Page 93 - Impiantistica Italiana

units controlled from one
or more control panels.
The largest system with
RCM monitors that I have
personally ever been invol-
ved to design and manu-
facture includes an opera-
tion & control station (plus
various local stations) that
controls 36 monitors pla-
ced on towers.
The above monitors can be supplied in several ver-
Monitors can be operated and moved thanks to: sions:
• the valve for feeding the monitor, that opens/ - for safe area
closes - for hazardous zone, explosion proof according to
• horizontal rotation movement (normally betwe- EXe or EXd or ATEX (for electrical equipment and
en 340° and 360°) for associated devices mounted with the monitor).
• vertical rotation movement (usually -75° + 80°)
• setting of stream control (in case of water noz- Moreover, the body can be made in stainless steel
zle the flow can be adjusted jet/fog, in case of or marine bronze and, in some cases, they can be
foam barrel with the possibility to change the made of a special alloy suitable for very low tempe-
shape of the jet) ratures (-35°C or even -40°C)
Monitors for fixed installation can be located on
Moreover, water network valves can be opened/ the top a pole or a platform with variable heights,
closed in order to activate the external cooling sy- usually between 6 and 25 meters, or they can even
stem for cooling poles and/or the safety escape be placed on tower of ships.
ways (as above mentioned). At the base of the pole (or platform) a control panel
can be installed, often in EXd execution, connected
Remote-controlled monitors come in three main to a console placed in a safe area on which all si-
types: gnals and controls of other monitors of the same
A) electrically operated (the most employed) type (RCM) are collected and the valves used for
B) electro-hydraulically operated (more utilized) controlling the water/foam line.
C) hydraulically operated (not used anymore due This kind of monitor is particularly suitable for fire
to the complicated and difficult maintenance risks such as docks and jetties.
that is required) In case of jetty protection, the fire appliance is not
limited to RCM but it also includes:
- escape ways for personnel (with relevant spray
nozzle net)
- hydrants, suitable to deliver water (for cooling,
sometimes the hydrant can be foam type and it
comes with relevant devices to product it)
- fire cabinets for hydrants (stainless steel or
GRP made) complete with all accessories (ho-
ses, nozzles, etc.)
- large size hose reels (1 ½” x 30 or 40 mt not
kinkable hoses) able to spray water or foam
thanks to a built-in foam concentrate tank
(usually of 200 lt capacity)

In relation with electrically operated RCM the water
feeding is made through a water pumping station,
activated by the control panels and all the opera-
tions are controlled by the same main control panel.
This kind of system is really reliable, it quickly provi-
des action thanks to electrical remote controlled de-
vices. It does not need any particular maintenance.
The console can be installed also 250-300 meters
away from the monitor, thus allowing the operator
to interface by a local control panel or even by a
master control panel and sometimes the monitors
Remote controlled fire monitor to be fixed on top of pole can be wireless controlled.

Impiantistica Italiana - Luglio-Agosto 2017 91