Proper Planning of Special Apparatus Can Coordinate Desires With Reality
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Photo by Lincoln Smith
Special units can be defined as a broad spectrum of fire apparatus other than the standard engine, or ladder truck or EMS squad.
Many large city fire departments have utilized fire fighting squads, lighting plants, and breathing air tenders as individual units for a number of years. Suburban volunteer fire companies have also effectively employed special units for these functions. In recent years the lighting plant, breathing air, and special tools capabilities have been installed on a single vehicle.
Many of the tools and equipment carried on a special unit are dictated by local conditions, such as limited access highways, heavy industrial properties, waterfront problems, unusual terrain or climatic considerations. Special units necessitate a diligent study of truck features during design and construction so that the variety of tools and equipment carried can be properly secured during travel to the scene of an emergency and be readily accessible upon arrival.
The purpose of this article is to highlight a number of techniques which may be used to streamline purchasing a special unit.
Apparatus of various sizes, shapes and weight-carrying capacities can be examined after the need for a special unit is clearly identified within a community. Initial planning sessions will probably result in a desire by the fire department to carry every tool up to and including the kitchen sink in a vehicle that will be slightly smaller in size than the Queen Mary. After some painstaking study, a realistic outline specification can be developed. The controlling factor which generally determines the relative size of the unit is the financial resources authorized for this expenditure.
Avoid overweight
Even after a vehicle size has been selected, the fire department will have to fight the urge to overstock the unit and exceed its gross vehicle weight. This is especially true of small or medium size units. Some features that can be incorporated in the original design which will help reduce the potential of a weight problem are the use of additional springs, large tires, heavy-duty shock absorbers, and bodies of lightweight metal alloy.
Careful attention must also be given to distribution of the weight in relation to the center of gravity to ensure adequate road stability and ease of handling. Both the truck manufacturer and fire department must exercise good judgment when locating portable equipment on the rig, even though permanently mounted equipment—such as electrical generators, air cascades or winches—are evenly and uniformly arranged during the design phase.
Development of diagrams
One approach that can be used to make the most of the available space is to develop a diagram using graph paper which shows the compartmentation configuration and any open deck areas on the vehicle. In a similar fashion, scaled shapes of the various tools and equipment to be carried on the vehicle can be developed from information provided on equipment specification sheets. Many fire departments will find it necessary to enlist the services of a local high school or junior college graphics class for assistance.
With a basic understanding of the compartmentation configuration, the shapes of the various components can be moved from one compartment to another while still on the drawing board. Fire department planners will gain a clear understanding of what tools can actually be carried to minimize the usefulness of available space. A reasonable margin for clearance should be maintained so that the actual equipment will fit in the compartment without being too snug.
This technique is also a useful tool for comparing the sizes of the various bodies provided by leading squad truck manufacturers during the selection process.
Another function of the diagram is to illustrate exactly how equipment might be mounted during construction. Many times the written word alone is not sufficient, as a misplaced comma or the lack of the word “and” at an appropriate space in specifications can result in a manufacturer misinterpreting the intent but at the same time meeting the letter of a specific provision.
Due to the nature of equipment carried on a special unit, it is advisable for the purchasing fire department to receive separate bids from the squad truck manufacturer and selected fire equipment distributors. If the fire department has the expertise, time, and a flexible purchasing policy, it may realize a substantial savings by using this comparative analysis technique.
Usually, a major fire equipment distributor within a region will have direct access to one product line while another dealer may be the authorized distributor for other equipment. The dealer who has direct access will generally be able to quote a better price than his competitors or the truck manufacturer.
In addition, the authorized distributor for a product line will be the individual who will have the most accurate information regarding the size, weight, and other physical characteristics of the equipment to be purchased. He is also the individual that the department will have to ultimately deal with if it wants to exercise warranty provisions or to have major maintenance performed. If it establishes a working relationship with this individual at the onset, the department will avoid the extra expense and time which may be necessary for the equipment to be handled by a middleman.
This policy could also be extended to the purchase of a commercial truck chassis in some situations.
Construction supervisor
When field visits to the vehicle manufacturer’s shop are practical, they may significantly increase the ability of fire department personnel to supervise construction. Otherwise, the fire department needs to have a good working relationship with the local dealer. Close supervision of the construction process, using either technique, is necessary to assure that distinctive features planned in the design phase are implemented.
Although many individuals within the purchasing fire department may work on various aspects of planning, one individual should be assigned to be the primary representative of the fire department to manage the project and directly communicate with the truck manufacturer’s representative and the fire equipment distributor. This individual will be responsible for collecting comments from members of his department and reporting to his supervisor before initiating any changes in the design of the unit. This individual should also be available upon delivery of the unit to perform a detailed inspection and offer his recommendation to the chief concerning acceptance. Any warranty work needed after acceptance should be coordinated through this individual so that the continuity of the project may be maintained.
Although verbal conversations with the manufacturer can generally resolve most issues, any and all changes which are initiated as a result of these meetings or telephone calls should be documented in writing, with a copy maintained by both the manufacturer and the fire department. Appropriate sketches may be needed to detail a specific technical change. Many times it will be necessary for the fire department to take the initiative in documenting a change.
Handling modifications
In some situations, it will become apparent as construction proceeds that a specific provision in the original specifications may be difficult or impossible to implement. In these situations, the impracticality of providing some type of special equipment or feature may not have been honestly foreseen by either the fire department or manufacturer. The fire department should be prepared to trade off an impractical provision for another approach or additional consideration at a later date.
By the same token, the manufacturer may fall behind the time schedule due to problems in expediting specific components or other situations which were not foreseen when the contract was signed. In some cases, such as delay in completion, a reputable manufacturer may agree to trade some realistic modifications requested by the fire department to avoid a legal tangle or protect his reputation for quality.
Properly planned and designed special units can significantly increase a fire department’s ability to provide an additional level of emergency service for the public when local conditions indicate a need for such service. Efficient, cost-effective units will generally require considerable attention to detail. Establishment of a realistic management program, which includes design, construction, and acceptance criteria, will help streamline the process. This will increase the probability of full utilization of the vehicle over its life so that established goals to provide an identified level of service may be satisfied.
