We live in an increasingly hazardous world. Exotic chemicals that were rarely found outside of a research laboratory are now routinely transported on highways and railroads to industrial plants across the nation, and common chemicals, once considered so harmless that they regularly were discarded in landfills, are now given careful handling on their way to special disposal and recycling sites.

With all these chemicals moving about and being used so freely, the potential for accidents has dramatically increased. Railroad tank cars derail, tanker trucks flip over, industrial plant process piping fails or malfunctions, and unscrupulous operators dump chemical wastes illegally.

When these incidents happen, it's often the local fire department that's expected to handle it. As a result, many fire departments have added hazmat response units to their rosters. Others have joined with neighboring departments to establish regional hazmat teams with a jointly owned hazmat unit stationed at one central location.

At first glance, these hazmat units might look a lot like heavy rescues — big toolboxes on wheels. While both types of apparatus often have large bodies with lots of storage space for tools and equipment, the similarity ends there. Hazmats are different and have many unique requirements that require special attention when departments write their specifications.

Different inside
One of the biggest differences is that hazardous materials units usually require large interior work areas equipped with a variety of sophisticated equipment. Because hazmat incidents often involve coordination between many agencies, a major part of this interior workspace is devoted to command and communications functions.

Although the fire department may be the principal responder, it also has to work with local law enforcement personnel, highway departments or railroad companies, industrial safety teams, people from environmental agencies, state and federal accident investigators, and even the National Weather Service. This high level of multi-agency coordination requires many forms and channels of communication, including radio, telephone, fax and e-mail, along with space for the personnel needed to handle the constant flow of messages.

Another reason hazmat units need a large interior space is to accommodate resource center areas filled with reference materials on various chemicals. These reference materials may be in the form of books, files or computer discs. Other reference materials may be accessed on the Internet. Resource centers usually require bookshelves, file cabinets, computers and desk space for personnel to work.

Readouts from weather instruments mounted on the vehicle's roof may be displayed in the resource center or fed directly to a computer, where they're processed by special software programs. These programs can help predict the spread of gases that might require evacuation of nearby residents, or the likelihood of rain that might wash spilled materials into drains or onto the surrounding area.

Laboratory areas are also popular in hazmat units; in fact, one manufacturer estimates that half of the hazmats it builds have interior areas for labs. Labs are used to quickly identify unknown substances on the scene so that personnel can take appropriate action in handling and neutralizing the materials. Typical laboratory equipment might include an enclosed area with an exhaust fan, storage for various testing chemicals, laboratory glassware, microscopes, a heater or Bunsen burner, and a refrigerator, as well as personnel protective gear such as gloves, lab coats or aprons, and eye protection.

Finally, most departments specify an interior area where they can store expensive and sensitive hazmat equipment and instruments. Not only does this keep the gear in a protected area, but it also makes it easier to access. This type of gear is often stored in a protective case, which keeps all the related accessories together and makes it easy to transport.

Cubes, not pounds
Another significant difference between heavy rescues and hazardous materials units is that the equipment carried on a hazmat is usually large but lightweight, taking up more cubic feet than pounds.

This requires some creative planning to accommodate these items. For example, overpack drums are used to encase leaking chemical drums and prevent further spills. They're basically empty containers, ranging from 10 to 85 gallons in size, that take up a lot of space without much weight. Decontamination showers are another high-volume item. Some hazmat protective suits must be hung vertically and others must be laid out flat, but both take up space. Absorbent pillows, dikes and socks also take a lot of space.

Manufacturers of hazmat vehicles solve this problem by using space on the body that otherwise would be wasted. For example, many long and bulky items can be stored in compartments that run the full width of the body under the rear stairway to the roof. “Coffin-type” roof compartments with liftable lids can be used to store long, narrow items such as brooms and shovels. Pullout underbody compartments can store flat items such as inflatable decontamination shelters. Stand-up desks can be used in the command center instead of sit-down units, to allow extra volume for exterior compartments.

More than one way
Although many hazmat units are large, motorized vehicles, there are other alternatives to consider.

Some departments use hazmat trailers with built-in storage shelves, command areas with side access doors and roof-mounted auxiliary air conditioning. These units can be stored at a station and towed to an emergency by a fire department utility vehicle. They provide secure storage for bulky equipment without taking up space in the apparatus bay or requiring a more expensive motorized unit.

Other departments use several smaller motorized hazmat support vehicles to supplement a large unit. These smaller units may be built on light-duty truck chassis with low compartmented bodies. If the department's response area has a lot of open land, the support units may be specified with 4x4 drive to go off paved roads. These rugged trucks can reach remote incident sites involving railroad derailments, airplane crashes, clandestine drug labs or off-road hazardous waste dumping. Once on scene, they can take immediate action to contain the spill, then obtain samples to be brought back to a larger hazmat unit for analysis. They also can be used to shuttle personnel and materials to the incident site.

