By Bill Adams

Apparatus manufacturers (OEMs) that build their own custom cabs and chassis claim their products meet and often exceed the safety standards referenced in National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1901, Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus (2016 ed.), and in particular the requirements of Section 14.3, Driving Compartment.

It is important to note that the OEMs’ assertions of compliance are to criteria established by entities outside of the fire service that are addressing the crashworthiness of cabs in the commercial trucking industry. They were adopted by NFPA 1901 in 2009. What are these standards? Who created them? Do they affect the specification writing process?

NFPA 1901

NFPA 1901 (2016 ed.) references more than 80 publications from 18 organizations. Sentence 2.1 states, “The documents or portions thereof listed in this chapter are referenced within this standard and shall be considered part of the requirements of this document.” They are not subject to negotiation, debate, or choice by purchasers and manufacturers when specifying NFPA 1901-compliant apparatus. Most purchasers pay little attention to referenced publications, accepting them as part of the system.

Publications with a “J” designation are published by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), a professional group founded in 1905. From its Web site, “SAE standards are internationally recognized for their role in helping ensure the safety, quality, and effectiveness of products and services across the mobility engineering industry.” Two SAE J standards, along with a related United Nations (U.N.) document, are referenced in NFPA 1901 sentence 14.3.2: “Cabs on apparatus with a GVWR greater than 26,000 lb (11,800 kg) shall meet the requirements of one of the following sets of standards: SAE J2420, COE Frontal Strength Evaluation - Dynamic Loading Heavy Trucks; SAE J2422, Cab Roof Strength Evaluation - Quasi-Static Loading Heavy Trucks; and ECE Regulation number 29, Uniform Provisions Concerning the Approval of Vehicles with Regard to the Protection of the Occupants of the Cab of a Commercial Vehicle.” Keep in mind that the J2422, J2420, and ECE 29 criteria are not job-specific to the American fire service and its custom fire apparatus cabs. Most political subdivisions and federal and state governmental entities consider fire apparatus commercial vehicles that must comply with applicable rules and regulations. Formal exemptions are few.

1 A custom cab being subjected to a “dynamic preload that simulates the side loading on the upper cab” as a vehicle rolls past 90 degrees. This is the first part of a two-part test to determine the crashworthiness and survivability of occupants in a 180-degree rollover.

Contrary to the belief of some firefighters and purchasers, NFPA standards are not secretly developed in a smoke-filled back room of a Boston office building by owners of fire truck factories seeking to increase profits. There’s an established method for the public to make comments, changes, and additions to any NFPA standard, and there’s a description of the professional affiliation of each technical committee member. They’re included in each standard. The NFPA standards process, a topic for later discussion, is not being debated.

J2422, J2420, and ECE 29 are addressed because they directly af

Chris Mc Loone

Having read through 100 years of minutes to research its history, I can confidently say that fiscal responsibility has been a priority since day one for Weldon Fire Company. I don’t bring this up to brag but rather because although financial stability is a constant at Weldon, there are always occasions when an influx of funds can help any department upgrade equipment sooner than later.

Weldon Fire Company is one of five independently chartered fire companies in the Abington Township (PA) Fire Department (ATFD). A recently accredited 100 percent volunteer department, the ATFD has been the recipient of more than $500,000 through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Additionally, the ATFD received a $77,000 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant to assist with its recruitment efforts. Admittedly, I had not given AFG/SAFER grants much thought in the beginning. I considered funds from these programs out of reach. However, when properly administered and when working collectively, the ATFD’s five fire companies were able to benefit from both these programs. We used the funds for radios and mobile data computers, PPE, and a self-contained breathing apparatus upgrade for the entire department.

Again, I don’t bring any of this up to brag. The fact is that the funds are out there. The AFG program has enjoyed really good years when the government funded it at a high level and other years where the program was leaner. Countless fire departments nationwide have benefited; the program has worked. But if the program does not get reauthorized this year, there will be no AFG/SAFER programs in 2018.

I am writing this in February. It has not been a month since the inauguration. The new administration has hit the ground running and is working to make good on campaign promises. I’m not looking to make this an editorial on politics, but some actions the new administration has taken have garnered enough attention that citizens who have felt strongly about them have flooded congressional phone lines. Right or wrong, the media picked up on this and reported about it. The phone lines have been overwhelmed. American citizens do have a way to make their voices heard. I bring this up for two reasons.

First, it has been less than month, and American citizens are very engaged right now in the decisions being made in Washington, D.C., and are making it known whether they like them or not. Some decisions are getting more attention than others, but the populace is making its voice heard. We know the phones are ringing off the hook, and we know there are people there to answer the calls. So, we know that if we call regarding AFG/SAFER, someone will be there to answer the phone.

Second, there is a lot going on at the moment in Washington, and that’s really an understatement. If you value the AFG/SAFER programs, don’t let them get lost in the fray. Call your representatives and senators and tell them how important these programs are to your departments. Get chiefs and other fire department administrators involved. Make sure the message carries the weight of department brass and the volume of the rank and file.

