IEN: How can training help companies address major safety concerns? What innovations are in store in this area?
Orotelli: All of Symtron''s training systems have minimal environmental impact and relieve community and legislative concerns of air pollution and water contamination.
System fires are fueled by natural gas or propane. These clean-burning fuels do not produce the levels of black soot and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that conventional fuels generate. The system''s simulated smoke is nontoxic and water run-off from the trainer can safely be discharged into conventional drainage systems.
Symtron''s Structural Fire Trainer® replicates the intense fire, heat, smoke, and chaos of interior structure fires. These systems provide valuable training experience in a safe manner. Symtron offers a complete line ranging from versatile single residential fires to an industrial, multi-fire inferno. Scenarios can be configured to represent class A, B, and C fires. All fires emit a dense smoke that obscures vision, perfect for search and rescue drills with thermal imaging cameras. Computer controls allow large fires and hot interior temperatures without compromising safety. Controls also allow the difficulty level to be altered to challenge both new and seasoned firefighters. Instructors can manually control the lesson or allow the system to automatically detect the proper application of extinguishing agent. If insufficient agent is applied, the fire will surprise the trainee by rekindling.
Symtron''s T-2000 system features a PC user-interface with software that allows advanced controls, such as multi-fire linking and student performance logging. Scenarios can be stored and repeated. A modem link even allows remote diagnostics and software updates