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In May 2019, the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) held its first heavy vehicle fire roundtable in Brisbane. It was a result of an ongoing investigation following a series of fires last year involving primemovers. The regulator announced its plans to release a series of safety bulletins to help raise awareness of the common fire risks that have been identified in the probe and to outline the actions required to help mitigate the risks. NHVR executive director of safety standards and assurance Geoff Casey said the May roundtable, which brought together leading forensic fire investigators, fire service officials, police and members of the heavy vehicle industry and supply chain, was aimed at identifying causes and preventative actions. The NHVR bulletin identified a number of common fire risks in heavy motor vehicles, predominantly: shorting of electrical cables and connectionsinappropriately rated electrical componentsfuel line failuresheat generated by a turbochargerengine bay maintenanceIt also outlined preventative actions that operators should undertake, including:reviewing the common causes of fires and identifying those that may be present in their fleetreviewing maintenance management systems to remove or reduce any risk factors, and improve the safety of their transport activitiesensuring those who carry out servicing or modification on higher-risk components or systems on their vehicles, such as electrical systems, have measures in place to verify that fire risks are not introduced. Spitwater , one of the leading Australian manufacturers of high pressure water cleaners , talks to Owner//Driver magazine about one of the most common fire risks in heavy vehicles and how to prevent it. “Engine compartment fires are a reality,” Spitwater director Gary Rodgers says. “However, some simple maintenance and cleaning can prevent this from happening.” Rodgers shares a few tips that can help reduce the risk of such fires, including: keeping the engine and the engine compartment clear of fuel and oil residue through regular cleaningidentification and timely repair of fuel and oil leaksmaintaining efficient electrical connectionscarrying out regular checks for leaks and wiring condition. THE IMPORTANCE OF A CLEAN ENGINE BAY CANNOT BE OVERSTATED. The importance of a clean engine bay cannot be overstated. But not everyone has the proper knowledge how to perform this important task. Spitwater has outlined a step-by-step cleaning method that can help you maintain a clean engine bay: •Prepare your pressure washer, degreaser and applicator for action •Allow the engine to cool before cleaning as applying chemical or water to a hot engine can create problems, particularly electricals •Fasten or remove any loose items such as covers or guards to avoid damage from chemical or water •Disconnect the negative terminal on the battery – this will help protect electrical components from being damaged by water •Use plastic bags or wrapping to cover any sensitive areas including ECU’s or air intakes •Spray the engine and surrounds with degreaser using an applicator sprayer or soft brush to assist the cleaning before applying any water •Depending on the grime level allow between three minutes to 20 minutes dwell time for the degreaser to work, and repeat the process if necessary •Clean off using your pressure washer and then pass over once more for a final rinse avoiding any sensitive areas. Spitwater says this simple method can go a long way in preventing engine compartment fires. While any pressure washer can be used for this task, Spitwater says using a hot water pressure washer will produce the best results. It also recommends using a good quality degreaser such as Nerta Super Degreaser. The degreaser must be applied with a pump up sprayer for best results. Spitwater Pressure Washers To find these and other high-quality products, head to your nearest Spitwater distribution centres in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. The company also has dealers and distributors throughout each state and territory, all offering sales, parts and service support to customers. The Spitwater brand of high pressure water cleaners, vacuum cleaners, extraction cleaners, Jetfire heaters and dryers have a long-standing history of proven quality and reliability across the Australian marketplace. Operating since 1983, today Spitwater is the only Australian manufacturer of a complete range of high pressure water cleaners. All products are manufactured at Spitwater’s 15,000 square metre manufacturing facility in Albury, New South Wales using the latest state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies. The company also distributes a range of fan forced, popular, portable industrial space heaters as well as a high-quality range of industrial and commercial vacuum cleaners.

