By Alan M. Petrillo

No matter what fire department you walk into in the United States, you’ll find a preference for one type of aerial device over another-straight ladder over platform or vice versa.

While there are advantages and disadvantages to both ladders and platforms, firefighters typically choose to use the type of aerial vehicle that matches up best with their department’s circumstances, but also occasionally they choose a type of aerial based on department history with one type or another.

Decision Process

Chris Wade, director of aerial products at E-ONE, says E-ONE doesn’t recommend one type of aerial over another for a fire department but tries to find the truck that works well for it. “We ask them what they want their truck to do for them,” Wade says. “We also want to know if there are any predefined limits on the truck, like with overall length or height.”

Jason Witmier, product manager of aerials at KME, says the decision of ladder vs. platform usually comes down to the customer’s preference and the cost of the vehicle. “For many fire departments, if they can afford it and their area will support its size, they like the platform, especially because it gives them a better surface to work from for aerial operations like venting the roof and setting firefighters down on a roof,” he says. “A platform gives more security for those types of operations.”

1 E-ONE built this 100-foot rear-mount platform for the Sarasota (FL) Fire Department. (Photo courtesy of E-ONE.)

Tim Smits, national sales manager for Pierce Manufacturing Inc., says that ladders are trending to be more popular right now than platforms. “One year ladders will skyrocket, and the next year it might be the complete opposite with platforms rising,” Smits observes. “Also, right now, tractor-drawn aerials (TDAs) are on a big rise, and we categorize them with ladders. But every year is different.”

Paul Christiansen, aerial sales manager for Ferrara Fire Apparatus, says Ferrara always goes with what fits the customer’s needs. “Some fire departments have always worked off of either a straight stick or a platform,” Christiansen points out, “and they feel uncomfortable with the other type of aerial.” He notes that platforms typically are thought of as both rescue and fire suppression vehicles, with stable platforms at the end of the ladders and typically large waterways. “But, ladders also have a rope rescue pulley option that’s controlled from the turntable,” he points out, “so you’re able to have a rescue function with a straight stick too. However, with a platform, you will get a higher water flow-up to 2,000 gallons per minute (gpm) from a rear-mount platform-while a straight stick will be in the 1,250- to 1,500-gpm range.”

2 KME built this 79-foot AerialCat ladder quint for the William Cameron Fire Co. in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. (Photo courtesy of KME.)

Smits notes that fire departments should look at the building where the aerial will be housed. “They should check the length and height of the bay, the door height, and the floor structure to be sure

VAN WERT, OH—Braun Industries, Inc., is packing up promotional items and emergency vehicles to head to FDIC 2016—the world's largest fire and emergency services training-based conference and exhibition. Attending the show will be representatives from Braun Industries direct and its dealerships from around the country. Braun's main booth will be located in Indiana Convention Center space #3665. However, the custom ambulance manufacturer will also have an emergency vehicle on display in GM Fleet and Commercial booth #4139. In addition to displaying its models, Braun also plans to debut the Fire/EMS Industry's first rollover ambulance crash test footage.

"FDIC is our biggest show each year," says Braun Industries' vice president of sales and marketing, Chad Brown. "However, we're really looking forward this one. We'll have four unique customer ambulances on display throughout the convention center, and we feel each one shows the safety, quality, and innovation we're known for. In addition, we cannot wait to see the reaction we get from customers and potential customers regarding the crash test footage. It's going to be an exciting trade show and we're looking forward to opening our booth on Thursday [April 21, 2016]." 

The three units set to display in Braun booth #3665 are from Granville Township, City of Manassass, and Parkview Hospital. Granville Township unit #6918 is a 2015 Chief XL Type I. Mounted on a Ford F450 4x4, the ambulance includes a Zico 02 Lift System, custom cabinet console, and cabinet at the head of the squad bench. The City of Manassas unit #6929 is also a 2015 Chief XL Type I. However, it's on a Ford F550 4x4. The module includes a Braun EZ 02 Lift, safety design cabinets above the CPR seat, cabinet at the head of the squad bench, and custom front wall drug storage. Lastly, Parkview Hospital unit #7019 is a 2016 Responder on a Sprinter chassis. The ambulance is a prototype vehicle for Parkview in partnership with Ferno and utilizes the Ferno Intraxx system. 

