By Bill Adams

A term gaining popularity in the fire service and apparatus industry is “FDNY-style hosebed” - obviously in deference to pumpers purchased by the Fire Department of New York (FDNY). A similar phrase is “low-style hosebed.” Variants of both have been incorporated into apparatus purchasing specifications and even into some apparatus manufacturers’ published literature.

1 One of 46 Mack CFs delivered to the FDNY in 1972 featuring one adjustable and one permanent hosebed divider. The FDNY eventually purchased more than 400 CFs from Mack and another 100 from Ward 79 built on CF chassis. The arrow points to a “dead space” between the rear of the body and the inner dual tires on both sides of the rig. Today, there would be a door on it to store something. (Photo courtesy of Harvey Eckart.)

Everyone thinks they know what it means, but there is no written description for it. I believe the terminology describes a theory or a generic design and not a physical, measurable, and definitive feature. If so, the verbiage does not belong in purchasing specifications.

If fire departments’ specifications do not include quantifiable criteria describing the hosebed desired, it is impossible to compare and evaluate bidders’ compliance or noncompliance with nebulous descriptions such as an “FDNY-style hosebed.” It is another case where purchasers specify and apparatus manufacturers (OEMs) post bid sureties guaranteeing they will provide something that can’t be defined. It is an ambiguous description similar to heavy-duty, top-of-the-line, and severe-service that unnecessarily clutters up apparatus specifications. However, it is an interesting topic that merits discussion.

2 A 1980 American LaFrance from the FDNY in a private collection. A second permanent hosebed divider was added. The hose load and nozzles are not the FDNY’s. About 100 of these were purchased by FDNY in the early 1980s. (Photo courtesy of Mahlon Irish.)

The FDNY

I have the utmost respect and admiration for the FDNY for what it does, for who it is, and for what it has experienced during its years of existence. FDNY lineage dates back to 1648. FDNY lettering first appeared on its rigs in the mid 1800s. Operating almost 200 in-service pumpers, it has the operational experience to justify its chosen type of hosebed and the right to call it whatever it wants.

