The Technical Committee for NFPA 1901, Automobile Fire Apparatus, has passed a temporary interim amendment regarding hose bed design. As of Nov. 18, all manufacturers of new apparatus will be required to provide a secure means to keep all hose securely in place on the unit.

Fire departments and manufacturers already have developed various methods of preventing inadvertent deployment of fire hose, including fully enclosed hosebed covers, buckled straps, hook-and-loop straps, fabric covers, webbing mesh, wind deflectors, and other-material restraints or combination of restraints.

The amendment was prompted by many reported cases of hose inadvertently being dropped on the street while responding. Two of these cases resulted in fatalities.

The changes made by the temporary amendment relate to section 15.10.7 of the standard. The TIA reads:

“Any hose storage area shall be equipped with a positive means to prevent unintentional deployment of the hose from the top, sides, front, and rear of the hose storage area while the apparatus is underway in normal operations.”

Departments should check existing units to ensure all hoses are securely fastened. It's also important that fire departments develop methods of storing hose-connected nozzles and appliances in a manner that doesn't promote the inadvertent deployment.