The Ultimate Buyer's Guide for Purchasing Emergency Fire Water Tanks

As you’re probably aware, pumpers are the most common type of apparatus used in today’s fire service. The pumper is often the go-to apparatus whenever a department is called to a fire, as the pumper’s main purpose is to provide personnel with sufficient water, equipment, and other tools used to sustain an initial attack on a fire. These trucks are known to do a little bit of everything out on the fireground, but they won’t be able to accomplish much without the proper water tank or pump capabilities. Without a pump or water tank, a pumper is just a truck that transports people and gear to and from the scene. All other components of the apparatus are effectively useless if these two features can’t perform adequately, and departments should be extremely thorough when selecting a tank design and choosing a pump.

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To ensure your pumper will have the right tank and pump for any situation, here are 6 things you should consider before deciding on a water tank and pump for your apparatus:

FIRE TRUCK WATER TANK CAPACITY

The minimum water tank size for a pumper is 300 gallons, with sizes typically ranging up to 1,250-gallon capacities on standard, single-axle-style pumpers. The perfect water tank size will vary from department to department, and is dictated by several factors. Make sure you consider the following factors before settling on a water tank design for your pumper.

HOSEBED HEIGHTS IMPACT WATER TANK SIZE

While there are several factors that will determine the height of your hosebed (e.g., built-in ladders, full vs. split depth storage compartments, etc.), keep in mind that larger water tanks require more space, and a taller hosebed provides apparatus builders with more vertical space to accommodate tanks. If you require a shorter hosebed, however, builders will have to be a little more creative with the tank design and placement given the limited space. This situation might require a longer apparatus or a crosslay hosebed design. Learn how Marion combats high hosebed problems.

Local Water Sources

How many fire hydrants are in your response area? How many tenders and personnel are available at any given time? If you don’t have many water sources to rely on, you’ll need a bigger tank to provide a sufficient water source for your initial attack. Calculate the average distance and response times from water sources in your area to help give you a better idea of what size tank you’ll need.

PUMPS

Fire pumps on today’s pumpers typically range from 750- to 2,000-gpm flow capacity. The bigger the pump, the more water you’ll be able to put on the fire faster, but there are a number of factors you need to consider before making a decision, including:

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Minimum GPM Requirements Set by ISO

When it comes to choosing a pump for your fire apparatus, the Insurance Services Office (ISO) will have already set a minimum gpm requirement for your community, based on building construction, size, distance from other structures, and other factors. Fire departments can exceed this number as they see fit, but they must meet the minimum.

Single vs. Two Stage PUMPS

More than 90% of today’s pumpers are being built with single stage pumps due to the simplicity of the design and operation, as well the reduced weight and cost. However, if your city features a number of high-rise buildings, you may want to purchase a two-stage pump to ensure you have the proper water pressure.

Apparatus Cost

Though the pump is a necessary feature on your apparatus, and you’ll have to pay at least a certain amount to meet your ISO requirements, it’s important to keep in mind that pumps with a higher gpm rating usually require more valves on your apparatus – which will increase the purchase price. Sit down with your APC (Apparatus Purchasing Committee) to figure out exactly how much you can afford to spend on your pump and its components, and make sure you keep everything within your limits.

Apparatus Limitations

Just like with your water tank, your apparatus chassis, design, and engine horsepower will play a key role in determining what size pump you can use. Bigger pumps mean more size and weight, though most apparatus are able to handle up to a 1,750-gpm pump. You’ll also need to make sure your engine HP performance curve is capable of running the components you desire.

With your pumper often being the first apparatus on the scene, you want to make sure you can start getting water on the fire as quickly as possible when you arrive. In order to do that, it all starts by having the perfect water tank and pump combo for your apparatus.

