Ready for rescue in two minutes
The RTB1 is particularly useful for emergencies because of its ease and speed of deployment
In the UK, the devastating floods of 2007 and recurrent extreme weather patterns have shown the need for flood rescue boats which are, as much as anything else, fast on the scene.
A government study called project Aquarius outlined a requirement for these boats to be durable, stable, lightweight and rapidly deployable. All this has led to the delivery of four new boats to the Humberside Fire & Rescue Service which can be readied for use in less than two minutes.
Although there is actually no statutory duty on the part of Fire & Rescue Services to provide flood rescue, most are furnishing themselves with the equipment and training necessary to carry out such work.
These Fast Inflation Boats, (the RTB-1 SEB model supplied by IC Brindle) can be inflated using the brigade’s standard 200 bar air cylinders, as they come fitted with pressure relief valves. This use of the standard air cylinders is innovative, since the cylinders are already kept on board each tender for use with the rescue service’s breathing equipment. It’s an important point for a service which needs to make good use of every square inch and extra pound.
Although the RTB-1 measures 3m long when inflated, when packed away it still only weighs in at 32kg including floor boards. The boat, when stored, is stowed in a valise measuring just 105cm by 40cm diameter, making it easily transported to the scene where it can be deployed very quickly indeed. Even on the roof of a fire appliance it is possible to fully prepare the boat within some 30 seconds. The slatted floor and strong rubber bottom make it just as suitable for rescue in ice.
For safety, the boat has four separate air chambers. Even with a payload of 700 kg the 40cm diameter buoyancy tubes are only half submerged. The entire boat is manufactured in accordance with DIN 14961.
Although it has only just been introduced to the UK, the RTB-1 has been in service with European fire services for some years and has proved itself to be both robust and versatile, (it is available in three versions dependent upon the users’ requirements) and has been used extensively in flood emergencies as well as other water and ice rescue situations.
In addition to supplying the boats, suppliers IC Brindle is providing training in the maintenance and repair of the boats to Humberside Fire & Rescue. However, the company is quick to point out that it does not expect many repairs to have to be carried out.
Images for this article - click to enlarge
Unless otherwise stated, all images copyright © Mercator Media 2012. This does not exclude the owner's assertion of copyright over the material.