Make Intentions Clear

Two recent fire apparatus crashes have been on my mind. We talk about scene safety and how to use apparatus to block traffic and how motorists still aren’t often paying attention and ram the back of the trucks - apparatus not moving being hit. Here I’ve often mentioned how apparatus operat

Chris Mc Loone

Having read through 100 years of minutes to research its history, I can confidently say that fiscal responsibility has been a priority since day one for Weldon Fire Company. I don’t bring this up to brag but rather because although financial stability is a constant at Weldon, there are always occasions when an influx of funds can help any department upgrade equipment sooner than later.

Weldon Fire Company is one of five independently chartered fire companies in the Abington Township (PA) Fire Department (ATFD). A recently accredited 100 percent volunteer department, the ATFD has been the recipient of more than $500,000 through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Additionally, the ATFD received a $77,000 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant to assist with its recruitment efforts. Admittedly, I had not given AFG/SAFER grants much thought in the beginning. I considered funds from these programs out of reach. However, when properly administered and when working collectively, the ATFD’s five fire companies were able to benefit from both these programs. We used the funds for radios and mobile data computers, PPE, and a self-contained breathing apparatus upgrade for the entire department.

Again, I don’t bring any of this up to brag. The fact is that the funds are out there. The AFG program has enjoyed really good years when the government funded it at a high level and other years where the program was leaner. Countless fire departments nationwide have benefited; the program has worked. But if the program does not get reauthorized this year, there will be no AFG/SAFER programs in 2018.

I am writing this in February. It has not been a month since the inauguration. The new administration has hit the ground running and is working to make good on campaign promises. I’m not looking to make this an editorial on politics, but some actions the new administration has taken have garnered enough attention that citizens who have felt strongly about them have flooded congressional phone lines. Right or wrong, the media picked up on this and reported about it. The phone lines have been overwhelmed. American citizens do have a way to make their voices heard. I bring this up for two reasons.

First, it has been less than month, and American citizens are very engaged right now in the decisions being made in Washington, D.C., and are making it known whether they like them or not. Some decisions are getting more attention than others, but the populace is making its voice heard. We know the phones are ringing off the hook, and we know there are people there to answer the calls. So, we know that if we call regarding AFG/SAFER, someone will be there to answer the phone.

Second, there is a lot going on at the moment in Washington, and that’s really an understatement. If you value the AFG/SAFER programs, don’t let them get lost in the fray. Call your representatives and senators and tell them how important these programs are to your departments. Get chiefs and other fire department administrators involved. Make sure the message carries the weight of department brass and the volume of the rank and file.

Make Intentions Clear

Two recent fire apparatus crashes have been on my mind. We talk about scene safety and how to use apparatus to block traffic and how motorists still aren’t often paying attention and ram the back of the trucks - apparatus not moving being hit. Here I’ve often mentioned how apparatus operat

Chris Mc Loone

Having read through 100 years of minutes to research its history, I can confidently say that fiscal responsibility has been a priority since day one for Weldon Fire Company. I don’t bring this up to brag but rather because although financial stability is a constant at Weldon, there are always occasions when an influx of funds can help any department upgrade equipment sooner than later.

Weldon Fire Company is one of five independently chartered fire companies in the Abington Township (PA) Fire Department (ATFD). A recently accredited 100 percent volunteer department, the ATFD has been the recipient of more than $500,000 through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Additionally, the ATFD received a $77,000 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant to assist with its recruitment efforts. Admittedly, I had not given AFG/SAFER grants much thought in the beginning. I considered funds from these programs out of reach. However, when properly administered and when working collectively, the ATFD’s five fire companies were able to benefit from both these programs. We used the funds for radios and mobile data computers, PPE, and a self-contained breathing apparatus upgrade for the entire department.

Again, I don’t bring any of this up to brag. The fact is that the funds are out there. The AFG program has enjoyed really good years when the government funded it at a high level and other years where the program was leaner. Countless fire departments nationwide have benefited; the program has worked. But if the program does not get reauthorized this year, there will be no AFG/SAFER programs in 2018.

I am writing this in February. It has not been a month since the inauguration. The new administration has hit the ground running and is working to make good on campaign promises. I’m not looking to make this an editorial on politics, but some actions the new administration has taken have garnered enough attention that citizens who have felt strongly about them have flooded congressional phone lines. Right or wrong, the media picked up on this and reported about it. The phone lines have been overwhelmed. American citizens do have a way to make their voices heard. I bring this up for two reasons.

First, it has been less than month, and American citizens are very engaged right now in the decisions being made in Washington, D.C., and are making it known whether they like them or not. Some decisions are getting more attention than others, but the populace is making its voice heard. We know the phones are ringing off the hook, and we know there are people there to answer the calls. So, we know that if we call regarding AFG/SAFER, someone will be there to answer the phone.

Second, there is a lot going on at the moment in Washington, and that’s really an understatement. If you value the AFG/SAFER programs, don’t let them get lost in the fray. Call your representatives and senators and tell them how important these programs are to your departments. Get chiefs and other fire department administrators involved. Make sure the message carries the weight of department brass and the volume of the rank and file.

Make Intentions Clear

Two recent fire apparatus crashes have been on my mind. We talk about scene safety and how to use apparatus to block traffic and how motorists still aren’t often paying attention and ram the back of the trucks - apparatus not moving being hit. Here I’ve often mentioned how apparatus operat