We are pleased to share one of our customer’s stories to give an insight into some of the applications that a Spitwater high pressure cleaner will perform. This particular customer is one of Sunny Queensland’s largest caged egg suppliers based just outside Toowoomba, Queensland. The Problem: They contacted Spitwater two years ago seeking a solution to efficiently clean their sheds to maintain high quarantine standards in order to prevent disease outbreaks and maintain general cleanliness. In the past they had been hiring standard high pressure cleaning equipment and trying to adapt the processes to suit their application. After conducting a site inspection the Spitwater team found a real understanding of the problems they faced. The property has twenty-five (25) x 100 metre long chicken sheds. Each shed houses several thousand birds over eight (8) x levels and they need to be cleaned and sterilised every three (3) months. The Pressure Washer Solution: Spitwater provided four (4) SW21200PE pressure washer units complete with 100 metre hoses on reels and foaming lances. This pressure washer delivers 21 litres per minute and 200 bar pressure, and was the perfect combination to provide the speed and efficiency required for the business. A sterilising solution is applied through the foaming lance from roof to floor and then easily washed down using the high pressure lance. These units have proven so effective in this application, this customer has just taken delivery of another four (4) units for a newly completed operation at a nearby site. THE AUSTRALIAN HIGH PRESSURE CLEANER Spitwater pressure washers are manufactured in Australia to meet the requirements and reliability needed for the tough Australian conditions. They utilise only the highest quality components from manufacturers like Honda, Kubota, Suttner, Interpump and PA making our high pressure washers the forefront of the industry. For more information on a specific unit to suit your application Contact Spitwater today on 1800 172 005

The Problem Progressive Car Freighters is a vehicle freight and transport service based in Bairnsdale Victoria.  They operate a fleet of vehicle transporters which all need to be maintained and presented professionally to reflect their business.  The hours put in cleaning this fleet quickly consumed any spare time and became costly with wages. The Solution Spitwater model SW21200DE, 21 lpm at 3000spsi diesel powered hot wash pressure washer, 50 metres of high-pressure hose in a top mount hose reel. This was setup in a dedicated wash bay which made the system easy to setup and use.  Town water supply at 21 LPM can be a problem.  This was solved by providing a buffer tank of 1000 litres. The bypass return was piped back to the buffer tank, so no water is wasted.To reach the high sides of the transporters, Progressive chose our 2000mm lances to reach those hard to get areas. The end of the lance was further enhanced with a multireg nozzle which also gave the ability to apply soap through the venturi system. Time for an Upgrade Progressive Car Freighters are not new to Spitwater equipment. They had a SW21200PE that they updated to the Diesel engine powered replacement. This unified fuel supply as per their transporters and a new unit for more hard work to come.  The old unit was serviced and a new lance and gun fitted and redeployed at one of their other sites. The Benefits A 50% reduction in cleaning times were achieved cutting costs on labour and freeing up time to perform the other tasks around the yard.   Working with Spitwater, giving a fast turn around service with no downtime.

The Problem William Adams have a large range of excavators and plant equipment for sale, hire and service.  They have two sites providing excellent coverage to the Melbourne CBD and surrounds. Being able to present equipment to hire clients clean and professional is key.  Their own Service Department need to clean so as they can access parts and conduct servicing. They have to clean big, fast & cost effective when dealing with heaps of caked on clay and debris. The Solution Having used a Spitwater hot wash 3 phase unit before – they invested in a larger model to increase the water flow and pressure.  The SW2021 at 21 lpm and 3000 psi was just the right unit.  They also invested in using a 20 metre hose for ease of getting around the machinery without having to move the pressure washer.  Adding a foaming attachment for non-touch cleaning to allow their truck wash better time on the machine to assist in removing the grime. The Benefits With water flow being KING the increased flow that this machine has provided - wash bay times have come down by around 25%. Improved wash bay through put has allowed for increased machine hire units ready to go out with no hold ups. The same solution was rolled out at both sites, making it easy for driver & operator to use the same units and set up when working at either site.

