Monitors 101

What is a Monitor?
The International Fire Safety Training Association (IFSTA) defines a monitor as follows: A large caliber water stream usually supplied by siamesing two or more hoselines into a manifold device or by fixed piping that delivers 350 gpm (1400 Lpm) or more.

Other Common Terms For Monitors

Master Stream Multiversals Deck Gun Deck Pipe Deluge Gun Water Cannon Ladder Pipe Water Tower

What types of monitors are available?

There are several types of monitors: Traditional apparatus mounted deck pipes. These are permanently installed on the fire apparatus and pre-piped to the fire pump. They can be manually, or electrically operated.
3426 Apollo Deck Pipe 3440 DeckMaster Stowed Deployed

What types of monitors are available? (cont.)

Multiversal monitors: Multiversal monitors have a quick mounting system that allow it to be used directly on the apparatus or quickly removed and mated with a ground base for portable operation using 2 and larger hoselines.

3423 Apollo shown on 2 dual inlet ground base Apollo truck mounting flange

3416 Apollo shown on 5 LDH single inlet ground base

What types of monitors are available? (cont.)

Quick Attack monitors: Monitors that are only used in portable ground based mode. Usually, these are pre-connected to a hoseline and positioned for quick deployment by one firefighter.

911 Ozzie oscillating monitor

3443 Mercury Quick Attack 500 gpm

3446 Mercury Master 1000 gpm

What types of monitors are available? (cont.)

Elevated monitors: These monitors are mounted on aerial devices (articulating booms, straight stick ladders, or towers). These can be manual, hard wired electric, or wireless electric devices.

1495 Ladder Pipe

3578 Electric StreamMaster

3570 Manual StreamMaster

When Would You Use a Monitor?

The size and intensity of a fire are beyond the reach, flow, or penetration of handlines. The available water supply is adequate, but personnel are limited. Sufficient pumping capability is available. Safety of personnel dictates. Interior attack can no longer be maintained.

What Tactics Are Used With Monitors?

Monitors can be used with multiple tactics. Offensive, direct fire attack, i.e. large fully involved structures that are too much for a handline attack. Defensive, exterior attack when the situation is too dangerous for an offensive attack. To backup handlines that are already involved in an exterior attack. Exposure protection. Haz-Mat Vapor Mitigation.

What to consider when deploying a Monitor

Proper Positioning: Even though a monitor can be adjusted up/down/right/left, the range is usually limited to provide better stability. Once it is in place and operating it must be shut down to be re-positioned. This usually takes more than one person and considerable time (with the exception of quick attack type monitors). The monitor should be placed so it can cover the most surface area of the involved structure.

What to consider when deploying a Monitor (cont.)

Stream Angle: The angle of the stream should be sufficient so when it enters a structure the stream will bounce off of the ceiling or other surfaces to make the stream break up into smaller drops providing better extinguishing effectiveness.

What to consider when deploying a Monitor (cont).

Proper Water Supply: Since a monitor will flow between 350 gpm and 5000 gpm, having a proper water supply is crucial. Depending on the flow it could be supplied by 2 hoselines up to multiple large diameter hose (LDH).

What to consider when deploying a Monitor (cont).

Personnel Needed: A ground based portable monitor can take two or more firefighters to deploy. Once deployed it can usually be operated by one. Apparatus mounted monitors can usually be operated by one firefighter Some newer small quick attack monitors can be deployed and operated by one firefighter.

Summary
You can see that there are many different types of fire monitors. Which one is right for you will depend on your departments capabilities, tactics, training, and personnel. Akron Brass has a large selection of monitors available to fit wide range of applications.

Youve just completed training on Akron Brass Monitors 101.

For more information or hands on training contact you local Akron Brass district sales manager or customer service at 330-264-5678.

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