Majoring design student. What would you like me to design for you?

[BlakeR]

Hi Guys
Hope you don’t mind that I have posted this thread but would love some feedback on a topic I’m playing around with. I see someone else posted a thread about design the perfect glove? Well I’m not in the fire service but I am a majoring design student and I admire the work you guys do. Here is my situation

I’m currently a final year Industrial Design student studying at Massey University in Wellington, New Zealand. I’m about to embark on a yearlong study involving the design of a product for a particular problem within an industry. This includes researching, designing, developing, testing and building the product. I’m still very much in the early stages but very much interested in the firefighting industry.

One product of particularly interest is backpack mounted extinguishers, used within the fire service for mostly dampening down hotspots from bush fires and mop-up operations by ground personnel. Consisting of a water bladder and hand pump, an industrial design perspective is they come across as poorly designed products lacking ergonomic consideration, user experience and aesthetics. The aesthetics in my opinion drastically miss represent the efforts you people put into your job, which I feel can be corrected through good design. I understand the extinguishers are worn for long periods of time while tramping through rough terrain in harsh conditions, an experience that could also be much more efficient and comfortable through good design.

The point of this Thread is to try and establish a discussion with you guys who have experience using these products. To my knowledge they have also been referred to as “smokechasers” in the states. What I’m after is your opinion from experiencing this product as well as your thoughts. Weather you feel it’s uncomfortable and inadequate or you find it successful and don’t have a problem using it?

I understand your time is precious but I would greatly appreciate any feedback.

Cheers

P.S. I’m interested in the fire service industry in general and if anyone has any suggestions for the redesign of any equipment or possibly new equipment you would like to see designed feel free to post them up.

[PellattFire]

Hi Guys
Hope you don’t mind that I have posted this thread but would love some feedback on a topic I’m playing around with. I see someone else posted a thread about design the perfect glove? Well I’m not in the fire service but I am a majoring design student and I admire the work you guys do. Here is my situation

I’m currently a final year Industrial Design student studying at Massey University in Wellington, New Zealand. I’m about to embark on a yearlong study involving the design of a product for a particular problem within an industry. This includes researching, designing, developing, testing and building the product. I’m still very much in the early stages but very much interested in the firefighting industry.

One product of particularly interest is backpack mounted extinguishers, used within the fire service for mostly dampening down hotspots from bush fires and mop-up operations by ground personnel. Consisting of a water bladder and hand pump, an industrial design perspective is they come across as poorly designed products lacking ergonomic consideration, user experience and aesthetics. The aesthetics in my opinion drastically miss represent the efforts you people put into your job, which I feel can be corrected through good design. I understand the extinguishers are worn for long periods of time while tramping through rough terrain in harsh conditions, an experience that could also be much more efficient and comfortable through good design.

The point of this Thread is to try and establish a discussion with you guys who have experience using these products. To my knowledge they have also been referred to as “smokechasers” in the states. What I’m after is your opinion from experiencing this product as well as your thoughts. Weather you feel it’s uncomfortable and inadequate or you find it successful and don’t have a problem using it?

I understand your time is precious but I would greatly appreciate any feedback.

Cheers

P.S. I’m interested in the fire service industry in general and if anyone has any suggestions for the redesign of any equipment or possibly new equipment you would like to see designed feel free to post them up.
Fantastic!
It's bout time someone took this on again.
The recent ones that consist of a bladder that fills out when water is added are a huge advancement over what we were recently using but still need serious tweaking as you mention.
By the way we call these pi$$ pumps for obvious reasons.
There are a million names for them though so be prepared for everyone to call them something different.

Some considerations I would like addressed,
1)something that is designed to stay open when filling
Most of these will stay open if you fill them when they are on the ground but try that when you are filling them from the outlet of a truck/tanker 3-4 feet off the ground and it becomes messy and wasteful.

