A fire monitor is an aimable controllable high-capacity water jet used for manual firefighting. Fire monitors are often designed to accommodate foam which has been injected in the upstream piping. Fire monitors are often fitted to fire boats and on top of large firetrucks for use in manual fire fighting efforts. Apparatus-mounted fire monitors can be directed by a single firefighter and can pump up to, and sometimes over, 2000 gallons per minute (126 litres per second).
Monitors spend most of their lives static and lifeless. But when a fire is detected they can often be the only practical way of applying foam or water to the fire.
While simple in principle, monitors are sophisticated pieces of engineering made to deliver a specific performance after long periods of inactivity. Like many engineering challenges the design of a monitor can take many forms depending on the specific hazard it is intended to protect and the
mechanism and method of operation the designer uses to achieve the final layout. When designing a monitor the manufacturer must balance performance, operational life and ease of use against cost.
The installation of fixed monitors, or the provision of mobile or portable monitors, is usually the outcome of a careful analysis of the fire risk and the realization that without planning in advance fighting any subsequent fire will present difficulties. It is essential therefore, that monitors are robust and will have a long service life, even under adverse conditions.
Silvani monitors are used to apply water, foam or dual agents wherever there are large quantities of flammable or combustible liquids. Common applications include storage and process areas in the oil and petrochemical sectors. In the transportation sector, Silvani monitors are found on shipping and loading jetties, airport crash tenders, aircraft hangars and helicopter landing areas. Monitors catering for all these different applications are available in a wide array of designs, sizes, materials and nozzle configurations.