Fire Vehicles: Specifications, Features, and Operations

OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this lesson you will be able to:

• Describe the introduction of all fire vehicles.
• Describe the specification of fire rescue vehicle.
• Describe the specification of fire truck.
• Demonstrate the operation of fire rescue vehicle & fire truck.

Introduction of all fire vehicles in service.

Standard Fire Vehicle

• Water capacity              4500 Ltr.
• Foam capacity                 300 Ltr.
• Type                              PTO (Power Take Off)

Rapid Fire Vehicle

• Water capacity     3000 Ltr
• Foam capacity      300 Ltr
• Type                      PTO (Power Take Off)

Fire Rescue Vehicle (FRV)

• Water capacity              3300 Ltr
• Foam capacity              300 Ltr
• Type                             Direct Drive

Fire Truck (FTR)

• Water capacity        7000 Ltr
• Foam capacity         500 Ltr
• Type                        PTO (Power Take Off)

Specifications of Fire Rescue Vehicle:

TRUCK CHASSIS:

Standardized right hand drive truck chassis with single or double cabin having minimum Gross Vehicle Weight of 8000 Kg and minimum 100 HP, diesel driven 4 strokes, 4 cylinder, water cooled engine.

FABRICATION OF CHASSIS

• If single cabin it should be converted into double cabin with seating bench for 4 persons with safety belts and two doors.
• Side Lockers or suitable storage for standard accessories (at least 8 hoses, nozzles, torches, lines etc.) should be provided with proper marking.
• Lockers should have suitable brackets for the storage of 4 SCBA sets.
• Body work should be torsion free and corrosion resistant with M.S. sheets of minimum 16 gauge thickness or aluminum.
• All materials used for construction of the superstructure are completely new and free of defects. The whole body to be treated and professionally painted to give the vehicle a high resistance against rust.
• The roof floor should be covered with aluminum chequered plates.
• Ladder/ non-slippery steps for access to roof and necessary protection plates and hand rails should be provided as approved by the Service.
• A towing hook at the front and rear should be provided.
• The pump should be accessible for maintenance. Spare wheel to be suitably fitted with metal cover so that water from pump compartment should not drop.
• Suitable place to accommodate 3 suctions hoses should be provided.
• Roller guided sliding storage area for 30 feet ladder in the middle of roof.
• All fabrication should be user friendly and with no sharp edges.

WATER TANK:

a) Capacity.                        Minimum 3300 Liters capacity tank.

b) Material.                        Mild Steel with Epoxy Coating after Sand Blasting.

c) Suspension.                    Torsion free mounted on Rubber/ Steel elements

d) Baffle Plates.                 Suitable number of removable baffles walls.

e) Tank level indicator.     Glass tube visual level indicator for trouble free level indication.

f) Protection                     Tank should be suitably protected from sides and top with corrosion free, light weight metal sheet.

FOAM TANK:

a) Capacity.                        300 Liters

b) Material.                        Suitably protected re-enforced Fiber Glass (GRP) suitable for all commercial synthetic and protein foam compounds.

c) Tank level indicator.      Glass tube visual level indicator for trouble free level indication.

MODULAR ENGINE DRIVEN FIRE PUMP UNIT

a) Type.                                   Centrifugal pump (Preferably high pressure)

b) Performance.                      Min.1600 LPM at 10 bars.

c) Suction.                              100 mm BSS threaded with Blank Cap and chain

d) Delivery.                             2 x 65 mm delivery outlets and one outlet for 3/4” hose reel. e) Location. Mounted at the rear of the vehicle.

f) Operation Time.                  Minimum 8 hours continuous operation.

g) Fuel tank.                          Preferably from vehicle or suitable for min.4 hrs of operation. g) Engine. 4 strokes, self-start and water cooled (preferably with dual Starting mechanism) with special exhaust/silencer for low Noise.

h) Priming System.                Automatic integrated self-lubricating with 2 Sec per ft priming time and 9 meter vertical suction height.

i) Base.                                  Complete self-contained unit on a single skid/ Frame (with provision to reduce vibration) which can be directly bolted onto the chassis.

j) Manufacturer.                    Both engine and pump should be manufactured by panel-A Firms (imported) with at least three years warranty.

PUMP CONTROLS

• Controls/Gauges
•  Engine throttle control lever
• Priming control
• Pump pressure gauge
• Vacuum Gauge
• Tank to pump control
• Hydrant inlet and control valve
• First-Aid hose reel control valve
• Visual water level indicator
• Visual Foam level indicator
• Foam proportioning control
• Panel lights & switches
• RPM meter
• Pump to tank manual bypass control

FOAM PROPORTIONING SYSTEM

• Material Gun metal
• Admixing Ratio 1, 3, 6 & 9 %
• Control Manual
• Location Around-the-pump

WATER/FOAM MONITOR

• Stainless steel water/foam 1-1/2” monitor fitted on the top of vehicle with minimum discharge of 800 LPM and throw of 45 meters.
• Rotation 360 Degree
• Elevation +70 -15 Degree
• Monitor branches should be interchangeable.

