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The purpose of the Fire Mechanics Section is to promote standardization of fire apparatus and equipment preventative maintenance, improve safety standards and practices, promote workshops, conferences, and seminars related to the purposes of this Section, and to promote cost savings through standardization of building and equipment purchasing and maintenance.

RECENT FIRE MECHANIC NEWS

Posted: Jun 7, 2017

Proper Hose Care and Maintenance: Why Does It Matter?

A main focus in the fire industry today revolves around maintaining and caring for your personal protective equipment (PPE) properly, but what about your department’s hoses and other fire station equipment? Just like PPE, fire hose is one of the most used items in the fire service, so maintenance is just as important because it prolongs the life of the hose and allows it to perform as designed. Every time you use your department’s hose it can pick up harmful chemicals and, if not properly cleaned, can grow mold and mildew. Firefighting is a dangerous occupation, which is why learning the proper way to use and handle all tools is important.

NFPA 1962, Standard for the Care, Use, Inspection, Service Testing, and Replacement of Fire Hose, Couplings, Nozzles, and Fire Hose Appliances, provides a reasonable level of safety for users of fire hose and a reasonable degree of assurance that the hose, coupling assemblies, and nozzles will perform as designed. If not followed completely, applying common sense to the care, cleaning, and storage of fire hose is a simple solution to making sure it works well and is maintained. 

The 35-page document supplied goes over many things such as types of hoses, definitions of standards, details about each type of hose and nozzle, testing and repairs, damage prevention, and what we will cover in this article: inspection, cleaning, drying and storage of your fire hose.

There are many ways fire hose can be damaged while in use, such as mechanical damage, thermal damage, organic damage, and chemical damage. Some rules put in place by the NFPA are as follows:

4.5—HOSE INSPECTION

4.5.1 Physical inspection shall determine if the hose and couplings have been vandalized, are free of debris, and exhibit no evidence of mildew, rot, or damage by chemicals, burns, cuts, abrasions, and vermin.

4.5.2 During the inspection, a check shall be made to determine if the service test of the hose is current.

4.5.3 LINER INSPECTION

4.5.3.1 The interior of the hose at each end shall be visually inspected for any physical signs of liner delamination. 

4.5.3.2 If the liner shows signs of delamination, the hose shall be condemned.

4.5.4 If the hose fails the physical inspection, it shall be removed from service and either repaired as necessary and service tested as specified in section 4.8, 4.9, and 4.10 as appropriate, or condemned.

4.5.5 The coupling shall be inspected as specified in 7.1.3 and 7.1.4

4.5.6 Where nozzles are required on occupant-use hose, they shall be inspected as specified in section 5.2

The methods for washing and drying truly depend on the hose being used and what type of debris and particles are found on the hose, but there are basic procedures that should be followed. Washing cabinets aren’t required as long as other wash steps are followed, but they save time and man power. Now with the huge push to keep gear clean, this may be required in the future. The same goes for hose drying cabinets. Some of the NFPA requirements follow.

4.6—HOSE CLEANING AND DRYING

4.6.1 After each use, all hose shall be cleaned.

4.6.2 If dirt cannot be thoroughly brushed from the hose or if the hose has come in contact with harmful materials, the hose shall be washed.

4.6.3 If, during use, the hose has been exposed to hazardous materials, it shall be decontaminated by the method approved for the contaminant.

4.6.4 Covered hose shall be permitted to be wiped dry.

4.6.5 Hose shall not be dried on hot pavements or under intense sunlight

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Posted: Jun 7, 2017

Darley Acquires Fireboy, Inc.

Darley and Fireboy

W.S. Darley & Co. is proud to announce an asset purchase of Fireboy, Xintex, and Aetna Engineering headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The company also has manufacturing operations in Poole, England. The new company is Fireboy-Xintex, LLC.

Founded in 1973, Fireboy is the market leader in marine pre-engineered and custom engineered fire safety and suppression equipment. Xintex is a leader in gas and fire detection equipment. Aetna engineering specializes in digital instruments like tachometers.

With over one million systems in service and roughly 75% of the recreational marine market, Fireboy suppression systems are well known in the marine markets. Fireboy-Xintex also serves defense, commercial, industrial, truck, bus, rail, and other markets.

Fireboy’s CEO Larry Akins will stay on with the company as an owner for up to five years as we make the transition process. Larry comments, “The feeling was just right with the Darleys: our core values are very much the same and our management styles mirror one another.”

Paul C. Darley, CEO of W.S. Darley & Co. states, “We are extremely excited about this acquisition. It is our fourth acquisition in the last 20 years and is by far the largest. Our two companies are completely aligned from a cultural aspect and we have overlapping customers in the marine and defense markets. The electronics engineering and manufacturing capabilities will enhance our position in the fire service.”

