With all of the standards and recommendations out there for fleet maintenance and repair, it can be hard to sort out which items apply to the fire service. Through much research, I have found that the standards that apply most directly to the fire service are the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) and NFPA 1911, Inspection, Maintenance, Testing, and Retirement of In-Service Automotive Fire Apparatus. 

The FMCSR sets standards for how commercial vehicles are to be inspected and maintained, while NFPA 1911 applies specifically to the repair and testing of in service fire apparatus. This article will cover mainly the 1911 standard, but it is important to know that there are other standards that may apply and it is up to the authority having jurisdiction to ensure that it complies with all federal, state, provincial, and local standards. 

When it comes to inspections here are some things that you should know.

• It is the responsibility of the AHJ to design and implement a schedule for the inspection, testing, and maintenance of fire apparatus.
• Inspections must be performed on a daily/weekly basis to ensure the readiness of the vehicle.
• Inspectors must be trained or authorized by the AHJ to do daily/weekly checks.
• Defined systems on the unit (lights, engine, tires, pump, etc.) shall be checked.
• An inspection form must be used to record the results.
• Records of inspections/ repairs must be kept for the life of the vehicle and delivered with the vehicle upon transfer of ownership.

This inspection process is just as important for volunteer fire departments because of the often-extended down time between runs. These daily/weekly inspections will help to make sure that vehicles are ready to go when needed. I know firsthand that weekly inspections have helped on more than one occasion to find small issues that could have turned into big problems if they had not been discovered.

You do not have to re-create the wheel when it comes to making up inspection sheets. The NFPA has included sample forms in the back of the 1911 standard book.

Maintenance personnel should be trained in what to look for. This should, understandably, be specific to the fleet and can be modified to fit specific equipment (aerial, water pump, saws, medical equipment, etc.). You do not have to be an EVT to do the daily/weekly inspection but it might not be a bad idea to include one in the design and implementation phases of the process. Also, getting a little feedback from the tech that does your quarterly/ annual inspections will go a long way toward telling if the process is adequate or if it needs to be ramped up a little.

Some departments have a technician or senior engineer walk new inspectors/drivers through the process and show them some of the big things that they should be looking out for. You might also want to include a definition sheet as part of your training process. This will help personnel understand the out of service criteria and give them something to reference in the future. You also can list some of the current standards for tire tread depth, leak classifications, and other pertinent info.

When the inspections are completed and any issues are found, you must have repairs performed by a qualified technician (per NFPA 1071) and keep documentation of repairs in the apparatus file for future reference. I recommend that you list who the inspector was on any inspection forms, as this will make it easier for your technician to get info as to the exact nature of the problem.

As we all know, the car always runs great when you take it to the mechanic shop. But even the best daily/weekly inspections will not replace quarterly/annual inspections and your maintenance program should include all other pertinent annual inspections (aerial, pump, foam, etc.), as well.

Ben Brown is a master EVT who recently spoke on this subject at the FDSOA's Apparatus symposium in Orlando.