Chapter 03

Aerial Apparatus
Driver/Operator Handbook
2nd Edition
Chapter 3 — Types and
Construction of Aerial
Apparatus

Learning Objective 1
Describe aerial ladder apparatus.
3–2
Aerial Apparatus Driver/Operator

DISCUSSION QUESTION
What are some other names for an
aerial ladder apparatus?
3–3

• Power-operated ladder
• Turntable — Provides continuous
rotation
• Fully extended length
– Ranges from 50 to 135 feet (15 m to 41 m)
– Measured from ground to highest ladder
rung
Aerial Ladder Apparatus
3–4

• Rescue
• Ventilation
• Elevated master stream application
• Gaining access to upper level of an
emergency scene
• Exposure protection
• Aboveground fire fighting
Uses of Aerial Ladder
Apparatus
3–5

Two-Axle, Single Chassis
3–6
Photo by Ted Boothroyd

Three-Axle, Single Chassis
3–7
Courtesy of Ron Jeffers

Three-Axle Tractor-Trailer Type
3–8

• Tractor-drawn aerial apparatus
• Equipped with steerable rear wheels on
trailer
• Tiller operator
steers rear wheels
• More maneuverable
Tillered Trucks
3–9

Discuss elevating platform apparatus.
3–10

• Platform leveling system
• Minimum floor area of 14 square feet
(1.3 m2
)
• Rail completely enclosing floor area
with no opening under railing greater
than 24 inches (610 mm)
• Two gates below top railing
Elevating Platform
Requirements
(Continued)
3–11

• Kickplate at floor level (4 inches [100
mms] high)
• Drain openings
• Two operator control stations
• Backup hydraulic system
• Heat protective shield
Elevating Platform
Requirements
(Continued)
3–12

• Protective water fog curtain nozzle
flowing at least 75 gpm (284 L/min)
• Load capacity of 750 pounds (340 kg)
when device is fully extended
• Load capacity of 500 pounds (227 kg)
when water delivery system is charged
Elevating Platform
Requirements
(Continued)
3–13

• Water delivery system capable of
discharging at least 1,000 gpm (3 785
L/min) when aerial is in any position
• Platforms 110 feet (34 m) or shorter
should be raised to maximum elevation
and extension and rotated 90 degrees
in 150 seconds or less
Elevating Platform
Requirements
3–14

Platform Equipment
3–15

• Similar to aerial ladder apparatus
except that a working platform is
attached to end of aerial ladder
• Combine safe work area with safe,
climbable aerial ladder
• Commonly range in size from 85 to 100
feet (26 m to 34 m)
Aerial Ladder Platforms
(Continued)
3–16

Aerial Ladder Platforms
3–17

Telescoping Aerial Platforms
(Continued)
3–18

DISCUSSION QUESTION
What is the main difference between
an aerial ladder platform and a
telescoping aerial platform?
3–19

• Equipped with small ladder attached to
boom
• Sizes range from
75 to 100 feet
(23 m to 30 m)
(Continued)
3–20

• Two or more sections and are made of
box-beam construction or tubular truss-
beam construction
3–21

Box-Beam Construction
3–22

Tubular Truss Beam
3–23

• Boom sections connected by hinge; fold
and unfold like an elbow
• Benefit — Platform can go “up and
over”
• Range in height 55 to 85 feet (17 m to
26 m)
• Combination devices
Articulating Aerial Platforms
3–24

Articulating Aerial Platforms
3–25

Describe water towers.
3–26

• Telescoping or articulating devices
Water Towers
(Continued)
3–27
Courtesy of Joel Woods, Maryland Fire and Rescue institute

• Movement of water and control of fire
stream remotely controlled by
driver/operator from ground level
• Fire streams deployed at a range of
elevations from horizontal to 90
degrees from ground
Water Towers
(Continued)
3–28

• Sizes range from 50 to 130 feet (15 m
to 40 m)
• Capable of maximum flows ranging
from 1,000 to 5,000 gpm (4 000 L/min
to 20 000 L/min)
• May be equipped with ladders
Water Towers
3–29

Describe the features and functions of a
quint.
3–30

Quintuple Fire Apparatus
3–31

Criteria for a Quint
3–32

• Various sizes
• Reasons for
equipping aerial
apparatus with
pumps
Quint
3–33

Identify the primary features of aerial
devices.
3–34

• Must be constructed to perform safely
and properly under a wide variety of fire
and rescue emergencies
Ladder
3–35

• Used to create beams of ladder
• Bars or rods that form rigid framework
• Constructed by several methods and
several materials
• Triangles add strength
• Permit tension and compression
Ladder Trusses
(Continued)
3–36

