Joel Jorgensen is vice president of sales and customer
services at Continental Girbau Inc. He has 17 years of laundry industry
experience. Here are his thoughts on choosing the right washer-extractor
for your fire station.
A growing number of municipalities across the country are developing
“green” fire stations, especially in the case of new construction.
How does laundry equipment fit into a fire department’s green
initiative?
It’s true. More fire departments are looking to go green, and laundry
equipment plays a big part in making this happen. Continental
freestanding washer-extractors are not only manufactured in an
environmentally friendly manner, they are very energy-efficient —
using less natural gas, water and electricity. Consider this: A top-load
washer uses around 40 gallons of water per load. By comparison, a
20-pound-capacity Continental freestanding washer uses as little as 13.4
gallons while providing superior results. Simultaneously, the washer
cuts gas and electricity usage for big yearly savings.
When new fire stations are being designed, many municipalities will
refer to the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System. LEED is a
nationally accepted benchmark for measuring the sustainability of
“green” buildings. LEED recognizes performance in five areas of
human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water
savings, energy-efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental
quality. Continental freestanding washer-extractors help to earn LEED
credits because of their efficiency.
It’s important to use efficient equipment, but first and foremost
a washer must properly clean firefighter gear. What is the proper way to
wash firefighter protective gear to decontaminate it without damage?
Be sure to follow manufacturers’ recommendations and NFPA 1851
guidelines for the care and maintenance of protective apparel. Dirty
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
gear 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 after washing. 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?
Think of it as an additional insurance policy. Every time you load two
or three sets of gear into the washer, you are loading several thousand
dollars worth of equipment. You need to make sure it is cleaned right
and a highly programmable washer ensures that–regardless of the fabric
type. The control allows the user to program every variable of the wash
process, such as extract speed (from 2 up to 387 G-force), number of
baths, specific water temperatures, water levels, cylinder rotation
options, mechanical action, wash time and automatic injection of very
specific types and quantities of chemicals. 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?
Hard-mount, front-load washers are difficult to install, but soft-mount
(freestanding), front-load washers slide into place without need for
concrete foundations and bolts. Continental soft-mount washers are
installed 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?
Definitely. Because proper cleaning of protective gear is key to
reducing risk to firefighters, Continental washer-extractors qualify for
the Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant
(AFG) 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 www.firegrantsupport.com.
Are there other factors to consider when selecting laundry
equipment?
It isn’t easy to select the right laundry equipment. 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. For a list of great distributors
in your area go to www.continentalgirbau.com.
