A recently published NFPA standard now applies to all aspects of apparatus work ranging from routine inspections to out-of-service criteria. It replaces several other standards and will have a major impact on fire departments everywhere.

The 2007 edition of NFPA 1911, Inspection, Maintenance, Testing, and Retirement of In-Service Automotive Fire Apparatus, took effect Dec. 20, 2006. It replaces previous editions of NFPA 1911, 1912, 1914 and 1915, which are now obsolete.

The new NFPA 1911 standard applies to all apparatus used by public or private fire departments, regardless of the apparatus age. It includes both front-line and reserve apparatus that carry personnel and equipment to deal with fire, rescue, hazmat and other emergency situations.

Among the many subjects covered in the new standard are requirements for removing an apparatus from service because of serious problems; inspection and maintenance of major components and systems; and performance tests of the vehicle, pump, aerial, foam system and other items. [See "Get Serious About Out-of-Service Criteria" for more information.] Vehicle tests now include weighing the fully loaded apparatus once a year to determine the total weight and its distribution on the front and rear axles. Overweight conditions must be corrected by removing or redistributing equipment before the apparatus can be put back in service.

Guidelines for upgrading, refurbishing and retiring older apparatus appear as recommendations in Annex D. Specifically, the new standard recommends that apparatus that are in poor condition, were not manufactured to the applicable NFPA standard of the time or are more than 25 years old be taken out of service and replaced.

To order a copy of the 2007 edition of NFPA 1911, call 800-344-3555 or visit http://catalog.nfpa.org.