Innovation and technological advancements have driven industry forward at an unprecedented rate in recent years with many sectors reaping the benefits of the new hi-tech era to spearhead new product developments befitting of the operational demands of the modern-day firefighter.
The more notable fire nozzle manufacturers have made significant investments in driving innovation and technological advancements in recent years leading to major benefits in performance and firefighter health and safety.
As a Company, UK based manufacturer, Delta Fire has grown steadily since its inception in the early 1980’s into a globally recognised brand and we are very proud of our UK manufacturing heritage. A strong ethos of continuous investment in research and development and a clear focus on driving innovation has led to a range of professional handheld fire nozzles at the forefront of modern-day firefighting.
Delta’s first foray into the fire nozzle market was with the Delta H500 automatic slide valve nozzle, a product which is still used and loved by a number of fire services and industry sectors to this day, almost 21 years since its first release. Designed for use with high pressure hoselines the H500 offered automatic pressure control, rapid on/off pulsing for gas cooling and a range of jet and spray patterns to meet the needs of each specific application. After the successful release of the H500, the H500-65 Mid-Range nozzle was launched offering the same attributes of the H500 but designed for use on low pressure layflat hoselines. These two nozzles rapidly became the benchmark of quality and performance in our home markets with a strong uptake from UK Fire & Rescue Services. The H500 ST was added to the range in subsequent years seeing the inclusion of stainless steel spinning turbine teeth designed to chop the water up into very small droplet sizes allowing high-performance gas cooling in pulsing modes and dense fog patterns for heat shield protection.
Building on the success of earlier years Delta has now expanded their nozzle manufacturing to one of the most comprehensive ranges available today catering for the needs of multiple industry sectors across the globe. Tapping in on the rapid advancements in new technologies over recent years Delta’s Norfolk based facilities now boast the very latest in cutting edge design and manufacturing machinery utilising hi-tech flow engineering software and Mazak CNC technologies.
3D printing is now a staple in our design process and the ability to use rapid prototyping of new product designs has led to an accelerated route to market of new innovative products. Our on-site, fully integrated test cell is also invaluable for conducting full factory testing prior to release ensuring that every nozzle is fully optimised in terms of quality, safety and performance.
Without question the key factor in our design process lies in the relationships we have built over the years with industry professionals. As a Company we are very confident in our abilities to design and build world class firefighting nozzles but we also accept that we have no real experience of fighting fires. Operational feedback from the professionals is critical in ensuring our product is fully fit for purpose and we see this interaction between manufacturer and end-user as instrumental in our success in the sector.
The Delta Attack Nozzle range was launched in 2005 offering customers an alternative to the original automatic slide valve concept. Since its inception the Attack range is now widely used in a growing number of countries around the world. Unlike its predecessors the Attack Series incorporated a stainless steel ball valve which complemented the increasing use of gas cooling techniques in narrow angle spray settings. The rapid ‘pulsing’ of the on/off control handle required for this technique allows the operator to apply short, rapid bursts of water to the ceilings of affected compartments to disperse the hot gasses and mitigate the risks of flash-over scenarios. To help prevent any issues of pressure surge whilst using this technique Delta incorporated a bespoke designed profile into the ball valve which altered the waterway characteristics reducing the impact of rapid increases and decreases in pressure providing greater control for the operator.
Although superseded by the new Delta Attack Pro Series range of nozzles the original Attack 100, 500 and 750 models are still highly regarded in the industry and continue to make up a significant proportion of our sales.
The introduction of the new Attack Pro Series in 2016 heralded a new era for Delta Fire, bringing together all the key features of the original Attack range and incorporating new enhancements in flow dynamics, performance and design to create a range of nozzles we see as ‘best in class’ products.
The Attack 100 Pro is the ultimate in high pressure hose reel nozzles with exceptional performance across a wide range of applications. Manufactured from hard anodised aluminium and incorporating stainless steel spinning teeth and profiled ball valve the Attack 100 Pro is one of the lightest nozzles in its class. Available in a range of selectable or constant flows the Attack 100 Pro is EN15182 and MED (Marine Equipment Directive) approved and has endured rigorous testing and evaluation.
The new Pro Series Range also includes four low pressure models, the 500, 750, 750 HR and 1000 models. The Attack Pro 750 and 1000 nozzles provide high flows when large volumes of water are required delivering focused long range jets or spray and dense fog patterns, all easily achieved by the operator by simple adjustment of the ergonomic front bumper.
The Attack Pro Series has found favour amongst a wide range of industry sectors and is now in operational use in some of the biggest Fire and Rescue Services in the world. Thanks to the rugged design and exceptional resilience to harsh environments the Pro Series is also used by Defence Sectors, Oil & Gas Operators and multiple Industrial users.
Perhaps the most unique nozzle in the Pro Series range is the Attack 750 HR which has been designed in conjunction with Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service. This specialist High Rise Nozzle is arguably one of Delta’s best examples of technological enhancements in recent years. One of the main issues facing firefighters on upper floors of high rise buildings is diminishing inlet pressures which can seriously affect the nozzle performance at a critical time. The Attack 750 HR is a dual flow nozzle designed to provide 470 lpm at just 2½ bar pressure, ensuring that front-line firefighters have adequate water on upper floors when needed. A short rotation of the dial collar provides a secondary flow option of 270 lpm increasing the inlet pressure to ensure high performance in narrow angle spray gas cooling mode. Interest in the Attack Pro 750 HR from fire services has been significant and we’re confident this product will become a staple in high-rise hose deployment packs in the future.
Delta’s range of Specialist Fire Nozzles is also growing rapidly with a selection of products designed for the more uncommon applications. The multi-tip Smooth Bore provides solid jet performance via a choice of 15, 19 or 24mm tips. Delta’s Attack CAFS Nozzle is supplied complete with a detachable silencer and optional 0.5, 1.0 or 1.3 metre CAFS Lance. A Jet/Spray front end attachment is also available for both nozzles extending their versatility. The Attack Pro Aircraft De-Icing/Anti-Icing nozzles and Attack 100 Wildfire Nozzles are also widely used for these specialist applications and the bronze Marine Attack 500 provides the ultimate in harsh environment protection for off-shore users, a firm favourite on off-shore platforms and FPSO’s.
The Delta Fire range of hand-held professional fire nozzles is arguably one of the most comprehensive available today bringing together tried and trusted design concepts and incorporating the very latest in technological advancements. The changing face of the global fire sector will continue to demand innovation from manufacturers to meet the shifting needs of professional firefighters and Delta Fire are well placed to meet this demand head on.
Continued investment in people and technologies will provide a solid foundation for new developments into the future and we hope to further expand our range with a drive to maximise performance and perhaps most importantly to continually improve firefighter health and safety through innovation, collaboration and the use of new technology.
For more information, go to www.deltafire.co.uk
