Engineer Manual Flashcards
What is the most basic function of the fire service?
The ability to carry water and provide fire streams
Per the engineers manual, how many engines are there city-wide?

Over 55
What must the engine always be prepared to do?
Respond, provide protection for the crew, and function properly and efficiently on scene
What two things are crucial to maintaining apparatus readiness?
Scheduled inspections and preventative maintenance
Discrepancies shall be recorded where? Located? Click first and then?
- Daily apparatus check off, located in JFRD portal
* First click Tactical Support tab and then Daily Apparatus Management
Safety or Operational concerns shall be brought to the attention of whom?
Company officer with appropriate logbook entry
Who do you contact for any maintenance related issues?
Tactical Support Facility (TSF)
When any JFRD equipment is noted as being lost, found, stolen, or damaged in any way, who do you notify?
Company officer immediately
Diesel exhaust is carcinogenic and no level is safe, according to whom?
NIOSH and NFPA
What’s the first thing you should do in your daily engine inspection?
Conduct brief conference with off going engineer
Ensure proper fluids to include - (5)
- Motor oil
- Transmission fluid
- Coolant
- Power steering fluid
- Diesel exhaust fluid (DEF)
Who do you contact with any questions about proper fluids?
TSF
Proper air brake pressure both front and rear? What else must you check?
- > 100 psi
* proper operation of brakes
Tired and wheels - (4)
Min. tread depth?
- tire pressure
- lug nuts
- axle seals
- tread depth
4/32” or when tread wear indicators are even with the tire tread
Once started the motor, how long must it run?
Until it reaches normal operating temperature. Verify normal readings on all cab mounted gauges
With TANK-TO-PUMP engaged : (7)
- verify pressure on master discharge gauge
- operate primer until water is discharged
- ensure proper operation of the governor in both PSI and RPM modes
- ensure proper operation of the transfer valve (if equipped)
- operate electric intake valves fully-open and fully-closed
- discharge water from at least one discharge opening
- open and close each 5” intake valve then remove the cap to drain
What do you open to briefly flush sediment from the lowest level of the pump?
PUMP DRAIN
Tilt cab and inspect what?
Check for what?
What should you do prior to tilting cab?
- inspect all drive belts for tightness and wear
- check batteries for leaks and tight connections
- secure loose cab equipment prior to tilting
View underside of the engine for?
Pump or tank leaks
Check motor, transmission, pump transfer case, and drivetrain for fluid leaks
Before climbing under apparatus, what should you ensure first?
Air brakes are set
When inspecting exterior, what should you note?
Any new body damage
Defibrillator check off?
Change batteries and ensure proper operation. Ensure all equipment is in place for immediate use
Portable oxygen check off?
Tank pressure >1000psi and oxygen delivery adjuncts are properly stocked
Air chisel check off?
Connect to air bottle and ensure proper operation ( >4000psi)
What do you use for chainsaw bar lubricant?
Motor oil
Hydraulic pump and tools check off?
Check gas, oil, hydraulic fluid levels. Ensure proper operation of motor and pump.
Store hydraulic spreaders how far apart?
1/2” between tips
Generator check off?
How long until warmed up?
Check oil and coolant.
Run generator until fully warmed up (approx. 5mins)
Why do you shut off fuel supply to portable gas motors and run until motor stalls?
Clears fuel lines and prevents damage from gasoline additives
What should you add to newly acquired fuel?
Fuel stabilizers
Who established a maintenance schedule?
Company Captain
How often should you wax apparatus?
Monthly or in accordance with the company maintenance schedule
What should you use to lubricate roll up doors? Door hinges?
- silicone spray
* light oil
How many air tanks under the engine?
Bleed for how long?
- four
* bleed until discharging air is free of moisture
Inspect internal casing for what? If intake valve swivel does not move freely?
- rust or sediment buildup and proper operation of the valve
* apply soapy water and work until loose
After back flushing pump, ensure pump is primed :
Place engine in pump gear, open the TANK-TO-PUMP valve, and operate primer
How to clean hand tools?
Use soap and water to clean, dry thoroughly. Apply light oil to steel surfaces and moving parts. Apply linseed oil to wood handles
How to clean ladders?
