Centennial, CO, 10 December 2024: Firefighters are dependent on safe air supplies to perform their job - Hexagon Digital Wave, a leading provider of innovative safety solutions, Denny’s Fire Control, a renowned supplier of fire protection equipment, and The Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI), the oldest continuous fire training institution in the United States, have joined forces to make Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) cylinder life extension technology more accessible to the fire service community.

The most reliable and cost-efficient testing method

SCBA cylinders used in firefighting must be requalified every 5 years to stay in service. Certified by the US Department of Transportation and Transport Canada, Modal Acoustic Emission (MAE) technology is considered the most accurate method for inspecting these cylinders.

Hexagon Digital Wave’s cutting-edge Modal Acoustic Emission technology uses sensors to test the cylinders and brings three main benefits:

• Non-destructive: does not damage the material being tested.
• Safety: detects very small defects or changes in the material.
• Cost: the only technology in North America approved to extend SCBA cylinder life from 15 to 30 years

This technology will help to ensure the functional and structural integrity of SCBA cylinders, leading to improved safety for firefighters. Regulatory agencies have approved SCBA testing with Modal Acoustic Emission as the most reliable method for detecting critical defects, and Hexagon Digital Wave has to date performed life-extension services on over 15,000 cylinders using MAE.

“We are excited to collaborate with Denny’s Fire Control and IFSI to expand our groundbreaking technology,” says George Siedlecki, CEO at Hexagon Digital Wave. “By working together, we can make a significant impact on firefighter safety and the sustainability of the fire service industry.”

About the partnership

Denny’s Fire Control, with its extensive experience in the fire protection industry, will provide expertise and a distribution network to ensure widespread adoption of SCBA cylinder life extension.

“We believe that this technology has the potential to revolutionize the way fire departments manage their SCBA equipment,” says Bob Martinelli, Division Manager at Denny’s Fire Control.

The Illinois Fire Service Institute will play a crucial role in educating and training firefighters on the benefits and proper use of this innovative technology. IFSI’s commitment to firefighter safety and professional development aligns perfectly with the goals of this partnership.

“The Illinois Fire Service Institute is committed to providing firefighters with the tools and knowledge they need to succeed,” says Tim Walsh, Director of Corporate Relations, Development, and Community Engagement at the Illinois Fire Service Institute. “We are thrilled to be part of this partnership and to help promote the adoption of this innovative technology.”

For more information:

Will Morrison, National Sales Lead, Hexagon Digital Wave
Telephone: 303 718 9897| will.morrison@hexagondigitalwave.com

Bob Martinelli, Division Manager, Denny’s Fire Control
Telephone: 847 623 6883 | bob.martinelli@dennysfirecontrol.com

Tim Walsh, Director Corporate Relations, Development, and Community Engagement, Illinois Fire Service Institute, Telephone: 773 484 7439 | tmwalsh@illinois.edu

About Hexagon Digital Wave
Hexagon Digital Wave, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hexagon Composites ASA, is a global leader in providing digital solutions for the industrial sector. With a focus on data-driven insights and automation, Hexagon helps customers improve efficiency, productivity, and safety. For more information, visit our website.

About Denny’s Fire Control
Denny’s Fire Control is an employee-owned full-service fire extinguisher company. For over 40 years, we have been meeting the Fire Safety needs of Northeastern Illinois and Southeastern Wisconsin. We provide high-quality extinguishers and services to help you stay compliant, but more than that – we want to help you be prepared to protect your people, property, and productivity. For more information, visit our website.

About The Illinois Fire Service Institute
The Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI) is the statutory State Fire Academy for Illinois. It serves as the oldest continuous fire training institution in the United States. Since 1925, first responders from across the state and world have relied on IFSI to deliver hands-on, innovative, and top-quality training, education, and research. Our Mission: Helping Firefighters Do Their Work Through Training, Education, Information, and Research. For more information, visit our website.