Essex Smoke Hood (Smokehood): PBE Safety Equipment Products.

ESSEX PB&R VRU

Victim Rescue Unit

Click to download the >> VRU Brochure << (.PDF Format)

Essex VRU Benefits

Up to 60 minutes of protection
Goes on in seconds - no wrong way to put on
Resists high heat, flames & fumes
Portable & compact
Allows two-way communication
Provides mobility & 360-degree visibility
Best visibility (up to 80% greater field of view)
Requires no special fitting

Eight out of ten U.S. commercial aircraft fly with PBE's from Essex PB&R. When PBEs were mandated by the FAA over ten years ago, 80% of the airlines made a wise investment, both in optimum aircrew safety and reduced maintenance cost by choosing the Essex PBE.

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Or, phone us at:
1-800-296-7587 (US) or
1-314-351-6116 (Int’l.)

Donning the VRU

The VRU is donned in a similar manner as the Essex PBE and SCU. The main difference between the SCU and VRU is the VRU has semi-automatic activation of the oxygen. This means the hood is design in such a way that you automatically activate the oxygen as part of the steps of putting the VRU on. The VRU donning steps are as follows:

Open pouch
Remove sealed VRU
Tear open package
Remove VRU
Hold the bottle and activate the oxygen flow
Put hands in neck seal
Pull the VRU over your head

Operation

The VRU is a closed circuit rebreather system. Oxygen flows into the hood and is breathed and rebreathed by the user. The oxygen concentration inside the hood may reach 60%, depending on workload, and will then decrease for the duration of use. The oxygen flow is begun by the manual or semi-automatic activation.

Oxygen was selected as the breathable atmosphere because of weight and volume considerations. During respiration, oxygen is removed from the air and converted to carbon dioxide, which is then exhaled back into the air. If compressed air was used instead of oxygen, the air inside the hood would need to be constantly replenished to maintain the oxygen content at a life-supporting level. Because the VRU uses pure, aviator's grade oxygen, the exhaled air can be rebreathed once the carbon dioxide is removed. A typical industrial escape hood that relies on compressed air contains 350 L of air at 3,000 psi pressure. The VRU contains 18 L of oxygen at 3,000 psi pressure. The typical industrial escape hood weighs over 6 pounds. The VRU weighs just 1 1/2 pounds.

Carbon dioxide is a natural byproduct of respiration. Because the VRU is a closed circuit system, it is necessary to remove the carbon dioxide that builds up inside the hood. This is accomplished with a unique, patented passive scrubber. The carbon dioxide will be kept below 4% for the duration of use, but may reach a peak of 7% momentarily.

Duration of Use: All emergency rescue and escape situations are different, and it is not possible to provide an exact duration time for all situations. Also, the size of the VRU user will affect usable life, with heavier individuals consuming oxygen more rapidly. However, for an average male, the following typical escape situations are useful in predicting how long the VRU will last:

	Sitting, waiting to be rescued; Up to 60 minutes
	Waiting 17 minutes to be rescued, then rapid evacuation; Up to 21 minutes
	Moderate walking (3 mph); Up to 18 minutes
	Evacuation of a 110 Story Building; Up to 20 minutes
	Rapidly walking, on a flat, out of a building; Up to 8 minutes
	Rapidly walking up 15 flights of stairs; Up to 3 minutes

Packaging

The VRU is folded and sealed inside a multi-laminate pouch, which, in turn, can be packaged a variety of ways depending on your requirements including inside a fire resistant container. Containers are available with carabineers for carrying the VRU on web gear or belt. In addition, the VRU can be easily stored or mounted for industrial settings and can be donned in the near zero visibility atmosphere that may accompany a fire.

