Customising your fleet: Fire safety options
In the coming issues of Eagle Eye, we’ll highlight some of these options – some familiar and perhaps some you haven't yet considered – to help you make the most of the customisation possibilities.
The refuse collection industry faces fire safety challenges, with the nature of the materials collected and improper disposal contributing to such risks. To support rapid response in these critical scenarios, Dennis Eagle provides several fire extinguishing and suppression system options for its RCVs.
“The installation of fire extinguishers is a simple solution for customers wanting to incorporate additional fire safety measures on their RCVs,” explains technical sales support engineer, Tess Jones. “Fire extinguishers can be fitted internally within the cab or externally to be within each reach.”
For most customers dry powder fire extinguishers, which are suitable for most potential fire scenarios including battery fires, is the most common option chosen. A foam version, typically used for flammable solids and liquids, is also available
Dennis Eagle RCVs can also be fitted with a fire hydrant point. Rather than containing extinguishing materials, steel pipes are installed at the front of the body, which extend up and over the roof. Providing clear access, fire hydrant points are designed to allow fire services to quickly and easily connect a water supply to help extinguish flames in the case of a fire.
One customer that has enhanced its fleet with the addition of individual battery recycling boxes is South Kesteven District Council (SKDC).
In place since September 2024, the idea is to reduce the risk of fires in bin lorries, keep bin crews safe, support SKDC’s climate action goals and improve recycling.
Batteries and single use vapes are collected where they are separated from regular waste and left in a clear, see-through bag on everyone’s regular bin day, whether it’s recycling or black bin week.
Cabinet Member for Environment and Waste, Cllr Rhys Baker, adds “This service is available every week to all residential addresses with a wheelie bin, with the battery bags emptied into a separate container attached to each bin lorry. There’s no extra cost to householders for this.”
“The fire safety issues we have experienced is a real danger to crews: when batteries are thrown away in the bin with your other household waste and recycling, they are likely to be crushed or punctured in the bin lorry or at the processing centre.”
“As well as specifying these fire safety options on new vehicles, both fire extinguishers and fire hydrant points can be retrofitted to existing customer models,” Tess confirms. “We continue to expand our systems to support fire safety now and for the future, so stay tuned for more innovations coming down the pipeline.”
When it comes to customisation options, no ask is too big or too small for the Dennis Eagle team. “We love working closely with our customers to ensure their Dennis Eagle fleet meets their specific requirements,” enthuses Tess. “There is no strange request, so we encourage people to speak with our sales teams about options. Often within the public sector, niche or ‘nice to have’ ideas may not be included in the tender framework, so many of Dennis Eagle’s options may not be discussed during the tender process. These options can have significant time-saving benefits or make operation even easier for teams on the ground, so please let us know about the functionality that is important to you. The Dennis Eagle engineering team will investigate to find the best solution for you, your teams and your communities.”