In the future, hazmat units may be dispatched by the Electronic Emergency Response Management System developed by the Spill Center, an environmental claims management center. [Ed.: See “Response complements,” February 2002, available at <www.firechief.com>.] The system combines vehicle-mounted computers, GPS tracking systems and wireless communications.

A prototype of the system is being tested in Massachusetts, where it allows participating truckers carrying hazardous materials to notify a central dispatch center of a hazmat spill or other incident via a wireless communication link. The center can then dispatch the closest participating fire department or regional hazmat vehicles to the site.

FDNY takes delivery of Hazmat 1
The New York City Fire Department operates several hazardous materials response units. Their latest was delivered by Saulsbury and went into operation as Hazmat 1, replacing an older rig.Cab and chassis

• Mack MR two-door cab and chassis with GVWR of 56,000 pounds.
• Mack E-Tech 7 350hp engine.
• Allison HD 4060P five-speed automatic transmission.
• Telma retarder.
• Niehoff 290-amp alternator.
• Six Delco 1150 12-volt batteries mounted in the front bumper extension.
• Kussmaul 75-amp battery charger with an auto-eject shoreline receptacle.
• Sullair 140cfm at 110-150psi PTO-driven air compressor.
• Harrison 25kw, 120/240-volt PTO-driven electrical generator.

Body exterior

• Saulsbury stainless-steel body with 2-inch thermal insulation in the walls and ⁱ-inch noise and thermal insulation in the floor. The body is designed to be remounted on a new chassis.
• Saulsbury aluminum tread-plate roof with 4-inch thermal insulation in the ceiling. The roof is designed for use as an observation deck and work platform.
• 300 feet of preconnected electrical cable on an electric-rewind reel.
• 400 feet of ⁱ-inch preconnected air hose on an electric-rewind reel.
• Six flush-mounted 1,500-watt floodlights, two each at left, right and rear.
• Will-Burt pneumatically raised light tower with four 1,500-watt floodlights.
• Numerous compartments, several with sliding trays rated at 500-pound capacity and having positive in/out locks.

Body interior

• Interior command, communications and resource area in the forward section of the body. This area is equipped with desks, seats, pre-installed radios, computers, bookshelves, a refrigerator, water cooler and file cabinet.
• Interior chemical laboratory with exhaust hood.
• Interior cargo area in the rear section of the body with cargo net restraints on the shelves.
• Single side door and double rear doors.
• Both 12- and 120-volt interior lighting.

Miscellaneous

• Nikon microscope and accessories.
• Weather Monitor II weather station.

NFPA standards

Motorized hazardous materials units are classified as “special service fire apparatus” in NFPA 1901, Automotive Fire Apparatus (1999). Table 2-2.2 of that standard shows which chapters apply. NFPA 1901 does not apply to hazmat trailers.

NFPA 1915, Fire Apparatus Preventive Maintenance Program (2000), describes the minimum requirements for a preventive maintenance program that applies to all motorized fire apparatus, including hazmats.

Likewise, NFPA 1071, Emergency Vehicle Technician Professional Qualifications (2000), defines the minimum qualifications required for persons who inspect, diagnose, maintain, repair or test motorized emergency response vehicles, including hazardous materials units.

Hazmat vehicle manufacturers

American LaFrance
877-827-2075, <www.americanlafrance.com>

Emergency One Inc.
352-237-1122, <www.e-one.com>

EVI
800-848-6652, <www.evi-fl.com>

Ferrara
800-443-9006, <www.ferrarafire.com>

4 Guys
814-634-8373, <www.4guysfire.com>

Hackney Emergency Vehicles
800-763-0700, <www.rescueleader.com>

Harbor Body
800-433-9452, <www.harbortruck.com>

KME Fire Apparatus
800-235-3928, <www.kovatch.com>

Marion Body Works
715-754-5261, <www.marionbody.com>

Master Body
323-564-6901, <www.masterbody.com>

Pierce Manufacturing Inc.
920-832-3000, <www.piercemfg.com>

Rescue 1
732-223-1411, <www.plcustom.com>

Saulsbury Fire Rescue
800-627-5050, <www.saulsburyfire.com>

Summit Fire Apparatus
859-331-0360, <www.summitfireapparatus.com>

SVI Trucks
800-525-5224, <www.svitrucks.com>

Wells Cargo Trailers
800-348-7553, <www.wellscargo.com>