	Description-VRU Units	Model #
	VRU Trainer w/ Manual Activation	MR-10014N
	VRU w/ Manual Activation	MR-10018N
	VRU w/ Semi-Automatic Activation	MR-10025N
	VRU w/ Semi-Automatic Activation & Front Viewing Port	MR-10026N
	VRU Trainer w/ Semi-Automatic Activation	MR-10027N
	VRU Trainer w/ Semi-Automatic Activation & Front Viewing Port	MR-10031N

Specifications

Duration of Use
	Sitting, waiting to be rescued; Up to 60 minutes
	Waiting 17 minutes to be rescued, then rapid evacuation; Up to 21 minutes
	Moderate walking (3 mph); Up to 18 minutes
	Evacuation of a 110 Story Building; Up to 20 minutes
	Rapidly walking, on a flat, out of a building; Up to 8 minutes
	Rapidly walking up 15 flights of stairs; Up to 3 minutes
Source of Breathable Air
	Bottle of 100% aviators grade compressed oxygen
	Bottle has overpressure protection to prevent rupture
Carbon Dioxide Control
	Patented passive scrubber
Stowage Temperature Range
	From 185° F to -20°F
Working Temperature Range
	From 120° F to 5°F
Oxygen Activation
	Manual
	Semi-Automatic
Method of Inspection
	Visual
Service & Shelf Life
	10 years and 6 months
Oral Communications
	Effective at 4 yards
Thermal Resistance
	Radiant heat: 1.0 BTU / ft²for up to 60 seconds
	Dripping thermoplastics: 390° F
	Transient flame: 1800° F for 5 seconds
Materials of Construction
	The patented hood is made from multiple layers of PFA film and Polyimide film
	Polyimide film for high heat resistance
	The patented neck seal is made from a very elastic, high strength silicone
Packaging
	Fire-resistant Fabric pouch for versatility of carrying modes-pocket, belt web gear
Weight
	Vacuum pouch alone: 1.5 lbs.
	Stowage Pouch & Unit: 2.0 lbs.
Size
	VRU in Fabric Soft Pack - 7½" x 9½" x 2"

Statement of Warranty for Victim Rescue Unit (VRU) and Victim Rescue Unit - Plus (VRU+)

Essex P. B. & R. Corp. warrants that: (1) The Essex Victim Rescue Unit (VRU) and Victim Rescue Unit - Plus (VRU+) (hereinafter referred to as the “unit”) will remain free from defects in material and workmanship, whether patent or latent, for up to the replace by date which is a period of ten (10) years and six (6) months from the date of manufacture when properly stowed in containers supplied or approved by Essex P. B. & R. Corp.

For those units equipped with a humidity indicator, the loss of vacuum in the inner packaging does not render the unit unserviceable. Units with barrier pouches that have lost vacuum remain serviceable as long as the humidity indicator remains blue. Although if a unit is found to have a damaged barrier pouch, e.g. cut, puncture or other damage, the unit should be pulled from service and sent back for repair at the customer’s expense.

The liability of Essex P. B. & R. Corp. for any defect in any unit, and the sole and exclusive remedy of the buyer, shall be limited to the repair or replacement of the defective unit, or a refund of the original purchase price (pro-rated in proportion to the ten (10) year and six (6) month warranty) at the sole discretion of Essex P. B. & R. Corp. The obligation to repair, replace, or provide a pro-rated refund shall terminate ten (10) years and six (6) months after the date of manufacture of the unit.

This warranty is in lieu of all other warranties and representations, expressed or implied, and all other obligations and liabilities of Essex P. B. & R. Corp. Correction of defects, in the manner and for the period of time provided above, shall constitute fulfillment of all liabilities of Essex P. B. & R. Corp. whether based on warranty, tort, contract or otherwise. Under no circumstances shall Essex P. B. & R. Corp. be liable for any punitive, special, incidental or consequential damages.

This warranty shall not apply to any unit that has been stowed in an unauthorized container, which has been repaired or altered by anyone other than Essex P. B. & R. Corp., or which has been subject to misuse due to negligence or accident, or the failure to use the unit in accordance with the Product’s Manual supplied by Essex P. B.& R. Corp.

THE FOREGOING WARRANTIES ARE IN LIEU OF ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, NON-INFRINGEMENT, OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND OF ANY OTHER OBLIGATION ON THE PART OF ESSEX P. B. & R. CORP.