As more manufacturers enter the battery powered PPV fan race, determining what fan is going to benefit the first responders the most may be difficult, especially when trying to do the same thing for many specialized tools and gear. Tools aren’t cheap though, and supporting the crew with tool selection that will truly help them get the job done safely and effectively can often times hold life in the balance.
The list of attributes the manufacturer may want to market can often times be long and not necessarily clear. Based on feedback and sales history we’ve experienced at BlowHard, when it comes to battery powered positive pressure ventilation fans, over-all we find the most value placed in 4 major areas: storage, deployment, performance, and maintenance.
Storage
Firefighters encounter many unique and challenging situations that require specialized tools that can ultimately mean the difference of life or death. At the same time, the space on the apparatus is limited, and decisions have to be made as to what tools can go in its compartments. Ultimately, the smaller the tools, the more tools can go into the compartment. BlowHard’s Ergo-fold design allows the fans to fold up and become very compact. When collapsed, BlowHard’s Quickee fan is one of the smallest battery-operated fans on the market, taking up the least amount of space on the apparatus. BlowHard’s Commando would be a midsized fan in the market and yet boasts the highest performing battery-operated fan on the market, the storage required relative to performance is impressive.
Deployment
The job-site of a firefighter is typically defined as hazardous terrain. The simple task of removing a PPV fan from the apparatus and transporting it to the area of operation may be full of obstacles and challenges. The fans that are light-weight and well balanced make them highly manoeuvrable, allowing any obstacles and challenges to be overcome more easily during transport. A very stable base will allow the fan to be deployed on an angled or uneven surface. And the ease and accuracy at which you can set up and direct airflow can allow more time to be spent on more important tasks. BlowHard’s Quickee is one of the most light-weight, well balanced, highly manoeuvrable fans available to firefighters. BlowHard’s Commando, while not as light, still is very manoeuvrable and portable for the performance it provides.
Performance
While other attributes are important in the use of a tool, performance is required for control. The positive pressure ventilation fan provides the necessary pressure to control ventilation of a structure. Ultimately, pressuring the structure allow firefighters to establish a strong flow path and drive air from the structure with control. The more air you can drive through the structure in the least amount of time is the most basic level of the fan’s performance. There are many things that can impact the level of this performance, and two major things are battery size and propeller size. The battery size directly corresponds with the amount of power you’re giving the fan, while the propeller size is area of air the fan power is interacting with, or thrusting. A larger propeller will provide a larger Jetstream, driving more air with it into the structure and driving up CFM or m3/h. In addition, the larger Jetstream covers more of the entrance opening, limiting the amount of pressure that can escape here and driving airflow through the structure. The larger the propeller, the larger the Jetstream, which forces more airflow through the structure for increased ventilation, all powered by a larger battery. The Quickee features a 20”/510mm propeller and nearly 540Wh battery. The Commando features a 24”/610mm propeller and nearly 1,040 Wh battery. There is no performance sacrificed with either of these fans, they are the top performing battery powered fans on the market.
Maintenance
The specialized tools firefighters use on a daily basis need to be dependable and ready to use on the next call. Fire departments dedicate time and energy checking and maintaining equipment so that they are confident it will be ready for use when the next time comes. BlowHard’s Quickee and Commando fans are IP-67, so spraying them down to clean them is not going to damage them. BlowHard’s battery management system has checks in place to ensure the battery is neither over-charged or over-discharged during charging and operation. BlowHard’s battery management system also performs maintenance for you in the background after charging is complete, giving first responders an optimized runtime on every call. And if there is an issue with your fan, BlowHard’s support team is there to make sure any issues are resolved in a timely manner and the fan is back in service just as quickly as possible.
Compounded Value
Our experience at BlowHard has shed light on the importance of each of the areas we’ve discussed. And while BlowHard has focused on addressing them, the true value is in the combined benefit the firefighter gets when each of these areas is maximized to its full potential. The BlowHard Quickee take less space on the apparatus than any other battery powered PPV fan, taking up less space than other 16”/410mm fans. It is also one of the lightest, most manoeuvrable fans on the market, you can practically carry it anywhere. Yet with its 20”/510mm propeller and powerful high-capacity integrated 540 W/h battery, it remains one of the top-performing battery powered fans on the market.
The BlowHard Commando also takes up less space than some 18”/460mm fans, and is lighter than some as well. Yet this fan is in a league of its own with its 24”/610mm propeller and whopping 1,040 Wh high- capacity integrated battery. This fan is ultra-versatile, able to handle most jobs, large and small. When turned to maximum power, the Commando can outperform many gas-powered fans. Or if you need less power, you can turn the power down to match the performance of the Quickee or other 20”/510mm fans (or smaller) and run for 3+ hours on one charge.
When the job is done with either the Quickee or Commando, give them a rinse if needed, plug them into the compartment power, and let them maintain themselves. It’s that simple. BlowHard’s complete focus to providing true value to the firefighters in the field has been unwavering, and the compounded benefit it provides is what ultimately sets us apart. We believe you should have your dessert and eat it to.
For more information please visit: www.blowhardfans.com
About the Author
Benjamin Hadlock is Vice President of BlowHard.
For nearly 10 years Benjamin has been a driving force in BlowHard’s strategic journey in the research and quantification of fan performance as part of product development. These efforts by BlowHard have redefined the capabilities of PPV fans, specifically with regard to overall fan effectiveness while leveraging the convenience and power of the latest battery technology. Helping to lead the quest to be a true service to the fire industry, he has been instrumental in the release of the new fan series using High Flow Jet Technology from BlowHard.
