FLIR introduces new K65 thermal camera to help firefighters save lives

     FLIR launched a new product - FLIRK65 fire with thermal camera, for firefighters in the dense smoke in the building to provide a clearer vision, help its precise positioning, rescue trapped people, while quickly identify the heat source, safely find the exit, so as to respond to the rescue mission in a more favorable position. "The fully NFPA compliant K65 is a source of pride for FLIR and demonstrates our unwavering commitment to meeting the most important needs in fire protection," said Ricard Lindvall, vice president and general manager of FLIR's Test & Measurement Products division.

     Thermal cameras have become an essential tool in the toolbox and fire trucks used by fire brigades around the world. To facilitate user selection and to ensure that thermal cameras meet the basic quality standards required for firefighter rescue work, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has specified specific standards for thermal camera design, performance, and production. Nfpa 1801-2013 defines requirements for new thermal cameras to be used by firefighters responding to emergency situations. Nfpa 1801-2013 was developed to establish minimum requirements for the design, manufacture, testing, performance and certification of thermal cameras for fire protection. The NFPA1801-2013 standard focuses on three main areas, namely interoperability/usability, image quality, and durability. According to experts, the FLIRK65 infrared thermal camera has passed the NFPA1801-2013 standard certification of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

     Firefighters are sometimes required to work in potentially explosive environments such as oil platforms, petrochemical or power generation industries. For this reason, the NFPA-compliant K65 also meets HazLoc standards and is therefore suitable for use in hazardous and explosive environments. As a potential fire source, the K65's USB port and battery case are well protected, in this case, the thermal camera will not be exposed under normal conditions of use or during operation and maintenance. Thermal cameras are sealed to prevent the entry of external atmosphere.

     In addition, the K65 thermal imager offers 320x240 resolution and uses FLIR's revolutionary Flexible Scene Enhancement (FSXTM) technology to significantly improve detail quality and image contrast in dark or smoke-filled Spaces. Flexible Scene Enhancement (FSXTM) enhances thermal image detail by generating images that illustrate anomalic structures, edges, and recognizable features with real-time built-in digital processing.

     Firefighters must rely on reliable technology to perform many immediate tasks, such as locating people in smoke-filled rooms, finding a way through smoke and dark areas, and so on. At this time, the thermal imager can use the heat emitted by the surrounding environment to locate targets or show hot spots through the smoke. However, if the field temperature pair is low, capturing a clear scene image can be time-consuming and laborious, which is why FLIR's Flexible Scene Enhancement (FSXTM) technology has been developed.

     FSXTM is an advanced nonlinear image processing algorithm that can represent the detailed information of the object in the form of a high dynamic range image. FSXTM extracts image details such as edges and corners from the original image, then weights these details and combines them with the original image to generate a detail-enhanced image. In fact, the detailed image matches the total dynamic range of the original image, so that these details can be seen even in the extreme temperature environments that firefighters often encounter.

     The K65 is equipped with an intuitive, simple user interface that can be controlled by three large buttons on the front of the unit - perfectly suited for firefighters to operate with one hand while wearing gloves. The K65 is designed to withstand a 2-meter drop to a concrete floor, is waterproof (IP67), and can be fully operated for up to 5 minutes at +260 ° C /+500 ° F. These features of the K65 make it easier for firefighters and rescue teams to navigate through dark, smoke-filled environments and instantly identify objects in scenes that display extreme temperature dynamics.