Editor’s Note: Every department has its own reasons for specifying certain components on its fire apparatus, including valves on a pumper. In recent years, electric valve use for intakes and discharges has increased. However, there is still a large contingent in the fire service that prefers valves with manual linkages. This month, we asked Editorial Advisory Board members Ricky Riley (left) and Bill Adams (right) to comment on electric and manual valves.
My views on electric valves are biased and outdated and do not reflect current products or trends. Some older acquaintances still in the industry and fire service have similar sentiments—so do those uneducated on the subject. Their opinions are incorporated into my narration. To temper my predisposed views, I sought input from Jason Witmier, northeast regional sales manager for Safe Fleet (representing FRC, Elkhart Brass, ROM, and FoamPro). Witmier previously worked for KME as a product manager for 14 years.
The term electric valve is a misnomer. Most valves are the same. It’s the controller that is either manually moved or activated by air, electricity, or hydraulic power (see photo). Discounting mechanical sirens and beacon rays, I dislike most electronics on fire apparatus. Manual levers, linkages, and pull-rods appear fail-safe. And when engaged, they give assurance that something is happening. Assurance is felt, heard, and seen. It can be the resistance (pressure) against a valve, the sound of water moving, or watching pressure gauge needles moving. You don’t sense that with electric valves. Besides, you can have a broken wire, a malfunctioning switch, a stuck valve, a malfunctioning visual screen, or a burned-out indicator light.
1 In the mid 1980s, the former Young Fire Apparatus delivered custom chassied pumpers with hydraulically operated valves on pump panels remotely located from the front-mounted pump. When questioned, owner Dick Young stated, “Well, we used a hydraulically operated cylinder to control each valve. It was domestically available right off the shelf. It was a double-acting cylinder with a six-inch throw. A single one-gallon oil reservoir operated all the valves; I believe it ran about 480 pounds per square inch (psi). You could put the reservoir anyplace and ju
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Posted: Apr 1, 2018
Editor’s Note: Every department has its own reasons for specifying certain components on its fire apparatus, including valves on a pumper. In recent years, electric valve use for intakes and discharges has increased. However, there is still a large contingent in the fire service that prefers valves with manual linkages. This month, we asked Editorial Advisory Board members Ricky Riley (left) and Bill Adams (right) to comment on electric and manual valves.
Valves are usually not the hottest topic to discuss in an article. I cannot even remember them being a major discussion at any engineering conference. The valve does not become the topic of conversation until it malfunctions or is leaking on the apparatus floor. Departments have a brand of valve that they are used to using or that their mechanics are familiar with for repairs, thus driving the purchase of these valves on their apparatus. The brand of the valve can be important on the mechanical side for ease of repair and availability of parts and kits. But, the type of valve—whether it is manual, electric, or air—is also important for the end user and the mechanic.
2½-Inch Piping and Smaller
For basic discharge valves that are normally used for attack lines and piping 2½ inches and smaller, I am an advocate for a very simple valve with the normal push/pull handle to open. These valves’ linkages and opening devices should not be intricate or involve a number of angles and elbows to open—basically lining up the push/pull rod with the valve to offer a very simple and clean opening and closing of the valve. Taking the time to work with the manufacturer at the engineering conference and paying attention to this detail will pay off in the field. Even though I am a fan of some technology, my desire to keep a lot of things basic on apparatus has driven us to invest in the pump house. This investment is an attempt to make things more basic and functional for the pump operator and provide a reliable and somewhat maintenance-free push/pull action. The valve itself should be easy to maintain and field-serviceable. This will require taking the time when reviewing the pump house to make sure you located these valves so they are accessible to the pump operator and the mechanic. My belief and feeling on electric valves in these positions is not a strong one at all. These valves are too important to me for the firefighters operating in the immediately dangerous to life or health environment to take a chance on an electrical issue/short or need to go to a backup system.
Three-Inch and Larger Piping
With the need for slow-close valves for any discharges or intakes three inches or larger according to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1901, Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus, the valve discussion now always comes up when designing apparatus. These larger valves require room in the pump house and require space on the pump panel, especially if we use a hand wheel to operate the valve. Depending on a department’s operational choices on its apparatus, it can make as little as just one valve choice or be forced to look at a high number of valves—being any combination of manual, electric, or even air-operated—positioned in a number of areas of the rig. The most common large-diameter pipe that requires a slow-close type of valve is the deck gun discharge. In the vast majority of apparatus builds when NFPA 1901 went into effect, this
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Posted: Apr 1, 2018
Editor’s Note: Every department has its own reasons for specifying certain components on its fire apparatus, including valves on a pumper. In recent years, electric valve use for intakes and discharges has increased. However, there is still a large contingent in the fire service that prefers valves with manual linkages. This month, we asked Editorial Advisory Board members Ricky Riley (left) and Bill Adams (right) to comment on electric and manual valves.
Valves are usually not the hottest topic to discuss in an article. I cannot even remember them being a major discussion at any engineering conference. The valve does not become the topic of conversation until it malfunctions or is leaking on the apparatus floor. Departments have a brand of valve that they are used to using or that their mechanics are familiar with for repairs, thus driving the purchase of these valves on their apparatus. The brand of the valve can be important on the mechanical side for ease of repair and availability of parts and kits. But, the type of valve—whether it is manual, electric, or air—is also important for the end user and the mechanic.
