Considering a Situational Awareness Thermal Imaging Camera?
Read and watch this first!
Due to the current “buzz” and numerous questions about Situational Awareness Cameras being marketed today we have the following information to share along with a 10 minute education video on Situational Awareness Camera(s):
Currently there are 5 different situational awareness TIC’s on the market. They all have their Pro’s & Con’s. I have ranked them in order based on their specifications and criteria so that the end user can make an informed decision based on data, performance, and not a sales pitch.
FLIR K1 & K2:
FLIR K1 is not originally designed for interior fire use but is an excellent tool for exterior, investigations, and Incident Commanders. It is the only radiometric TIC on the market meaning that it stores images with radiometric data. This means that every pixel is a temperature measurement and could be valuable evidence for investigators in court. The K1 is low cost ($599), Resolution (160x120) Low but it has MSX like the K2 where it overlays the digital image and the thermal image. However the digital image is lost in zero visibility environments due to an absence of light. It is also equipped with a 300 lumen flashlight. The Field of View is Excellent!. The Color Palette is Excellent and follows TI Basic and all K series cameras (engages at 300 degrees). The refresh rate is almost 9 hertz and is very SLOW! However, you can go into FLIR tools and lock it in Low Sensitivity so it does not lag so terribly when it sees high heat. This comes at a cost to the end user as it loses detail in the lower temperature regions. I have burned with it extensively and was fortunate to do test burns with it before it hit the market.
The K2 is low cost ($999-$1495), Resolution-Low but it has MSX, Battery life on both K1 & K2 are excellent, Color Palette-Excellent-TI Basic same as all K Series TIC’s and engages color at 300 degrees. Refresh rate: 9 Hertz (Very Poo!r) it is very slow to respond and lags terribly. However, with FLIR Tools, the end user can disable High Sensitivity eliminating the lag in these two TIC’s.
Seek Fire Pro: Cost (Low $499-799), The Resolution is Excellent! (320x240-highest on the market), The Field of View is Poor! (Very Narrow) The Battery life is excellent. The Color Palette is Excellent and is similar to TI Basic and engages at 300 degrees. The Refresh rate is 15 hertz which is Good but not great. Regarding refresh rates, 30 Hertz should be the minimum but the Seek Fire Pro does well with very little lag. The downside of the Seek Fire Pro is that is not well insulated and has a high failure rating after repeated exposure to heat in trainings. It also takes some getting used to in regard to its orientation.
MMTIC and SCBA Integrated TIC’s: word of warning, any TIC that is integrated into an SCBA will eventually have to be upgraded. How often do fire departments replace their SCBA’s? Not that often!
MSA G1 ITIC: Cost (varies). The Resolution is Good-240x180 but has a very small screen with a short hose that is difficult to scan the environment with. The Field of View is Poor. The Color Palettes are AWFUL as the majority of the color palettes are designed for thermography use which are low temperature and low contrast environments. MSA does not publish the color/temperature colorizations so there is no way a firefighter can use the colors to judge overall severity of heat. This device is also made by Seek Thermal. The Refresh Rate is Excellent at 30 Hertz!
Scott Sight: Cost (varies), The Resolution is Low! 160x120 with a thumbnail size screen which makes the images very difficult to discern especially those who wear glasses inserts in their Facepiece. The Field of view is very Poor!(very narrow). The Battery Life is terrible! The number one complaint is battery failure in addition to the batteries are not well insulated placed inside the mask and next to the end users face. An alkaline battery pops open at 302 degrees possibly exposing Potassium Hydroxide to the firefighter. The Color Palette offers 3 selectable but the TI Basic is recommended. The Refresh Rate is 9 Hertz (Very Poor) and it Lags terribly. In addition, the blue tooth feature makes it very slow to turn on the IMD followed by the MMTIC and waiting on them to sync all while getting dressed for a fire.