Fire department flashlights: essential equipment in dangerous situations
A good fire department flashlight is characterized by a robust design, endurance and luminosity. In addition, reliability is a clear priority because the torch must always work, even in extreme situations. As an important piece of equipment, a fire department flashlight is needed and used in the following situations, among others:
- To rescue people from a burning house or industrial plant.
- In disaster operations, e.g. in the event of flooding.
- For better visibility when extinguishing a fire at night or in dark, smoky rooms.
- To illuminate the scene of an accident or when rescuing injured persons from a vehicle involved in an accident.
- To protect against water contamination, for example if a tank containing a hazardous substance leaks.
What are the requirements for fire department flashlights?
There are a number of requirements that a torch used by the fire department must meet. These include very good brightness, a suitable light pattern, a long operating time and explosion protection. When used in potentially explosive areas, it is particularly important that only devices that meet these requirements are used.
Depending on the location, however, firefighters may also use other models that do not comply with this standard. In general, a fire department flashlight must function perfectly in rain, cold and other environmental influences, which is why the housing is usually impact-resistant. A flashlight for firefighters should also have a spotlight so that objects and people can be spotted at a greater distance. At the same time, however, it should also be possible to illuminate the close range without glare.
Models that are suitable for a variety of different applications are ideal, for example. Suitable flashlights usually have at least IPX5 protection, which makes them resistant to water jets. These models also have a lighting range of up to 250 meters and develop a light output of up to 700 lumens.
The most important requirements for an LED torch for firefighters at a glance:
- Robustness and durability: flashlights must be extremely robust and durable in order to withstand tough operating conditions.
- Brightness and light range: High brightness and light range are important to ensure optimum visibility even in dark environments.
- Battery life: With potentially long hours of use, flashlights must have sufficient battery life or battery power to minimize interruptions during use.
- Waterproofness and dust resistance: As firefighters are often confronted with water and dust, flashlights with a high level of waterproofness and dust resistance are required to ensure reliable operation even in harsh conditions.
- Certified lamps in accordance with ATEX directives: Flashlights that are primarily used in potentially explosive atmospheres, for example in industrial plants, must be explosion-proof.
- Simple operation: Switches must be designed in such a way that they are easy to operate even when wearing gloves.
Which lamps do firefighters use?
A flashlight for firefighters should be practical, handy and functional. In particular, flashlights that can be attached to the firefighter's helmet and illuminate the entire field of vision effortlessly are extremely practical and easy to use. The following models are among the flashlights most commonly used by firefighters:
- Angle lamps
- Hand lamps
- Headlamps and helmet lamps
- Floodlights
- Telescopic mast lights
The angled lamp
The absolute standard for fire department lamps is the angle lamp. It is part of the vehicle equipment and is attached to the chest with a clip during use.
With the EXC6R and the EXC7R, Ledlenser offers two high-quality angle lights for firefighters. The dimensions of the EXC7R correspond to those of the typical angle lamps from other manufacturers. The EXC6R is more compact and lighter. Both angle lights meet the necessary requirements and can therefore be used anywhere. They are equipped with a replaceable, powerful rechargeable battery that can be charged via a charging station in the emergency vehicle. Two separate LEDs provide focused high beam light or homogeneous, glare-free working light at close range.
Both angle lamps have a swivel lamp head. By swiveling the lamp head upwards, the angle lamp can also be used as a hand lamp. If the light is worn on the chest, the area in front of the feet can be illuminated by swiveling it downwards without dazzling the other person. Thanks to IP68, they are very well protected against dust and water.
Hand lamps or LED flashlights
In addition to angle lights, firefighters also use hand torches. LED flashlights are the handy solution for directing the light beam precisely to where an area needs to be illuminated. However, they are not only used as hand lamps, but are also worn on the side of the helmet with the appropriate attachment.
In addition to explosion-proof flashlights, other high-quality flashlights are also used by the fire department, for example by the police or emergency services in the Search & Rescue sector.
Suitable flashlights have the following advantages:
- Thanks to LED technology, a fire department flashlight generates enormous brightness with low energy consumption. Firefighters therefore benefit from a long battery life, ideal for operations lasting several hours.
- Firefighter flashlights are generally so robust that they can withstand a fall without damage. They are also usually dustproof and waterproof. Ideal for withstanding the demanding conditions of firefighting operations and preventing damage during use.
- Depending on the model, some LED lights have several lighting modes, including various signal and flashing modes to improve communication and visibility, which is important for rescue operations during storms or flooding, for example.
Helmet lamps and headlamps
As firefighters usually need to have their hands free during operations, headlamps or helmet lamps are also part of the typical equipment. The light beam can always be directed in the direction of vision. This increases the safety of the emergency services as they have a better all-round view.
As already mentioned, fire department flashlights can be easily attached to the helmet with the appropriate holder. Headlamps with a suitable holder or elastic strap can also be attached to the firefighter's helmet. However, depending on how the visor of the helmet can be opened, they may not be as suitable and may be more of a nuisance than a benefit.
Floodlights
Portable floodlights are used to quickly illuminate the scene of an accident. These provide a lot of light quickly and are ideal for getting a first impression of a situation. The AF12R Work construction floodlight from Ledlenser, for example, is ideal for this. With up to 8000 lumens, the floodlight generates enough brightness to adequately illuminate the scene of an accident.
Other types of lamps are also used by the fire department and other rescue services. These include telescopic mast lights and underwater lamps, for example.
ATEX-certified LED flashlights for firefighters from Ledlenser
Firefighters not only extinguish fires, they also actively prevent them, e.g. in potentially explosive areas where gas or dust can form a highly flammable mixture in the air. To prevent explosions in these so-called EX areas, only devices that comply with the standards of the ATEX directives of the European Union may be used there.
Ledlenser's EX series angle lights are certified accordingly and specially designed for use in these areas. As with all Ledlenser lamps, these models are also powerful and have been developed for use in hazardous situations. Equipped with a loop and a rotating clip, they can be easily attached to firefighting equipment, for example on bags or breathing protection.
The EX7 and EX7R flashlights and our EXH6R headlamp may also be used in potentially explosive atmospheres, but were actually developed for use in industry. The light pattern of the EX7 and EX7R does not comply with the standard for firefighting lights and both flashlight models are also slightly too large to be used as a helmet lamp. However, they are the only ATEX flashlights to feature the Advanced Focus System, which allows their light beam to be continuously focused. They can therefore still be very useful as a supplement.
Naturally, the lamps in the EX series score points with the features for which Ledlenser is known. They are easy to operate and also offer a secure grip, even when wearing protective gloves. Furthermore, these lamps can be easily and safely transported and held, optionally by attaching them to the firefighting equipment using a loop and a retaining adapter.
