National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1901, Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus, and NFPA 1906, Standard for Wildland Fire Apparatus, are the guiding documents for apparatus design. As such, Fire Apparatus Manufacturers’ Association (FAMA) member companies take a very active interest in their content. Changes made to these documents by the NFPA Apparatus Committee can have significant impact on safety, performance, and cost. The committee, comprising fire chiefs, industry experts, and manufacturers, has been working on revisions over the past few years, and the new versions will take effect on apparatus contracted for delivery after January 1, 2016. In contrast to the 2009 standards updates, the document revisions this time around do not involve dramatic impacts to apparatus design. Here are some highlights included in the 2016 revisions.

Ultra High Pressure

The use of ultra high pressure in fire suppression has been promoted by the United States Air Force over the past few years. Having recognized that this technique has been gaining popularity in certain applications, the committee defined pump discharge pressures up to 500 pounds per square inch (psi) as “Normal Pressure,” between 500 and 1,100 psi as “High Pressure,” and over 1,100 psi as “Ultra High Pressure (UHP).” A new chapter has been added to establish the minimum requirements of a UHP pumping system.

New Apparatus Familiarization

It is common for new apparatus deliveries to include some degree of familiarization by the apparatus manufacturer or the sales
organization. This practice is now included as a requirement in the standard, with guidance as to what should be covered and the
qualifications of the instructor.  Read More

This article originally appeared in Fire Apparatus October 2015.