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System provides early detection, suppression of bus fires The Kidde Automatic Fire Detection and Suppression System for school buses is d...

September 1, 2009
5 min to read


System provides early detection, suppression of bus fires
The Kidde Automatic Fire Detection and Suppression System for school buses is designed to be installed in the engine compartment.

If a fire ignites in the compartment, the system detects it and notifies the driver with audible and visual alarms.

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The audible alarm can be deactivated and the visual alarm can be viewed on a control panel (pictured) installed in the driver compartment.

Joey Peoples, manager of Kidde’s commercial ground vehicle group, said the system can also automatically shut down a bus in the event of a fire.

“The system allows the driver to focus on his or her driving performance and the safety and well-being of the students,” he added. “The system gives a very early warning if there is a fire hazard, providing the driver with a lot of time to evacuate passengers.”

Early fire detection and suppression was a main priority for Kidde in designing the system, and this feature is particularly beneficial for school bus drivers who transport students with special needs.

“The sooner we can detect a problem, the more evacuation time you have for the passengers,” Peoples said. “That’s key when you have special-needs passengers because [they] tend to have mobility issues and require more time to exit the vehicle.”

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Kidde’s Automatic Fire Detection and Suppression System can be installed on both special-needs buses and school buses that transport regular-ed students.
Kidde

In-wall evaporator boasts non-intrusive, easy-to-install design
The IW-4 is an in-wall evaporator designed to fit within the forward bulkhead of the Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 school bus. The unit is non-intrusive to passengers while offering high cooling capacity (55,000 BTU/ hr) using R134a refrigerant and offering easier installation and maintenance than previous models. The design specifications of the IW-4 include a one-piece “drop in” construction to simplify and reduce installation time.
Carrier Transport Air Conditioning

Workbenches, tool carts feature heavy-duty components
Shure’s heavy-duty workbenches and tool carts feature reinforced steel construction, two heavy-duty swivel casters with locks and two heavy-duty rigid casters on the portable benches and carts. Leg levelers are standard on the stationary benches, as is a full-width, lower shelf. The company’s portable tool storage device has 11 full-extension drawers with a 400-lb. capacity. There are seven different bench, cart and tool storage models.
Shure Mfg. Corp.

Fuel catalyst reduces consumption, exhaust emissions
The Rentar Fuel Catalyst creates a temporary reaction that allows fuel molecules to separate at the point of combustion and burn efficiently, reportedly resulting in reduced fuel consumption, emissions and engine maintenance. The device is installed in the fuel line of a diesel engine.
Environmental Solutions Inc.

GPS solution equipped with new tracking, alert capabilities
VersaTrans OnScreen 9.13 can run as an independent AVL or integrate with VersaTrans RP, the company’s routing solution. Other additions to the updated GPS solution include the ability to track and report on railroad crossing activity, receive alerts for vehicles with late departures, and group and view specific vehicles for more targeted monitoring.
Tyler’s VersaTrans Solution

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Seat support alleviates lower back pain
The Back Thing is a portable, lightweight postural aid that can be used on school bus seats. When placed between the small of the lumbar back and the seat back, The Back Thing fills the natural gap that is created between the lower spine and the seat back, protecting the driver from lordosis (swayback). It is constructed of white pine slats encased in breathable vinyl.
FB Corp.

Four-post lifts accommodate large vehicles, wide tires
Mohawk’s four-post lift models TR-33 through TR-70 are available in runway widths of 24 or 32 inches to accommodate large vehicles and wide tires. The lifts are versatile and adaptable and feature safety systems that include a single-point lock release, multi-position mechanical safety locks in all posts and hydraulic safety backups consisting of pressure-compensated flow control and velocity fuse valving. They are also ALI/ETL certified.
Mohawk Lifts

Alarm activates as vehicles back up
The SRS (Short Range Sound) Backup Alarm emits a warning signal to individuals in the danger zone of a vehicle that is backing up. The alarm emits sound at multiple frequencies, but only within a small range, resulting in an optimum combination of warning capability and a reduction of excessive noise.
Preco Safety Products

Compact flashlight has high-performance LED
The Maxxeon WorkStar 220 is a 6-inch penlight-style flashlight for technicians, tradesmen and auto and aircraft mechanics. It features a rugged anodized T6 aluminum body and a high-duty cycle tail cap on-off switch. The flashlight also features the HPLighting Rambo high-performance LED, resulting in an output of over 70 lumens of light.
LED WorkLight

Dye detects leaks in oil-based fluid systems
Dye-Lite All-in-One full-spectrum fluorescent dye pinpoints leaks in all oil-based fluid systems. Dye-Lite contains two fluorescent dyes — one that fluoresces best under ultraviolet (UV) light and the other under blue light. When the dye circulates through a vehicle’s fluid system and the system is scanned with a high-intensity UV or blue light inspection lamp, the dye fluoresces a bright yellow-green, exposing the location of leaks.
Tracer Products

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Durable windshield wiper blade for heavy-duty vehicles
Rain-X’s Heavy-Duty Windshield Wiper Blade is made with a synthetic squeegee that can withstand harsh weather conditions to provide a smooth wipe. The blade features a galvanized steel frame for durability and protection against corrosion. The steel frame also helps to apply even pressure. The blade comes in sizes ranging from 13 to 24 inches and fits 96 percent of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.
Rain-X

Cleaning solution for maintenance facility floors
Oil Eater Cleaner-Degreaser is an eco-friendly cleaning formula for maintenance facility floors. The formula cuts through oil, grease and grime and encapsulates them into a solution that rinses off easily and leaves no residue. The cleaner is water-based, biodegradable and non-flammable, and contains no acid, abrasive or petroleum solvents.
Kafko International Ltd.

Service parts available for air disc brake caliper
Haldex now offers service parts for its Dana Spicer ESD-225 Air Disc Brake Caliper. The service kits contain the most commonly used parts in this disc brake caliper. The parts include the 790-22012 Pad Kit; the 790-94049 Caliper Assembly; the GC2430D Spring Brake Chamber; and the SC20D Service Chamber.
Haldex Commercial Vehicle Systems

 

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