Akron Brass Adds Precision Tool to Firefighter Arsenals with New Kit

WOOSTER, OH – April 23, 2026 – Akron Brass, a long-standing leader in firefighting technology, today introduced a significant enhancement for one of its most widely used tools. The company announced the release of the Flat Out Assault Ring Kit, a field-installable upgrade for its select Assault nozzles that provides a new, highly specialized water pattern designed for precision and control in challenging fireground environments.

The new kit allows firefighters to add a "flat disperse" discharge pattern to their existing handline nozzles, replacing the traditional wide-angle fog function. This innovation signals a broader industry trend toward specialized tools that offer greater tactical flexibility, particularly as fire departments confront increasingly complex scenarios like wildland-urban interface (WUI) fires and wind-driven events.

A New Tactical Edge for Complex Fires

The core of the Flat Out Assault Ring Kit is its unique water stream. Unlike the fine mist of a conventional fog pattern, the flat disperse pattern produces larger, heavier droplets organized into a wide, linear sheet of water. This design is engineered to maintain momentum and resist wind, ensuring more water reaches the intended target with controlled placement. The result is a tool optimized for "painting" surfaces, creating fire breaks, or protecting adjacent structures from radiant heat.

This capability addresses a critical need in modern firefighting. Traditional fog patterns, while excellent for cooling hot gases and providing a protective curtain for firefighters, can be rendered ineffective by strong winds, with much of the water evaporating or being blown off-target before it can do its job. The flat disperse pattern's larger droplets are less susceptible to these environmental factors, making it a superior choice for exterior attacks, especially in open areas or windy conditions.

While the kit adds this new pattern, it's a calculated trade-off. To enable the flat disperse performance, the upgrade replaces the nozzle's spinning teeth, thereby removing the wide-angle fog capability. However, it strategically retains the two other essential functions of the Assault platform: a powerful straight stream for maximum reach and penetration, and a power cone for stream shaping and close-quarters firefighter protection. This allows departments to gain a new tactical option without sacrificing the core versatility of their primary handline nozzles. The flat pattern is not intended for interior gas cooling or ventilation, focusing its utility on direct surface application where precision is paramount.

Innovation Through Adaptation

The technology behind the Flat Out Assault Ring Kit is not entirely new, but rather a clever adaptation of proven engineering. Akron Brass leveraged the water stream control technology from its powerful FireFox monitor, a larger-scale appliance often mounted on apparatus, and scaled it down for a handline nozzle. This approach highlights a product development strategy focused on iterative innovation and expanding capability without introducing unnecessary complexity.

"The Flat Out Assault Ring Kit was born from proven technology," said Lauren Ploof, Project Manager at Akron Brass, in the company's announcement. "By applying the trusted water stream control of our FireFox monitor to a handline nozzle, we created a purposeful pattern option that expands capability without adding complexity. It lets crews focus on making water count, not managing the number of handline nozzles needed for varying types of fires."

This philosophy extends to the product's implementation. Akron Brass asserts the kit can be installed in the field in minutes without any permanent modifications to the nozzle body. This ease of adoption is crucial for fire departments, which often operate on tight budgets and with limited personnel for equipment maintenance. The claim of "no retraining required" is equally significant, as the kit integrates into the nozzle's existing twist-bezel pattern control, a familiar operation for firefighters. Built from the company's signature Pyrolite® hardcoat-anodized aluminum alloy, the components are designed to withstand the heat, abrasion, and impacts inherent to the fireground.

Enhancing the Connected Fireground

Beyond its mechanical function, the Flat Out Assault Ring Kit is designed to operate within Akron Brass's growing ecosystem of "smart" fireground technology. The upgrade maintains full compatibility with the company's advanced systems, including the SAM and SAM BOOST water flow control systems and the revolutionary Smart Nozzle. This integration ensures that the new pattern is not just a standalone feature but a component that enhances a data-driven approach to firefighting.

The SAM system automates pump operations, managing intakes, discharges, and pressure to free up the pump operator and reduce the chance of error. The Smart Nozzle, powered by Nozzle-to-Pump (N2P) technology, provides the firefighter at the point of attack with unprecedented control and information. A display on the nozzle shows critical data like water tank levels and allows the user to charge their own line wirelessly.

When a nozzle equipped with the Flat Out Assault Ring Kit is connected to this system, the firefighter gains the ability to apply a precise, wind-resistant water pattern while receiving real-time feedback. The system can automatically adjust for pressure changes, such as those caused by a hose kink, ensuring the flat disperse pattern is delivered with consistent flow and effectiveness. This synergy between the mechanical tool and the digital system allows crews to more effectively align water application with fire conditions, boosting safety, efficiency, and overall situational awareness on the scene.

Meeting Modern Firefighting Demands

The release of the Flat Out Assault Ring Kit reflects a response to the evolving nature of firefighting. With the increasing frequency and intensity of wildland fires that encroach on populated areas, tools that offer superior performance in outdoor, wind-driven conditions are becoming essential. The demand for more efficient water use, especially in rural areas with limited hydrant access, also drives the development of patterns that maximize the impact of every gallon.

This trend is not unique to Akron Brass. Other specialized manufacturers, such as HEN Nozzles Inc., have also developed "blade" or rectangular stream patterns with a focus on large droplets for wildfire suppression and water conservation. The emergence of these technologies indicates a clear market demand for alternatives to traditional circular fog and straight stream patterns.

By offering the flat disperse pattern as an easy-to-install kit, Akron Brass provides a cost-effective pathway for departments to upgrade their existing equipment and enhance their tactical playbook. Firefighters can now tackle a wider range of challenges with a single, familiar tool, seamlessly switching between a penetrating straight stream, a protective power cone, and a precise, surface-coating flat stream, all while connected to an intelligent water management system. This approach provides a powerful combination of versatility and specialization, empowering firefighters to make smarter, more effective decisions at the moment they matter most.