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Buyer's Guide Aerial Apparatus Aerial devices come in many configurations. Read this guide to help determine the best configuration for your department. TC031 559 Buyer's Guide Stepping, Standing and Walking Surfaces An important component on any fire apparatus design is thoughtful, safe, and durable step surfaces. Steps and step surfaces exist all over the apparatus. Step surfaces can commonly be found on top of front bumper extensions, at cab entry points, at body entry points, on top of the fire apparatus body, at the pump operator position, along the fire pump enclosure/module, and on the apparatus body. Well-designed step surfaces can be the difference between a safe and useful tool and a workplace hazard. TC042 97 Buyer's Guide Ladder & Equipment Racks As fire apparatus continue to increase in size, ladder and equipment mounts have increased in popularity, mounting to the side or roof of an apparatus and lowering equipment to a convenient height for safe retrieval. TC056 128 Service Guide Diesel Engine Emissions Impact on Indoor Air Quality – As new diesel engines burn cleaner every year, some Chiefs wonder what impact the exhaust emissions have on air quality inside the station garage. This analytical study looks at the various tailpipe pollutants and suggests a method of answering this question. TC004 47 Buyer's Guide Auxiliary Braking Systems Auxiliary Brake System are required on every fire apparatus over 33,000 lbs gross vehicle weight. This guide describes the four basis types of brake and the advantages of each. TC033 256 Buyer's Guide Roll-Up Compartment Doors Compartment doors are an important part of each fire apparatus and there are many factors to consider when deciding the type of doors and the features that would be best for a department and a given application. TC054 164 Service Guide Frame Corrosion Corrosion is a natural process that results in the gradual destruction of materials (usually metals) by chemical and/or electrochemical reaction with their environment. Galvanic corrosion is the same process that occurs in a lead-acid battery, electrons move from one metal to another when immersed in a fluid medium (corrosive environment). TC080 13 Buyer's Guide Electronic Pressure Governors (EPGs) Describes the history, use, and function of the fire apparatus electronic pressure governor (EPG). TC052 165 Legal Emergency Vehicle Size and Weight Regulation Guideline Emergency vehicles in general, and fire apparatus in particular, are often heavier and larger than typical commercial vehicles. Few people question the need for emergency vehicles, or their axle capacities, when these vehicles show up at the scene of a fire or other emergency. But before they can get to the scene, these vehicles must be moved from their place of manufacture, often crossing through many States, before being delivered to the local department. While most of their miles will be logged within a few miles of the fire station, some emergency vehicles will have the occasion to travel great distances in support of natural disaster relief or to fight wild fires in neighboring counties or States.