2)strap connections that are easily disconnected from either side to remove a full (or empty) unit easily.
When these units are full it can be difficult to disconnect one of the straps to allow for removing and lowering the unit. The release mechanism should be away from the bladder by a few inches to make for easy access for one person.
3)More ergonomic handle

The handle and pumping action always seemed awkward to me and some material that is easier on the hand for all day use would be great like that non slip silicone rubber or something.
A bonus is that some of the new silicones are more heat resistant.

4)nozzle that has a switch between spray and jet.
Now most of them come with a little metal flap that you compress to mak a spray or fan pattern.
I would love to see that integrated into the nozzle better for less strain on the thumb when using for long periods.

That's a start but I have yo get to work now.
PM me if you would like for more or have questions about my suggestions.

Thanks for taking this on and good luck it's about time for updated design on these pumps.

Edit to add:
5)more flexible hose
When trying to pack these away in the truck it is the hose and pump that are the hardest to make fit.
Something a little more flexible or even a hose that holds a coil shape until extended would be better and easier(read take less space) when packing away till the next fire.

[CrazyLadder]

How about a light weight, battery operated pump so that you don't have to pump the pump. If you have ever had one filled on your back you can't help but notice the amount of water that goes down your neck is equal to the amount that goes in the tank, how about some kind of quick connect fill connection that fastens to the pump handle or hose that can be used without taking the tank off.
P.S. We will take 50% of all sales profit. ;-)

[PellattFire]

6) quick disconnect for hose/pump/nozzle assembly so it can be put in the tank for storage
7)quick drain at bottom corner of tank to drain for stowing and for winter storage
8) to add to CrazyLadders post an adapter that can go over a 2.5" outlet on a pumper for quick fills with less spillage. Something like a 3" tube with a rubber or elasticized end that fits over the threads on the outlet.

Heck, maybe I need to make a few of these things myself. :)

[BlakeR]

Brilliant thanks for your thoughts guys, it’s really good. From a designers perspective I thought this product needed development so your suggestions are really helpful. Our first four months are purely research based so my outcome should be a highly efficient and absolutely suited product to you and your work. Keep the suggestions flowing and as my process develops ill post up sketches and concepts so you can see how your suggestions develop into a product.
Cheers.

[Bubba]

Have yet to see a bladder model, ours are all still a hard plastic tank (better than the old metal ones), one thing I would mention is a wider firmer shoulder strap, so they don't dig into you so much. Otherwise an ergonomic adjustable frame so that the hip belt can actually ride on the hip would be nice, being 6'6" and one of the larger guys on the crew its a real pain trying to make the piss can sit right on the hip, and when you do then the shoulder straps dig in even worse.
Good luck there BlakeR :cool:

[fire16]

All advancements will cost. Pi$$ paks are so suseptlble to damage, they are almost *disposable*. Any kind of hip belt on the bladder type, with padded shoulder straps would be an improvement.

[PellattFire]

All advancements will cost. Pi$$ paks are so suseptlble to damage, they are almost *disposable*. Any kind of hip belt on the bladder type, with padded shoulder straps would be an improvement.
I agree but We would pay more for a pi$$ pack that could be used more effectively, be safer and more comfortable to wear, was built to last with replacement parts that are easily exchanged in the field from a parts kit.
Similar to the Wajax kit most of us carry.
Wajax's are great and built to be very usable from a design perspective but there are certain areas of a gasoline powered Wajax pump that are prone to failure due to damage, loss, or wear. The simple kit with those parts has kind of made them a wildfire standard.

We carry a few(3-4) pi$$ packs in each pumper and tanker during the summer months. a kit with common spare parts for two packs would go a long way to not only making the units more reliable in the field but build a brand preference due to an investment in the maintenance kits.
Right now if a part breaks you look in the pile and if one of the other units has a serviceable replacement part it gets put back in service. If not it goes on the pile.

[Bubba]

would be some kind of sex swing to hang off the quint/squirt ;)
... should be no problem finding R&D volunteers !
ha ha JK, well not really.