When it comes to apparatus maintenance, there are ordinary problems and there are really serious problems. Defining the types of problems that are serious enough to take an apparatus out of service should be part of every department's preventive maintenance program.

The decision to take an apparatus out of service is always a tough call. No one wants to do it, and everyone else wants to overrule it. In the end, however, it's the right call to make and can potentially prevent serious accidents or damage. Taking an apparatus out of service also sends a clear message to firefighters, officers and shop personnel that unsafe and inoperable conditions will not be tolerated. After all, if the department isn't serious, why should its members be serious?

To help departments define the most serious types of problems, the new NFPA 1911, Inspection, Maintenance, Testing and Retirement of In-Service Automotive Fire Apparatus, has an entire chapter that specifies out-of-service criteria. According to the definition in the standard, these criteria occur "when an apparatus or component is not usable due to an unsafe or inoperable condition." Once found, "it shall be the responsibility of the [department or responsible service group] to take the apparatus or the defective portion of the apparatus out of service…."

The new standard applies to all frontline and reserve fire, rescue and hazmat apparatus regardless of age. It applies to the overall vehicles themselves, as well as to all permanently mounted components and systems, including the pumps, aerials, electrical systems, foam systems and air systems.

Here is a sampling of out-of-service criteria listed in the standard.

Driving and crew areas:

• Cracked or broken windshield that obstructs the driver's view.
• Missing or broken door latches
• Seats without seatbelts, or those with seatbelts that have torn or melted webbing, missing or broken buckles, or loose mountings, shall be taken out of service. If the driver's seat has any of these conditions, the entire apparatus shall be taken out of service.

Chassis and axles:

• GAWR that exceeds the tire manufacturer's load rating for any tire.
• Actual axle weight that exceeds the GAWR for that axle.
• Actual overall weight that exceeds the GVWR or GCWR for the vehicle.
• Loose, missing or broken suspension components.
• Tires with cuts to the cords.
• Front tires with less than 4/32-inch tread or rear tires with less than 2/32-inch tread at two adjacent major tread grooves anywhere on the tire.

Engine systems:

• Engine that won't crank or start.
• Oil that contains coolant or vice versa.
• Stop engine light that fails to turn off after engine is started.

Transmission and clutch:

• Automatic transmission that overheats in any range.
• Automatic transmission that has a "do not shift" light on.

Low-voltage electrical system:

• Warning lights that are inoperable such that no warning lights are visible from one or more locations around the apparatus. If this occurs, the apparatus may still be operated in a non-emergency vehicle status depending on department policy.
• Inoperative sirens. The apparatus may still be operated in a non-emergency vehicle status.
• Inoperative charging system.

Braking systems:

• Service brakes that have an air pressure drop of more than 2psi in one minute for straight chassis vehicles with the engine stopped and the service brakes released.
• Brakes that are out of adjustment.
• Friction surfaces, brake shoes or disc brake pads that have grease or oil on them.

Fire pump systems:

• Pump will not engage.
• Pump operator's panel throttle is not operational.
• Pump transmission components have a leak sufficient to form drops that fall to the ground.

Aerial device systems:

• Aerial device is not operational.
• Stabilizer system is not operational.
• Aerial device is structurally deformed.

These are only a few of the many out-of-service criteria that departments should consider when inspecting an apparatus. They also should consider specific criteria listed in the manufacturer's maintenance manuals, as well as federal, state, and local regulations and laws.

Once a serious problem is detected, the apparatus must be identified with a sign on the driver's door, a special warning bag that covers the steering wheel, or any one of several other means of notifying personnel that the apparatus is out of service and must not be operated. If a specific component is taken out of service, that component must be identified in a similar manner, and some means must be used to advise the driver or operator of this condition.

Once a shop technician or other qualified person has inspected and repaired the problem, the apparatus may be returned to service. Written records should be kept of all out-of-service conditions that were found and the actions taken to fix them.

To make these policies work, departments need to write out-of-service criteria and required actions into a standard operating procedure, have the chief approve it, and notify all personnel that it is in effect. The station captain shouldn't be able to overrule the technician or driver, the battalion chief shouldn't be able to overrule the station captain and the department chief shouldn't be able to overrule any of them. If your department is serious about maintaining your apparatus, then it's time to get serious about taking them out of service when they’re inoperable or unsafe.