Every time we meet prospective customers, we’re surprised to hear how much limited information our competitors have offered them. When we started as a company, a primary principle was to provide as much information as possible regarding issues with burn buildings and the extreme environments created during live fire training.
We have compiled 10 important questions to ask the companies manufacturing protective linings before making a decision that will affect the lives of your training personnel. We have also provided answers to our own questions. What will the competitors answer?
1. How hot can I burn with your lining system?
System 203 can handle all temperatures achieved with Class “A” fuels. However, we strongly recommend the establishment of standard operating procedures that are based upon your testing and experience with each burn room. Know the limitations of your personal protective equipment, given the repetitive exposures associated with a day of live fire training. Understand that the same room gets hotter with each evolution.
2. How often will I have to replace the lining system, and why?
We have installed over half a million units with only a few hundred replaced in twenty years! These units have been replaced at our discretion and at our cost. System 203 does the work, so you don’t have to.
3. How does extreme thermal shock affect the lining system?
System 203 offers a barrier of refractory concrete fire tiles that protect a layer of high temperature insulation. The tiles are 12” x 12” x 2” thick and are interlocked with one another. As extreme temperatures fluctuate, the tiles float, expanding and contracting in the “shiplap” joint between the tiles. This unique barrier withstands the affects of thermal shock while protecting the layer of insulation that protects the structure from heat.
4. How do you ensure structural integrity of the training structure during live fire training?
The beauty is that there is no need to replace anything. Other systems may require frequent maintenance. If the maintenance is not performed, the structural integrity of the building may be compromised. See pictures of damage.
5. What percentage of your annual sales are from selling replacement panels for previous installations?
Our competitors offer convenient material replacement forms on their website, to ease your pain in ordering replacement panels! HTL does not generate income from replacing System 203. Of course, once they see how well our systems perform over the years, many of our customers come back to install our systems in additional areas throughout their structures.
6. How is your system engineered to absorb a blow from a tossed pallet or BA Equipment, or the force of smooth bore hose streams?
Our system is anchored directly to the civil structure, allowing the system to absorb the blow and transfer the force to the structure. Again, 2” of refractory concrete is protecting the insulation barrier, offering an extremely durable lining system. The competition often installs 1” boards on channels, leaving an air space behind the panel. That panel then becomes a structural panel trying to transfer the force of a blow to the channels. Insulation boards often cannot transfer the forces; so they simply crack.
7. Do you measure, monitor and record temperatures that the burn building sees behind the lining?
We can install an advanced temperature monitoring system to monitor and record the temperatures during training sessions. The temperature monitoring recorder, housed away from burn rooms, is an invaluable tool. Data can be retrieved from the recorder or transferred to a personal computer.
8. Do you place every single one of your projects on your reference list? If not, why not?
From the very beginning, every single one of our references complete with names and phone numbers was placed on our website; see HTL Projects. We are proud of every reference, and have absolutely nothing to hide. Our customers are willing to share their personal experiences working with us.
9. Have you ever tested your system, side by side with System 203, to compare performance and life span?
We would welcome and accommodate such testing with any system on the market.
10. How much are the maintenance and usage costs?
The competitions’ charge for the replacement panels alone (without supporting steel channels, insulation battens, anchors, and chemicals), is nearly as much, and in some cases more, than our charges for the materials for our entire system. There are minimal maintenance costs for our systems. Typically, annual material costs are less than $50 per year, and one person can perform the maintenance in a few hours every three or four months.