Size and weight regulations applicable to emergency vehicles currently vary from one State to the next. Fire Apparatus Manufacturers Association (FAMA) offer this document as a guide to emergency vehicle size and weight laws and regulations.
TC009 370 Buyer's Guide Headlamps Every fire apparatus needs a set of headlamps. This guide describes headlamp technology and some key points fire departments should know when specifying, repairing, or upgrading fire apparatus headlamps. TC040 5 Buyer's Guide Front Suspension Front suspension systems are an important factor in the ride quality, equipment protection, vehicle handling/stability, and ongoing maintenance of a fire truck. When developing specifications for the front suspension on a fire apparatus, consideration should be given to handling, ride quality, chassis/equipment protection, initial cost, and total cost of ownership. TC048 9 Buyer's Guide Deck Guns and Aerial Monitors High volume master stream discharge devices have many names. Deck gun, water cannon, deluge, monitor, ladder pipe and others. This Buyer’s Guide will review the important features, benefits, and safety considerations of these high flow devices that can be found on pumpers and aerial devices. In today’s fire service, many times these high flow rates of water are required for quick knockdown of moderate sized fires, or containment of very large fires in a defensive or “surround and drown” operation. TC071 55 Buyer's Guide Apparatus Seating In a modern fire apparatus, seats provide an interface between the human firefighter and the mechanical vehicle. The seats need to provide support and positioning for the human body and must allow the firefighter to perform the required work, whether that is driving or some other task. Positioning must locate the human body in a place of safety with respect to any restraint system and the rest of the internal cab environment. TC036 238 Buyer's Guide Line Voltage Generators Mobile line voltage generators primarily provide alternating current (AC) power at an emergency response event. This may be carried on the fire apparatus and removed during use, or it may be permanently mounted. In some cases, the generator can provide power while driving as well. TC038 6 NFPA NFPA Standards New Process Presentation NFPA has created an on-line system for submission of comments on standards. This presentation was given to FAMA members in April of to educate on the standards process and how to submit comments using the new system. TC022 35 Buyer's Guide Occupant Protection Occupant protections systems are described in this guide to help determine the right specifications for new apparatus. TC057 128 Buyer's Guide Reels Reels on fire and rescue apparatus allow convenient storage, and quick payout and retrieval of electrical cords, air, water, and hydraulic hoses. Some of the key considerations when choosing a fire truck hose reel are contained here. TC055 79 Buyer's Guide Retroreflective Striping and Chevron Retroreflective striping on fire apparatus has been listed as a guideline in NFPA dating back to . The edition of NFPA added rear body chevron reflective striping and it remains in the current edition. When specifying retroreflective striping on fire apparatus whether the installation is performed by the apparatus manufacturer, a third party installer or installing it yourself, NFPA compliance should be specified. This should cover the technical aspect of retroreflectivity. This guide will list the specific installation areas in NFPA and show examples of each.
TC043 643 Buyer's Guide Batteries, Alternators, and Chargers The charging system is one of the most vital parts of any vehicle. The three main components of a Fire Apparatus charging system are the batteries, alternator, and charger. All three work in conjunction to keep the vehicle and its many systems operating correctly. When choosing a charging system all three components should be selected to insure that they will support each other properly. TC035 104 Buyer's Guide Wheels The decision for aluminum or steel wheels for fire apparatus is typically a matter of load, dollars and aesthetics. When specifying a fire apparatus, wheel choice does have an impact on overall cost of the unit. TC063 124 Buyer's Guide Fire Apparatus Sirens The end user has many options when it comes to selecting the Siren system for their apparatus. The purpose of this guide is to help the user select a certified system consisting of an amplifier and a speaker. TC050 92 FAMA Standards Designated Standing and Walking Surface Yellow Line Standard The intent of the standard in specifying the yellow or orange line is two-fold. The first is to aid in training new firefighters on where they should and should not be when operating at height. The second is to provide a visual aid in determining when an operator is approaching the edge of the designated surface. TC012 46 Buyer's Guide Tanker or Tender Apparatus The intent of this Tanker or Tender Apparatus Buyer’s Guide is to provide an overview of requirements and available options to consider when specifying and purchasing a new tanker/tender. The guide is separated into the major categories of topics that should be evaluated, considered, and thoroughly researched prior to purchasing an apparatus. TC073 103 White Paper Global Supply Chain Struggles: Impact on the Fire Service The international global supply chain has taken a strong hit from the COVID 19 pandemic and appears to be undergoing what may be termed “The Long Covid Syndrome.” Following is a summary of how this supply chain syndrome is affecting you and the entire fire service. TC082 103 Buyer's Guide Fire Apparatus Standards Changes – The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has for years published standards for fire apparatus. Beginning with apparatus contracted for after January 1, , these standards have been renamed and renumbered. The standards have also been revised. This document presents the highlights of these changes and is for reference only. Refer to the actual standards documents available at NFPA.org. TC005 – 925 Buyer's Guide Scene Lighting The NFPA Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus does not specifically require the use of Scene Lighting on fire apparatus and makes minimal specific reference to requirements for apparatus that do incorporate the technology. Even though not required, Scene Lighting is an extremely popular choice for fire apparatus today and is explained a bit further in this Buyer’s Guide. TC037 245 Buyer's Guide Warning Lights Night Mode The progression of high intensity LED warning lights has caused a concern over the warning lights being too bright during nighttime. During code 3 operation it is important that drivers are alerted to emergency apparatus that are approaching quickly. During blocking mode, however, we want drivers to remain undistracted and attentive while passing the scene, with all their faculties and vision optimized for safe driving.

