Special report: 7 Apparatus Trends For The Future of Firefighting Special report
Page
Exploring New Developments 3 In Fire Apparatus
Trend 1: More Advanced 4 Electronic Controls
Trend 2: Features To Overcome 5 Driver Errors
Trend 3: Vehicle-To-Vehicle 6 About the author Communications
An experienced journalist and long- Trend 4: Protecting Firefighters 8 time presence in the U.S. technology From Contaminants marketplace, Larry Anderson is the Editor of leading digital publication TheBigRedGuide.com. Mr. Anderson Trend 5: Choosing Smaller 10 is the website’s eyes and ears in the Apparatus For Specialized Duties firefighting sector, attending industry and corporate events, interviewing Trend 6: The Impact Of Sticker 12 leaders and contributing original Shock On Shrinking Budgets editorial content to the site. He leads a team of dedicated editorial and Trend 7: Standards Drive The Next 13 content professionals, guiding the Wave Of Apparatus Developments editorial roadmap to ensure that TheBigRedGuide.com provides the most relevant content for industry professionals. From 1996 to 2008, Mr. Anderson was editor of Access Control & Security Systems magazine and its affiliated websites. He has written numerous articles for and about some of the largest companies in multiple industries and has received numerous awards for editorial excellence. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Georgia State University with a minor in marketing.
2 7 Apparatus Trends For The Future of Firefighting Special report
Exploring New Developments In Fire Apparatus
The fire apparatus is a fundamental tool of the fire service, and one that every department relies on to perform its important and life-saving functions. The fire apparatus of today has also evolved into a complex, technology-driven machine.
The fire apparatus has developed over the years in lockstep with safety concerns, expanded technology capabilities, and consensus standards. With technology innovations happening faster than ever, it is interesting to ponder what the next generation of fire apparatus will be like.
In an age of self-driving cars, one might think that autonomous operation is a future possibility for fire apparatus, although presumably still in the distant future. But what technology developments are likely in the nearer term? What trends can we expect for brand new fire apparatus to be deployed in the coming years?
This TheBigRedGuide.com Special Report will summarize 7 top apparatus trends for the future of firefighting, including the technologies and market trends impacting the next wave of apparatus innovation. Given that many departments are operating apparatus that are 20 or 30 years old, it’s a perfect time to become educated on the next wave of development in fire apparatus.
7 Apparatus Trends For The Future of Firefighting 3 Special report
Trend 1: More Advanced Electronic Controls
Electronic systems are making fire apparatus easier to operate, more efficient and easier to maintain and repair. Touch screens and computerized equipment are streamlining apparatus operation, and a new generation of firefighters is embracing the newer approach.
Electronics also save space on apparatus when compared to previous mechanical controls, welcome space that designers can put to good use. Multiplex electronics save space by minimizing wire bundles. Manufacturers are also considering ergonomics when positioning equipment. Wireless communication enables some control panels to be accessed by tablet devices.
Cameras now provide 360-degree views around an apparatus to ensure safety and situational awareness. Use of cameras is expanding from the concept of a backup camera to multiple cameras providing greater visibility on all sides of the apparatus – and tied together by a recording system. Proximity sensors detect the presence of an obstacle and may be integrated with camera systems. Cameras may also be used to provide greater visibility during fire operations. Electronics also save Use of wireless cameras can eliminate the need for hard space on apparatus wiring. when compared to Another advanced electronics system is a fully-integrated previous mechanical WiFi-based telematics system(1) that provides a customized controls vehicle readiness report containing vehicle performance data and maintenance interval information that is emailed to customers.
7 Apparatus Trends For The Future of Firefighting 4 Special report
An on-board telematics control unit (TCU) continually monitors the engine, transmission, brake systems, fluid levels, system voltage, operating hours, vehicle location, and status of Command Zone I/O while the apparatus is performing its daily activities.
Another manufacturer offers "Smart Truck Technology"(2), enabling fire departments to continuously and remotely monitor the health or condition of their apparatus, which improves in-service utilization through real-time awareness and less unscheduled repairs.
It also monitors critical multiplexing systems and relevant water flow components on the apparatus. Additionally, it enables superior electronics troubleshooting and support through real-time notifications, run-log recording, remote diagnostics and secure over-the-air device updates.
Trend 2: Features To Overcome Driver Errors
Passenger cars increasingly are equipped with technologies to help drivers avoid mistakes, and fire apparatus are embracing the same approaches. Here are some examples: Passenger cars Automatic Emergency Braking, which helps to prevent increasingly are crashes by applying brakes for the driver. Vehicle-mounted sensors such as radar, cameras, or lasers can detect an equipped with impending crash, warn the driver, and apply brakes if the technologies to help driver doesn’t respond fast enough. drivers avoid mistakes
Electronic Stability Control, which helps the drive maintain control on slippery roads using a vehicle yaw sensor, a lateral accelerometer and individual wheel brake controls in conjunction with the vehicle’s braking system.
7 Apparatus Trends For The Future of Firefighting 5 Special report
Collision Avoidance Systems, such as blind spot detection, rear cross-traffic alerts and forward-collision warnings.
