The Apparatus Architect-Part 21. Designing Ladder Company Apparatus. In the last segment of the Apparatus Architect we discussed some of the

Transcription

1 The Apparatus Architect-Part 21 Designing Ladder Company Apparatus In the last segment of the Apparatus Architect we discussed some of the concepts surrounding quint apparatus and some of the trade offs involved with fire pump, water tank and ground ladder compliments on new rigs. No matter what type of ladder company rig your department might choose: rear mount, tractor drawn, tower ladder or rear mount tower, there will always be some areas where you will have to give up something in order to gain the desired features on the apparatus. As we have mentioned previously, gaining experience in ladder truck design can be a risky and expensive proposition. Following many of the concepts that have been presented in the Apparatus Architect series will serve to improve your opportunities to make the right decisions during the specification and purchasing process. In this article we will cover tool and equipment layouts on ladder trucks and how you can set up your rig to be more efficient on the fire ground, as well as making your truck a safer one to operate from. How much equipment you carry 1

2 on your new rig will have a lot to do with how effective the ladder company will operate. For example, if you choose not to carry a large output generator or other portable units on the ladder truck, your nighttime fire ground operations will tend to be poorly illuminated and more hazardous for your personnel. Since the ladder company will generally have a position directly in front of the fire building, the truck should be outfitted with a wide array of fixed and portable lighting. The NFPA 1901 standard is a good starting point to determine what equipment that your new ladder company should carry. As always, this is a minimum standard and your department should carefully consider your equipment needs before you begin the process to evaluate the size and type of body that will be needed to accommodate all of the truck company tools. Also keep in mind that the NFPA 1901 standard requires the apparatus manufacturer to allow a minimum equipment payload capacity of 2500 pounds on all aerial ladder trucks. While generally not a problem on larger, tandem axle units this minimum weight allowance must be considered when dealing with single axle ladder trucks, especially quints. The GWVR rating of the apparatus and rear axle loads must be carefully evaluated with any quint apparatus where the 2

3 combination water tank size, hose bed capacity will often dictate the amount of compartment space for tool and equipment storage. The apparatus committee should develop an inventory of hand tools, power equipment, portable equipment and other appliances that are to be carried on the ladder truck, together with the weight of this equipment. This will assist not only the committee, but the prospective bidders as to the requested equipment payload on the completed apparatus. It is not uncommon for ladder trucks to carry upwards of 4000 to 5000 pounds of equipment, but the important thing is to determine this equipment inventory early in the specification process. The days of buying a new apparatus, unloading tools and equipment from the old apparatus pull it out of the bay, back the new apparatus into the bay and try to figure out were all the tools will fit are gone forever. The apparatus and associated compartment space costs to much money for the space to be wasted or for tool placement to be left up to a whim. Another way to assist you in putting together the tool inventory is when you are inspecting other department s rigs to request a copy of their equipment inventory as well as taking some photos of each compartment showing the tool layout. If a particular compartment layout is noteworthy jot down the 3

4 compartment dimensions for future reference. This information will assist you when comparing specifications from several manufacturers. And finally, when evaluating additional items to be carried always note the overall dimensions especially with larger pieces of equipment such as portable generators, fans and hydraulic rescue tools. Not all apparatus builders note the clear door opening for each compartment, however this dimension is critical for any equipment that must fit thru the door opening without having to move or relocate other components. Some departments prefer that all tools and equipment be located within the body and protected from the elements. However many ladder company operations rely upon the rapid deployment of personnel and their respective tools upon arrival, therefore you should consider placing items such as a pressurized water extinguisher, six foot hooks, irons and other forcible entry tools within easy reach of personnel without having to dive into compartments looking for the right tool. Open spaces on bodies and the rear of cab make a great place to safely mount pike poles and roof hooks for rapid deployment. Other portions of the body such as under the turntable on mid-mount aerial units can also be utilized to store and mount equipment. Be careful not to position large items such as ground ladders that would require personnel to climb up on the body to 4

5 remove. Electric cable reels should be positioned so as to not obstruct aerial operation at low angles. A number of mid mount tower ladders have been damaged when attempting to operate the device below the horizontal only to find that the lower boom comes in contact with the body, so be careful when specifying the height of body compartments relative to the operating envelope of the aerial device. Adding compartments, equipment storage boxes, fans, generators, or electric cord reels to the top of existing compartments causes a drastic reduction of the Tower Ladder Scrub s area. Scrub area is defined as that portion of the building wall that can be touched by the Tower Ladder basket. Fire Departments are spending the better part of three quarters of a million dollars or more for Tower Ladders. Much of that money is spent to put the aerial device on the chassis and the associated engineering. So why would you limit the use of the aerial device, (the main function of this very expensive apparatus) by turning it into a rescue truck. Larger pieces of equipment such as PPV fans and portable generators should be carried low inside the body on slide out trays to make it easier to lift and maneuver the equipment. Smaller forcible entry tools should be individually mounted on walls or pull out tool boards in the upper portions of the body compartments. Equipment such as stokes baskets, backboards and long handle 5

6 tools will require a transverse compartment or a large rear mounted storage compartment. The frequency of use and department SOP s should govern the location of the equipment on the ladder company. Units which provide RIT or FAST operations should have the required tools such as stokes, spare SCBA, saw, rescue rope and hand tools all located within adjacent compartments. Adequate fixed and portable 120 volt lighting should be located on both sides of the apparatus body, with one location designated to hold additional short lengths of electric cord, adapters and portable lights. Wherever possible all tools and equipment should be labeled to allow personnel to easily identify the location of all gear and to readily identify what equipment is missing after taking up from an incident. Small metal or poly tool boxes can be used effectively to accommodate hand tools, overhaul kits, sprinkler kits, utility kits and many other uses. These boxes are available in a variety of sizes and can be used to consolidate smaller tools into a single carrying case. The arrangement of hand tools, hydraulic power tools, salvage and dewatering equipment is only limited by ones imagination. The space within the 6

7 body of an aerial device is some of the most expensive real estate that you will ever purchase. Careful planning will insure that this compartment space is logically arranged and that the required tools will be there when you need them most. In the next installment of the Apparatus Architect we will discuss the advantages of having different types of aerial equipment in your ladder truck fleet. CAPTIONS FOR PHOTOS, APPARATUS ARCHITECT PART 21 Photo #1: The West Point Military Academy Fire Department operates this Emergency One 110 foot rear mount ladder. Note the position of the fire extinguishers and hand tools mounted on the side of the body. Photo by Tom W. Shand 7

8 Photo #2: Waldorf, Maryland Truck 3 carries a wide assortment of fans and power equipment on slide trays. Note the location the electric cable reel and portable lights at the front portion of the body. Photo by Tom W. Shand Photo #3: Truck 3 in Waldorf, Maryland carries a five tool boxes for a variety of applications. Note the location of the electric cable reel inside the compartment with the junction box hard wired to the reel. Photo by Tom W. Shand Photo #4 Adding compartmentation to the side of a ladder truck reduces the vehicles use at low or negative angles. Tower ladders have their Scrub Areas reduced significantly by adding compartmentation having an extremely adverse affect on a mid-mounted tower ladder. By Tom Shand and Michael Wilbur Firehouse November