Can you spot the difference?
The new JB82 Fire extinguisher cabinet on left and the current JB82 fire extinguisher cabinet on the right
The more observant will have spotted the lettering in two languages on the one on the right hand side and perhaps you may have noticed the left hand one has the optional 316 stainless steel hinges?
Launching a new model is often an opportunity to explain how much better it is than its predecessor but in this case the differences are small. The JB82 has been one of the most popular cabinets in the Jo Bird range since its launch in early 2012. It has proved to be just the right size and to offer an excellent (IP56) level of protection. During the last 11 years the design has proved to be incredibly reliable with no reported failures. If it is so good then why replace it you may wonder?
There are two reasons. Firstly these cabinets are not only used for offshore energy projects but also on ships where space can be at a premium. Ships also roll so there is a chance a member of the crew or a passenger, could fall against the cabinet. The original version (shown on the right) has a slight lip which increases the depth very slightly and the squarer profile is more likely to cause an injury than the more rounded profile of the new version. Apart from a slight difference in cabinet depth, we are only talking about tiny differences in dimensions as both can store the same equipment. The rounded profile also makes what is an already very durable cabinet even more so.
Both styles are manufactured using the RTM closed mould process so the quality of finish is equally good. The new style is slightly easier to produce as the older one used an aluminium plate in the tooling which could occasionally cause problems during production.
The changeover from the older style to the new will be a gradual one so if you order a JB82 or JB82S it may appear in either style until roughly the end of the year.