Improving the reliability of hooded rescue devices for fire rescues by introducing a break-resistant protector

This article examines the failure of quick-release couplings in hooded rescue devices at the nozzle-hose junction when connected to compressed air breathing apparatus in non-breathable environments. It has been established that the use of personal hand protection significantly reduces the muscular strength and tactile sensitivity of smoke and gas protection workers, leading to kinking and damage to the hoses at the connection point. To address this issue, the authors developed a specialized anti-kink protector that protects the nozzle-hose junction from mechanical overload. A finite element strength analysis of the design confirmed its strength under operating loads. A prototype anti-kink protector was manufactured using additive manufacturing. The practical significance of this work lies in increasing the fault tolerance of equipment and addressing the issue of ensuring evacuation, rescue, and human behavior at protected sites. A study was conducted at the indoor sports complex of the Ivanovo Fire and Rescue Academy of the State Fire Service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia to evaluate the practical application of a break-resistant protector. Experimental studies, both with and without a break-resistant protector, revealed that the presence of a break-resistant protector on the quick-release coupling of a rescue device reduces the failure rate from 31% to 2%, a reduction of more than 15 times.