Aerial Chapter 3-Types And Construction

Question 0

What is the range of fully-extended lengths (working height) of North-American made aerial ladders?

Answer 0

50 feet to 135 feet

Question 1

How is the working height of the aerial measured?

Answer 1

The working height is measured from the ground to the last rung at the max elevation and extension.

Question 2

NFPA 1901 defines an aerial device in three different categories. What are they?

Answer 2

Aerial ladders (most common)

Aerial platforms

Water towers

Question 3

What are IFSTA’s two categories of aerial ladder apparatus?

Answer 3

Aerial ladders

Aerial ladder platforms

Question 4

What are IFSTA’s two categories of elevating platform apparatus?

Answer 4

Telescoping aerial platforms

Articulating aerial platforms

Question 5

What is the primary function of the turntable?

Answer 5

To provide continuous rotation of the aerial device on a horizontal plane.

Question 6

What are the main uses of aerial ladders?

Answer 6

Rescue
Ventilation
Elevated master stream
Gaining access to upper floors on an emergency scene

Question 7

The ladder can be mounted on what three types of vehicles?

Answer 7

Two-axle single chassis vehicle
Three-axle single chassis vehicle
Three-axle tractor trailer type vehicle

Question 8

What is the footplate (kickplate)?

Answer 8

A 4 inch metal plate that runs around the bottom edge of an elevated platform to prevent the firefighter’s feet from slipping off the edge of the platform.

Question 9

What is the minimum jackknife angle of a tillered truck used to increase stabilization of the apparatus?

Answer 9

30 degrees

Question 10

Define valve.

Answer 10

Mechanical device with a passageway that controls the flow of a liquid or gas.

Question 11

Define check valve.

Answer 11

Automatic valve that permits liquid flow in only one direction.

Question 12

Define relief valve.

Answer 12

Pressure control device designed to eliminate hazardous conditions resulting from excessive pressures by allowing this pressure to bypass the intake side of the pump.

Question 13

Define counterbalance valve.

Answer 13

Valves designed to prevent unintentional or undesirable motion of an aerial device from position.

Question 14

What is the normal range of hydraulic pressure?

Answer 14

850 psi to 3,000 psi

Question 15

What is a trunnion?

Answer 15

In a hydraulic cylinder, the pivoting end of the piston rod that is connected to the anchor ear by the heel pin.

Question 16

Describe the auxiliary hydraulic pump.

Answer 16

Usually a 12-volt DC, electrically operated pump connected to the battery. Used when there is a loss of main engine power. Should only be used to bed the ladder. Should be used only intermittently because it can overheat. One minute on, one minute off.

Question 17

Hoisting cylinders are equipped with what to lock and hold oil in the cylinder in the event of a leak or blowout?

Answer 17

Integral safety valves or integral control valves

Question 18

How can the ladder be lowered in the event of a leak or hydraulic blowout?

Answer 18

Manually by bleeding the pressure from the cylinder through a bleed-down valve.

Question 19

What are the extension and retraction cables made of?

Answer 19

Usually corrosion-resistant aircraft quality cables made with a very high strength steel called plow steel. The are resistant to abrasion.

Question 20

The ladder control levers on the control pedestal should be in what order (from left to right)?

Answer 20

Extension, rotation, elevation

Question 21

What are the two types of pre-piped aerial waterways

Answer 21

Bed ladder systems: one non-telescoping pipe attached to the bed section

Telescoping waterway: extends directly to the tip of the fly section. The piping that goes through the turntable is equipped with a continuous swivel joint that allows 360 degree rotation while flowing water. Capable of flows up to 1000 gpm.

Question 22

When using a detachable ladder pipe system, how should it be secured to the ladder?

Answer 22

It should be in the center of the ladder to avoid unnecessary torsional stress and should be secured at a minimum of two or three locations on the ladder.

Question 23

Elevating platforms generally have a higher load capacity than aerial ladders. The max flow capacity is generally what for a platform?

Answer 23

2000 gpm rather than 1000 gpm for a ladder

Question 24

In addition to master streams, water towers may also have a piercing nozzle. What type of stream does it deliver and at what gpm?

Answer 24

Broken stream at up to 300 gpm

Question 25

What is the most common type of electric cord reel cord on an aerial apparatus?

Answer 25

12-gauge, 3- wire type

They must be adequately insulated, contain a ground wire, be waterproof, and have no exposed wires.

Question 26

When is a junction box used?

Answer 26

When multiple connections are needed.

Question 27

What are the four possible power sources for extrication equipment?

Answer 27

Compressed air
Electric motors
Two or four-cycle gas engines
Apparatus mounted PTO systems

Question 28

What is loss control?

Answer 28

The practice of minimizing damage and providing customer service through effective mitigation and recovery efforts before, during, and after an incident.

Question 29

What is the required minimum floor area of the aerial platform?

Answer 29

14 square feet

Question 30

All elevating platforms are required to have how many control stations? Where are they located?

Answer 30

Two control stations. One at street level and one in the platform.