Brian Brown, Bureau Chief of Fleet Services, South Metro, FL, Fire Rescue, presented “Fire Pumps and Accessories” with Accurate Pump Testing in a pre-conference program at the Fire Department Safety Officers Association’s (FDSOA) 29th Annual Apparatus Specification & Safety Symposium in Orlando, FL.
Brown covered a wide range of topics in the four-hour class, including preventative maintenance, fire pumps, primers, pressure relief valves (manual and electronic), annual and acceptance testing per NFPA 1911 and maintenance issues of fire pumps. In addition, his presentation flowed into apparatus life-cycle cost analysis and how to develop a 5–10 year replacement schedule. He offered that the biggest challenge in presenting the case for new or replacement apparatus is, and will always be, the lack of any data to support your request.
Among fleet replacement challenges, Brown asked “How many of you track mechanic productivity? You know what the industry standard is? It’s 55–65 percent and that’s unacceptable in my world.”
“If you don’t have a copy of NFPA 1071, get one,” suggested Brown.
When a member of the audience asked for the ratio of apparatus to mechanics, Brown referred to the American Public Works Association (APWA) website that stated the National Average is 26 to 1. “Based on the formula APWA uses, you may be looking at up to 12 hours per year for a P.M. [preventive maintenance].”
According to Brown, challenges with fleet life cycles includes: revenue down turns; budget costs (“Do more with less”); demands for service is up; state and federal maintenance up; aging fleet; reduction of fleet; NFPA 1911, 2012 Edition mandates more maintenance: pumps, ladder, weight test, brake test, low-voltage and high-voltage tests and foam systems.
What age/time is normal replacement? Departments may “like” to replace them at 15–20–25 years or the end of the life cycle, but are not in the financial position to do so. Brown prefers to use a point system based on age, mileage, condition, maintenance history/costs.
On the topic of equipment replacement costs, Brown stressed the priority of an equipment inventory and replacement criteria.
“If you have under-utilized equipment—some of our equipment has less than 700 miles a year—are they worth keeping? No,” he said. “If there’s no money, there’s no money, but it still costs money to maintain it,” said Brown.
“Is it feasible for you or more economical to lease or purchase it outright?” Brown explained they currently have leased their administrative vehicles from Enterprise Fleet Management. “Because 35 percent of our maintenance was being performed on staff and administrative cars,” said Brown. ”And it has worked out fabulously. Now we can focus that 35 percent on our response fleet”
Evaluation of your maintenance shop includes shop effectiveness and mechanic productivity. “Would you be able to tell me the number of you’re A, B, and C’s services performed? Would you be able to show me your productivity? I would certainly hope so,” Brown added.
“We write it into our bid that we are a certified service and warranty center for the manufacturer chosen with EVT, ASE and certified fleet maintenance personnel.”
What is the availability of vehicles/equipment? Is new equipment available more? Does older equipment spend more time in the shops?” Brown suggested www.govdeals.com as a website for reference for equipment resale prices. Currently the department charges $102 per hour to neighboring departments for work done in the South Metro fire shop.
The transition in administration can cause changes for fire department apparatus. A new chief recently announced that he wanted pumps and tanks on every apparatus. Even though the cost to up fit a straight truck (with no pump, tank, crosslays, etc.) in to a quint would be over $200,000, they did it.
Among the tips Brown shared, “How many of you have ‘take-home’ vehicles? Some states are now charging a monthly fee for take-home vehicles.” He also recommended the use of a Wright Express fuel card for a fleet management program, which allows monitoring of fuel usage costs.
In explaining how a fire department’s replacement program gets derailed, Brown identified:
- Tight budgets
- Furlough days—save equipment with fewer repair hours. He says 153 productive monthly wrench hours per tech. “If technicians are training, is that productive time? No. Technical productivity is turning wrenches or working on the floor.” How many technicians do you need for the size of your fleet?”
- Reduced staff
- Deferment of vehicle replacement
- Dealing with the city/board management
- Attending council/board meetings
Older fleets require more expensive repairs due to aging inventory. The increased cost per year is usually 3.5 percent. He feels that their replacement schedule is on track using a regionally based standard depreciation schedule of 5 percent. “You have got to do the life cycle on it. It’s the numbers and the facts. You have to do it,” Brown said. “As it grows older, it’s going to costs you more to maintain it.”
About the Author
Janet A. Wilmoth
Special Projects Director
Janet Wilmoth grew up in a family of firefighters in a suburb of Chicago. Wilmoth, who is owner of Wilmoth Associates, worked with Fire Chief magazine for 27 years until it closed in 2013. She currently is the project director for Firehouse, overseeing the Station Design Conference.