The NFPA apparatus committee began debating new requirements to address this concern, but new criteria will not be available from NFPA until . This FAMA Buyer's Guide provides guidance until the NFPA makes changes to the standard.
TC078 80 Buyer's Guide Tires The purpose of this guide is to provide departments with basic knowledge to assist in selecting the optimum tires for your fire apparatus. TC062 157 Buyer's Guide Public Safety Drone Program The use of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) in public safety has increased exponentially in recent years due to their ability to improve response-scene situational awareness at a relatively low cost. TC083 19 Buyer's Guide Warning Lights There are many choices to be made for Fire Truck Warning Lights when purchasing your new apparatus. The goal of this buyer’s guide is to help with those choices and make that decision-making process much easier. TC044 348 Legal Importance of Fire Apparatus New Technology -Gimme What you Got There are tens of thousands of out-dated fire apparatus on the road. This presentation is an informative discussion by trial lawyer Jim Juneau on the role of new technology in fire apparatus, and why it is important for departments to consider embracing the latest apparatus technology. TC017 73 Buyer's Guide Crew Compartment Storage There are three areas to consider when planning the safe outfitting of your crew cab – SCBAs, tools, and helmets. All should abide by the NFPA standard, and tools should be limited to the absolute necessities. Proper SCBA brackets should be installed as well as enough helmet holders to match the capacity of the cab. TC051 172 Research NIOSH Anthropometric Study These documents provide the results of a study by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) on firefighter size and weight measurements. TC032 48 Buyer's Guide Apparatus Mounted Winches This Buyers Guide provides general information that will help you select a winch for your fire rescue apparatus. TC034 163 Buyer's Guides Air Brakes This Buyer’s Guide covers the topic of Air Brakes on Fire Truck Apparatus and more specifically the choice between specifying Drum or Air Disc Brakes. Additionally, information is presented on the components that make up both braking systems and the steps necessary for maintenance. We believe this is important information to consider before your purchase so that you are fully informed before making your choice. TC087 40 Buyer's Guide Body Access This buyer’s guide explains the various types of access options that are available for fire apparatus. TC059 98 Buyer's Guide Equipment Mounting – Body This buyer’s guide looks at enhancing the performance of your department, while protecting tools and equipment by properly mounting them. This can be achieved by making tool mounting decisions earlier in the budget and truck planning processes. TC058 164 FAMA Standards Graphical Symbols This document gives the fire and rescue community an option for labeling common controls with a graphical representation of their function. While FAMA apparatus and equipment manufacturers are not required to use these symbols, this resource can be used by those fire departments who wish to specify industry standard text-free control symbols on their apparatus. TC008 53 FAMA Standards Fire Apparatus Common Safety Signs This document gives the fire apparatus manufacturers an option to provide standardized product safety sign text and artwork for common hazard for use on fire and rescue apparatus. TC010 76 Service Guide DEF Sensor Reliability Guidance This FAMA guidance document is intended to provide fire departments and fire apparatus service personnel information on the impact of DEF sensor reliability and guidance on how to keep apparatus in service. TC081 107 Buyer's Guide Supplemental Exhaust Emission Systems This guide is intended to help fire service personnel understand current emissions systems installed on fire apparatus and discuss options for supplemental exhaust systems which may further reduce exhaust gas present during operation within the fire house. TC066 89 Service Guide Diesel Engine DPF SCR Guidance Document This guide is intended to help fire service personnel understand the emissions systems on fire apparatus and to provide specific guidance on how to address emissions related concerns. The issues addressed will cover CUSTOM CHASSIS apparatus equipped with either Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF) or Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) after treatment devices. TC011 59 Buyer's Guide Specifying for Maintenance This guide is intended to provide fire service personal with information about various options that are available for fire apparatus and will assist in making good judgment selections with your apparatus. TC047 147 Buyer's Guide Vehicle Camera Systems This guide is intended to provide fire service personnel with information about the various types of camera systems and recorders used on fire apparatus. TC061 101 Buyer's Guide Water Tanks This guide is intended to provide fire service personnel with information about the various types of mobile water and foam tanks, and the options that are available for fire apparatus. TC039 239 Buyer's Guide Multiplex Electrical Systems This guide is intended to provide fire service personnel with information about the various types of multiplex systems and vehicle data recorders used on fire apparatus. TC045 198 Buyer's Guide Pump Primers This guide is intended to provide fire service personnel with information surrounding various fire pump Priming Systems, control considerations and priming pump designs that are commonly used in fire apparatus today. As with any engineered system design, there are advantages and disadvantages to each configuration, design and manufacturer – not all are presented in this document. It is the responsibility of the purchaser to determine what best meets their requirements and to specify this information to prospective apparatus bidders, sellers, and manufacturers. TC070 25 Buyer's Guide HVAC This guide is intended to provide general information for fire service personnel on the topic of HVAC (Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning) systems in an emergency vehicle.

