Essentials of Fire Fighting Maintenance and Testing Responsibilities Seventh Edition Chapter 21 Maintenance and Testing Responsibilities

Learning Objective 1 Describe equipment maintenance procedures.

Equipment Maintenance Equipment must be ready to perform at its optimal level Established maintenance program will ensure equipment is fully operational Cleaning some tools requires different solvents Some equipment only requires mild soap Refer to manufacturer’s user manual and safety data sheets for solvents and follow policies and procedures

Maintaining Power Plants And Electrical Generators Inspect and maintain generators and lighting equipment regularly Review manufacturer’s service manual for specific directions (Cont.)

Maintaining Power Plants And Electrical Generators Inspect for damage, corrosion, carbon accumulation, and cracks Make sure wire has a tight connection Replace if damaged, if service manual recommends replacement, or if there are signs of arcing Ensure proper gap prior to installing Spark plugs Check and identify signs of fuel leaks Carburetor (Cont.)

Maintaining Power Plants And Electrical Generators Make sure fuel is fresh Fuel mixture may separate or degrade over time Check level and fill as needed Inspect to ensure it is not contaminated Discard contaminated fuel in approved manner Fuel Oil (Cont.)

Maintaining Power Plants And Electrical Generators Start and run required tests Consult manual if a problem is found Only qualified personnel should perform repair work Avoid starting under a load Do not run for a long time without a load Power plant/generator (Cont.)

Maintaining Power Plants And Electrical Generators Clean work area and return all tools and equipment to the proper area Document maintenance on appropriate forms or records (Cont.)

CAUTION Always start and operate all gas- or diesel-powered equipment in a well-ventilated area.

Maintaining Power Plants And Electrical Generators Some types of equipment and maintenance are not your responsibility Driver/operator typically inspects and maintains apparatus electrical systems and apparatus-mounted lights and generators Detailed maintenance and modification of lighting equipment must be performed by qualified technicians

REVIEW QUESTION What are three of the items that firefighters should check when maintaining power plants and electrical generators?

Maintaining Power Rescue Tools Review manufacturer’s service manual for specific directions Inspect at the beginning of each shift and make sure they start (Cont.)

Maintaining Power Rescue Tools Make sure all parts and support items are easily accessible Keep battery packs fully charged Keep pneumatic air cylinders fully charged Check all fluid levels Use only recommended types of lubricants, hydraulic fluids, and fuel grades Inspect saw, chisel, and cutter blades regularly; replace blades that are worn or damaged Check all electrical components for cuts or other damage Make sure all protective guards are functional and in place (Cont.)

Maintaining Power Rescue Tools Inspect hydraulic supply hoses for damage Inspect hydraulic hose couplings to ensure they are clean and functional Inspect pneumatic supply hoses for damage Inspect pneumatic hose couplings to ensure they are clean and functional Clean the work area and return all tools and equipment to the proper areas Document maintenance on appropriate forms or records

REVIEW QUESTION What are three of the general guidelines for maintaining power rescue tools?

Maintaining Portable Lighting Equipment Inspect cords for Damaged insulation Exposed wiring Missing or bent prongs (Cont.)

Maintaining Portable Lighting Equipment Test equipment operation Connect one light at a time to prevent overloading Avoid looking directly into lights when they are powered Replace bulbs as necessary Shut off power and allow bulb to cool before replacing Wear leather gloves if bulbs must be replaced immediately after shutoff Discard faulty bulbs in an approved manner

REVIEW QUESTION When inspecting electrical cords, what characteristics should be noted?

Learning Objective 2 Explain the process of service testing fire hose.

Service Testing Fire Hose NFPA 1962 provides testing guidelines Tests performed Annually After repairs After a vehicle runs over the hose (Cont.)

Service Testing Fire Hose Excessive wear or damage to the jacket Coupling damage Defective or missing gaskets Before testing, examine the hose for Tag hose for repair Remove from service if damage is not repairable If defects are found

Test Site Preparation Test site area should Be paved Have enough room to lay the hose in straight lines and free of kinks, bends, or twists Be protected from vehicular traffic Be well lit, if testing is done at night Be smooth and free from rocks and debris Have a slight grade to aid in water drainage Have a water source sufficient for charging the hose

Service Testing Equipment Hose-testing machine, portable pump, or pumper equipped with pressure gauges calibrated in the last 12 months Hose-test gate valve Belt tie-in or rope hose tool (Cont.)

Service Testing Equipment Means of recording hose numbers and test results Tags or other means to identify sections that fail Nozzles with shutoff valves or a test cap with a bleeder valve Means of marking each length with the year of the test

REVIEW QUESTIONS What type of location should be used to service test fire hose? What equipment or tools are needed to service test fire hose?

Service Test Procedure Exercise care, especially when hose is under pressure Pressurized hose tends to whip back and forth if a rupture occurs or coupling pulls loose To prevent this, use a specially designed hose test gate valve Stand or walk near pressurized hose only as necessary Hose test gate valve (Cont.)

CAUTION All personnel operating in the area of the pressurized hose should wear at least a helmet as a safety precaution.

Service Test Procedure When using a pumper, connect hoses to discharges on the side opposite the pump panel Close all valves slowly Test lengths should not exceed 300 feet (100 m) Laying large-diameter hose flat before charging helps prevent unnecessary wear Stand away from the discharge valve connection when charging Keep area as dry as possible when filling and discharging air from the hose

Indicators Of Removal From Service Leaks Hose rupturing/bursting Couplings loosening or separating from the hose

NOTE Some damage to fire hose may not require its removal from service. If a coupling has loosened or a leak occurs close to a coupling, the hose may be cut to remove the damaged location and a new coupling attached (also called recoupling).

Recording Procedures Can be kept on cards, logs, sheets, or computers Should include Information on the date of purchase Name of manufacturer Date and results of periodic testing Remarks concerning testing Date and type of repairs performed Unusual features Causes of failure if any (Cont.)

Recording Procedures Records kept as part of the complete equipment inventory Records indicate Disposition of the hose Assigned location Engine Engine compartment Rack storage (Cont.)

Recording Procedures Document according to SOPs Test results Damage Repairs made If hose is removed from service

REVIEW QUESTIONS What are some general guidelines for effective service testing of fire hose? What information should fire hose service testing records include?

QUESTIONS Are there any questions about this content?