One of the most important standards for fire apparatus inspection, maintenance, testing and retirement is available for review and comments from the fire service and other interested parties until March 3.

The new NFPA 1911 standard will combine and expand materials currently found in NFPA 1911, 1914 and 1915 and will result in tougher, more comprehensive requirements that will affect all fire departments. The standard will cover minimum requirements for establishing an inspection, maintenance and testing program for in-service fire apparatus. Both first-line and reserve apparatus are considered to be in-service.

The proposed standard will identify specific components and systems on an apparatus that are to be maintained, establish the frequency of inspections and maintenance for those items and give requirements and procedures for conducting tests. It will also define specific conditions that are so serious that apparatus must be taken out of service until the conditions are corrected. Finally, the new standard will recommend that pre-1991 apparatus be refurbished and placed in reserve and that apparatus more than 25 years old be retired.

The new standard is currently in draft form and is subject to review and comments before going into effect. Comments are due by March 3. Once finalized, the new standard will be available February 2007.

To download a draft of the proposed standard and an official comment form in PDF format, go to 1911-07-ROP.pdf.