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Posted: Jan 1, 2019

FAMA Fire Apparatus and Component Resources

BY DOUG MILLER

Member companies of the Fire Apparatus Manufacturers’ Association (FAMA) have created many useful resources for the fire service in recent years relating to safe fire apparatus. Areas that have seen an influx of informative materials are the buyer’s guides created by members of the FAMA Technical Committee and its subcommittees.

Fire Apparatus Manufactures Association logo

Technology integration has been at the forefront in developing and designing fire trucks for many years. This growth in technology comes from many sources and many reasons. Much of the technological advancements are to provide safer, longer lasting, easier to use, and easier to maintain emergency vehicles. Many manufacturers also use technology as a means to differentiate their products in the marketplace.

Whatever the reason, let’s face it—today’s fire trucks are an integration of many technologies that can be confusing to an apparatus committee trying to specify the newest addition to its fleet.

BUYER’S GUIDES

FAMA comprises member companies that manufacture fire apparatus and apparatus components. One of its missions is to educate the fire service about safe fire apparatus. In recent years, FAMA members have been working diligently to create buyer’s guides to help inform the fire service about the various functional areas of fire apparatus. These include topics such as pumps, emergency lighting, scene lighting, suspensions, auxiliary braking systems, occupant protection, seats, batteries, alternators and chargers, and foam proportioning systems, to name a few.

These buyer’s guides offer a noncommercial look into the details of the subject and many times call out the pros and cons of various types of systems and components. FAMA buyer’s guides can help educate those who are new to buying and selling fire apparatus and help create questions to ask your apparatus salesperson as you move along the path to purchasing a new rig. Even the seasoned apparatus purchaser is likely to gain insight on newer technology or at least may see things from a different perspective.

Each buyer’s guide delves deep into the topic and may provide photos and drawings to help represent the topic in a no-nonsense way. Representing the latest technology as well as tried and true methods and product designs, the buyer’s guides can be great tools whether you are specifying the most basic apparatus or need to have all the bells and whistles.

OTHER FIRE SERVICE RESOURCES

Along with the buyer’s guides, many other useful resources are available to help guide you. There are Fire Apparatus Common Safety Signs, offering many signs that can be used on the apparatus to meet certain National Fire Protection Association criteria. The Safety Sign artwork is available to download for printing to add or replace safety signs as needed on new and existing apparatus. Graphical symbols are becoming more common on everything we use, including fire apparatus. There is a document that shows many common symbols used universally as well

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Posted: Jan 1, 2019

FAMA Fire Apparatus and Component Resources

BY DOUG MILLER

Member companies of the Fire Apparatus Manufacturers’ Association (FAMA) have created many useful resources for the fire service in recent years relating to safe fire apparatus. Areas that have seen an influx of informative materials are the buyer’s guides created by members of the FAMA Technical Committee and its subcommittees.

Fire Apparatus Manufactures Association logo

Technology integration has been at the forefront in developing and designing fire trucks for many years. This growth in technology comes from many sources and many reasons. Much of the technological advancements are to provide safer, longer lasting, easier to use, and easier to maintain emergency vehicles. Many manufacturers also use technology as a means to differentiate their products in the marketplace.

Whatever the reason, let’s face it—today’s fire trucks are an integration of many technologies that can be confusing to an apparatus committee trying to specify the newest addition to its fleet.

BUYER’S GUIDES

FAMA comprises member companies that manufacture fire apparatus and apparatus components. One of its missions is to educate the fire service about safe fire apparatus. In recent years, FAMA members have been working diligently to create buyer’s guides to help inform the fire service about the various functional areas of fire apparatus. These include topics such as pumps, emergency lighting, scene lighting, suspensions, auxiliary braking systems, occupant protection, seats, batteries, alternators and chargers, and foam proportioning systems, to name a few.

These buyer’s guides offer a noncommercial look into the details of the subject and many times call out the pros and cons of various types of systems and components. FAMA buyer’s guides can help educate those who are new to buying and selling fire apparatus and help create questions to ask your apparatus salesperson as you move along the path to purchasing a new rig. Even the seasoned apparatus purchaser is likely to gain insight on newer technology or at least may see things from a different perspective.