Ladder Trusses
3–37

Ladder Base
3–38

Ladder Fly
3–39

• Heat-treated aluminum alloy
• Steel
• Fastened by rivets, welded, or heliarced
Ladder Construction
3–40

Ladder Base Rails
3–41

Ladder Rails
3–42

Ladder Rungs
3–43

Ladder Requirements
3–44

• Provide power for operating various
hydraulic components needed to
stabilize apparatus
and operate
aerial device
Aerial Device Hydraulic
Systems
3–45

• Medium by which system transmits
force
Hydraulic Fluid
3–46

• Creates force on hydraulic fluid
• Powered by a power-take-off (PTO)
• May be rotary vane or rotary gear
positive-displacement
Hydraulic Pump
3–47

• Supplies hydraulic fluid
• Displaced fluid flows back into reservoir
• Supplies adequate amount of fluid
• Supplemented by filters and exchange-
type oil coolers
Hydraulic Reservoir
3–48

• Supply hydraulic fluid
• Steel tubing and aircraft-type, steel-
braided hose
Tubing and Hoses
3–49

• Control flow of hydraulic fluid
• Start, stop, regulate, and direct flow of
fluid
• Controlled manually, electrically,
hydraulically, mechanically, or by
combination
Valves
(Continued)
3–50

• Check
• Relief
• Counterbalance
• Selector
• Actuator
Valves
(Continued)
3–51

• Monitor
• Stack
• Proportional directional control
Valves
3–52

• Used as actuators
• Convert energy in system into linear
mechanical force or motion
Hydraulic Cylinders
3–53

DISCUSSION QUESTION
What types of cylinders are typically
used on aerial devices?
3–54

Stabilizer Cylinders
3–55

Hoisting Cylinders
3–56
Photo by Pat McAuliff

DISCUSSION QUESTION
What is a trunnion?
3–57

Extension Cylinders
3–58

Describe the cable systems, chains,
slides, and rollers used by aerial
apparatus.
3–59

• Rotational structural component
• Continuous rotation on horizontal plane
• Constructed of rigid metal plates
• Operator stands during operation
• Contains lower control pedestal
• Operates on large sheer ball-type
bearings
Turntable
(Continued)
3–60

Turntable
3–61

• Usually stand about 3½ feet (1.07 m)
high
• Positioned on turntable
• NFPA®
1901 requires a control station in
platforms
• Sloping panel
• Elevation, extension, and rotation lever
controls
Control Pedestals
3–62

DISCUSSION QUESTION
How are the control levers
positioned on the pedestal?
3–63

• Engine speed switch
• Light switch
• Hydraulic oil pressure gauge
• Hydraulic oil temperature gauge
• Extension indicators
• Stop and lock controls
• Rung alignment indicator
Other Controls and Instruments
(Continued)
3–64

• Inclinometer
• Engine starter switch
• Communications equipment
• Elevated master stream controls
• Hydraulic lock valve
• Switch for emergency operation pump
Other Controls and Instruments
3–65

Discuss water delivery systems.
3–66

DISCUSSION QUESTION
What is the purpose of water
delivery systems?
3–67

• Bed ladder systems
• Telescoping waterway systems
• Detachable ladder pipe systems
Pre-Piped Aerial
Ladder Waterway
3–68

• Nontelescoping section of pipe
• Usually 3 or 3½ inches (76 or 90 mm)
diameter
• Attached underside of bed section
• Master stream nozzle attached to end
of pipe
• Solid stream nozzles
Bed Ladder Systems
(Continued)
3–69

• Manually operated nozzles operated
from tip of retracted aerial device or
from the ground or turntable through the
use of rope
• Gear-operated mechanism for raising
and lowering fire stream
Bed Ladder Systems
(Continued)
3–70

Bed Ladder Systems
3–71

• Extend toward top of ladder
• Consist of three or four sections that
reduce in diameter
• Minimum internal diameter — 4 inches
(100 mm)
• Bottom end of piping connected to
additional piping through turntable
Telescoping Waterway Systems
(Continued)
3–72

• Swivel joint allows 360 degree rotation
while flowing water
• Remote controlled fog nozzles operated
by switches located near tip of fly
section
(Continued)
3–73

3–74

• For aerials not equipped with pre-piped
waterway systems
• Stored on truck
• Attached only when needed
• Main components
• Designed to be clamped to top two
rungs of fly section
Detachable Ladder Pipe
Systems
3–75

• Equipped with solid stream or fog
nozzle
• Controlled at tip of ladder by firefighter
• Limited to flows of less than 750 gpm (3
000 L/min)
• Supplied by single 3- or 3½-inch (77
mm or 90 mm) hoseline
Systems
3–76

