Did you know that performing apparatus maintenance once a year does not meet the requirements for certain components and can lead to damage and failures?

The current NFPA 1911, Inspection, Maintenance, Testing, and Retirement of In-Service Automotive Apparatus, requires that “a complete inspection and diagnostic check of the fire apparatus shall be conducted at least as frequently as recommended by the apparatus manufacturer or once per year, whichever comes first.” Some departments seem to have heard the second part about once a year, but ignored the first part. That’s not good.

Tires, brakes, air dryers, fan belts, engine fluid levels and other components need to be checked, adjusted, or maintained once a day, once a week, once every three months, or on some other interval to operate properly. Departments should consult the manufacturers’ maintenance manuals for the recommended maintenance intervals, then incorporate this information into a preventive maintenance schedule for each apparatus.
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This feature offers a variety of short tips and facts about apparatus specifications, maintenance and testing. Look for it every month. Submissions of 150 words or less are welcome from our readers, subject to editing. Send them to Senior Editor Chris Cavette at cavettes@ix.netcom.com