Each buyer’s guide delves deep into the topic and may provide photos and drawings to help represent the topic in a no-nonsense way. Representing the latest technology as well as tried and true methods and product designs, the buyer’s guides can be great tools whether you are specifying the most basic apparatus or need to have all the bells and whistles.

OTHER FIRE SERVICE RESOURCES

Along with the buyer’s guides, many other useful resources are available to help guide you. There are Fire Apparatus Common Safety Signs, offering many signs that can be used on the apparatus to meet certain National Fire Protection Association criteria. The Safety Sign artwork is available to download for printing to add or replace safety signs as needed on new and existing apparatus. Graphical symbols are becoming more common on everything we use, including fire apparatus. There is a document that shows many common symbols used universally as well

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Posted: Jan 1, 2019

Specialty PPE

BY ALAN M. PETRILLO


Personal protective equipment (PPE) manufacturers are turning out new styles of specialty PPE for nonstructural firefighting tasks that provide the protection necessary for the type of job to be performed without sacrificing safety or comfort. Such specialty PPE includes that made for wildland firefighting, rescue, emergency medical services (EMS), and proximity/hazmat incidents.

WILDLAND PPE

Todd Herring, director of marketing for Fire-Dex, says his company makes TECGEN51 Fatigues, which meet National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1977, Standard on Protective Clothing and Equipment for Wildland Fire Fighting, and NFPA 1951, Standard on Protective Ensembles for Technical Rescue Incidents. “TECGEN51 Fatigues have a very diverse range of use,” Herring points out. “The PPE uses an exclusive fabric and technology for Fire-Dex, which is a blend of TECGEN fibers to give a high level of comfort and breathability, very high tear strength, a high level of flash protection, and radiant heat protection—all in a single-layer fabric.”

Alysha Gray, product marketing director for fire PPE at Lion, says Lion makes the VersaPro and VersaPro Plus, two models of specialty PPE that meet NFPA 1977 and NFPA 1951. “The VersaPro garment is less cumbersome than structural firefighting PPE, made from a single layer that uses the Sigma™ fabric that is soft yet strong and durable,” Gray says. “Sigma fabric is made up of 45 percent Meta-Aramid, 32 percent Lenzing FR®, 17 percent Polymide, and six percent Para-Aramid, giving a combination of flash/thermal protection, durability, comfort, and appearance.”

John Therrien, national sales manager for Lakeland Fire, says Lakeland’s wildland PPE meets NFPA 1977 and 1951 in coat, pant, and coverall models. “They all are made with TenCate Defender M Gold shell fabric, and the styles have been ergonomically designed to provide function and comfort,” Therrien says. “The gear comes with our patented LazerMax trim, a silver Scotchlite reflective piping that we run in the major seams of our garments, around the arm holes and down the back of the sleeves, and down the sides of the legs to improve the visibility of first responders on the roads or firegrounds.”

Fire-Dex makes TECGEN51 Fatigues for use in wildland firefighting and technical rescue incidents. (Photos 1-3 courtesy of Fire-Dex.)

1 Fire-Dex makes TECGEN51 Fatigues for use in wildland firefighting and technical rescue incidents. (Photos 1-3 courtesy of Fire-Dex.)


Fire-Dex’s USAR PPE has a CROSSTECH® SR moisture barrier and an outer shell of either TECGEN51 or traditional Nomex®.

2 Fire-Dex’s USAR PPE has a CROSSTECH® SR moisture barrier and an outer shell of either TECGEN51 or t

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Posted: Jan 1, 2019

Specialty PPE

BY ALAN M. PETRILLO


Personal protective equipment (PPE) manufacturers are turning out new styles of specialty PPE for nonstructural firefighting tasks that provide the protection necessary for the type of job to be performed without sacrificing safety or comfort. Such specialty PPE includes that made for wildland firefighting, rescue, emergency medical services (EMS), and proximity/hazmat incidents.

WILDLAND PPE

Todd Herring, director of marketing for Fire-Dex, says his company makes TECGEN51 Fatigues, which meet National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1977, Standard on Protective Clothing and Equipment for Wildland Fire Fighting, and NFPA 1951, Standard on Protective Ensembles for Technical Rescue Incidents. “TECGEN51 Fatigues have a very diverse range of use,” Herring points out. “The PPE uses an exclusive fabric and technology for Fire-Dex, which is a blend of TECGEN fibers to give a high level of comfort and breathability, very high tear strength, a high level of flash protection, and radiant heat protection—all in a single-layer fabric.”

