Viking Z Seven

October 15, 2007 NFPA Compliant to 1981, 1982- 2007 Edition

Emphasize The Following Key Features:

Backframe: The two-piece backframe still keeps key components, the pressure reducer, bell alarm (which is close to the user’s ears), and the PASS alarm, protected inside the backframe. Because of the protection inside the backframe, the Z Seven passed the alarm decibel test using one alarm only. With only one alarm, power output is reduced.

Facemask: Simplicity in ordering with only three configurations (small, medium, and large) for each regulator, AirSwitch or RDV, option. Each version is CBRN compliant with a double-curve visor and Kevlar net head harness only.

New buzzword that keeps coming back: Air Management

Conserve air, do not mask up until absolutely necessary: Quote taken from an article in Fire Engineering Magazine from a NY Fire Academy Instructor. If this is a fire department’s SOP, we offer a very safe way of doing this with the AirSwitch facemask. “Instant On-Instant OFF”.

Nosecup: The newly designed nosecup fits all users. The inhalation ports have been redesigned to reduce CO2 build-up within the mask.

Electronic/Pneumatic Connection: The newly designed connection is easier to connect and disconnect from the Control Console. An upgrade is planned for the collar to be on the L/P connection to aid in disconnecting the facemask.

Control Console: The newly designed console meets the new NFPA Heat and Submersion tests. The console now has its own power supply, eliminating an electronic cable. The high-pressure hose connects to the console to air-activate the console and PASS. The hose has a restrictor at the first stage pressure reducer, which reduces, flow to 70 lpm. Six (6) AA batteries power the console. The batteries power the VAS, HUD, LED, Data Logging, Radio Transmissions and PASS motion sensor. The console and PASS send signals constantly in order to keep updating via the wireless network.

VAS: The voice amplification system (VAS) is voice activated. 10 presets allow the user to change the sensitivity on the facemask microphone to his or her individual preference. This customization will allow each user to communicate well without hearing a lot of breathing noise.

PASS: The personal alert safety system (PASS) is now divided into two components. The Control Console contains the motion sensor and data logging capability while the PASS alarm and board are inside the backframe. The alarm is above 95 decibels at 500˚ F and passes the muffle test with a fire fighter laying in different positions, facing left, right, and the fetal position with one PASS alarm. The PASS alarm has its own power supply which attaches flush to the backframe. This battery supply uses eight (8) AA batteries. The eight batteries are divided into two sets, four on each side, which operate independent of each other. As power decreases from one set of four batteries, the other set activates until the previous set of four has more power. These two sets of batteries switch back and forth until all eight batteries are low and must be replaced. PASS low battery is 5.0 v. Low battery indicator will activate at this voltage or one hour logged PASS alarm time including pre-alarm.

Future Upgrade: A motion sensor can be added if needed for added motion sensing capabilities.

Network Backup: During activation of the wireless network, the Control Console and PASS must communicate with each other. The LED’s on the console will be green. You must observe these lights upon startup. If the LED’s are red, the network is not communicating. If this happens, the PASS alarm will go into full alert in 30 seconds and will not shut down until the batteries are removed from the backframe. This is a safety backup - in case of a failure, the PASS alarm will activate. The reverse of this would be the PASS would never go into alarm if the network ever failed.

The wireless network that the PASS and Control Console communicate on is not Bluetooth. We are all familiar with this technology because of cell phones, PDAs, laptops, etc. These devices work great, but consume large amounts of power. You want your personal communication devices and computers to have the ability to send and receive pictures and video, which requires a more power-hungry network. Our network uses 50% less power than a Bluetooth network because we are transmitting raw data only. The data is for communicating motion and responding to time to pre-alarm and full alarm. We do not have the need for picture or video transfer; therefore we don’t require a Bluetooth network.

Electronic Updates: Over the last several years, we have made a number of improvements to our electronics. In the past, the black box had to be opened, and new programs installed and reinstalled. With the new wireless network on the Z Seven, software can be updated and reprogrammed by our network, using only a laptop computer and a wireless card. Any future software changes, or downloading the data logging of the PASS, will be done wirelessly. This means you won’t need any tools for these updates. The ease of use is a definite plus, especially considering the time it took to get to and open the black box for DXL updates. The new network will save you time and money.

This network was chosen because of its flexibility for upgrades. As the product grows and the interests for innovated technologies become available, the software can be uploaded to the Z Seven. Times are changing quickly and with the Z Seven platform, future upgrades are just a click away.

The Battery Question: Could the system run on fewer batteries? Yes, but you would be changing batteries every month and possibly sooner. Some things, such as NFPA, we have no control over. We developed a product that exceeds the NFPA standard. Developed a product where a customer replaces fewer batteries per year. We developed a product with a repairable Control Console and PASS device, not one sealed and untouchable. And this new product has two power sources. With the high output requirements of the PASS alarm, the eight AA batteries would be severely decreased if the same power had to also drive the HUD, VAS, data logging, and radio interface. The fire service is using more electronics than ever before, driven mainly by NFPA mandates. Battery power is going to be a big issue. We chose two power sources because of the future upgrades that will soon be available. We plan on having two new options (Talk-Around and Tracker) available by this time next year that will require power. If we did not have the two power sources, each accessory would have to be independently powered. Our goal is to keep the integration part of the Viking SCBA, and this is the support system we need in place in order for the integration to function. We chose a wireless network with the benefit of numerous possible wireless upgrades in the future. Upgrades like a compass, with software that can be downloaded into the SCBA within seconds, without a single tool ever touching the Viking. Think of the possibilities as more features and upgrades become available. And this is all possible by having six additional batteries attached to the console, increasing the size of the console by less than an inch. A fair trade-off, don’t you agree?

The Viking Z Seven is the new platform to take us into the future. It has the capability to be changed as the fire departments change. Tell us what you want, the Z Seven has the capability to do it today, and that includes the power resources to handle any integrated option.