Read more 184 0 Article rating: No rating Posted: Sep 13, 2017 Click, Tug, and Snug: What a Novel Idea   By Steve Ward Safety always starts with a simple click of the seat belt buckle. With the advent of active safety systems in passenger vehicles, such as collision warning, blind spot, and rollover technology and the transition of these new technologies into emergency vehicles, the Fire Apparatus Manufacturers’ Association (FAMA) continues to drive safety and new technology to protect firefighters. While these new technologies help mitigate accidents, wearing your seat belt will always be the number one reason an individual can significantly reduce injury risk and increase his chance of survival in an accident. Apparatus Seat Belt Evolution Prior to the 1980s, both commercial and custom fire apparatus were equipped with lap belts, otherwise termed type 1 seat belts, and through the evolution of safety awareness and testing, we have transitioned into today’s three-point belts, otherwise called type 2 seat belts. Even today, a three-point seat belt is not mandated in a fire apparatus but has become the standard within our industry. The two seat belt types found in emergency vehicles are vehicle-structure-mounted seat belts and seat bels integrated with seats, or all belts to seat (ABTS). These two types are typically available through the fire apparatus manufacturers when specing your vehicle. All of us know a seat belt secures an occupant in a vehicle. If you Google the definition of a “seat belt,” you will find it defined as “a belt or strap securing a person to prevent injury in vehicle or aircraft.” However, there is more to the restraint than just a simple belt or strap. A seat belt does several things, such as reducing contact within the interior of the apparatus, spreading the forces of the crash over a larger area of your body and preventing ejection from the cab. The seat belt also removes the possibility of you or your crew members becoming flying projectiles inside the cab and causing injury to others. Vehicle Standards The challenge to fire apparatus manufactures is that all seat belts in all vehicles must comply with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS), which is regulated and enforced by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA). The regulation applying to seat belts is FMVSS 209, which specifies design, performance, and durability requirements. Fire apparatus are not exempt from this standard, and manufacturers are challenged with seating and space requirements. The standard also requires the seat belt fit a fifth-percentile female (108 pounds) to a 95th-percentile male (223 pounds). This applies to the occupants sitting in the seat but not including being outfitted in turnout gear. The typical seat belt found in emergency vehicles is a three-point device consisting of a retractor, webbing, and a buckle. The retractor, which is inertia locking, is called an emergency locking retractor. The belt is a single piece of two-inch webbing that secures the occupant across the pelvic, chest, and shoulder area and has an FMVSS-rated tensile strength of 5,000 pounds. The retractor stores the webbing inside, which is attached to a spool that engages a coiled spring inside the retractor. The preset spring force allows the webbing to spool in and out of the retractor. The spring force itself keeps the belt firm against the occupant and eliminates any slack when worn. This design allows the seated occupants to move freely within the cab when belted and is activated only if an accident occurs. The typical retractor used in emergency vehicles is “dual sensitive,” wh Read more 259 0 Article rating: No rating Posted: Sep 13, 2017 Click, Tug, and Snug: What a Novel Idea   By Steve Ward Safety always starts with a simple click of the seat belt buckle. With the advent of active safety systems in passenger vehicles, such as collision warning, blind spot, and rollover technology and the transition of these new technologies into emergency vehicles, the Fire Apparatus Manufacturers’ Association (FAMA) continues to drive safety and new technology to protect firefighters. While these new technologies help mitigate accidents, wearing your seat belt will always be the number one reason an individual can significantly reduce injury risk and increase his chance of survival in an accident. Apparatus Seat Belt Evolution Prior to the 1980s, both commercial and custom fire apparatus were equipped with lap belts, otherwise termed type 1 seat belts, and through the evolution of safety awareness and testing, we have transitioned into today’s three-point belts, otherwise called type 2 seat belts. Even today, a three-point seat belt is not mandated in a fire apparatus but has become the standard within our industry. The two seat belt types found in emergency vehicles are vehicle-structure-mounted seat belts and seat bels integrated with seats, or all belts to seat (ABTS). These two types are typically available through the fire apparatus manufacturers when specing your vehicle. All of us know a seat belt secures an occupant in a vehicle. If you Google the definition of a “seat belt,” you will find it defined as “a belt or strap securing a person to prevent injury in vehicle or aircraft.” However, there is more to the restraint than just a simple belt or strap. A seat belt does several things, such as reducing contact within the interior of the apparatus, spreading the forces of the crash over a larger area of your body and preventing ejection from the cab. The seat belt also removes the possibility of you or your crew members becoming flying projectiles inside the cab and causing injury to others. Vehicle Standards The challenge to fire apparatus manufactures is that all seat belts in all vehicles must comply with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS), which is regulated and enforced by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA). The regulation applying to seat belts is FMVSS 209, which specifies design, performance, and durability requirements. Fire apparatus are not exempt from this standard, and manufacturers are challenged with seating and space requirements. The standard also requires the seat belt fit a fifth-percentile female (108 pounds) to a 95th-percentile male (223 pounds). This applies to the occupants sitting in the seat but not including being outfitted in turnout gear. The typical seat