Optional Associated Products and Published Articles

Foundation Anchor System

The Foundation Anchor System (FAS) was developed specifically for the secure mountingOf the PAST device. It is a heavy-duty welded steel rebar assembly that facilitates the secure installation of the PAST Trainer to a newly-constructed concrete foundation.  It has integrated anchor bolts, and  it is placed into the concrete foundation while the concrete is curing.

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When the concrete has cured, which can take up to 5 to 7 days depending on the size of the pad, the weather, how much sunlight is present, etc., the anchor bolts protrude above the surface of the concrete for precise and secure attachment to the concrete foundation. because the holes in the PAST Trainer’s front base plates mate perfectly with the integrated anchor bolts.

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Aluminum Penetration Panels

One set of four aluminum panels (a complete covering) is delivered installed on the PAST Trainer.  We do this for three reasons: 1) to protect the underlying penetration structure to which the panels are attached,  2) so users can see how the panels fir the curved penetration structure, and 3) so users are able to begin using the Trainer as soon as it is installed on its foundation. Spare panels may be purchased along with the PAST Trainer, and replacement panels may be ordered thereafter as needed.  The high quality aviation-grade aluminum penetration panels are easily removed, relocated, and replaced on the PAST Trainer’s penetration structure.  Original

past_panelsquality spare panels and replacement panels are sold in sets of four panels.  When spare panels are ordered to be delivered with the PAST Trainer the buyer saves money because there is no additional shipping and handling cost on up to eight sets of panels.  The reason is freight companies charge for the amount of space taken up in their freight truck, and we secure all of the spare panels to a temporary wooden platform attached within  the PAST Trainer’s I-beams, so no additional volume is added, and no additional truck space is required.

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The curvature and precise fit of the panels on the underlying penetration structure enable easy and fast removal and installation of the panels, and the precise fit minimizes friction, drag, and buckling of the panels during penetration and extraction of the HRET tip.  That prevents damage to the panels as well as to your HRET equipment.

It is extremely important that panels made of aircraft-grade aluminum be used on the PAST Trainer.  If panels made of thinner aluminum are used the users will not obtain a realistic penetration training experience.  The reason is thinner aluminum is easier to penetrate than aircraft-grade aluminum, so in an actual aircraft fire emergency an HRET boom operator who has been performing penetrations on panels made of thinner aluminum will likely find that penetrating the aircraft fuselage is very different than expected because it will be  much more difficult than it has been in their training.  It is extremely important firefighters receive the best possible HRET penetration training to prepare them to quickly and accurately penetrate the fuselage.

APS authored three articles for publication in the “ARFF News” for the purpose of providing enhanced guidance and information intended to maximize PAST Trainer users’, and users of other trainers utilizing aircraft-grade aluminum surfaces, experience in their HRET penetration training and certification. We will add all three articles here after each article is published.

The following article is the first article published, and is reprinted here with permission from the ARFF Working Group.  Originally published in the May/June 2016 issue of the ARFF News (Published August 2016):

Article Title: “The Best Time to Replace an Aluminum Panel on Your PAST Trainer”, and other Important Information.

Double Click to open the following link to this article:

ARFF News 2016 #3 MayJun Vendors Corner