Are you referring to the critical steps, that if missed result in an automatic failure of the practical? They have been there for a long time. Those are steps that, if skipped or done incorrectly, can result in injury or death to the firefighter. Granted, every step of a practical should be done, as they are there for a reason. And of course, the ultimate diamond at the bottom of every single practical. SAFETY. If you do something unsafe, you should fail.