Rescue teams are being equipped with the Arcair Slice Pack cutting system to shave time from operations in which lives are at stake.

Arcair, a unit of Thermadyne (www.thermadyne.com/arcair/), said its Slice Pack exothermic cutting system can burn or cut or piece any metallic, non-metallic or composite material quickly and safely.

The company said its air-carbon arc products cut three times faster than oxyacetylene torch on three-inch mild steel, and can be used to cut locks, deadbolts, steel doors, floors, roofs, frame walls, iron bars, gratings, metal roofing, brick, concrete, and virtually any other obstacle.

The Slice system does not require preheating. It feeds oxygen and electrical power for ignition to a patented magnesium cutting rod that ignites immediately after the oxygen is turned on and the cutting rod is touched to the striker.

After the exothermic reaction begins, the electrical power is turned off and the cutting rod continues to burn as long as the oxygen flow is continued. The exothermic principle enables the operator to keep a fog nozzle spraying on the cutting area during the cut.

The system is designed to be portable and self-contained to go anywhere.