For more information, visit www.fireboy-xintex.com.

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Posted: Jun 7, 2017

Cantankerous Wisdom: Hose Clamps and Conventional Wisdom

By Bill Adams

One of the white hairs wobbled in for morning coffee and started babbling like a brook because he overheard a couple of young guys saying they didn’t know what a hose clamp was let alone how to use one. That started a talkathon about using hose clamps. Like all Raisin Squad discussions, we passed judgement—confident that we did things better, quicker, and more efficiently than “they” do today, “they” being people who still respond to fires. “They” are also the ones that forced us old-timers into wearing rubber goods (aka turnout gear) and air packs. It’s hard trusting someone who, a couple days after a good worker, hasn’t experienced hackin+g up several mouthfuls of multicolored soot-encrusted phlegm. “They” probably don’t smoke or chew either.

Anyhow, the geezers were opinionated: What the hell do you need a clamp for? A good driver can hook-up a feeder line before the hydrant man finishes dressing the plug. Gee, with the oversized stuff (LDH) they buy today, how big does a clamp have to be? They’re dangerous—remember when Charlie tried to take one off of that charged deuce-and-a half? Yep, that handle flew up and hit him where it hurts the most. He didn’t think he could ever have any more kids.

One Raisin did his homework, because the next morning they started in again. Ya know, you gotta carry one to be compliant. The statement is only half true. I had looked it up myself just to prove a point. It didn’t work. I said that National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1901, Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus, sentence A.5.9.4 in the appendix recommends carrying “one hose clamp” on a pumper. I told them it didn’t say you had to—it just recommended it. That’s stupid. What good is that? And, it didn’t specify what size clamp to carry. Ain’t it supposed to be for the supply line? Harry piped in: The Underwriters say you have to carry one. That’s BS, Harry; the Board of Fire Underwriters doesn’t exist anymore. Besides, who told you that? I looked it up; it’s in the Darley catalog. For crying out loud Harry, what do you do—sleep with that damn thing? It’s got everything in it. It says you get Insurance Services Office (ISO) points for hose clamps. It’s in red letters, so it’s gotta be true. Besides, ain’t the ISO the same thing as the Underwriters? Well, not exactly. Why not? It wasn’t worth explaining. I was stressed and went home.

After my nap, I looked up the ISO’s Fire Suppression Rating Schedule, and sure enough under Table 512.A Pumper Equipment and Hose, the ISO listed a hose clamp. But, like NFPA 1901, it didn’t specify a size hose it should fit. Regardless, its only worth 4 points out of the total 654 points allowable for a pumper. That miserable old man was right again, but I wasn’t going to tell him.

A couple of days later, one of the not-so-ripe raisins mentioned there used to be a hydraulically operated hose clamp that could handle up to a 5-inch line, but it isn’t available any more. A company by the name of Hebert makes a screw type manual hose clamp that handles 4-inch to 6-inch hose. And, Akron Brass still makes its model 588 hose clamp that handles up to 3-inch hose. Handled properly and safely, it’ll work well as it has for many years. I mentioned you could use a hose clamp if you wanted to extend a preconnect. You should’ve pulled a longer line. Well, if you blow a length of hose in a preconnect, you can use it to shut off the water and replace the length. It’ll take too long. Its quicker to just pull another preconnect.

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Posted: Jun 7, 2017

Fire Truck Photo of the Day-Alexis Rescue Truck

Norton Shores (MI) Fire Department heavy rescue. HME 1871W cab and chassis; Cummins ISL9 450-hp engine; 20-foot heavy-duty stainless steel rescue body.

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Fire Mechanics Section Board

Chair

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Chair

Elliot Courage
North Whatcom Fire & Rescue
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Vice Chair

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Vice Chair

Mike Smith 
Pierce County Fire District #5
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Secretary

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Secretary

Greg Bach
South Snohomish County Fire & Rescue
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Director #1

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Director #1

Doug Jones
South Kitsap Fire & Rescue
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Director #2

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Director #2

Paul Spencer 
Fire Fleet Maintenance LLC
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Director #3

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Director #3

Jim Morris
Mountain View Fire Department
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Director #4

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Director #4

Arnie Kuchta

Clark County Fire District 6

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Director #6

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Director #6

Brett Annear
Kitsap County Fire District 18
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Director #5

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Director #5

Jay Jacks
Camano Island Fire & Rescue
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Legislative Representative

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Legislative Representative

TBD
TBD
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Immediate Past Chair

Posted: Oct 20, 2015

Immediate Past Chair

Brian Fortner
Graham Fire & Rescue

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