Telescopic platform or conventional ladder?

A comparison "there and then"

Having the problem to substitute the old ladder DL 16-4 h, the VFD Nittenau has tested the new telescopic platforms (TGM) of the company "Bronto Skylift".
After an inspection of the only one TGM in a bavarian VFD at the VFD Arnstorf (there is a Bronto Skylift F 32 MDT 2000), we decided to make a direct comparison between a conventional ladder (DLK 23-12 CC by Iveco-Magirus) and TGM (Bronto-Skylift F 32 MDT 2000) in Nittenau.

The "winner" of this comparison was clearly the TGM, as it can be used in many more ways than the DLK.

The single advantages of the TGM compared to the DL are:
  • much bigger rescue basket (see image 1)
  • foldable arm, so it can reach above roofs to different sides of building and up to 5 meters below ground (see image 2)
  • much more stable than DL (even at strong winds)
  • easier to manouvre, especially in narrow alleys (see image 3)
  • fewer maintenance costs
  • containing many useful extras, e.g. telescopable water pipe to the rescue basket, water monitor included in basket (2800 l/min), power supply and breathing air supply to the basket, etc...
and further advantages that would be too much for this site.


Rescue baskets TGM and DLK
image 1 image 2

TGM and DLK Certainly this vehicle has also disadvantages compared to the DL, but in our view the advantages are much more predominant.
Disadvantages are e.g.:
  • more difficult to handle because of the foldable arm
  • vehicle heavier than a DL (but now less than 16 t)
  • slower motions compared to DL
image 3  

Usual arguments that opponents of the TGM mention, are:
  • vehicle too heavy (no longer, now less than 16 t)
  • supports with 5,6 m too broad (supports are variable and can even be used in narrowest alleys, see image 4)
  • Crossing basket - ladder and foldable arm - main arm difficult (crossing basket - ladder now improved, crossing foldable arm - main arm only difficult when folded. This is a deficit which also the new foldable ladders have, e.g.  DLK 23-12 GL by Iveco).

TGM in narrow alley
image 4		 DLK in narrow alley
image 5
Contrary to the telescopic platform, the DLK 23-12 has problems in this narrow alley, the ladder would touch the right wall

The advantages of TGM are obvious in our opinion. Since 01/01/2005 there finally is national sponsoring of those vehicles in Bavaria.

Visit the Bronto Skylift Homepage: www.bronto.ch

We are grateful to contacts and opinions concerning telescopic platforms:
webmaster@feuerwehr-nittenau.de

Michael Kerkez,
Chief
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