I spoke with a number of chiefs and officers from fire departments across the U.S. and Canada during the Fire Department Safety Officer Association’s Apparatus Symposium last week. Two issues common across the border were the economy and and engine regeneration.
The cuts in municipal and fire department budgets have forced many chiefs and fleet managers to consider refurbishing existing apparatus or postponing the purchase of new apparatus for a couple years.
Bob Billings — factory service operations manager for E-ONE — explained how to determine whether an apparatus should be refurbished or replaced, as well as how to identify good candidates for refurbishments, in his presentation, “Refurbishing Old Equipment: What You Need to Know.”
According to Billings, you should ask three questions to help determine whether a vehicle should be refurbished or replaced:
- What is the true condition of the apparatus?
- Has the unit been in a major accident or something similar?
- Has the unit been routinely maintained?
Billings said good candidates for refurbishment include vehicles with electronic engines, transmissions and anti-lock brake systems. He also said that apparatus that are in accidents often are candidates for a makeover and encouraged attendees to specifically ask if structural repairs will be taken care of during a refurb.
“One of the best things you can do if undertaking any refurbishment is to get a copy of NFPA 1912, Appendix B, and work through the refurbishment process,” said Billings.
Billings offered three points before proceeding with refurbishment:
- Seek references from the vendor’s other customers to determine capabilities, delivery schedule and experience.
- Determine feasible expected life of refurbished apparatus versus a new vehicle to determine the payback period.
- Assess warranty offers and how it will be administered.
“Don’t assume all parts, panels, and components will be reconditioned,” he said.
Chief Ian Laing, Central York (Ontario) Fire Services moderated the panel discussion, "Engine Regeneration Rundown." The panel included Dave Drehobl, Cummins; Brian Chaput, Detroit International (MaxForce); and Bob Neitzel, Navistar.
Each manufacturer explained the benefits and variations of their engines and answered questions from the audience.
Neitzel explained the difference between active and passive regeneration for Navistar engines. “Active regeneration will burn off the particulates on its own when you get into actively doing things,” he said.
In response to complaints to the Environmental Protection Agency about the performance of the new engines, the manufacturers stated that the engines are performing the way they were designed to perform, however, the problems come in with the confusion of the codes or process of when the filters need to be cleaned.
Drehobl referenced “A Not So Dirty Secret,” an article by Cummins’ Spencer Dell that appeared in the January issue of FIRE CHIEF to explain more about regeneration issues.
Manufacturers agreed that while the 2010 engines took some getting used to, subsequent models are being refined and improved. One attendee from Colorado commented that between the costs for the urea refill and filter for the engine that he is investigating a hydrogen engine.
Related link:
Engine Regeneration: More Harm Than Good?
