Anyone Used/Using the Bullex Hot Shot Trainer?

[lutan1]

Curious to know if anyone has either used or is currently using the Bullex Hot Shot fire training simulator?

Check it out at http://www.bullexsafety.com/hotshot.asp

Good or bad points?

We've got an Aussie distributor that has touched base with me trying to sell one to the organisation I work for- we have arrnaged a demo in late Feb or early March

[lutan1]

Anyone????

[EMP124]

My department looked into purchasing one of these units due to training classes we offer local businesses. However the cost seemed far exceed what the product was. We made our own by taking a 55 gallon drum (empty of course) and cutting it at 16'' leaving the bottom intact. We the made a frame useing 12 guage cieling wire, this will be used as support for copper tubing. Next is six feet of half inch flexible cooper tubing crimped on one end and a fitting one the other end fitted toa flexible gas line. The copper line is drilled every 10" with a 1/16" drill bit along its lengh. Do not drill the flex line. Lay this on top of your wire frame inside the drum with the flex line on the bottom of the drum. The cooper line should be about 8" off the bottom of the drum. Next drill a 1/2" hole in the side of the drum to let the flex line come out. Seal this hole with silocone caulk. One the other end of the flex put a air chuck conection female. Now take a propane tank connections and attach it a a 50' section of standard air hose with a male connection onto the other side. This system works great. I find it best to fill the drum with about 12" of water (enough to cover the copper tubing) when you go to use it. One it makes clean up eaisier and I think it makes it alittle safer. Now connect up the propane tank to the hose. Turn on the tank and you will see bubbles come out of the water (Propane gas)> we use a road flare one a broom handle to light it (wearing PPE of course). Let the person use the extingusher whuile keeping one person at the tank at all times. If the person can't get it out simply turn off the tank and the flame goes out. Cant take all the credit the picture of the silver one is from a neighboring department that gave us the basic idea. (Cudo's MLFD) Here is a link to some pics of it in use at our open house.

[N2DFire]

My department looked into purchasing one of these units due to training classes we offer local businesses. However the cost seemed far exceed what the product was.

Did you factor in the cost to refill & recharge your extinguishers? Or the need for clean-up of dry chem agents (if that's the type of extinguisher you use)?

The standard Burn Pan & Dry Chem extinguishers are fine if you have a dedicated training area but if you're looking for something to take station to station or to do outside training to local businesses - then these products are going to me much more cost effective, cleaner, and easier (safer) to transport.

Disclaimer - Don't work for the company - don't get kickbacks - haven't used the product.

Lutan - I hadn't seen the hotshot you linked too - looks very interesting - esp. for a "Business" trainer where you may not be able to have a true open flame.

I have looked at their ITS burner based unit (ashamedly I have yet to reply back to the e-mail they sent me because I have been busy) - the biggest "selling point" I can see is that the system is all inclusive & uses water & compressed air powered extinguishers - which are very easy, clean, and cheap to refill & no mess to clean up afterward.

I doubt our training center will go with one (at least anytime soon) because of the low volume of students we have per year in a rural volunteer system & the high initial cost of the unit (against our limited budget).

[EMP124]

When we run our fund drive in the spring business's that donate at higher levels get these classes offered to them for thier donation (class size does have a limit). With this we do not charge for the use of the extingushes. As you may see in the picture our homemade unit is totally portable. Also we usually do this a back parking lot of said business to avoid any unnessacary mess which there is usually very little. Also we use a refillable cartige extingusher for the training. Usually 2 20lber's will do a class of 25. Also one propane tank is pleny for that class size as well. As building the unit all the parts are avaliable at your local home store for around $75. Really the hardest thing to find was the steel drum. So basicially the cost of the class for us is around $35.

[lutan1]

Got no issues with the gas powered units- have used a few different variations.

I was more interested in the digital/electronic unit.

I have a rep lining up a demo for me in the next couple of weeks so I'll post up some pix and other info.

Talking the gas unit- have a look at the Bullex one- it too features electronic sensors to react to how you operate the extinguisher- pretty cool stuff!

