Mid-October saw the festive handover by Rosenbauer of several new HLFs (structural pumpers) to the Frankfurt am Main Professional Fire Service. The trucks are part of a comprehensive replacement program, involving the acquisition of 19 vehicles, during which the entire HLF fleet will be switched to Rosenbauer ATs by the end of the year.

Klaus Tonh?user, the Rosenbauer Deutschland GmbH CEO presented the new trucks to Reinhard Ries, the Director of the Frankfurt Fire Directorate (Picture: fltr), who took this opportunity to thank Rosenbauer for the good and intensive teamwork in past months. For example, the prototype vehicle was tested thoroughly by the fire service in spring before the vehicles are now getting put into service step by step.

Frankfurt’s new main emergency vehicles consist of 19 identical HLF 20 trucks on 15t MAN chassis fitted with a Euro 5 drive train and additional braking system, and designed in line with DIN 14530-27. The main extinguishing technology components consist of an N35 pump with an output of up to 3,500 l/min and an electrically driven and electronically controlled Digimatic pressurized proportioning system. Like the pump, the Digimatic is monitored by the displays of the Rosenbauer Logic Control System (LCS) and owing to its low, infinitely adjustable proportioning rates of 0.1 to 6.0 % is ideal for wetting operations. When using foam, extinguishing output amounts to 2,400 l/min at 10 bar.

A special feature of the Frankfurt vehicles is the integration of two connected foam tanks each of which have a 100l volume. If required, firefighters can separate the tanks, which can be filled with differing foam concentrates. In order to create additional space for payload, for the first time the Digimatic has been installed at the back of the vehicle and not as usual in one of the rear equipment compartments.  Apart from the two pressure outlets on the left and right of the vehicle, a quick attack reel is installed in equipment compartment 6. In addition, a mobile traffic control reel can be attached to the rear of the truck and a manually operated 5,000l monitor is mounted in equipment compartment 1.

Special infrastructure components also serve to enhance the operational safety of the vehicles. For example, these include three mechanical comfortable lowering devices for the equipment stored on the roof (four-section scaling ladder, three section extension ladder, containers with suction hoses and preventers), as well as overhead power line protection, flaps on the wings, revolving stairs with automatic locking, a comprehensive colour logic system for grips and handles, actuating devices and fixtures for intuitive equipment handling.

The vehicle lighting system is also entirely safety oriented and extends from a lighting mast with six 230V xenon searchlights, which can be rotated and swivelled, to surrounding area lighting consisting of three powerful LED lamps on both the left and right of the truck, and top quality, LED lighting in the cabin and equipment compartments. Front and reversing cameras, as well as manoeuvring searchlights mounted on the rear view mirrors further enhance driving safety, while a direction indicator in the cabin informs the crew as soon as the driver activates a blinker or the brakes.

In addition to front and rear flashing lights, four Martin compressed air horns and a rear-mounted LED traffic direction unit serve as warning systems. For the electricity supply at the operational scene, a portable generator is mounted on a revolving pullout in equipment compartment 4. The generator’s exhaust gas system runs up to the vehicle roof and in order to create the required space, a special 1,600l water tank with an opening for the exhaust gas line has been developed and installed.

The warning devices, generator and lighting mast can be controlled from displays in the driver’s cab and at the back of the vehicle. The driver’s and crew cabins, as well as all the equipment compartments have central locking. The cab is fitted with electrical windows and glass doors for better vision when leaving the vehicle and even temperatures in the driver’s and crew cabins are ensured throughout the year by an air conditioning system mounted in the cab roof and stationary heating. A total of six SCBA fittings (five in the cab, one on the co-driver’s seat) are installed along with a basic range of extended first aid equipment (safety helmet, emergency and intensive backpack, defibrillator, etc.), which is contained in the so-called action tower in the cab. A heat-imaging camera is also close at hand.