For Ziamatic, Meeting High Standards is the Norm

When it comes to meeting high standards, Ziamatic hits the mark.  For over 50 years, Ziamatic has combined thoughtful design and smart engineering with high quality materials to provide cutting-edge tools and equipment to the fire service and EMS industries. New products are put through rigorous and extensive in-house and third-party testing to confirm they meet the highest standards of safety and durability.

Many of Ziamatic’s firefighting related products meet standards set forth by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), while many of its EMS products comply to standards set by SAE, the professional association and standards developing organization for engineering professionals in various industries.

The standards set by both organizations are important because compliance to them, while not mandatory, is ultimately meant to ensure safety for the end users. For example, Zico’s Manual Vehicle Steps meet NFPA requirements for slip resistance and static load. Zico’s 5 lb. Fire Extinguisher Brackets meet the standards set forth by SAE’s standard J3043, which provides manufacturers with testing procedures that can help to produce mounting equipment that keeps items secured in an ambulance in the event of a collision.

Many EMS and fire departments follow the suggestions of SAE and the NFPA, according to Keith Creely, VP of Ziamatic Corp. According to the NFPA website, NFPA standards are revised and updated every three to five years. Many of ZICO’s fire products fall under NFPA recommendations, from the Horizontal Ladder Access System (HLAS) to the SURE-Grip Tool and Equipment mounting product line. For the fire industry, Ziamatic tests to NFPA recommendations and exceeds what it calls for, which assures a very good safety factor, according to Creely.

So, what goes into the testing? According to Creely, Ziamatic has designed tensile testing units to test in house, new product or product that has seen a change in compliant load rating. Testing includes drop testing, static load pull-testing, and dynamic load testing.

“Ziamatic is known for, and wants to continue to be known for being a trusted and safe option for equipment mounting and systems manufacturing,” said Creely. “We design products to be safe and long lasting. NFPA and SAE are good guidelines to help obtain these results and they are necessary for us to comply to due to the large demand for proof of compliancy.”

According to Creely, the impact of the SAE standards can be two-fold. They are suggested for the safety of both the occupants and those travelling on the same road in separate vehicles.

“The EMS standard for pressurized cylinders suggest to mount them with a restraint system that can retain to a specific G force or better,” Creely said. “It is thought that if a pressurized cylinder comes loose at any point, it can break the valve and become a missile like projectile, endangering those in the vehicle and those surrounding.”

According to Creely, an example of this is illustrated by the SAE standard met by Ziamatic’s Slide Out Flip Down Assembly (Model SOFD-2). This falls under pressurized cylinder retention. According to Creely, Interpretation is sometimes challenging, but in short, Ziamatic needed to test dynamically or statically to a certain load rating to be compliant to SAE.

“The cylinder must stay fixed to the retention unit/bracket within a specific time line when both increasing and decreasing loads,” said Creely. “Although, if the whole system releases from the vehicle surface, one would have a serious issue also. This is where the installer needs to assure that the vehicle mounting surface is ridged enough to withstand the loads calculated with the weights of all components and the cylinder, and that the fasteners used are rated for those loads.”

According to its website, SAE International has over 138,000 global members, with membership granted to individuals, rather than companies. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), according to its website, has 50,000 members and 9,000 volunteers working with the organization through its 250 technical committees. Standards from both organizations are adopted and used throughout the world. Visit NFPA.org and SAE.org for more information.

Through inspired design and extensive product testing, Ziamatic has provided first responders with quality tools and equipment they need to make their jobs safer, easier, and more efficient. For more information, visit Ziamatic.com.