The GM Fleet and Commercial booth #4139 will have a 2015 Chief XL Type III Chevy G4500 ambulance on display from Bloomfield. The unit features OSS#3 gear storage, extended action area, and custom interior cabinet storage. 

Along with the ambulance models, Braun Industries is planning to show ambulance crash test footage inside booth #3665. The two-minute video will be displayed throughout the show on large HD monitors mounted fifteen feet in the air for optimal viewing. It includes highlights from the test Braun completed earlier this year on a ten-year-old ambulance model. The test was designed to simulate the proposed SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) J3057 body integrity test; it uses science and data to focus on the modular body and roll impact loading-or how well the box holds up in the event of a rollover. 

For more information, visit www.braunambulances.com.

By Paul Shapiro

With water being the primary extinguishing agent for fire suppression, it’s important to be able to deliver the required flow-gallons per minute (gpm)-at the required pressure.

Water delivery systems on the fireground, a.k.a. hose evolutions, have several restrictions that can decrease the flow of the water. Things such as elevation gain or loss, hose friction loss, appliances, plumbing, and nozzle pressures can all impede water flow. Firefighters can overcome pressure restrictions within the specifications of the equipment being used mainly by increasing pump discharge pressure on the engine. Hose evolutions can also be designed to overcome some of the pressure restrictions.

Firefighters need to be well-versed in all equipment and procedures involved with their water delivery deployment. By being well-versed, I mean being educated on all that is involved with moving water for their departments. This is something they can’t accomplish at a fire without having conducted the flow tests properly first.

1 The best way to come up with water flow statistics to be used in designing hose evolutions is to conduct flow tests. Flow tests give you specifics on the gpm and pressure requirements for different evolutions and equipment such as hose nozzles and appliances. (Photos and illustrations by author.)

The best way to come up with water flow statistics to be used in designing hose evolutions is to conduct flow tests. Flow tests give you specifics on the gpm and pressure requirements for different evolutions and equipment such as hose nozzles and appliances. This article is going to talk about specific tests that can be done as well as equipment that is needed and how to properly use it.

My background in teaching water delivery has involved just about every flow test you can think of over the past 30 years. I, like most of you, have learned a lot from the school of hard knocks. I believe it is extremely important to contact flow-testing equipment manufacturers to learn how it is best used.

Pressure Gauge/Pressure Measuring Equipment

Pressure gauges, as they relate to the fire service, have been around for many years. There are two types of pressure gauge instruments that are used for flow testing. One is an inline pressure gauge and the other is a pitot gauge. The inline gauge is considered a wall gauge. In other words, the gauge is inserted into the housing of the inline gauge unit itself from the sidewall. The pitot gauge measures the nozzle pressure of a fire stream, which is than referenced on a chart for the correct gpm. It has a blade with a very small hole on the end that is inserted into the fire stream and sends the pressure to the gauge to come up with a reading. The pitot gauge can either be handheld or set up in a stationary fixture.

The two most common pressure gauges that are used in water delivery flow testing in the fire service are gauges that have two- and five-pound-per-square-inch (psi) increments. The five-psi-increment gauge is the most common one of the two found. Some say that the problem with the five-psi-increment gauge is that you’re guessing what the exact pressure reading is betwe

By Paul Shapiro

With water being the primary extinguishing agent for fire suppression, it’s important to be able to deliver the required flow-gallons per minute (gpm)-at the required pressure.

Water delivery systems on the fireground, a.k.a. hose evolutions, have several restrictions that can decrease the flow of the water. Things such as elevation gain or loss, hose friction loss, appliances, plumbing, and nozzle pressures can all impede water flow. Firefighters can overcome pressure restrictions within the specifications of the equipment being used mainly by increasing pump discharge pressure on the engine. Hose evolutions can also be designed to overcome some of the pressure restrictions.

Firefighters need to be well-versed in all equipment and procedures involved with their water delivery deployment. By being well-versed, I mean being educated on all that is involved with moving water for their departments. This is something they can’t accomplish at a fire without having conducted the flow tests properly first.