HOSE REEL WITH NOZZLE (WATER & AFFF)

One 3/4” x 150 ft. automatic high pressure rubber Hose Reel located at the rear of the vehicle with triple purpose pistol grip hand controlled imported nozzle approved by the Service after testing.

Specifications Of Fire Truck:

TRUCK CHASSIS

Right hand drive truck without any modification in original chassis with double cabin having minimum gross vehicle weight of 18000 kg, minimum 200 HP, diesel driven 4 stroke, 6 cylinder, and water cooled engine.

FABRICATION OF CHASSIS

• If single cabin it should be converted into double cabin with single common roof and inconformity with the original design of the cabin.
• Rear compartment should have 2 doors and 4 persons SCBA’s seats with safety belts and additional hooks for hanging fire turn-out gear.
• Side Lockers or suitable storage for standard accessories (at least 10 hoses, nozzles, torches, lines etc.) should be provided with proper marking.
• Body work should be torsion free and corrosion resistant with M.S. sheets of minimum 16 gauge thickness.
• All materials used for construction of the superstructure are completely new and free of defects. The whole body to be treated and professionally painted to give the vehicle a high resistance against rust.
• The roof and walking platforms should be covered with aluminum checkered plate of minimum of 16 gauges.
• Ladder/ non-slippery steps for access to roof and necessary protection plates and hand rails should be provided as approved by the Service. • A towing hook at the front and rear should be provided.
• The pump should be accessible for maintenance. Spare wheel to be suitably fitted so that water from pump compartment should not drop on it.
• Suitable storage tunnels to accommodate 2 suctions hoses should be provided.
• Suitable gantry system for 30 ft, two sections extension aluminum ladder.
• All fabrication should be user friendly and with no sharp edges.
• Front and rear reinforced bumpers.
• Compatible 220 Volt Static battery chargers with charging point.

WATER TANK

• Capacity.                Minimum 7000 Liters capacity tank.
• Material.                Mild Steel with Epoxy Coating after Sand Blasting.
• Thickness.              Minimum 4mm Suspension Torsion free mounted on heavy duty neoprene bearing pads.
• Baffle Plates.          Suitable numbers of removable baffle walls.
• Level Indicator.      Glass tube visual level indicator. Mounting. Flexibly at low level to achieve low center of gravity.

FOAM TANK

• Capacity.            500 Liters.
• Material.            Suitably protected reinforced Fiber Glass (GRP) or Stainless Steel suitable for all commercial synthetic and protein foam compounds, easily accessible for filling and maintenance. Level Indicator. Glass tube visual level indicator. Fitting All piping should be of stainless steel and brass valves

FIRE PUMP

• Performance Min.                             3000 LPM at 10 Bar.
• Suction.                                           100 mm BSS threaded with S/S Blank Cap and chain Delivery. 4 x 65 mm delivery outlets and one outlet for 3/4” Hose reel.
• Metallurgy.                                      Main body of SS/ gunmetal/ aluminum alloy.
• Impellers of bronze or gunmetal.   Shaft of Stainless Steel.
• Priming System.                              Rotary vane type self-lubricating with 2 Sec/ ft priming time and 7 meter vertical suction height.

P.T.O.Compatible PTO of suitable power with valid warranty of the Chassis Manufacturer.

PUMP CONTROLS

• Engine throttle control lever
• Priming control
• Pump pressure gauge 0-25 bars
• Pump compound gauge (diaphragm type) -1 to+10 bars
• Tank to pump control
• Hydrant inlet and control valve
• First-aid hose reel control valve
• Visual foam level indicator
• Foam proportioning control
• Panel lights & switches
• Rpm meter
• Pump to tank manual bypass control

FOAM PROPORTIONING SYSTEM

• Material.                                                              Gun metal
• Admixing ratio.                                                   1, 3 & 6 % Control.
• Manual.                                                                Location.
• Around-the-pump Water/Foam Monitor.           Stainless steel water/foam monitor fitted on the top of vehicle with minimum discharge of 3000 lpm and throw of 70 meters.

1. Rotation 360 degree.
2. Elevation +70 -15 degree
3. Adjustable nozzle 1100-2600 lpm with range of 70 m at 10 bar (imported)
4. Monitor branches should be interchangeable with instantaneous coupling.

Hose Reel with Nozzle (Water & AFFF). One 3/4” x 200 ft high-pressure rubber hose reel of 50-230 lpm (Imported) with range of 35 meters located at the rear of the vehicle with pistol grip hand controlled (Imported) nozzle approved by the service after testing.