The Problem Hitachi Construction Equipment have a large range of excavators and plant equipment for sale, hire and service.  They have two sites providing excellent coverage to the Melbourne CBD and surrounds. Being able to present equipment to hire clients clean and professional is key.  Their own Service Department need to clean so as they can access parts and conduct servicing. They have to clean big, fast & cost effective when dealing with heaps of caked on clay and debris. The Solution Having used a Spitwater hot wash 3 phase unit before – they invested in a larger model to increase the water flow and pressure.  The SW2021 at 21 lpm and 3000 psi was just the right unit.  They also invested in using the SUTTNER KW fittings for easy lance and foaming change over. The Benefits With water flow being KING the increased flow that this machine has provided - wash bay times have come down by around 25%. Improved wash bay through put has allowed for increased machine hire units ready to go out with no hold ups. The same solution was rolled out at both sites, making it easy for driver & operator to use the same units and set up when working at either site. The new units have been set up with a PM Program allowing for maximum machine up time.  Hitachi need the wash bay operational at all times.

The Problem RABS Group work is to provide road & civil construction services. All of their machinery are backed by an experienced and enthusiastic team of operators and support staff. Most of RABS client work is best conducted overnight.  This provides less inconvenience in public spaces and with a safer work environment. Cleaning of their equipment is then done in the early morning when the trucks and plant are returned to the depot.  The cleaning needs to be quick, yet effective as they have road grim, dirt and bitumen tar to deal with. The Solution With a new wash pad being built a high flow cold pressure washer was the order of the day.  They use specific truck wash chemicals to deal with the bitumen tar and then wash with Bio Wash truck wash. As the wash pad is used at 5am it needs to be simple to use and provide maximum uptime.  A Spitwater HP201/S with 2l lpm flow and 3000 psi chosen for high use.  Adding a foaming bottle to allow for better chemical adhesion and dwell time was installed as well. This was all installed in a container with external mount reel with 20m of hose and simple lance storage for simple operator use was KEY. The Benefits High water flow has meant less brush work is needed.  This means that operators spend less time washing, impacting less paid overtime. RABS are extremely proud of how they present their fleet for both presentation and maintenance levels.  Working with Bitumen tar is challenging as it stains and marks trucks and plant very quickly when left to build up. Office staff fleet vehicles are also being cleaned more regularly, resulting in better image & less maintenance issues.

The Problem Caloundra Gardens is an independent retirement village located on the Sunshine Coast. With miles and miles of concrete roads that get a build- up of mold and dirt deposits. When the surface is wet it becomes slippery and unsafe for the residents and visitors. The owner wanted a quick and efficient way of cleaning the road causing as little disruption to the residents while maintaining a safe environment. The Solution Spitwater model HP2430AE, 40 Meters of high-pressure hose fitted to a hose reel and a 22-inch pavement cleaner. The Spitwater model HP2430AE petrol powered pressure cleaner requires 30 Liters per minute which is well above and normal standard town water supply. The solution was to fit a 200-litre water tank and plumb it to the unit which in return gave the user uninterrupted operation and guaranteed enough water supply for correct operation for the pressure cleaner. The Benefits Surfaces cleaned at half the time compared to before, reducing costs on labor and saving time while providing a clean and safe environment for all the residents and visitors. Presentation and first impressions are essential to having potential residents wanting to invest and call this retirement village home.

The Problem AMA Precast are an industry leader in the manufacture and supply of concrete precast panels.  The have just established a new purpose built manufacturing facility. With a dedicated exposed aggregate wash station that also lets them clean tools and rubber casting mats and then an outside wash down bay they needed two new units for the two locations The Solution For the exposed aggregate and casting mat area we supplied the Spitwater HP201S 21 lpm at 3000 psi pressure washer – 3phase 20amp with both fan and turbo jet nozzles. The outside wash bay is used for cleaned the casting forms a Spitwater HP3523 23 lpm at 5000 psi 3 phase 32 amp unit was used. Both units were supplied with wall mount retractable reels with 20m of hose for improved operator & factory safety The Benefits To remove the soft concrete layer the 21lpm unit at 3000 psi is spot on.  Just the right pressure – with the fan jet a nice even removal.  When slightly more push is required they use the Turbo lance When cleaning the rubber casting mats – too much pressure rippers them apart – so the 3000 psi again is just spot on. For the casting forms – with semi dried concrete residue the 5000 psi makes short work of it,.  This leaves the forms clean and smooth ready to be stored or reused immediately. This saves cleaning time, makes the forms last longer and provides the panel with a better finish requiring less rework.  Cost saving all round.  With our PM Program we have onsite servicing providing maximum uptime for them when they are pouring critical concrete.

