FIRE Panel Brochure

Protecting Those Who Protect Us...
What is FIRE Panel ?
™
FIRE Panel is a patented technology proven to mitigate the risk of fuel-fed
related fires caused by high-energy impacts. It is in use by police organizations
across North America as well as the US Army and Marines.
Why is FIRE Panel Necessary?
The fuel tank in the most common police cruiser is located in the crumple zone
behind the rear axle. Law enforcement officers routinely experience the danger of
rear-end collisions during traffic stops and in accident/construction zones.
More than 20 officers have been killed in these situations and many more have
suffered severe burns as a result of fiery collisions—collisions which might have
resulted in less serious injuries if the vehicle had been equipped with FIRE Panel.
How Does it Work?
The FIRE Panel is a polymer shell that contains a fire suppression powder. Upon impact, the FIRE Panel shatters and releases a cloud of fire suppressant. This creates
an inert environment that surrounds the car and prevents a fire from occurring.
Installation is fast and simple.
The cloud of powder floods the underside of the vehicle and travels with the
momentum of the vehicle as it comes to rest. In real world crashes, the vehicles
have been found to be completed covered in a light layer of powder from the front
to back after the activation of the FIRE Panel.
FIRE Panel installed on USMC MTVR.
Call 1-866-607-0747 or visit www.firepanel.net to receive your free crash
Why Choose FIRE Panel ?
™
FIRE Panel is the only technology proven to perform in high-speed rear impacts in spite of the extreme damage experienced in these collisions. FIRE Panel
has performed as designed during independent crash tests. These tests include a 50% offset—placing the full force of impact on only one-half of the
vehicle—with a full fuel tank. (A competitive system has been rated to suppress fires in as little as four gallons of leaked fuel.) More importantly, FIRE
Panel has performed during actual on-the-job collisions as reported by several law enforcement agencies.
A competitor’s system features complex detection, activation, storage and delivery components—parts that could be damaged in an impact and disable the
system. FIRE Panel is a single part that relies only upon the impact to activate. If a FIRE Panel-equipped fuel tank experiences a rear-end collision that pushes
the gas tank forward into the body elements, FIRE Panel will activate, no matter how badly the car is damaged.
The top photo on the right shows the underside of a CVPI after one of our
independent crash tests. The bottom photo depicts the underside of a CVPI
with a competing technology. Note the locations of their system components relative to the damage after a crash. Would this competing system
be able to function after the impact?
The U.S. military has conducted extensive tests on FIRE
Underside of crashed Ford CVPI
Panel and approved its use for military vehicles as protection
from explosive rounds and charges. FIRE Panel is currently
Suppressant Container
protecting soldiers in several types of military vehicles.
Contact FIRE Panel for a free video of our independent crash tests and
an actual successful FIRE Panel deployment experienced by the North
Carolina Highway Patrol.
h test video.
Pop-Down Nozzles
Underside of Ford CVPI with the Ford Fire Suppression System installed
The table below provides a comparison between FIRE Panel and the leading competing fire suppression system.
FIRE Panel
Leading Competitive System
Can be installed by your maintenance staff,
typically in less than 30 minutes per car
YES
NO – must be ordered on new cars.
Can be retrofitted into your current fleet
YES
NO
Requires changes to maintenance and
towing procedures due to danger of
accidental deployment
NO
YES – Battery must be disconnected and the system fuse
removed, plus a 1-minute wait for the system to de-energize
before lifting/servicing vehicle.
Performed as intended in an actual crash
YES
No known in-service incidents (as of 11/06)
Groups conducting crash testing
Multiple independent and police
agencies, and the U.S. military
Manufacturer
Number of units in service
More than 20,000
Estimated to be fewer than 5,000
Cost to protect one Crown Victoria
Police Interceptor
Under $500
MSRP 2007 - $3,495
Compatibility with existing equipment
YES
Not compatible with certain rear plastic seats and certain in-car
video unit installations due to equipment location conflicts
Transferable to other vehicles
YES
NO
Affected by extreme conditions
NO
Potentially: Ice, snow, mud and road debris may build up on
discharge nozzles rendering the system inoperable based on
similar systems from other manufacturers
Affects the performance of the vehicle
NO – System weight approximately
11 lbs.
The system adds 5% to the Gross Weight of the vehicle which
can adversely affect handling, performance and fuel economy
Time and cost required to replace or
recharge deployed system
Less than 20 minutes and
under $500.
More than 6 hours – and reported to be more than
18,000 dollars!!!
System limitations in very
high-energy crashes
Designed to function even in
very high-energy crashes
In some very high-energy crashes, the fire suppression system
could be severely damaged by the crash and may not deploy
as designed. System may not suppress fires where fuel
leakage is greater than 4 gallons.
Availability
Available for immediate delivery;
leasing options now available
Current availability is reported to be delayed and must be
ordered on new vehicles only
Y
•
CALL
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CRASHIDEO
TEST VLABLE
FIRE Panel, LLC
15690 N. 83rd Way, Suite B
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
(888) 282-8394 (US and Canada)
(480) 607-0595 (Elsewhere)
(480) 778-1773 (Fax)
www.firepanel.net
12/06