Event Title
Stop Burning Down the House Bellingham Fire Department Nozzle Design Project
Research Mentor(s)
Leonhardt, Eric
Description
The Bellingham Fire Department approached the Vehicle Research Institute to design and build a prototype nozzle extension that would allow firefighters to approach a fire in a high rise building from the floor directly below the fire. Inspired by a design proposed by the New York Fire Department, Bellingham Station No. 3's Captain Mark Brennan and his team wanted a rugged, lightweight tool that could be supported on a window ledge. A team of vehicle design students collaborated with the firefighters and a mechanical engineering student from Stanford to determine requirements, calculate flow rates, and estimate loading conditions. The vehicle students designed and built one adjustable nozzle extension before building a final prototype. Testing was performed at Station No. 3 and at a Whatcom County test facility off of Highway 542.
Document Type
Event
Start Date
May 2020
End Date
May 2020
Department
Engineering and Design, Vehicle Design
Genre/Form
student projects, posters
Type
Image
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author’s written permission.
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Stop Burning Down the House Bellingham Fire Department Nozzle Design Project
The Bellingham Fire Department approached the Vehicle Research Institute to design and build a prototype nozzle extension that would allow firefighters to approach a fire in a high rise building from the floor directly below the fire. Inspired by a design proposed by the New York Fire Department, Bellingham Station No. 3's Captain Mark Brennan and his team wanted a rugged, lightweight tool that could be supported on a window ledge. A team of vehicle design students collaborated with the firefighters and a mechanical engineering student from Stanford to determine requirements, calculate flow rates, and estimate loading conditions. The vehicle students designed and built one adjustable nozzle extension before building a final prototype. Testing was performed at Station No. 3 and at a Whatcom County test facility off of Highway 542.