NFPA D/O Apparatus cheat sheet

NFPA 1911 is the standard for inspection, maintenance, testing, and retirement of in-service fire apparatus; it sets minimum check intervals and recordkeeping.

NFPA 1911 annual pump service test: 20 minutes at 100% rated capacity, 10 minutes at 70% capacity and 150 psi net, 10 minutes at 50% capacity and 250 psi net.

Aerial devices require an annual inspection and test plus a structural load test at least every five years; ground ladders and hose are service-tested annually.

Tire replacement thresholds: steering-axle tires below 4/32 inch tread and all other axle tires below 2/32 inch tread must be removed from service.

Daily/start-of-shift check items: fuel, engine oil, coolant, tire condition and pressure, lights, siren, brakes, pump engagement, water tank level, and equipment inventory.

Any defect affecting braking, steering, tires, pump, or aerial integrity places the apparatus out of service until repaired, tagged, and signed off on a work order.

Records of inspections, tests, repairs, and out-of-service periods are retained for the service life of the apparatus and are the operator's legal documentation.

Wheels must be chocked and the parking brake set before any under-apparatus inspection or maintenance; never work under a vehicle held only by a jack.

Total stopping distance = perception distance + reaction distance + brake-lag distance + effective braking distance.

Reaction distance in feet approximates 1.47 x speed (mph) x reaction time (seconds); braking distance increases with the square of speed.

Following distance rule: 1 second per 10 feet of apparatus length, plus 1 second, plus 1 additional second when speed exceeds 40 mph.

Engine (compression) and exhaust brakes are switched off on wet, icy, or snow-covered pavement because drive-wheel lockup causes loss of control.

Tire blowout: grip the wheel firmly, hold the apparatus straight, release the accelerator, and delay hard braking until speed is reduced and control is confirmed.

Skid recovery: steer in the direction the rear of the apparatus is sliding, ease off the accelerator, and avoid hard braking until traction returns.

Before moving, complete a walk-around, confirm all personnel are seated and belted with doors closed, and use a spotter or get out and look when backing.

At railroad crossings, stop (when required), open the window, look and listen both directions, and never stop the apparatus on the tracks.

The parking brake plus wheel chocks are required whenever the apparatus is parked on any grade; chock before the pump is engaged or the aerial raised.

Collapse zone: keep personnel and apparatus at least a distance equal to the height of the involved building, and increase it for unsupported walls or heavy contents.

Ground ladder placement is at roughly 75 degrees: base 1 foot from the wall for every 4 feet of working height.

Aerial apparatus must have outriggers fully extended on firm, level ground; never set outriggers over basements, vaults, septic tanks, or manhole covers.

Keep apparatus, aerials, and water streams at least 10 feet from energized overhead lines, and increase that distance as voltage increases.

First-arriving engine: spot so a straight, unobstructed hose lay reaches the fire area while leaving room for the aerial and later-arriving units.

Position to keep the pump panel accessible and, where possible, within view of the fire area and the operator's own hoselines.

Never block the FDC, hydrant, standpipe or sprinkler connections, ladder access, or the aerial's outrigger footprint.

Angle the apparatus and deploy cones, flares, or an arrow board to create an advance warning taper and shield the work area from traffic.

Pump discharge pressure: PDP = nozzle pressure + total friction loss + elevation change + appliance loss.

Elevation: add 0.5 psi per foot of rise and subtract 0.5 psi per foot of drop.

Friction loss: FL = C x Q squared x L, with Q in hundreds of gpm and L in hundreds of feet.

Hose coefficients (C): 1 3/4-inch = 15.5; 2 1/2-inch = 2; 3-inch = 0.8; 4-inch = 0.2; 5-inch = 0.08.

Rated pump capacity: 100% of rated gpm at 150 psi, 70% at 200 psi, and 50% at 250 psi.

Nozzle pressures: 100 psi for fog handlines, 50 psi for smooth-bore handlines, 100 psi fog and 80 psi smooth bore for master stream nozzles.

Cavitation signs and causes: pump rattling, fluctuating gauge readings, and lost capacity from restricted intake, excessive lift, clogged strainer, or air leak.

Maximum theoretical lift is about 33.9 feet at sea level; practical drafting lift is 20 to 25 feet and decreases with altitude and worn pumps.

A relief valve or pressure governor limits overpressure when discharges are shut down suddenly; set it before opening discharges.

Forward lay: the engine stops at the hydrant, lays supply hose to the fire scene, and is then supplied by that hydrant.

Reverse lay: the engine stops at the fire and a supply line is laid back to the hydrant, where another pumper takes the hydrant and pumps to it.

Drafting: keep the strainer at least 24 inches below the water surface and 12 to 24 inches off the bottom; use a floating strainer in shallow or muddy water.

Keep hard suction sleeves as short, straight, and airtight as possible; a leaking intake joint destroys priming.

Water shuttle flow in gpm = (tank capacity in gallons x number of tankers) divided by the round-trip cycle time in minutes.

Receiving pumper in a relay: set the intake relief valve about 10 psi above normal intake pressure and maintain a positive intake gauge reading.

Large-diameter hose relay: 5-inch hose flowing 1,000 gpm loses about 8 psi per 100 feet (C = 0.08).

Portable tanks are linked with jet siphons and drained through dump valves; keep dump-site tanks close to the receiving pumper's intake.

Hydrant flow test readings (static, residual, pitot) determine available flow; a residual drop of 25% from static marks the practical limit of the supply.

Operate only within the manufacturer's load chart; tip load capacity decreases as the ladder extends and as the angle lowers.

Aerial devices are strongest near 70 to 75 degrees from horizontal; avoid full extension at low angles with a load on the tip.

Stabilization interlocks prevent operation until outriggers are set; interlocks are never bypassed or overridden.

Keep the aerial, platform, and water stream at least 10 feet from energized lines, and greater distances for higher voltages.

Never move the apparatus with personnel on the aerial; use the auxiliary power or manual bleed-down procedure if hydraulics or power fail.

Stream reaction for a smooth bore: NR = 1.57 x d squared x NP; reaction rises with the square of nozzle diameter, so stay within the waterway rating.

Ground ladders: about 75 degrees, extended 3 to 5 rungs above the roof or sill, and heeled or secured before climbing.

Before raising, scan for overhead obstructions (wires, trees, signs) and confirm ground bearing capacity under each outrigger or stabilizer.

Emergency-vehicle privileges apply only when operating with warning lights and siren and always with due regard for the safety of others.

Operators are never relieved of the duty to drive with due regard; civil and criminal liability continues during an emergency response.

At a red signal or stop sign, slow enough to be able to stop if necessary and confirm the intersection is clear before proceeding.

Move Over laws require drivers approaching a stopped emergency or highway vehicle with warning lights to slow down and, when safe, change lanes.

Personnel working on or near a roadway must wear ANSI/ISEA 107 compliant high-visibility apparel.

Two-in/two-out: at least two members inside and two outside, ready to rescue, before interior firefighting begins in an IDLH atmosphere.

Apparatus parked on a roadway requires the parking brake set, wheels chocked where appropriate, and warning devices deployed before crews dismount.

Establish hot, warm, and cold zones at every scene and position apparatus to protect the work area from traffic and collapse hazards.