More Air. More Time. | Breathe Easy, Fight Longer | FARS

Common Myths About FARS

More Air. More Time.

Myth #1:

FARS Systems are Expensive

Fact: FARS Save Fire Departments & Building Owners Money

Fire Air Replenishment Systems (FARS) present no cost to fire departments. They save departments money by eliminating the need for the man power and costs of bottle brigades when fighting fires in large buildings. FARS free up funds for other critical department needs. FARS improves the availability of air to firefighters, which directly increases their operational time inside buildings – more air, more time. This extended time enables more effective firefighting, leading to reduced property damage, lower insurance costs, smaller injury rates, and fewer losses of life.

 

"This is a force multiplier... It prevents us from having to obligate a four-person crew to being a bottle brigade."
Kris Blume, Chief, Meridian (ID) Fire Dept.

Myth #2:

FARS Aren't Needed in Fully Sprinklered Buildings

FACT: Sprinklers control fires, and FARS helps firefighters breathe through smoke—both are vital for safety.

While fire sprinklers are effective at reducing fire spread, they cannot prevent fires, and do not address the primary risk to firefighters: carcinogenic exposures. Instead, they create wet smoke, which creates long-term health risks including cancer, heart ailments, and respiratory diseases. Air is the only commodity that protects firefighters while they do their jobs in extinguishment, salvage and overhaul.

"As we know, we can survive without breathing for up to three minutes... To have access to clean, breathable, safe air is immeasurable."
Kris Blume, Chief, Meridian (ID) Fire Dept.

Myth #3:

FARS Doesn’t Add Value Because They Aren’t Used

FACT: FARS Is Crucial in Building Fires

Building owners recognize that fire risk is a safety and financial liability. It’s common sense for building owners to minimize risks by investing in safety measures, but often the regulations that require these measures are implemented only after learning from a tragedy. Fire is the biggest risk to large buildings and high rises. FARS provide a type of insurance, similar to other alert-type and preventative measures like smoke and CO2 sensors, seismic isolators and fire sprinklers. More air provides more time to deal with fire operations and prevents firefighters from running out of air, dramatically reducing the risk of loss of life and the associated costs and liabilities.

"When you talk about high rise it’s an arsenal of personnel and equipment to do the job. FARS gives us immediate access to a continual air supply to be more fluid and efficient in our operations."
William Swan, Director Chief, Nashville Fire Department

Myth #4:

FARS Once Made a Firefighter Sick When It Was Used

Fact: FARS Exceeds the Air Quality Of Non-FARS Compressed Air Systems

The FARS has been used successfully, saving time, resources and lives in the process. Most recently, in 2021, firefighters were deployed to a 17-story high-rise in Frisco, TX. It took a total of 19 units and 43 personnel working to extinguish the fire. During the operation, firefighters were able to get more air using the FARS, giving them more time to operate inside the building and save all of the victims inside. No tank brigades were needed and no civilians or firefighters were injured. In an independent third-party study, FARS met NFPA compliance standards more often than non-FARS compressed breathing air samples. Every authorized FARS is monitored for carbon monoxide, air pressure, and moisture levels on a 24-7-365 basis, with testing and certification typically performed every quarter.

"Managing a high-rise fire event is difficult. There's a lot of moving parts... The FARS system puts the air on the floor, much like the water standpipe, so that greatly reduces the amount of labor and firefighters needed on the scene to make that fire attack continual … more than just the first couple of minutes."
Brian Jones, District Chief of Fire Training, Nashville Fire Academy

Myth #5:

FARS is a Waste of Money in the Name of Safety

Fact: The Cost of a Firefighter's Life is Invaluable

Fire safety equipment and building code improvements have made remarkable advances in firefighter safety. Much like safety features in the airline and cruise ship industries, FARS are rarely used but are crucial when needed, potentially saving lives and preventing catastrophic loss. Today’s buildings, particularly high-rises and large horizontal structures, present complex challenges for firefighters, especially in areas where air bottle delivery is difficult. FARS is designed as a safeguard for these high-risk scenarios, enhancing disaster preparedness and protecting building owners and municipalities from liability in the event of a fire.

"We need to have these systems available to save our firefighters. The cost of FARS vs. the cost of a firefighter’s life. Do the math."
Mike Dugan, 27-year Veteran, Captain (Ret.), FDNY
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