makes it so much easier to use and clips securely on the shoulder strap of the set.’

For more information, go to www.streamlight.com