Joel Jorgensen is vice president of sales and
customer services at Continental Girbau Inc. He
has more than 15 years of laundry industry experience. Here's what he
says about selecting a washer-extractor for the fire station.
What is the proper way to wash firefighter protective gear to
decontaminate it without damage?
Fire departments should follow manufacturers' recommendations and NFPA
1851 guidelines for the care and maintenance of protective apparel.
Soiled protective gear should be properly washed in a highly
programmable, front-load washer-extractor. A highly programmable washer
allows fire departments to easily alter how they wash gear based on
changing recommendations and fabric innovations. You want a washer that
can easily be programmed for today's gear or emerging protective fabrics
still on the horizon. Most fire departments then air-dry their gear,
which is an excellent way to further decontaminate it. Never put gear
into a top-load washer or drying tumbler.
When you say fire departments need a highly programmable washer, what
exactly do you mean?
Not all washer-extractors are created equal. A highly programmable
machine allows the user to program every variable of the wash process
such as extract speed, number of baths, water temperatures, water
levels, cylinder rotation options, mechanical action, wash time and
automatic chemical injection. By investing in a highly programmable
washer, fire departments can properly clean virtually any fabric type.
It sounds complicated, but it is really very easy. Once the machine is
programmed, the user just enters a code and presses start. The gear is
cleaned automatically and properly every time — with the right mix
of chemicals, water temperature, water levels and extract speed. So no
matter who is doing the wash, the load results are perfectly consistent
every time.
Aren't industrial front-load washers difficult to install? What about
fire departments that don't have extra room?
Soft-mount, or freestanding, washer-extractors are much simpler to
install than hard-mount washers. Hard-mount machines must be bolted to
reinforced concrete foundations, something many fire departments don't
have. A soft-mount washer slides into place without need of these
concrete foundations and bolts. We install Continental soft-mount
washers anywhere there is extra space, often in a truck bay or a storage
room. A soft-mount washer ensures that fire departments don't damage
in-floor radiant heat, as well.
Can washers qualify for grant dollars?
Because proper cleaning of protective gear is key to reducing risk to
firefighters, Continental washer-extractors often qualify for the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant
program. AFG grants are used by the nation's firefighters to increase
the effectiveness of firefighting and emergency response operations and
to improve firefighter health and safety programs. Fire departments can
apply online at firegrantsupport.com.
Are there other factors to consider when selecting laundry
equipment?
The truth is, selecting the right laundry equipment isn't easy. Work
with a reputable distributor who sells quality equipment and has
specific knowledge of the fire/EMS industry. You need to be sure your
equipment is appropriate for your department, energy-efficient, reliable
and backed by a manufacturer's warranty.
