3. 21–3
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
4. 21–4
Maintaining Power Plants And Electrical
Generators
Inspect and
maintain
generators and
lighting equipment
regularly
Review
manufacturer’s
service manual for
specific directions
(Cont.)
5. 21–5
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.)
6. 21–6
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
• Check level and fill as needed
Oil
(Cont.)
7. 21–7
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.)
8. 21–8
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.)
10. 21–10
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
11. 21–11
REVIEW QUESTION
What are three of the items that
firefighters should check when
maintaining power plants and electrical
generators?
12. 21–12
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.)
13. 21–13
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.)
14. 21–14
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
17. 21–17
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
20. 21–20
Service Testing Fire Hose
NFPA 1962 provides testing
guidelines
Tests performed
Annually After repairs
After a vehicle
runs over the
hose
(Cont.)
21. 21–21
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
22. 21–22
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
23. 21–23
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.)
24. 21–24
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
25. 21–25
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?
26. 21–26
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.)
28. 21–28
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
29. 21–29
Indicators Of Removal From Service
Leaks
Hose
rupturing/bursting
Couplings loosening
or separating from
the hose
30. 21–30
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).
31. 21–31
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.)
32. 21–32
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.)
34. 21–34
REVIEW QUESTIONS
What are some general guidelines
for effective service testing of fire
hose?
What information should fire hose
service testing records include?
