Fire Engineering Training Community

Where firefighters come to talk training

We have a Carmody Combustible Hazards training kit that we found in our training locker and we would really like to use it. The problem is that there are no instructions with the kit. I have done a search on Google and other web sites and found very little information. I am hoping that somebody on Fire Engineering’s community has used or currently uses the kit and could be of assistance. Thanks in advance.

Views: 5655

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

I have a copy of the instructions from our Model 700-c if that helps.
Joe that would be excellent. My email adress is chris.steeves@alyeska-pipeline.com
I really appreciate the help
Myself and another instructer. Were doing our fire behavior and fire chem. Lecture. We have the Carmody trainer, but some how lost the instructions for it. We would appricate if you could email use the instructions to us for furure use. Email is ffmedicatown@aol.com
Are these still available somewhere? Sounds like a pretty cool tool to add to the fire behavior training arsenal. If possible , please shoot me a copy of the manual as well. phultman@gardnerkansas.gov
Patrick-
I have not been able to find one for sale anywhere, not much info on internet either. I could email you a copy of the manual and you could probably buy all the pieces from a lab supply store. I think the trainer is great you can really teach fire chemistry with it not just tell the students about it.
Chris
Joe Case: would you please send a copy of the instructions to me also to firbee@aol.com? If they can't be emailed, please let me know. Thanks!
Hi Joe: can I please get a copy of the instructions for the Model 700C? I work at the St. Louis County Fire Academy and we have one of these kits, but no instructions. Thanks! Betty Stoecklin
Betty Stoecklin said:
Joe Case: would you please send a copy of the instructions to me also to firbee@aol.com? If they can't be emailed, please let me know. Thanks!
Joe Case said:
I have a copy of the instructions from our Model 700-c if that helps.

Could I be added to the recipients? And can anyone give me a maker/manufacturer, or any info about it? My name's not that common, so it knid of spooks me anytime I see it unexpectedly...

My email is mr_pita@msn.com
I utilized the Carmody Combustible Hazards kit during the early 1990s teaching industrial fire brigade members. It is an amazing tool for live demonstrations of fire chemistry under controlled circumstances. While most of the equipment could be purchased at a laboratory supply store, the ignition control device won't be easy to duplicate.

I added a series of experiments to demonstrate how the arrangement of the fuel affects burning rate, all based upon wood cellulose as the fuel. I would ignite a piece of toilet paper (burns very fast!), a piece of paper (slower), a piece of cardboard (slower still), and finally a block of 2" x 4", all with a match. The 2 x 4 usually won't ignite with a match, so I would hold the flame from a propane torch against the block, which would self-extinguish when the flame was removed. All experiments demonstrated that surface to mass ratio is an important concept, even with solids. (The kit has a kerosene-misting device which demonstrates the same concept with liquids).

I would then arrange two blocks of 2 x 4s (about 6" long) on the ring stand, standing them vertically with the 4" dimensions facing each other, separated by a wooden matchstick with the head removed. The separation between the blocks was about 1/8". One wooden match, held underneath the 1/8" gap, would ignite both blocks of wood because of radiation feedback between the two faces. We had a lot of high-rack storage and this experiment demonstrated how the vertical arrangement of fuel with minimal spacing leads to rapid fire growth from small ignition sources.

One final demonstration (can't remember if this is in the Carmody book or not) was to dry some sawdust/small chips in an oven, then store in a airtight container. After placing about 1" layer of fuel in the bottom of a beaker, stop the beaker with the drilled rubber stopper with a bent glass tube installed. Place the beaker on the ring stand using the screen, then heat the bottom of the beaker with a heat device (candle or propane torch). As smoke and flammable gases are generated through pyrolysis, they exit the beaker through the glass tube. When the fuel has low moisture content, you should be able to ignite the flammable gases mixed with the smoke by placing a lit match in the smoke stream a short distance from the tube, allowing for air to mix with the gases. This demonstrates that flammable gases/smoke can be ignited at some distance from the original heat source (such as gases/smoke venting from a attic).

Thanks for bringing back some great memories of the Carmody Kit. I wish I still had access to one!

Jeff
Jeffery A. Hartle said:
I utilized the Carmody Combustible Hazards kit during the early 1990s teaching industrial fire brigade members. It is an amazing tool for live demonstrations of fire chemistry under controlled circumstances. While most of the equipment could be purchased at a laboratory supply store, the ignition control device won't be easy to duplicate.

I added a series of experiments to demonstrate how the arrangement of the fuel affects burning rate, all based upon wood cellulose as the fuel. I would ignite a piece of toilet paper (burns very fast!), a piece of paper (slower), a piece of cardboard (slower still), and finally a block of 2" x 4", all with a match. The 2 x 4 usually won't ignite with a match, so I would hold the flame from a propane torch against the block, which would self-extinguish when the flame was removed. All experiments demonstrated that surface to mass ratio is an important concept, even with solids. (The kit has a kerosene-misting device which demonstrates the same concept with liquids).

I would then arrange two blocks of 2 x 4s (about 6" long) on the ring stand, standing them vertically with the 4" dimensions facing each other, separated by a wooden matchstick with the head removed. The separation between the blocks was about 1/8". One wooden match, held underneath the 1/8" gap, would ignite both blocks of wood because of radiation feedback between the two faces. We had a lot of high-rack storage and this experiment demonstrated how the vertical arrangement of fuel with minimal spacing leads to rapid fire growth from small ignition sources.

One final demonstration (can't remember if this is in the Carmody book or not) was to dry some sawdust/small chips in an oven, then store in a airtight container. After placing about 1" layer of fuel in the bottom of a beaker, stop the beaker with the drilled rubber stopper with a bent glass tube installed. Place the beaker on the ring stand using the screen, then heat the bottom of the beaker with a heat device (candle or propane torch). As smoke and flammable gases are generated through pyrolysis, they exit the beaker through the glass tube. When the fuel has low moisture content, you should be able to ignite the flammable gases mixed with the smoke by placing a lit match in the smoke stream a short distance from the tube, allowing for air to mix with the gases. This demonstrates that flammable gases/smoke can be ignited at some distance from the original heat source (such as gases/smoke venting from a attic).

Thanks for bringing back some great memories of the Carmody Kit. I wish I still had access to one!

Jeff
Cool idea for teaching fire behavior and combustibles, and making your own kit...I like it

Reply to Discussion

RSS

Policy Page

PLEASE NOTE

The login above DOES NOT provide access to Fire Engineering magazine archives. Please go here for our archives.

CONTRIBUTORS NOTE

Our contributors' posts are not vetted by the Fire Engineering technical board, and reflect the views and opinions of the individual authors. Anyone is welcome to participate.

For vetted content, please go to www.fireengineering.com/issues.

We are excited to have you participate in our discussions and interactive forums. Before you begin posting, please take a moment to read our community policy page.  

Be Alert for Spam
We actively monitor the community for spam, however some does slip through. Please use common sense and caution when clicking links. If you suspect you've been hit by spam, e-mail peter.prochilo@clarionevents.com.

FE Podcasts


Check out the most recent episode and schedule of
UPCOMING PODCASTS

Groups

© 2024   Created by fireeng.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service