Alysha Gray, product marketing director for fire PPE at Lion, says Lion makes the VersaPro and VersaPro Plus, two models of specialty PPE that meet NFPA 1977 and NFPA 1951. “The VersaPro garment is less cumbersome than structural firefighting PPE, made from a single layer that uses the Sigma™ fabric that is soft yet strong and durable,” Gray says. “Sigma fabric is made up of 45 percent Meta-Aramid, 32 percent Lenzing FR®, 17 percent Polymide, and six percent Para-Aramid, giving a combination of flash/thermal protection, durability, comfort, and appearance.”

John Therrien, national sales manager for Lakeland Fire, says Lakeland’s wildland PPE meets NFPA 1977 and 1951 in coat, pant, and coverall models. “They all are made with TenCate Defender M Gold shell fabric, and the styles have been ergonomically designed to provide function and comfort,” Therrien says. “The gear comes with our patented LazerMax trim, a silver Scotchlite reflective piping that we run in the major seams of our garments, around the arm holes and down the back of the sleeves, and down the sides of the legs to improve the visibility of first responders on the roads or firegrounds.”

Fire-Dex makes TECGEN51 Fatigues for use in wildland firefighting and technical rescue incidents. (Photos 1-3 courtesy of Fire-Dex.)

1 Fire-Dex makes TECGEN51 Fatigues for use in wildland firefighting and technical rescue incidents. (Photos 1-3 courtesy of Fire-Dex.)


Fire-Dex’s USAR PPE has a CROSSTECH® SR moisture barrier and an outer shell of either TECGEN51 or traditional Nomex®.

2 Fire-Dex’s USAR PPE has a CROSSTECH® SR moisture barrier and an outer shell of either TECGEN51 or t

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Posted: Jan 1, 2019

Fire Apparatus Evolution

Chris Mc Loone

We’ve gotten through the holidays, the ball has dropped in Times Square, and now it’s time to get moving on 2019.

Chris Mc Loone

All our fire apparatus is a year older as well as the myriad items we use every time the whistle blows or the bell rings.

Certain things are consumable, while other pieces of equipment, like our self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), must be tested and results recorded, including fit testing for each firefighter. The cycle begins anew at the beginning of every year. Atmospheric monitors must be tested, and personal protective equipment inventories must be reviewed to remove turnout gear that has reached its 10-year limit.

No doubt, there are countless departments across the nation preparing to replace their fire apparatus. It might be in bulk; it might be one at a time. But as we move into 2019, understand that we are now experiencing the next evolution in fire apparatus design, and it’s not something you can take a picture of. It’s about communication.

There is no shortage of ideas from firefighters for how to make our apparatus more efficient. Tool placement, crosslay and rear hosebed heights, ladder locations—these are all things that firefighters can tweak to ensure fireground efficiency. They keep things within easy reach so the crew can deploy quickly to get the job done. But if the trucks can’t get off the front apron, then all these practical features won’t do the crew a bit of good.

It’s about technology but beyond touch screen pump panels—which I’d love to try, by the way. I’ve seen them on rigs but haven’t had a chance to operate them. However, the technology I’m talking about is beyond that. We are beyond wirelessly talking to computers back at the station as we back in but not quite at a point where we are regularly communicating real-time information as the trucks operate at the fireground. We can do it, but we are not doing it across the board yet.

During 2018, we started to hear and read a lot about smart cities. At the highest level, the concept can be difficult to completely understand. But, it’s a little easier when considering what we already can do. We can monitor firefighter physiology in some cases, firefighter air consumption, firefighter location, etc. on the fireground. We can keep track of what firefighters are on scene. Vehicle systems allow us to monitor major components on a fire truck. Now consider tying all of these separate systems together and sending information back and forth to your municipality. With some truck systems, critical components are constantly monitored not only for preventive maintenance but also for predictive maintenance. Consider what that means for firefighters if everything is tied together. Firefighter cancer is getting a lot of deserved attention. Exposure tracking is an area that can assist in documenting when and how often firefighters have been exposed to the

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