Protection protocols in practice with ZIEGLER
Iain Hoey
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Timm Stuck-Winkler, Head of Sales Germany North at ZIEGLER, provides insight into how the GW-Hygiene vehicle’s design improves hygiene practices
ZIEGLER has recently supplied a new GW-Hygiene vehicle to the Lünen Fire Department, aiming to enhance firefighter safety by supporting effective decontamination after exposure to hazardous substances.
The vehicle features separate areas for contaminated and clean materials, improving hygiene at the scene.
Its innovative design helps maintain operational readiness while prioritising firefighter health.
This interview will look at why the GW-Hygiene vehicle is so important.
What makes the GW-Hygiene vehicle different from standard fire service vehicles?
The GW Hygiene is a vehicle that is not used for direct damage control during operations, but specifically to protect the emergency services and to restore the operational readiness of personnel.
How does this vehicle improve firefighter safety during decontamination?
In the past, firefighters often continued to work in their contaminated protective clothing for a long time after the operation to carry out the necessary follow-up work.
As a result, the damage caused by smoke gases and soot in the clothing is a health hazard and a high burden for the person.
The ability to change clothing at the scene of the incident greatly reduces the risk of damage to health from smoke gases.
Can you explain the importance of separating contaminated and clean materials inside the vehicle?
The spatial separation of black and white in the vehicle and the possibility of isolating the contaminated clothing in the black area and removing it directly via a separate extraction point outside the vehicle greatly reduces contact and exposure time to the hazardous smoke gases, which can be carcinogenic in the long term and prevents the spread of contamination.
How does the vehicle support the overall hygiene strategy of a fire department?
The vehicle supplements the vehicle fleet with a vehicle that is available specifically for the protection of the emergency services.
No stationary decontamination stations need to be set up.
A protected room is also available for the emergency services to recover and restore their operational readiness.
What role does water filtration play in the vehicle’s operation?
The UV filter installed in the vehicle’s internal water supply line allows the fresh water to be sterilised again.
Due to the hygiene requirements for drinking water, a wash water tank was explicitly omitted from the planning for the vehicle.
According to the interpretation of the studies, it is sufficient to wash the potentially exposed areas in the transition areas of the protective clothing, such as the neck, wrists and lower legs and only shower at the locations.
The water supply for the vehicle is provided directly via a connection hose at a hydrant.
How does the vehicle ensure quick setup and efficiency during emergencies?
The vehicle is ready for use within a few minutes of arriving at the scene.
Only the water supply needs to be established and, if necessary, a power supply.
Thanks to a built-in 24V/230V inverter, the vehicle can also be operated autonomously for a certain period of time without an external power supply
What are the key benefits of having a designated recovery space for firefighters in the vehicle?
The emergency services can stay in a room that is protected from the weather and pollutants.
The vehicle also serves as a service point at emergency scenes and as a place where emergency crews can regenerate after working at peak physical performance to regain their operational readiness.
How does the vehicle assist in reducing contamination at the scene of an incident?
In addition to the change of clothing and rough cleaning of the emergency crews, equipment such as measuring devices etc.
can be cleaned to a certain extent and returned to use.
By carrying emergency equipment and personal protective equipment in the cargo hold on roll containers, the operation can be continued continuously at the scene of the accident with decontaminated
What operational feedback have you received from the Lünen Fire Department so far?
After a project phase lasting around six months, a hygiene vehicle was put out to tender and the contract was awarded to ZIEGLER in July 2022.
After a good two-year construction phase, the vehicle was accepted and picked up on 26 June 2024.
The emergency crews are currently being familiarised and trained with the vehicle.
In the future, the vehicle will be alerted and towed immediately when the second breathing apparatus unit is deployed.
A set of replacement clothing is kept in the fire engine for small operations with short deployment times for the 1st unit.
Do you anticipate a growing demand for hygiene-focused vehicles like this in fire departments across the region?
There will be more and more national and international regulations to protect emergency services from so-called “fire cancer”.
In order to fulfil these requirements, more and more tenders are being invited for hygiene vehicles for use.
An increased demand has already been recognised in Germany for several years.
In line with our brand promise “ZIEGLER – We provide security”, we will continue to develop our product further together with fire services and users and provide customised solutions for hygiene protection during operations.