Vision Enhancement, such as inclusion of a forward-looking infrared camera to provide better visibility for navigation in case of smoke, fog or extremely dark environments.
Trend 3: Vehicle-To-Vehicle Communications
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been working for more than a decade to advance the idea of vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication, which enables vehicles to broadcast and receive omni-directional messages to create a 360-degree awareness of other nearby vehicles. Vehicles can use the messages – which use a protocol similar to WiFi – to determine potential crash threats as they develop. Vehicles can V2V to determine potential The usefulness of the technology to a fire apparatus speeding crash threats as they through an intersection at top speed is obvious, – and potentially life-saving. V2V communication could alert the develop driver of a fire truck that a vehicle is approaching an intersection without decelerating, or alert nearby passenger cars of the presence of an emergency vehicle in the vicinity. Connected vehicle technologies provide drivers with the tools they need to anticipate potential crashes and significantly reduce the number of lives lost each year, according to NHTSA.
7 Apparatus Trends For The Future of Firefighting 6 Special report
Several fire departments across the United States are currently testing the technology on their fleets of fire trucks. The technology (3) uses a V2V “safety cloud” to alert drivers of roadway hazards. The goal is to provide Fire vehicles are among the first to use the technology, which more preemptive can also be useful to construction crews, utility workers, delivery trucks, tow trucks, or others that frequently obstruct safety notifications road passing. The goal is to provide more preemptive safety into more vehicles notifications into more vehicles and more devices around the country.
The cellular infrastructure is in place to enable responder-to- vehicle (R2V), responder-to-responder (R2R) and vehicle-to- vehicle (V2V) communication, including interfaces with emerging “smart city” infrastructures.
By enabling V2V communication installation on vehicles, they have the potential to greatly improve firefighter safety, whether the devices are added by manufacturers or later by fire departments.
Either way, the potential for improved public safety is huge. How soon these systems may become the norm on fire apparatus is unclear, but their lifesaving potential suggests the sooner the better.
7 Apparatus Trends For The Future of Firefighting 7 Special report
Trend 4: Protecting Firefighters From Contaminants
Equipment should be Protecting firefighters from cancer-causing contaminants drives adoption of the “clean cab concept” covering bagged for safe firefighting apparatus. The goal is to keep the cab of an transport until it can apparatus free of contaminants in order to minimize be decontaminated exposure of firefighters.
Equipment used in fighting a fire is contaminated and collects particulates of hazardous substances and carcinogens. That equipment should not be returned to the cab where firefighters ride. Instead, it should either be decontaminated at the scene or stored in compartments elsewhere on the apparatus and then later decontaminated at the station. Equipment should be bagged for safe transport until it can be decontaminated. In short, products of combustion should be treated just as any other biohazard.
Implementing the clean cab concept requires that firefighters adopt best practices to avoid contamination, such as removing fire protective gear before reentering the cab and not bringing other contaminated equipment back into the cab. Culture changes may be required in order for firefighters to fully embrace and implement these safety and health practices.
Contaminated equipment includes personal protective equipment (PPE), self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), and other assorted tools and equipment used at a fire scene – even flashlights.
7 Apparatus Trends For The Future of Firefighting 8 Special report
The clean cab concept impacts how apparatus are designed, such as requiring storage compartments to be included away from the cab where equipment can be stored. Clever design approaches can maximize the availability of storage compartments as part of the overall apparatus design.
Relocating equipment outside the cab is also helpful in case of an apparatus accident: There are no unsecured items in the cab that can become moving projectiles that can injure firefighters.
Cabs may also be designed using non-porous materials to minimize contamination and to enable surfaces to be wiped clean of any hazardous materials.
Seats can be treated with antimicrobial finishes, and seat covers can be zipped off so they can be decontaminated while a replacement cover is used. Apparatus manufacturers should offer flexibility in terms of how each department wishes to implement the clean cab concept.
As the clean cap concept gains momentum, these concerns will increasingly direct how apparatus of the future are designed. Broadly speaking, keeping apparatus cabs free of carcinogens and other contaminates is a challenge that will involve multiple stakeholders, including apparatus manufacturers.
Protecting firefighters from dangerous contaminants is a critical concern, and manufacturers will do their part by adapting their products to address the problem.
7 Apparatus Trends For The Future of Firefighting 9 Special report
Trend 5: Choosing Smaller Apparatus For Specialized Duties A smaller, quick-attack apparatus is perfectly Many fire departments are learning that nimble, smaller- chassis fire apparatus provide many advantages, such as the sufficient to put out ability to handle smaller incidents and to save wear-and-tear grass or car fires on larger, more expensive pumper and ladder apparatus. For non-structure fires such as grass fires or car fires, a smaller, quick-attack apparatus is perfectly sufficient to do the job. Some advantages of smaller apparatus include:
• Better Maneuverability. Smaller vehicles can easily drive into tighter spaces for better access to a small fire. Departments can cover larger geographic areas more cost- effectively, and an urban department can more maneuver narrow streets.
• Easier To Drive. This factor is especially useful in volunteer departments, where firefighters may not be accustomed to driving large trucks and training costs to operate larger apparatus may be cost-prohibitive.
