Inside the Apparatus Industry
Changes to NFPA 1901: Each tire on the apparatus must be equipped with a method to measure tire pressure
Story & Photos by Bob Vaccaro

For those of you who have been following the new NFPA 1901: Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus, there are many changes worth addressing—and most of us agree that the changes are for the better.

According to general requirement 4.13.4, one of those changes is that each tire on the apparatus must be equipped with a visual indicator or monitoring system that indicates tire pressure. Why? Annex A.4.13.4 notes that a frequent killer of firefighters is apparatus rollover, and proper tire inflation improves the handling characteristics and minimizes rollover.

There are products on the market that promote wireless tire-pressure monitoring—especially important for fire trucks, ambulances and commercial trucks that have dual tires in the rear. The dual tire setup makes it hard to take a manual reading on the inner tires. In addition, you can have an inner tire that’s flat and not noticeable, making the outer tire do all the work. This could easily lead to a rupture, overheating, cornering and breaking—all things that could cause a blowout and overturn.

Products called TPMS (tire-pressure monitoring systems) use a wireless sensor that’s screwed into the valve stem, or mounted internally in the tire, to monitor the tire pressures and temperatures on a small unit in the cab.

At a minimum, look for these features and capabilities: alerts when tire pressure is too low or too high, alerts for drivers with both visual and auditory warnings and alerts and displays whether you’re parked or moving.

One company that manufactures these units for fire apparatus is Advantage PressurePro of Harrisonville, Mo. This company’s product is designed with safety in mind. If you’re looking into a new apparatus purchase, some type of system must be installed from the manufacturer; or if you’re refurbing an older vehicle, you can buy this product as an aftermarket add-on.

Keeping a check on the tire pressure on your apparatus has the same affects that is has on your personal vehicle—it promotes better tire wear, increases fuel savings and will prevent an accident.

Advantage PressurePro LLC
205 W. Wall Street
Harrisonville, MO 64701
800 959-3505
www.advantagepressurepro.com

Bob Vaccaro has more than 30 years of fire-service experience. He is a former chief of the Deer Park (N.Y.) Fire Department. Vaccaro has also worked for the Insurance Services Office, The New York Fire Patrol and several major commercial insurance companies as a senior loss-control consultant. Vaccaro is a life member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

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