belt found in emergency vehicles is a three-point device consisting of a retractor, webbing, and a buckle. The retractor, which is inertia locking, is called an emergency locking retractor. The belt is a single piece of two-inch webbing that secures the occupant across the pelvic, chest, and shoulder area and has an FMVSS-rated tensile strength of 5,000 pounds. The retractor stores the webbing inside, which is attached to a spool that engages a coiled spring inside the retractor. The preset spring force allows the webbing to spool in and out of the retractor. The spring force itself keeps the belt firm against the occupant and eliminates any slack when worn. This design allows the seated occupants to move freely within the cab when belted and is activated only if an accident occurs. The typical retractor used in emergency vehicles is “dual sensitive,” wh Read more 240 0 Article rating: No rating Posted: Sep 13, 2017 Click, Tug, and Snug: What a Novel Idea   By Steve Ward Safety always starts with a simple click of the seat belt buckle. With the advent of active safety systems in passenger vehicles, such as collision warning, blind spot, and rollover technology and the transition of these new technologies into emergency vehicles, the Fire Apparatus Manufacturers’ Association (FAMA) continues to drive safety and new technology to protect firefighters. While these new technologies help mitigate accidents, wearing your seat belt will always be the number one reason an individual can significantly reduce injury risk and increase his chance of survival in an accident. Apparatus Seat Belt Evolution Prior to the 1980s, both commercial and custom fire apparatus were equipped with lap belts, otherwise termed type 1 seat belts, and through the evolution of safety awareness and testing, we have transitioned into today’s three-point belts, otherwise called type 2 seat belts. Even today, a three-point seat belt is not mandated in a fire apparatus but has become the standard within our industry. The two seat belt types found in emergency vehicles are vehicle-structure-mounted seat belts and seat bels integrated with seats, or all belts to seat (ABTS). These two types are typically available through the fire apparatus manufacturers when specing your vehicle. All of us know a seat belt secures an occupant in a vehicle. If you Google the definition of a “seat belt,” you will find it defined as “a belt or strap securing a person to prevent injury in vehicle or aircraft.” However, there is more to the restraint than just a simple belt or strap. A seat belt does several things, such as reducing contact within the interior of the apparatus, spreading the forces of the crash over a larger area of your body and preventing ejection from the cab. The seat belt also removes the possibility of you or your crew members becoming flying projectiles inside the cab and causing injury to others. Vehicle Standards The challenge to fire apparatus manufactures is that all seat belts in all vehicles must comply with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS), which is regulated and enforced by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA). The regulation applying to seat belts is FMVSS 209, which specifies design, performance, and durability requirements. Fire apparatus are not exempt from this standard, and manufacturers are challenged with seating and space requirements. The standard also requires the seat belt fit a fifth-percentile female (108 pounds) to a 95th-percentile male (223 pounds). This applies to the occupants sitting in the seat but not including being outfitted in turnout gear. The typical seat belt found in emergency vehicles is a three-point device consisting of a retractor, webbing, and a buckle. The retractor, which is inertia locking, is called an emergency locking retractor. The belt is a single piece of two-inch webbing that secures the occupant across the pelvic, chest, and shoulder area and has an FMVSS-rated tensile strength of 5,000 pounds. The retractor stores the webbing inside, which is attached to a spool that engages a coiled spring inside the retractor. The preset spring force allows the webbing to spool in and out of the retractor. The spring force itself keeps the belt firm against the occupant and eliminates any slack when worn. This design allows the seated occupants to move freely within the cab when belted and is activated only if an accident occurs. The typical retractor used in emergency vehicles is “dual sensitive,” wh Read more 190 0 Article rating: No rating RSS FirstPrevious3017301830193020302130223023302430253026NextLast Theme picker Section Quick Links   Fire Mechanics Documents EVT Discussion Forum Fire Mechanic Photo Gallery Training & Testing 2019 Scholarship Logo Wear Store Upcoming Events Theme picker Sponsors Fire Mechanics Section Board Chair Posted: Oct 21, 2015 Chair Elliot Courage North Whatcom Fire & Rescue Read more 0 0 Article rating: No rating Vice Chair Posted: Oct 21, 2015 Vice Chair Mike Smith  Pierce County Fire District #5 Read more 0 0 Article rating: No rating Secretary Posted: Oct 21, 2015 Secretary Greg Bach South Snohomish County Fire & Rescue Read more 0 0 Article rating: No rating Director #1 Posted: Oct 21, 2015 Director #1 Doug Jones South Kitsap Fire & Rescue Read more 0 0 Article rating: No rating Director #2 Posted: Oct 21, 2015 Director #2 Paul Spencer  Fire Fleet Maintenance LLC Read more 0 0 Article rating: No rating Director #3 Posted: Oct 21, 2015 Director #3 Jim Morris Mountain View Fire Department Read more 0 0 Article rating: No rating Director #4 Posted: Oct 21, 2015 Director #4 Arnie Kuchta Clark County Fire District 6 Read more 0 0 Article rating: No rating Director #6 Posted: Oct 21, 2015 Director #6 Brett Annear Kitsap County Fire District 18 Read more 0 0 Article rating: No rating Director #5 Posted: Oct 21, 2015 Director #5 Jay Jacks Camano Island Fire & Rescue Read more 0 0 Article rating: No rating Legislative Representative Posted: Oct 21, 2015 Legislative Representative TBD TBD Read more 3374 0 Article rating: No rating Immediate Past Chair Posted: Oct 20, 2015 Immediate Past Chair Brian Fortner Graham Fire & Rescue Read more 0 0 Article rating: No rating RSS Theme picker 2020 CAR SHOW Terms Of Use | Privacy Statement - Copyright 2025 by Washington Fire Chiefs Home Members About Us News Calendar Resources Documents Sections County Fire Chiefs FRWC WSAFM