There are many types of HVAC systems available commercially and custom made for apparatus manufacturers. This guide will focus on systems with a main engine driven refrigerant compressor.
TC064 62 Buyer's Guide Light Towers This guide will describe many different things that you should consider before you choose the tower that will work best for your department. The different features and options discussed may not be available from every manufacturer. TC060 143 Buyer's Guide Hose Restraints This guide will look at various types of hose restraints and some advantages and disadvantages of each. TC041 113 Buyer's Guide Mobile Breathing Air Systems This guide will provide fire service personnel with information about the various types of Mobile Breathing Air Systems that are available for fire apparatus. TC053 110 Fire Service Statistics NFPA Fire Service Needs Assessment Overview This presentation provides an overview of the NFPA Third Fire Service Needs Assessment Survey Report. TC021 44 Research Fire Apparatus Duty Cycle Survey This report uses the results from fire chief surveys as well as actual fire apparatus engine data to estimate the average fire apparatus duty cycles in terms of road miles, engine hours, pump hours, and aerial hours. Results are subdivided by demographics and apparatus type. TC001 114 Research Fire Fighter Size and Weight Study This study provides measurements of fire fighters in bunker gear. Primarily used by apparatus designers, this information may also be useful to fire departments planning for facilities that must be designed around the smallest and the largest fire fighter shapes, sizes, and weights. TC002 57 FAMA Standards Engine Air Intake Ember Separator Test This test is intended to determine the effectiveness of a system for protecting diesel engine air filtration elements from catching of fire due to airborne embers. TC079 37 Fire Service Statistics NFPA Fire Service Needs Assessment This third Fire Service Needs Assessment Survey was conducted by NFPA in and follows two earlier surveys in and . Needs are identified by comparing what departments have with what existing consensus standards, government regulations, and other nationally recognized guidance documents say they need to have in order to be safe and effective in conducting their many responsibilities. TC020 60 Specification Tools Fire Apparatus Equipment Weight and Cube Calculator Use this spreadsheet to track the equipment that you plan to store on your fire apparatus. Estimated weights and volumes are provided for typical pieces of equipment so that you can calculate the total weight of your equipment and determine the total compartment volume needed to store it all. Provide this information to your apparatus manufacturer so that you will be sure to purchase a truck that will hold all your equipment. TC018 300 Buyer's Guide Rear Suspensions Vehicle suspension systems are an important factor in the ride quality, stability, and ongoing maintenance of an apparatus. When developing specifications for the rear suspension on a fire apparatus, consideration should be given to handling, ride quality, chassis/equipment protection, initial cost, capacity, and total cost of ownership. TC049 121 Buyer's Guide Water Pumps Water pumps types and capacities are described in this guide to help determine the right specifications for new apparatus. TC024 316