Safety First

At ThyssenKrupp Nirosta in Dillenburg, the staff quarters have been outfitted with cabinets from C+P, because their facility equipment programme is versatile, stylish and sturdy. So what could have been more logical than using C+P products for the locker rooms of the plant fire brigade as well? However, the "Evolo" special product range has more to offer than just a red version of the traditional locker. Tobias Walter, Head of Product Marketing at C+P, contributed his own personal experience as a firefighter to the development of a special system. "A height of 1,700 mm is inadequate for storing your clothes, helmet, and equipment," was his conclusion. "Locker-top helmet racks are a poor solution. Also, the width (300–400 mm) and depth (500 mm) of standard compartments is not sufficient for allowing our working clothes to dry properly." Consequently, the Evolo elements measure 1,850 mm in height, 500 mm in width, and 600 mm in depth.

To provide each firefighter not only with his own locker, but also with enough space for changing his clothes, the locker elements – painted flaming red, needless to say – have been grouped in several blocks and mounted on a tiled plinth. Of course the lockers could also be put on sturdy metal feet or wall-mounted, but in this case the plinth version was preferred, because it makes cleaning easier and small items cannot slide under the lockers, so the firefighters do not have to spend their energy (and time) to retrieve them.

The open locker room sections are interspersed with closed material storage cabinets with end-to-end doors in "Nirosta" silver, in line with the company's product range. On demand, these cabinets can easily be converted into additional lockers. These compartments have a clothes rail that offers plenty of space to hang a firefighter's uniform, so the air can circulate freely around any moist items of clothing. A row of hooks attached on one side accommodates accessories such as safety straps, rescue lines, or an air mask, and below the uniform there is ample space for the firefighter's boots. A helmet shelf has been integrated above the rail, and next to it there is a lockable compartment for personal valuables.

To save precious time, the firefighters can just drop their wallets, keys, and other small items through a slot above the compartment door. Inside, a foam rubber mat cushions the impact, and thus everything is safely stowed away.

To protect the stored valuable items against unauthorised access, the compartments are equipped with number-coded locks by Burg. Each user defines his/her own personal code, which will allow them to retrieve their personal belongings after an assignment is completed. The advantage is obvious: even in hectic and stressful situations, instead of worrying about a key, they can focus on the task ahead.

An automatic reset function ensures that the personal code number cannot be gleaned by anyone else – as soon as the compartment is opened, all digits go back to zero. On the other hand, there's a master key function, allowing all compartments to be accessed by one specially authorised person.
Yet another detail has been considered while visualising a typical situation in a locker room full of people changing their clothes in a hurry. In case the valuables compartment is not closed, the open door will not present a safety hazard. The entire compartment is set a little deeper inside the locker frame, so the door won't jut out over the edge even when opened at a 90° angle. Bottom line: The fire brigade takes care of public safety. C+P and Burg have teamed up to take care about the firefighters' safety. A comforting thought.