The maintenance and testing required to keep fire apparatus and equipment in top condition have become more complex. If your department doesn't have the facilities, equipment, skills or time to perform certain jobs, consider letting an outside source do the work for you. In many cases, they can do it faster, more accurately and more cost-effectively than your own personnel.

Testing, testing...

One of the most common areas where fire departments seek outside help is for the periodic testing required to keep apparatus and equipment certified or to maintain their Insurance Services Office (ISO®) credits.

Aerial ladders, pumps, ground ladders and hose all require testing. To be valid, these tests require special facilities, equipment and procedures. The technicians conducting the tests need to have special skills and experience to identify and resolve a variety of problems that may arise.

For example, one pump manufacturer recommends that pump tests be conducted from open sources of fresh water at least four feet deep and with a capacity of at least 10 times the rated pump gpm -- that is, at least 10,000 gallons for a 1,000gpm pump. The test gauges should have been calibrated within 30 days of the test. The person conducting the test should recognize that low atmospheric pressure, high water temperature, and certain suction strainer designs will significantly reduce pump performance. These and dozens of other requirements and restrictions can make the difference between a valid, successful test and one that does not provide an accurate determination of pump performance.

Aerial ladder testing is another case where special facilities, equipment and skills are necessary to do a thorough job. For example, the Underwriters Laboratories' Fire Equipment Services group provides on-site aerial ladder testing that includes operational and load testing of the aerial device, analysis of the hydraulic oil, torque verification of critical mounting bolts, nondestructive examination of all accessible structural weldments, and visual and ultrasonic inspection of all critical mounting bolts, pins and hollow I-beam base rails. After the test results are reviewed by American Society of Nondestructive Testing Level III technicians and engineers, UL issues the customer a report of their findings.

Faced with the complex requirements of these tests, many departments find it more cost effective to use an outside source. Not only do they avoid the fixed costs of special facilities, equipment and training, but they also get test results that are accurate and credible.

What's the problem?

Sometimes departments use outside sources to diagnose problems in complex systems. This is especially true when they have to deal with modern engines, transmissions, anti-lock braking systems and multiplexed electrical systems. The traditional tools and skills required to troubleshoot these components have been replaced by an array of individual diagnostic tools that require special training to operate. Upgraded tools and upgraded training are often required as new model components are introduced.

Although some fire departments have decided to invest in the diagnostic tools and training required to do this work themselves, others have found it more cost-effective to have a local dealer or independent shop do it for them. This places the burden of buying new tools and retraining technicians on the outside shop, and ensures that replacement parts are readily available.

No time

And finally, some departments go outside for help simply because they don't have the time to do a particular job themselves. For example, hose testing is a long, laborious task. The hose has to be unloaded from the apparatus, broken into individual lengths, inspected, tested, drained, labeled, recorded, recoupled and reloaded onto the apparatus. It often isn't feasible to have the one or two paid firefighters that are on duty at any time perform this task and still be ready to respond to calls.

Some departments use outside hose testing services that will come to the station with special equipment and do all the work, including unloading and reloading the hose. While they are working, the regular crew is free to respond to calls or perform other duties. The testing service provides the department with a written record of the inspection results, which can be used to establish credit for their ISO ratings.

It's your choice

The decision to use outside sources should be a business decision based on costs. What's the cost of doing a job inside versus doing it outside -- or not doing it at all? Each carries a short-term and long-term cost that needs to be considered.

If your department invests in a pump testing pit, what will happen if you have to vacate the land in the future? If you invest in diagnostic tools for your current apparatus, will you have to invest in new tools for the apparatus you buy three years from now? If you don't test your pump or aerial or hose annually, how will that affect your ISO rating and the insurance rates for all the property owners in your jurisdiction? Sometimes the decision to go outside can be a cost-effective solution to your fire apparatus and equipment maintenance and testing needs.


Links

To learn more about factory dealers and independent shops that offer a variety of fire apparatus and equipment maintenance and testing services, contact these sources:

Aerial Inspection (aerial inspection and testing)
http://www.aerialtesting.com

Allison (automatic transmission maintenance)
http://www.allisontransmission.com

American LaFrance (vehicle maintenance and testing)
http://www.americanlafrance.com

American Test Center (aerial and ground ladder testing)
http://www.atctest.com

Caterpillar (engine maintenance)
http://www.caterpillar.com

Central States (vehicle maintenance and testing)
http://www.centralfire.com

Crimson Fire (vehicle maintenance and testing)
http://www.crimson-fire.com

Cummins (engine maintenance)
http://www.cummins.com

Detroit Diesel (engine maintenance)
http://www.detroitdiesel.com

E-ONE (vehicle maintenance and testing)
http://www.e-one.com

Fire One (pump, hose, foam system and ground ladder testing)
http://www.fire-one.com

Ford (vehicle maintenance)
http://www.fordvehicles.com

Freightliner (vehicle maintenance)
http://www.freightlinertrucks.com

International (vehicle maintenance)
http://www.internationaldelivers.com

GMC (vehicle maintenance)
http://www.gmc.com

KME (vehicle maintenance and testing)
http://www.kovatch.com

Pierce (vehicle maintenance and testing)
http://www.piercemfg.com

Seagrave (vehicle maintenance and testing)
http://www.seagrave.com

Smeal (vehicle maintenance and testing)
http://www.smeal.com

Stewart & Stevenson (vehicle maintenance and testing)
http://www.ssss.com/ssss/hwt/firerepair.asp

Sutphen (vehicle maintenance and testing)
http://www.sutphen.com

Underwriters Laboratories (aerial and ground ladder testing)
http://www.ul.com/fes/