Parts and pieces are what get our rigs to calls each and every day. You, as the purchaser, need to do your own vetting and understand the availability and durability of those parts on your apparatus.
The Rig: Pieces and Parts
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Specifications
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,...
Valor Cab Configurator: Build Your Seat, Your Way
Valor First Responder Seating launches it’s first cab configurator, allowing users to pick their own seats in a generic cab configuration. The configurator tool lets users control every aspect of the customization process, from choosing which seat to input into the...
Apparatus Specification Considerations: 10 Steps to Complete a Needs Assessment
By Bill Peters The first step in acquiring new fire apparatus is to determine the operational needs of the department. This is not always as simple and straightforward as it seems. Often the apparatus that is...
The Rig: Is the Side Suction the Answer?
By Ricky Riley In past Rig articles and Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment articles, I have championed having numerous options for receiving water to your engine company. Making sure you have all the tools in the tool box to be able to supply the engine with...
Meeting the Intent of NFPA 1901
By Bill Adams During the apparatus purchasing process, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1901, Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus, is the accepted “bible” for fire departments and apparatus manufacturers (OEMs). Unfortunately, both can interpret it...
Too Many Unnecessary Words Can Frustrate a Vendor
Their possible contentious behavior is illustrated below to substantiate my belief there are too many unnecessary words in apparatus specifications (specs).
