If you have been reading Firehouse® (or any other fire service publication) lately, you will have found more and more articles covering what the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Apparatus Standard (1901) suggests you have on your new appara tus. There has also been much ink used to describe what could be put on your new rigs to make them more suitable for your department.

Admittedly, this can get very confusing, so let's take a look at who develops the standards and what the process is in order to have them adopted.

The NFPA Technical Committee on fire apparatus is comprised of 30 members. There are approximately 10 from the fire service, including the chairman; 10 from independent experts such as UL, ISO, and insurance and testing companies; and 10 from the manufact uring side. They are responsible for developing and maintaining NFPA Standard 1901 (apparatus) and 1906 (wildland vehicles) and a host of other apparatus-related standards.

One of the requirements the NFPA places on its committees is to update and/or reaffirm the material in the standards at least every five years. However, it can be done in less time than the five years if the committee responsible feels the need to do so. This is the current situation, as the 1996 version of the 1901 Standard is in the process of revision to provide users and manufacturers with a 1999 version.

The 1999 Standard revision is similar to the 30,000-mile check that is done on your automobile. That is, the technicians have gone over the complete vehicle (or in this case, the standard), replaced those parts that have been recalled (we added complete c hapters where needed) and then gave the rest of the car (or standard) a quick check to ensure it is in top operating condition. (Note: One should remember that all NFPA Standards are minimum standards, and the NFPA system is a long process with many check s and balances. Any standard that is up for revision is still a proposed document until, first, it has gone through the public comment period; second, any proposals generated have been debated and approved by the committee; third, the revised standard has been voted on at the semi-annual NFPA meeting; and fourth, approval is given by the NFPA Standards Council.)

If everything goes as planned, this revision will become "effective" in August 1999 for all contracts signed on or after Jan. 1, 2000. What this says is that if you buy (sign a contract for) a vehicle on or after Jan. 1, 2000, it should comply with the ne w 1999 Standard. This is the first time fire departments and manufacturers will have some breathing room between when the standard is effective and when new trucks sold (contracts signed) have to comply.

Let's look at some of the changes in the proposed standard:

NEW CHAPTERS
    1. Chapter 7 (Quints) – Quints seems to be the "buzz word" for the '90s and we will now have a chapter in 1901 that defines the minimum requirements for this special vehicle. Some of those items are a 1,000-gpm pump, a 300-gallon w ater tank, 40 cubic feet of compartmentation, 85 feet of ground ladders and 30 cubic feet of storage for 21Ú2-inch or larger hose. There is also a list of equipment that should be placed on the apparatus before it is put into service.
    2. Chapter 9 (Mobile Foam Apparatus) – At one time, most of this chapter was included in a separate standard called NFPA 11-C. The Standards Council felt it was better to include the information in 1901 as this type of vehicle is b asically a fire truck with a special type of high-capacity foam system. Like the Quint chapter, minimum requirements are given for water pumps (750 gpm), foam proportioning system, foam tank (500 gallons) and hose storage. As one would imagine, the minimu m tools and nozzles required differ somewhat from the other types of apparatus.

GENERAL VEHICLE CHANGES

• Establishes a minimum operating range for the vehicles of 0 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit.
  
• When multiplexing is used, it must comply to the J-1939 protocol as defined by SAE.
  
• 25-foot spacing will now be permitted for midship warning lights.
  
• Moved the maximum basic warning light amp draw to the appendix. Note: the electrical amps needed for the basic operating equipment still must be covered by the alternator at idle.
  
• Step surfaces will be required to have a minimum slip resistance. This may require a more aggressive surface than the standard aluminum diamond plate currently found on many apparatus. A test to verify slip resistance will be specified.
  
• Minor changes to the compressed air foam system (CAFS) chapter.
  
• Four-inch or larger valved intakes must have pressure relief valves external to the valve.
  
• All discharges 11Ú2 inches or larger must have drains or bleeders.
  
• If an air refill station is provided, it must fully enclose the bottle when filling.
  

PUMPERS

• Reduces hosebed requirements from 55 to 30 cubic feet and the minimum hose load from 1,200 feet of 21Ú2-inch hose to 800 feet.
  
• Eliminates specific ladder lengths. This will allow users to change lengths to suit local needs.
  
• Allows for greater use of electronic methods of alerting operators of trouble.
  

AERIALS

• Eliminates specific ground ladder lengths, but still requires 115 feet as a minimum. Calls for two straight ladders, two extension ladders and an attic ladder as a minimum.
  
• If top-controls are provided for aerial ladders, the new revision eliminates the need for interlock on the fold-down step.
  

Let's stop for a minute to be sure you understand that the above proposals are only the highlights. There are many other suggested changes, too numerous to mention here.

Part of the NFPA process requires a public comment period in which anyone interested in providing input to the committee or the standard may do so. It's as simple as a telephone call to the NFPA at 800-344-3555 to request a copy of the proposed standard.

With your copy of the standard will be a form to fill out, asking what paragraph or words you would like to see changed, what your proposed wording is and why you think the changes should be made. It is important to completely fill out the form and to pro vide your suggested wording to accomplish the requested changes. Your suggested changes must follow the NFPA format, they must be complete with your revised wording and they must reach the NFPA before the comment period closes on Oct. 2, 1998.

The key point is, you have time to add your "two cents" in order to improve the standard. If you feel the committee has missed something, or an item could be easier to understand with some revised verbiage, by all means send in a public comment now!

Once the public comment period closes, the next step will be for the committee task forces to study each and every proposal. We have three choices: we may accept the revision as it is written; it could be accepted in principle (where we keep the idea of t he submitter, but we may reword it to adhere to the NFPA style or to have it fit better with the current wording); or the entire proposal may be rejected. If it is rejected, the committee will define why it was not incorporated in the standard and report the disposition back to the submitter.

All of the public proposals will be read and voted on at the fall meeting of the apparatus committee to be held in Anaheim, CA, Nov. 5, 6 and 7, 1998. That meeting is open to any visitors (as are all of the apparatus committee meetings). Once the committe e finishes its work, the revised standard will be sent to all committee members for their written approval (letter ballot). Assuming the ballot is positive, the document will be forwarded to the voting body of the NFPA for approval at its 1999 spring meet ing.

A perfect system? Naw...but as the saying goes, it sure beats the alternative of a career civil servant (hence, the government) telling us what we will have on the trucks. The checks and balances are there, the ability to make changes is there and the inp ut from you and your staff is strongly encouraged throughout the whole process. Get involved...we could all benefit!