Quick dump valves

[jfrd04]

My department is currently specing out a new truck. We currently have two pumpers with dump valves on them and one with out. In my twenty years on the department I have seen little use of these and think they only tie up valuable space for other eqipment. Their has been some very heated debates at our meetings and I was looking for some extra input. We also have a tanker . Any input would be great


JFRD04

[Firemoose]

I guess it all comes down to one question. Do you ever plan on having to dump that rig like a tanker? I know in our department we have (2) pumper-tankers w/ Newton quik-dumps on them. These being the second and third due respectively. However, on our first out truck this is not the case.

[jfrd04]

This truck would mainly run in the hydrant district, our other station has limited hydrant coverage. I see its main use as a first in or a water supply truck, pumping hydrants or drafting. In my years on the department we just have not had a need for it and with all the specialized rescue that we do these days I feel the compartment space would be a better option.

JFDR4

[SFDchief]

If the vehicles primary use is an attack engine or a source pumper I wouldn't recomend the dump valve. If the primary use is a shuttle truck, go for it.

Several years ago we retro'd a pumper/tanker with a dump valve. While I was against it at first, I am now glad we did. Although the differance in time from pumping off the water and dumping it is about 45 seconds, that time makes a huge differance when using master stream operations. We now have a tanker being built with three dumps (one on the rear, one on each side).

[jfrd04]

Thanks for the info guys, we have ended up specing the truck with out the dump valve and added a few other options that we feel will more suit the trucks and our needs. There was some question raised that for a truck to meet NFPA standards it needs to have a three way valve can anyone confirm this.

JFRD04

[Firemoose]

Glad I could help.