The Problem Western Quarries is situated in Ararat in Western Victoria.  They provide hornfels rock and aggregate for use in asphalt and concrete production. They operate a fleet of excavation equipment which all need to be maintained and presented professionally to reflect their business.  The hours put in cleaning this fleet quickly consumed any spare time and had become extremely costly with wages. The machines get coated with Precoat which is a bitumen-based product containing a percentage of adhesion agent this is added to the aggregate to ensure better initial adhesion and longer-term retention of aggregate.  This coating, while better for the aggregate, coats the machine and must be cleaned off during maintenance and service times.  It was being done manually with solvents and degreasers and rags.  This has led to increased cleaning times and labour costs. The Solution Being able to clean the machines in location was a key requirement, along with a portable water supply.  So a fully self contained hot wash trailer was designed.  Using the Spitwater SW15-200DE, 15 LPM at 3000spsi, diesel powered hot wash pressure washer, 50 metres of high-pressure hose in a top mount hose reel.  This was mounted with a 1000 litre water tank on a heavy duty mine specification trailer.  The trailer is fully galvanised including the wheels with on board electric brake controller so that any suitable vehicle can tow the trailer without having to have a brake controller installed in the vehicle.  Being at a Mine site it featured the Safety pack of strobe light, fire extinguishers and wheel nut indicators.  Being outside all the time this custom trailer included a removeable front and roof panel for weather and dust protection. The Benefits Within minutes of the hot wash pressure washer firing up we started to clean the wheel loader using the hot water (coming out at around  80°C), you could see the smiles on the workers faces as the Precoat loosened and started to stream off. A 50% reduction in cleaning times was achieved cutting costs on labour and freeing up time to perform the other tasks.   Machines presented better creating better site efficiency.

The Problem Wallenius Wilhelmsen, are a market leader in RoRo shipping and vehicle logistics, managing the distribution of cars, trucks, rolling equipment and breakbulk to customers all over the world. A large purpose built 5 bay wash area had been built, that is used all day everyday.  The lack of uptime of the current hot wash units in the bays was causing bottle necks and large maintenance bills. Hot water, with good flow and high pressure is a must for removing some the preventative coatings (wax and oil based) that are applied to protect machinery before they are shipped sea freight. The Solution Reusing the Bay mounted remote controls to provide local machine controls was required.  We installed 5 x Spitwater SW2021 – 21 lpm at 3000 psi hot wash pressure washer.  Set up with low level diesel cut outs.  Access to the existing remote wiring and the mains pressure water feed also included. Need lances, lance holders and swivels were installed to match the machines and provide low pressure soap in the bays. All wash bay booms were repaired and where required new hoses installed The Benefits Maximum uptime with simpler control systems.  Shorter turn around times for machinery from arrival to dispatch. Having signed up to our Preventative Maintenance Program, regular servicing is conducted every three months.  This makes sure we have the machines in best uptime, It allows for forward planning on expenses and machine outages when required.

The problem Leed Engineering had an existing fleet of water trucks used all over Australia for different civil contracts. New requirements required the truck to be washed prior to exiting site. They had the water available on the truck used with the high flow hydraulic driven pumps for the spray bar and hose reel. The solution Mike Quinn, GMA General Manager engaged SPITWATER to add a hydraulic driven pressure cleaner to operate at 3000 psi 21 lpm. We removed their existing hose reel then added another one for the 30 meters of high-pressure hose, single RL56 gun and lance with holster. We then moved some plumbing around, made a “T” into the hydraulic system to power the SPITWATER hydraulic motor. By using an “L” port valve we were able to divert the flow to the SPITWATER when required returning to the oil reservoir including case drain, not having to run a completely new hydraulic system. The benefits Leed were able to clean their trucks abiding to the contract using the water already in their trucks Minimal expense for the client Trucks had minimal down time to have pumps installed Compact unit with custom guard, which was also then made strong enough for a step