1 The best way to come up with water flow statistics to be used in designing hose evolutions is to conduct flow tests. Flow tests give you specifics on the gpm and pressure requirements for different evolutions and equipment such as hose nozzles and appliances. (Photos and illustrations by author.)

The best way to come up with water flow statistics to be used in designing hose evolutions is to conduct flow tests. Flow tests give you specifics on the gpm and pressure requirements for different evolutions and equipment such as hose nozzles and appliances. This article is going to talk about specific tests that can be done as well as equipment that is needed and how to properly use it.

My background in teaching water delivery has involved just about every flow test you can think of over the past 30 years. I, like most of you, have learned a lot from the school of hard knocks. I believe it is extremely important to contact flow-testing equipment manufacturers to learn how it is best used.

Pressure Gauge/Pressure Measuring Equipment

Pressure gauges, as they relate to the fire service, have been around for many years. There are two types of pressure gauge instruments that are used for flow testing. One is an inline pressure gauge and the other is a pitot gauge. The inline gauge is considered a wall gauge. In other words, the gauge is inserted into the housing of the inline gauge unit itself from the sidewall. The pitot gauge measures the nozzle pressure of a fire stream, which is than referenced on a chart for the correct gpm. It has a blade with a very small hole on the end that is inserted into the fire stream and sends the pressure to the gauge to come up with a reading. The pitot gauge can either be handheld or set up in a stationary fixture.

The two most common pressure gauges that are used in water delivery flow testing in the fire service are gauges that have two- and five-pound-per-square-inch (psi) increments. The five-psi-increment gauge is the most common one of the two found. Some say that the problem with the five-psi-increment gauge is that you’re guessing what the exact pressure reading is betwe

By Paul Shapiro

With water being the primary extinguishing agent for fire suppression, it’s important to be able to deliver the required flow-gallons per minute (gpm)-at the required pressure.

Water delivery systems on the fireground, a.k.a. hose evolutions, have several restrictions that can decrease the flow of the water. Things such as elevation gain or loss, hose friction loss, appliances, plumbing, and nozzle pressures can all impede water flow. Firefighters can overcome pressure restrictions within the specifications of the equipment being used mainly by increasing pump discharge pressure on the engine. Hose evolutions can also be designed to overcome some of the pressure restrictions.

Firefighters need to be well-versed in all equipment and procedures involved with their water delivery deployment. By being well-versed, I mean being educated on all that is involved with moving water for their departments. This is something they can’t accomplish at a fire without having conducted the flow tests properly first.

1 The best way to come up with water flow statistics to be used in designing hose evolutions is to conduct flow tests. Flow tests give you specifics on the gpm and pressure requirements for different evolutions and equipment such as hose nozzles and appliances. (Photos and illustrations by author.)

The best way to come up with water flow statistics to be used in designing hose evolutions is to conduct flow tests. Flow tests give you specifics on the gpm and pressure requirements for different evolutions and equipment such as hose nozzles and appliances. This article is going to talk about specific tests that can be done as well as equipment that is needed and how to properly use it.

My background in teaching water delivery has involved just about every flow test you can think of over the past 30 years. I, like most of you, have learned a lot from the school of hard knocks. I believe it is extremely important to contact flow-testing equipment manufacturers to learn how it is best used.

Pressure Gauge/Pressure Measuring Equipment

Pressure gauges, as they relate to the fire service, have been around for many years. There are two types of pressure gauge instruments that are used for flow testing. One is an inline pressure gauge and the other is a pitot gauge. The inline gauge is considered a wall gauge. In other words, the gauge is inserted into the housing of the inline gauge unit itself from the sidewall. The pitot gauge measures the nozzle pressure of a fire stream, which is than referenced on a chart for the correct gpm. It has a blade with a very small hole on the end that is inserted into the fire stream and sends the pressure to the gauge to come up with a reading. The pitot gauge can either be handheld or set up in a stationary fixture.

The two most common pressure gauges that are used in water delivery flow testing in the fire service are gauges that have two- and five-pound-per-square-inch (psi) increments. The five-psi-increment gauge is the most common one of the two found. Some say that the problem with the five-psi-increment gauge is that you’re guessing what the exact pressure reading is betwe