What is the CrewProtect 20? 

If you have a smaller emergency response vehicle, you may be wondering how the Task Force Tips family of air filtration and decontamination products can work for you. The CrewProtect 20, a smaller and lightweight CrewProtect unit, is perfect for your Chief’s vehicles, tiller cabs, ambulances, wildland vehicles, and other smaller enclosed cab spaces!  

You know it isn’t enough to protect just a few members of your crew. This smaller unit means you can reduce VOCs (volatile organic compounds), particulates, and aerosols carrying viruses and bacteria for the driver of the ambulance, the Chief and their passengers as they drive to and from the station, or the crew in your wildland vehicles. There are many practical applications for the CrewProtect 20, so let’s learn more about it! 

CrewProtect 20 Specifications 

• The CrewProtect 20 measures just 7” X 6” X 4” (178 x 152 x 102 mm). 

• The flow rate is 20 CFM, compared with the larger unit’s 100 CFM. To give you an idea of how effective this is, the unit will clean a 50 cubic foot area to operating room air quality in about 2.5 minutes. 

• The unit weighs around six pounds. 

• With the fan running, the CrewProtect 20 operates at a max of 45 decibels. This is well below the recommended range from the NFPA and quieter than your average household refrigerator! 

• Created for enclosed spaces of 50 cubic feet or less, or about the size of an average SUV. 

Is the CrewProtect 20 Effective? 

When the CrewProtect 20 is placed inside an appropriately sized vehicle cab, it is very effective. This is because it uses the same cartridge technology that the CrewProtect 100 and StationProtect use. As a reminder, there are four stages involved in this technology: 

Read about why we use a cartridge here! 

• Prefilter: The first filter catches dust, pollen, and other large particulate matter before it moves further into the system.  

• PuraWard  Fibers: A third high efficiency decontamination step uses copper and silver to capture viruses, bacteria, and mold.  

• Molecular filtration: The next step is patented molecular filtration media. This media removes aerosols carrying viruses, cancer-causing volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and harmful gases.  

• HEPA Filter: The final filter is a high-end HEPA filter that captures smaller particulates (including PM0.3 and PM2.5), allergens, bacteria, and viruses.  

Together, these four stages are highly effective at reducing particulates and soot, VOCs, viruses (including SARS-CoV-2), and bacteria in the air.  

Where should I use CrewProtect 20? 

The system is designed for use in spaces of 50 cubic feet or less. Putting the unit inside of an appropriately sized cab allows it to do its job and do it well! In fact, CrewProtect units can clean the air to surgical room quality. 

You can use CrewProtect 20 in the following spaces: 

• The tiller cab in your tiller vehicle 

• The driver’s area of your ambulance 

• The cab of your Chief’s vehicle 

• Inside your wildland firefighting vehicle 

• Inside your personal vehicle 

• Smaller sized fire cabs 

How do I install CrewProtect 20? 

The system can be installed in a new vehicle or an in-service vehicle quickly. A qualified technician can help you choose a suitable mounting location and complete the wiring necessary. CrewProtect 20, like the larger unit, is wired to the truck’s electrical system with two wires to allow continuous decontamination of the cabin air while the truck is running. 

Mounting is simple as well! You can use the mounting bracket as a template and attach it with four nuts and bolts in your chosen location. 

Recap 

The CrewProtect 20 is a 20 CFM firefighter air decontamination unit intended for your smaller vehicle cabs. It cleans the air using the same technology as other decontamination units from TFT, meaning you can have the same protection from VOCs, particulates, and aerosols carrying viruses and bacteria in your wildland vehicles, Chief’s vehicle, tiller cabs, and ambulances.  

Did you know there are multiple types of air decontamination technology? You can find a summary of the three prevalent firefighter air decon technologies in this article.