2½-Inch Piping and Smaller
For basic discharge valves that are normally used for attack lines and piping 2½ inches and smaller, I am an advocate for a very simple valve with the normal push/pull handle to open. These valves’ linkages and opening devices should not be intricate or involve a number of angles and elbows to open—basically lining up the push/pull rod with the valve to offer a very simple and clean opening and closing of the valve. Taking the time to work with the manufacturer at the engineering conference and paying attention to this detail will pay off in the field. Even though I am a fan of some technology, my desire to keep a lot of things basic on apparatus has driven us to invest in the pump house. This investment is an attempt to make things more basic and functional for the pump operator and provide a reliable and somewhat maintenance-free push/pull action. The valve itself should be easy to maintain and field-serviceable. This will require taking the time when reviewing the pump house to make sure you located these valves so they are accessible to the pump operator and the mechanic. My belief and feeling on electric valves in these positions is not a strong one at all. These valves are too important to me for the firefighters operating in the immediately dangerous to life or health environment to take a chance on an electrical issue/short or need to go to a backup system.
Three-Inch and Larger Piping
With the need for slow-close valves for any discharges or intakes three inches or larger according to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1901, Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus, the valve discussion now always comes up when designing apparatus. These larger valves require room in the pump house and require space on the pump panel, especially if we use a hand wheel to operate the valve. Depending on a department’s operational choices on its apparatus, it can make as little as just one valve choice or be forced to look at a high number of valves—being any combination of manual, electric, or even air-operated—positioned in a number of areas of the rig. The most common large-diameter pipe that requires a slow-close type of valve is the deck gun discharge. In the vast majority of apparatus builds when NFPA 1901 went into effect, this
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Posted: Apr 1, 2018
By Alan M. Petrillo
Sometimes a fire department needs to fill a hole in its aerial fleet quickly, and other times it might not have the cash needed for a new vehicle. But in either case, many departments turn to used fire apparatus dealers and brokers to fulfill their needs.
Dealers and Brokers
James Wessel, president of Brindlee Mountain Fire Apparatus, says that “late model aerials always have been a bread-and-butter product for us because we’ve built a reputation in specializing in them. So, we’ve seen a lot of activity in that area of used aerials.” Wessell notes that 2017 proved to be a year of strong demand for all kinds of used aerials. “Most customers are looking in the 75-foot, 95-foot, and 100-foot aerial length range,” he adds. “But, there’s not much of a demand for ladders in the 50-foot, 60-foot, and 65-foot ranges and very little demand for used articulating aerial devices.”
1 The Sunrise Beach (MO) Fire Protection District purchased this used 2000 E-ONE 75-foot aerial quint from Jon’s Mid America. (Photo courtesy of Sunrise Beach Fire Protection District.)
Jim Keltner, owner of Jon’s Mid America, thinks that the somewhat improved economy is the main reason that he’s seeing a lot of aerial platforms coming in to his business. “Two or three years ago, low mileage aerial platforms were pretty scarce,” Keltner observes, “but now they are much more available, likely because of the improved economy and larger metropolitan areas trading in their platforms while the rigs still have a lot of value.” Keltner notes that most of the platforms are in the 95- to 100-foot range, and their typical age is between 15 and 17 years old.
2 The Buck Creek (IN) Fire Department went to used apparatus broker Firetec to get this 1998 Pierce 100-foot aerial platform from the Plattsburgh (NY) Fire District No. 3. [Photo courtesy of the Buck Creek (IN) Fire Department.]
Barb Baumann, co-owner of used apparatus broker Firetec, says that her company has “brokered the sales of a huge variety of aerial apparatus recently. In the past 18 months, we’ve sold aerial apparatus from a 1989 model to one made in 2011,” Baumann notes. “We’ve sold used aerials for $500,000 to $700,000. However, the average used aerial sells for between $50,000 and $150,000.”
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Posted: Apr 1, 2018
By Alan M. Petrillo
Sometimes a fire department needs to fill a hole in its aerial fleet quickly, and other times it might not have the cash needed for a new vehicle. But in either case, many departments turn to used fire apparatus dealers and brokers to fulfill their needs.
Dealers and Brokers
James Wessel, president of Brindlee Mountain Fire Apparatus, says that “late model aerials always have been a bread-and-butter product for us because we’ve built a reputation in specializing in them. So, we’ve seen a lot of activity in that area of used aerials.” Wessell notes that 2017 proved to be a year of strong demand for all kinds of used aerials. “Most customers are looking in the 75-foot, 95-foot, and 100-foot aerial length range,” he adds. “But, there’s not much of a demand for ladders in the 50-foot, 60-foot, and 65-foot ranges and very little demand for used articulating aerial devices.”
1 The Sunrise Beach (MO) Fire Protection District purchased this used 2000 E-ONE 75-foot aerial quint from Jon’s Mid America. (Photo courtesy of Sunrise Beach Fire Protection District.)
Jim Keltner, owner of Jon’s Mid America, thinks that the somewhat improved economy is the main reason that he’s seeing a lot of aerial platforms coming in to his business. “Two or three years ago, low mileage aerial platforms were pretty scarce,” Keltner observes, “but now they are much more available, likely because of the improved economy and larger metropolitan areas trading in their platforms while the rigs still have a lot of value.” Keltner notes that most of the platforms are in the 95- to 100-foot range, and their typical age is between 15 and 17 years old.
2 The Buck Creek (IN) Fire Department went to used apparatus broker Firetec to get this 1998 Pierce 100-foot aerial platform from the Plattsburgh (NY) Fire District No. 3. [Photo courtesy of the Buck Creek (IN) Fire Department.]
Barb Baumann, co-owner of used apparatus broker Firetec, says that her company has “brokered the sales of a huge variety of aerial apparatus recently. In the past 18 months, we’ve sold aerial apparatus from a 1989 model to one made in 2011,” Baumann notes. “We’ve sold used aerials for $500,000 to $700,000. However, the average used aerial sells for between $50,000 and $150,000.”
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