By Bill Adams

“Apparatus Purchasing: Stock, Standard, or Demo? Part 1” (February 2016) offered my personal opinions on stock, demonstrator, and standardized apparatus, noting it may be financially advantageous for fire departments to consider one for a new purchase. For Part 2, several apparatus manufacturers responded to several questions on the topic.

How do you characterize stock, demo, and standard apparatus?

Dave Stoffel, senior manager, business development, Pierce Manufacturing: “Stock trucks allow for quick deliveries, emergency purchases, alternate bids, and competitive bids with shortened lead times. Pierce field stock units (demos) are well configured, high-content apparatus engineered to readily accept multiple options after they are completed.”

Mike Yurgec, director, dealer development and product management, Spartan Motors: “A stock unit is an apparatus slotted for production without an owner. It can be a pumper, aerial, or rescue built for the purpose of value and quick delivery. Stock unit information is distributed to our sales team with the intent on selling them to customers who require quick delivery, big value, or convenience. These customers are able to take advantage of value-priced apparatus and chassis with quick delivery.

1 This W.S. Darley mini pumper was recently delivered to the Sheldon Community (TX) Fire Department. This rig is similar to Darley’s demonstrators, which are displayed at trade shows. Demonstrators can offer special features and quicker delivery at more competitive pricing than a totally custom rig. (Photo courtesy of W.S. Darley & Company.)

“A standard unit, in Spartan terms, refers to a series of apparatus in our stock program. It is standard from the point of similar features and equipment in the series. Typically, a standard unit will feature the same pump, chassis cab configuration, or body style. A demo apparatus is built for the purpose of demonstrating new features and benefits of the manufacturer. Typically, these units are not sold right away and are intended to be on the show circuit or for demonstrations to key customers. After their time on the road, they are offered for sale, usually with a discount because of their mileage and minimal wear and tear.”

Dave Rider, director of global product management, Smeal Fire Apparatus: “Standard isn’t really a word that applies across our product line because almost every pumper or aerial is customized depending on what the customer wants and needs. That being said, standard options are options that are already in our product lineup and previously engineered so that the customer isn’t incurring any special design costs. We do have a starting point for each major configuration that gives our customers and sales reps a starting point for their customization discussions.

“At Smeal, stock units are units we build to have available for sale, even before they are completed. We configure these around the most popular configurations and options that we see with our customers.

