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