[miste1]

Bullex Training System

We are trialling both of BULLEX'S training units in an attempt to gauge its efficiency and cost effectiveness,my bosses are very impressed so far.as a trainer I am always very mindfull of where we are disposing of our current fire water run-off from the fire trays and also the M.A.P.and FOAM.I have thought about collecting the fire tray water on-site,but to educate the trainers will be difficult in this regard with the problem also of carrying grey/contaminated water in their personal vehicles.
The ultrasonic idea is great and works well,with no mess left after the training session.we as fire safety trainers must look toward enviromentally sound alternatives for our sustainability in the future,industry demands it.

[terrydellis]

Bullex Training System

The system works really well, especially in the main training environment I train in, which is Oil & Gas Refineries, Production Facilities and Offshore Platforms. In these environments, you can't light a fire nor would you want to, this allows for the next best thing and is as realistic as you can get given the surroundings!

[gregmeetsworld]

The system works very well, and gives a time on how long it took to put it out. the "fire" is very life like and encourages proper technique. I would highly recommend this for fire prevention details as well as training programs.

[lutan1]

Did you factor in the cost to refill & recharge your extinguishers? Or the need for clean-up of dry chem agents (if that's the type of extinguisher you use)?

The standard Burn Pan & Dry Chem extinguishers are fine if you have a dedicated training area but if you're looking for something to take station to station or to do outside training to local businesses - then these products are going to me much more cost effective, cleaner, and easier (safer) to transport.

Disclaimer - Don't work for the company - don't get kickbacks - haven't used the product.

Lutan - I hadn't seen the hotshot you linked too - looks very interesting - esp. for a "Business" trainer where you may not be able to have a true open flame.

I have looked at their ITS burner based unit (ashamedly I have yet to reply back to the e-mail they sent me because I have been busy) - the biggest "selling point" I can see is that the system is all inclusive & uses water & compressed air powered extinguishers - which are very easy, clean, and cheap to refill & no mess to clean up afterward.

I doubt our training center will go with one (at least anytime soon) because of the low volume of students we have per year in a rural volunteer system & the high initial cost of the unit (against our limited budget).

Today I palced my order for the ITS unit.

I opted for the gas powered unit after a lot of looking and searching.

Reasons for the ITS-
* Safety, safety, safety (Has inbuilt safety mechanisms in the unit and the instructor held controller unit)
* costs of refills. (The ITS system uses small amounts of water and air and creates ultrasonic soundwaves to assist with extinguishing- it's hard to explain...)
* with the gas flame, there's some realism with the feel of the heat

Once I've got it and run a few classes, I'll post up a few pix...

[lutan1]

In relation to my comment on how the ITS system extinguishes the fire, here's the sales blurb that explains it properly-

These systems were designed to train people in the competent use of all types of fire extinguishers, fighting all the common types of fires - class 'A', class 'B' and electrically charged. BullEx have designed a SmartExtinguisher which emits a spray of atomized water, compressed air and a directional 40 kHz ultrasonic sound wave. The SmartExtinguishers may be used repeatedly during a training session and are field rechargeable quickly, simply and at essentially no cost. The compressed air and atomized water spray provide the trainee with the visual, audible and physical sensation experienced when discharging a chemical extinguisher, this spray does not however extinguish the fire (real or simulated) developed by the systems.

The directional ultrasonic sound waves emitted from the nozzle of the SmartExtinguisher are detected by a bank of four sensors situated across the systems, these sound waves are converted into electronic signals which are transmitted to a microprocessor within the hand held controller.

The microprocessor analyses these signals and determines exactly where the SmartExtinguisher is directed and if the trainee’s technique and attack on the fire is appropriate for the type of fire that has been selected for the trainee to extinguish. Variable electronic valves constantly adjust the amount of gas sent to the ITS base unit’s burners whilst the HotShot reacts in the same manner digitally, both simulating a realistic and immediate fire response as determined entirely by the trainee’s use of the extinguisher in the attack on the fire.

[lutan1]

Well here it is- we used it for the first time this week on a construction site.

Overall went well.

The only thing to be aware of is the direction of flame and heat. As the system relies on the electronic sensors to read the extinguisher use, the system needs to be palced accordingly or they will be approaching down wind, as the user always needs to be facing the sensors. (Doe sthat make sense?)

Pix below....