Read more 260 0 Article rating: No rating Posted: Jun 7, 2016 The 10-Year Rule By Robert Tutterow Earlier this year, I once again had the opportunity and privilege to be a peer reviewer for FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grants program applications, a most fascinating process. It almost defies imagination-a couple hundred of your peers donating time to the federal government. The process sheds light on the needs of fire departments across the United States. And, there are a lot of fire departments in desperate need of funding to adequately and safely protect their community and their firefighters. Peer reviewers are not permitted to discuss particular applications for grants, but I will say that the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 10-year rule for the life of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other fire equipment was a common denominator in the majority of the applications I reviewed. NFPA 1851 NFPA 1851, Standard on Selection, Care and Maintenance of Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting, states that all “ensembles and ensemble elements shall be retired…no more than 10 years from the date the ensembles or ensemble elements were manufactured.” This includes helmets, hoods, coats, pants, gloves, and boots. This standard was referenced over and over again in the grant applications. A bit of history. How did this 10-year rule come about? NFPA 1851, now in its third revision (2013), was first published in 2001. It was not until the second revision, 2008, that the 10-year rule was included. The substantiation was that there were far too many firefighters wearing PPE that was simply worn out and did not have near the protective properties for which it was designed and tested. The condition of PPE may be obvious or not obvious. For pants and coats, often the outer shell might look serviceable, but the thermal barrier or the moisture barrier (hidden behind the facecloth) might be totally destroyed. The debate among NFPA Technical Committee members about how to address this issue was very, very long and thorough. Some members thought it should be fewer than 10 years while others thought it should vary among the elements. For example, some thought helmets routinely outlast the other elements. As in any respectful debate (not like the ones in which politicians engage), a consensus compromise was reached at 10 years. Two NFPA Standard Revision Cycles The underlying substantiation behind the 10-year rule is that it covers two revisions of NFPA 1971, Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting. It is thought that after two revisions there are enough changes in the design and performance requirements to justify PPE replacement. Keep in mind that the requirement does not guarantee a 10-year life. Unfortunately, PPE does not have easily discernable criteria for replacement like the wear-bars on automotive tires. I like to explain the criteria from a firefighter’s “career” perspective. By this, if a firefighter has a 30-year career (either volunteer or paid), then he will have gone through at least three sets of PPE. To me, this seems reasonable, even for rural volunteer firefighters if they have been actively training as they should. NFPA 1962 Many of the AFG grant applications were for fire hose. Although the NFPA does not have a requirement to retire fire hose after 10 years, there is a strong recommendation. NFPA 1962, Standard for the Care, Use, Inspection, Service Testing, and Replacement of Fire Hose, Couplings, Nozzles, and Fire Hose Appliances, for the first time in 2013 set requirements for replacement criteria of fire hose. Although there is no requirement to replace hose after a maximum of 10 yea Read more 323 0 Article rating: No rating Posted: Jun 7, 2016 The 10-Year Rule By Robert Tutterow Earlier this year, I once again had the opportunity and privilege to be a peer reviewer for FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grants program applications, a most fascinating process. It almost defies imagination-a couple hundred of your peers donating time to the federal government. The process sheds light on the needs of fire departments across the United States. And, there are a lot of fire departments in desperate need of funding to adequately and safely protect their community and their firefighters. Peer reviewers are not permitted to discuss particular applications for grants, but I will say that the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 10-year rule for the life of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other fire equipment was a common denominator in the majority of the applications I reviewed. NFPA 1851 NFPA 1851, Standard on Selection, Care and Maintenance of Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting, states that all “ensembles and ensemble elements shall be retired…no more than 10 years from the date the ensembles or ensemble elements were manufactured.” This includes helmets, hoods, coats, pants, gloves, and boots. This standard was referenced over and over again in the grant applications. A bit of history. How did this 10-year rule come about? NFPA 1851, now in its third revision (2013), was first published in 2001. It was not until the second revision, 2008, that the 10-year rule was included. The substantiation was that there were far too many firefighters wearing PPE that was simply worn out and did not have near the protective properties for which it was designed and tested. The condition of PPE may be obvious or not obvious. For pants and coats, often the outer shell might look serviceable, but the thermal barrier or the moisture barrier (hidden behind the facecloth) might be totally destroyed. The debate among NFPA Technical Committee members about how to address this issue was very, very long and thorough. Some members thought it should be fewer than 10 years while others thought it should vary among the elements. For example, some thought helmets routinely outlast the other elements. As in any respectful debate (not like the ones in which politicians engage), a consensus compromise was reached at 10 years. Two NFPA Standard Revision Cycles The underlying substantiation behind the 10-year rule is that it covers two revisions of NFPA 1971, Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting. It is thought that after two revisions there are enough changes in the design and performance requirements to justify PPE replacement. Keep in mind that the requirement does not guarantee a 10-year life. Unfortunately, PPE does not have easily discernable criteria for replacement like the wear-bars on automotive tires. I like to explain the criteria from a firefighter’s “career” perspective. By this, if a firefighter has a 30-year career (either volunteer or paid), then he will have gone through at least three sets of PPE. To me, this seems reasonable, even for rural volunteer firefighters if they have been actively training as they should. NFPA 1962 Many of the AFG grant applications were for fire hose. Although the NFPA does not have a requirement to retire fire hose after 10 years, there is a strong recommendation. NFPA 1962, Standard for the Care, Use, Inspection, Service Testing, and Replacement of Fire Hose, Couplings, Nozzles, and Fire Hose Appliances, for the first time in 2013 set requirements for replacement criteria of fire hose. Although there is no requirement to replace hose after a maximum of 10 yea Read more 305 0 Article rating: No rating Posted: Jun 7, 2016 The 10-Year Rule By Robert Tutterow Earlier this year, I once again had the opportunity and privilege to be a peer reviewer for FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grants program applications, a most fascinating process. It almost defies imagination-a couple hundred of your peers donating time to the federal government. The process sheds light on the needs of fire departments across the United States. And, there are a lot of fire departments in desperate need of funding to adequately and safely protect their community and their firefighters. Peer reviewers are not permitted to discuss particular applications for grants, but I will say that the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 10-year rule for the life of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other fire equipment was a common denominator in the majority of the applications I reviewed. NFPA 1851 NFPA 1851, Standard on Selection, Care and Maintenance of Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting, states that all “ensembles and ensemble elements shall be retired…no more than 10 years from the date the ensembles or ensemble elements were manufactured.” This includes helmets, hoods, coats, pants, gloves, and boots. This standard was referenced over and over again in the grant applications. A bit of history. How did this 10-year rule come about? NFPA 1851, now in its third revision (2013), was first published in 2001. It was not until the second revision, 2008, that the 10-year rule was included. The substantiation was that there were far too many firefighters wearing PPE that was simply worn out and did not have near the protective properties for which it was designed and tested. The condition of PPE may be obvious or not obvious. For pants and coats, often the outer shell might look serviceable, but the thermal barrier or the moisture barrier (hidden behind the facecloth) might be totally destroyed. The debate among NFPA Technical Committee members about how to address this issue was very, very long and thorough. Some members thought it should be fewer than 10 years while others thought it should vary among the elements. For example, some thought helmets routinely outlast the other elements. As in any respectful debate (not like the ones in which politicians engage), a consensus compromise was reached at 10 years. Two NFPA Standard Revision Cycles The underlying substantiation behind the 10-year rule is that it covers two revisions of NFPA 1971, Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting. It is thought that after two revisions there are enough changes in the design and performance requirements to justify PPE replacement. Keep in mind that the requirement does not guarantee a 10-year life. Unfortunately, PPE does not have easily discernable criteria for replacement like the wear-bars on automotive tires. I like to explain the criteria from a firefighter’s “career” perspective. By this, if a firefighter has a 30-year career (either volunteer or paid), then he will have gone through at least three sets of PPE. To me, this seems reasonable, even for rural volunteer firefighters if they have been actively training as they should. NFPA 1962 Many of the AFG grant applications were for fire hose. Although the NFPA does not have a requirement to retire fire hose after 10 years, there is a strong recommendation. NFPA 1962, Standard for the Care, Use, Inspection, Service Testing, and Replacement of Fire Hose, Couplings, Nozzles, and Fire Hose Appliances, for the first time in 2013 set requirements for replacement criteria of fire hose. Although there is no requirement to replace hose after a maximum of 10 yea Read more 238 0 Article rating: No rating RSS FirstPrevious4101410241034104410541064107410841094110NextLast 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 3363 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