Cold Weather Aparatus Operations

Question 1

At what temperature should slide in Mount pumps, plumbing elbows, blind caps, booster reels and water pressure gauges should be drained and kept dry until the temperature is above freezing?

Answer 1

Whenever the temperatures are predicted to be below 32°F.
If it is necessary for these types of units to be stored outside in below freezing temperatures for more than 4 hours, water tanks shall also be drained.

Question 2

At what temperature should the pump, intake in discharge plumbing, and valves and gauges, blind caps, be drained on all Mid-Ship mounted apparatus and kept dry until temperatures increase.

Answer 2

Whenever the temperature is predicted to be 20° or below.

Apparatus with front intakes, booster reels and front discharges exposed to weather shall drain the plumbing between these shut offs and the valves below 32°

Question 3

In subzero temperatures, pump freezing can occur even when operating at an incident where no water is flowing and with a drained pump. Therefore what may apparatus operators do to prevent freezing on incident scenes in subfreezing temperatures?

Answer 3

Apparatus operators shall drain the pumps and ensure that some water circulation is maintained when operating on the incident scene in subfreezing temperatures.

Question 4

At what temperature should all pre-piped waterways in basket discharges be completely drained on ladder trucks in towers?

Answer 4

When temperatures are predicted to be below 32°

Question 5

When draining the pump, all bleeders, drains, valves including the main pump and removal of caps on all intakes in discharges shall be removed to include Crosleys, front intake, side intake, bumper line and rear pre-Connects. In what position shall all valves be left?

Answer 5

All valves shall be left in the open position