• Subject to excessive side twist due to
backward thrust of solid or fog master
stream
• Should not be operated from aerial
positioned at 90 degree angle or
vertical position
Systems
3–77

DISCUSSION QUESTION
At what degree should the ladder be
placed to ensure the safest service
and optimal stream penetration of a
detachable ladder pipe?
3–78

• Similar to pre-piped ladder systems;
difference - nozzle is located in platform
• Larger than aerial ladders due to
greater load capacities of platforms
• Safer than aerial ladders
• Two nozzles
• Discharge
Elevating Platform
Waterway Systems
3–79

• Designed specifically for deployment of
elevated master streams
• Control of motion and nozzle from
control panel
• Water most often comes from
apparatus pump
• Equipped with number of options
Water Tower Systems
3–80

Identify communication systems.
3–81

• Used for firefighters at tip to
communicate with driver/operator at
turntable control station
• Consist of “hands-free”
transmitter/receiver at tip of ladder in
elevating platform and second
transmitter/receiver at turntable
Communication Systems
(Continued)
3–82

• Have not always been required
• Required by NFPA®
1901
Communication Systems
3–83

Describe breathing air systems.
3–84

• Allow one or more firefighters operating
at tip to breath clean air without need to
don SCBA
• Components
• Not required by NFPA®
1901, does
contain requirements
Breathing Air Systems
3–85

Compare various apparatus-mounted
special systems.
3–86

• Power floodlights
and other electrical
tools & equipment
• Portable generators
• Vehicle-mounted
generators
Electric Power
Generation Equipment
3–87

• Portable lights
• Fixed lights
Scene Lighting
3–88

• Electrical power cords
• Junction boxes
• Adapters
Power Distribution Equipment
3–89

Hydraulic Extrication
Tool Systems
(Continued)
3–90

DISCUSSION QUESTION
What are the most common types of
hydraulic powered tools?
3–91

• Primary tools used in extrication
situations
• Receive power from hydraulic fluid
supplied hoses from a pump
Hydraulic Extrication
Tool Systems
3–92

Describe the portable equipment
carried on aerial apparatus.
3–93

• Used when aerial ladder can’t reach,
additional ladders are needed, or only
ground ladders are needed
• Include — Attic, roof, and extension
ladders
• Extension ladder 40 feet (12 m) or
longer
Ground Ladders
3–94

• NFPA®
1901
minimum requirements
– Flathead axes
– Pickhead axes
– Pike poles
– Plaster hooks
– Crowbars
– Claw tools
Forcible Entry Equipment
(Continued)
3–95

• NFPA®
1901 minimum requirements
– Sledgehammers
– Hacksaws and keyhole saws
– Wrenches
– Hammers
– Snipes and pliers
– Screwdrivers
(Continued)
3–96

• May also be carried
– Rotary, reciprocating,
and chain saws
– Hydraulic door openers
– Cutting torches
3–97

• Exhaust fans
(smoke ejectors)
• Positive-pressure
blowers
Ventilation Equipment
3–98

• Salvage and overhaul
• Loss control
• Additional equipment
Salvage, Overhaul, and
Loss Control Equipment
3–99

• Portable hand lights
• Portable fire extinguishers
• Water extinguishers
• Multiple SCBA units
• Spare SCBA cylinders
• Medical kit
• Spanner wrenches
Additional Equipment
(Continued)
3–100

• Bolt cutters
• Ladder belts
• Light-use life safety rope
• General-use life safety rope
• Utility rope
• Wheel chocks
Additional Equipment
3–101

Summary
• It is important that aerial apparatus
driver/operators understand the various
varieties of apparatus they may be
required to operate.
• The aerial apparatus driver/operator
should be familiar with the entire
apparatus and its operation.
(Continued)
3–102

• The driver/operator should know his/her
equipment, its proper operation, and
regular equipment maintenance based
on manufacturer’s recommendations.
Summary
3–103

Review Questions
1. What are the main uses of
aerial ladders?
2. How do aerial ladder platforms
operate?
3. What is a water tower?
(Continued)
3–104

Review Questions
4. To what three main portions of
an aerial ladder do firefighters and
driver/operators commonly refer?
5. What is the purpose of an
auxiliary hydraulic pump?
6. What controls and instruments may
be located on the control pedestal?
(Continued)
3–105

7. What is the purpose of a fixed
breathing air system?
8. What advantages and disadvantages
are presented by inverters?
9. What ventilation equipment may be
required on an aerial apparatus?
Review Questions
3–106

Chapter 03

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Chapter 03