• More Economical To Operate. Operation, maintenance and fuel costs are all lower for smaller apparatus. An additional advantage is less wear-and-tear to extend the life of a department’s larger apparatus, which are more expensive to replace. Smaller apparatus may cost a third or less than larger rigs.
7 Apparatus Trends For The Future of Firefighting 10 Special report
• Flexibility. Smaller-chassis vehicles can be adapted as Adding too much paramedic/EMS vehicles, as a mini-pumper with a water tank or in a variety of other configurations. They also equipment to a require fewer firefighters to operate, which may be a smaller chassis vehicle factor if there is a shortage of available personnel. can run the risk of Advances in fire suppression technology is expanding the capabilities of smaller vehicles. exceeding the gross vehicle weight rating Departments need apparatus to address many types of fires and emergencies, of course, and even small departments need large apparatus for a variety of functions. But many departments are adjusting the mix to include fewer large apparatus and more of the smaller variety, which increase flexibility and lighten the load on the larger apparatus.
A word of warning: Adding too much equipment to a smaller chassis vehicle can run the risk of exceeding the gross vehicle weight rating.
How will the trend toward smaller apparatus impact the overall market in coming years? Will manufacturers react by enhancing their choices on the smaller side of the market? Might larger apparatus become more specialized?
Obviously, the need for large apparatus is not going away, but demand may decrease as more departments choose smaller, more flexible and economical alternatives.
7 Apparatus Trends For The Future of Firefighting 11 Special report
Trend 6: The Impact Of Sticker Shock On Shrinking Budgets
Municipal budgets are stretched these days, so it’s no surprise that expensive fire apparatus are often a tough sell. As a result, existing fleets of fire apparatus are aging – some 30 years old – and replacements are expensive in the age of the million-dollar fire apparatus (or more!).
Evolving technologies, including some mentioned here, and a need to meet safety standards are driving up the cost of new Fire apparatus are fire apparatus. highly customizable, Fire apparatus are highly customizable, but the wide but the wide selection selection of variables comes at a cost. And municipalities are of variables comes at a unlikely to compromise on quality when firefighter lives are at stake. The need for fire apparatus to last for 20 or more cost years also supports the wisdom of choosing a higher-priced option. There are some concerns that the electronics common on newer vehicles may not be dependable for decades to come.
Cash-strapped municipalities may look to state grants to help with the costs. Alternatively, they may opt for used equipment or to repair existing apparatus. Both options have their own set of risks and costs.
Technology innovation in the fire apparatus market will likely continue, which ensures that affording the equipment will continue to be a challenge for smaller municipalities. What good are even very advanced and sophisticated fire apparatus if they are priced out of reach for departments that need them?
7 Apparatus Trends For The Future of Firefighting 12 Special report
Trend 7: Standards Drive The Next Wave Of Apparatus Developments
NFPA Standard 1901 for Automotive Fire Apparatus is a 200-plus-page document that details a variety of consensus standards about fire equipment and apparatus.
“Consensus” means the standards were developed by a committee of experts that includes a range of stakeholders representing a balance of interests.
The voluntary standard defines the requirements for new automotive fire apparatus and trailers designed to be used under emergency conditions to transport personnel and equipment and to support the suppression of fires and mitigation of other hazardous situations.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) serves as the “referee” for the standards-development process, which involves soliciting and documenting feedback from stakeholders, composing proposed standards documents, and then directing the document through multiple stages of review and approval. The process is currently underway to review, revise and expand the next NFPA Standard 1901 document, which will be published in 2021. The NFPA serves as the “referee” for the standards- development process
7 Apparatus Trends For The Future of Firefighting 13 Special report
Apparatus manufacturers are active in developing the NFPA standard, are likely to have representatives on the review panels, and take part in discussions about what changes are forthcoming. Participants from manufacturers may share information to help their companies prepare internally to adapt processes and specifications to enable them to comply with final standards when they are approved.
Historically, many standards have centered around making the apparatus safer. Standards address specific factors such as how many feet of hose is needed or what equipment is Apparatus required.
manufacturers are Local authorities having jurisdiction (AHJ) can adopt NFPA active in developing voluntary standards as requirements in their areas. They the NFPA standard adopt a specific version (year) for each standard, so the latest standard may not apply to every jurisdiction. Apparatus manufacturers cater to the needs of a jurisdiction and must be flexible and adaptive in meeting customer requirements, both those covered by the standard and in general.
7 Apparatus Trends For The Future of Firefighting 14 Special report
NFPA Standard 1901 guides development and evolution in the fire apparatus field and also reflects changing expectations of performance and compliance of fire equipment. Revisions made to the 2016 version of the standard included, for example, a requirement for a vehicle data recorder to capture data that can be used to promote safe driving and riding practices.
Also added in 2016 were requirements for operation and performance of diesel particulate filters, and requirements for minimum length of seat belts, among many other changes. The current standard and additional information about the revision can be found at NFPA.org.
The new version of the standard will provide a roadmap of expected changes and developments in fire apparatus trends for years to come.
7 Apparatus Trends For The Future of Firefighting 15