There’s been a fundamental change in the traditional “competitive bid” process used to purchase apparatus as well as noticeable changes in the attitudes of some apparatus buyers and sellers.
Changes in Apparatus Purchasing and Attitudes
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Adams
More on Clean Cabs
Some proponents of the concept advocate keeping turnout gear (personal protective clothing) out of the crew cab at all times. There is no questioning keeping contaminated gear out of the cab
Are “High and Slow” Warning Lights Feasible?
This article does NOT address warning lights when responding. However, some comments made could be applicable to that mode. It addresses warning lights used in the blocking-the-right-of-way mode.
Purchasing Specifications or Textbook, Part 2
By Bill Adams Part 1 described my personal opinion that fire apparatus purchasing specifications can be “short and sweet” and right to the point. They should not be used as a textbook or an educational tool for the fire department. Four scenarios were pointed out. A...
Purchasing Specifications or Textbook, Part 1
There is no logical justification for a purchaser to explain each infinitesimal feature of a component part, how it works, and why it is being specified. That rationalization should be done at a committee level. At the same time, it is not the APC’s job to explain to potential bidders how each widget specified works.
Regional and Local Trade Show Benefits
At regional and local shows, most of the rigs are already bought. They’re mostly from local departments, and some are even in service. Potential buyers have the opportunity to observe exactly what other people purchased and often get to ask the end user why something was specified.
Dimmable Warning Lights Extinguished?
By Bill Adams From the July 2019 Fire Engineering: “The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standards Council has announced that the information in the NFPA 114 Emergency Response and Responder Safety (ERRS) standards, guides, and recommended practices will be...
“Safe Cab” Trade-Offs
By Bill Adams At the FDIC International 2019, several apparatus manufacturers addressed both physical and gaseous carcinogens in crew cabs. Noteworthy were introductions in compartmentation by both REV’s E-ONE and Rosenbauer-America. I am totally in favor of...
L-Tank Weight Considerations
By Bill Adams Pundits and commentators expound on the firematic benefits of using L-shaped booster tanks on pumpers. Apparatus manufacturers (OEMs) promote rigs with “New York City style” low hosebeds. (See Apparatus Purchasing: FDNY-Style Hosebeds,...
Turning Radius and Tapered Bumpers
By Bill Adams All the purchasing specification said was, “The bumper shall be 95 inches wide with 45-degree corners and side plates.” Unless the reader is the preferred dealer who wrote the document, that statement has little to no intrinsic value. It’s possible the...
Town Clips the Purchasing Committee
By Bill Adams Many fire departments enjoy little to no oversight by political subdivisions that provide taxpayer financing for their apparatus purchases. In particular, volunteer entities often purchase what they want from who they want without political recourse or...
Is Fire Truck Sandbagging Ethical?
By Bill Adams Sandbagging is a term often heard when playing cards and sports. It's a term that isn’t necessarily deceitful, although it can be. In the world of fire apparatus purchasing, sandbagging happens all the time, although it’s not always advertised, promoted,...