Clean with soapy water and all moving parts manipulated. Inspect heat indicators for discoloration and inspect entire ladder for physical damage. Use light oil sparingly to lubricate roof hooks.
How to clean nozzles?
Soapy water and a soft brush. Immerse nozzle in warm soapy water and operate all moving parts.
How to clean couplings?
If swivels frozen or stiff, apply warm soapy water and rotate swivel
How to clean chainsaw?
Inspect air filter, remove and clean if indicated. Remove chain assembly and clean chain drive. Use air pressure to remove debris from hard to reach areas
How to clean air tools?
Soapy water and dry thoroughly. Lubricate each blade with light oil.
How many drops of air tool oil into blade end?
5 drops
What should you check on SCBA bottles?
Hydrostatic dates
What should you check portable extinguishers for?
Proper charge and annual inspection date
How is rope inspected?
In accordance with SOG 419
How to clean high-lift jack?
Soapy water and dry thoroughly. Wipe down tool with light oil, including moving parts. Inspect jack for bent or damaged components
How to clean chains?
Soapy water if dirty, and dry thoroughly. Wipe down length of chain sparingly with light oil. Inspect links for damage or corrosion.
How to clean come-along?
Clean with DRY cloth. Use light oil sparingly on moving parts. Inspect cable for broken strands, corrosion, or wear. NO lubricants on wire rope. If wire rope gets wet or is exposed to moisture it must be dry thoroughly. Inspect handle for straightness.
How must all lubricants be used?
Sparingly
Light oil :
Liquid wrench, WD-40, or similar water displacing lubricating oil, typically in an aerosol can
Air tool oil :
supplied with air chisel in a small squeeze bottle
Two-cycle oil :
Added to gasoline to lubricate two-cycle engines
Silicone spray :
Used on roll-up door tracks and slide out compartment trays. It leaves minimal residue. Do not use silicone on other moving parts. Remove dirt prior to applying silicone
Graphite :
Recommended to ease the movement of pump valve handles. It can be applied to the remote control handle shaft and mechanism, from the pump panel to the valve handle attachment. Remove dirt prior to applying graphite.
Grease :
Only grease permitted is “food grade” machinery grease. Apply to appliance and pump threads as needed
Fuel stabilizer :
Add to newly acquired gasoline according to label
DEF :
Diesel exhaust fluid used in some engines to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions
A complete daily inspection shall be performed immediately when service occurs that requires engine to be OOS for how long?
24hrs or any period that spans two shifts
If service was performed and the engine returned on the same shift, the following checks must be completed prior to returning to service : (4)
- visual verification that the booster tank is full
- verify pump and governor operates properly (in both modes)
- verify proper brake pressure and brake operation
- ensure all equipment is accounted for
When spotting the engine, give priority to _____? (EMS response)
Location of the rescue unit and stretcher access. Consider safety of pt when loading.
On busy streets, what should you use to protect pt loading area?
The engine
What is the primary consideration for engine placement?
Safety of the patient and responders
Use the engine as a barricade to block or divert traffic, which will accomplish what?
Allow room to safely manipulate the patient and/or stretcher or to advance hose lines
What should you consider when treating pts?
Engine noise and location of exhaust pipe
What may require spotting uphill/upwind?
Spills or leaks
Use what as needed for scene safety?
Police
If extrication is needed, what should you consider?
Placement needs of the ladder truck or extrication engine
If apparatus is facing oncoming traffic at night, what should you do?
Turn off headlights to improve night vision of approaching vehicles
The first arriving engine and ladder company should be spotted where, in most cases?
In front of the structure
Where should the first arriving engine and ladder be spotted?
How should you position the engine?
- In front of the structure in most cases
* For placement of attack lines while leaving room in front of the structure for the ladder company
On multi-story structures, what is engine placement? Why?
Same as for single story structures, but the engine should be placed to leave the building corners open. Permits ladder co. To place the turntable in a spot to reach two sides of the structure
Where should you NOT park?
- do not park under power lines
* do not park too close to involved structures
Hose line considerations?
- leave room to deploy hose lines
* keep hose away from the exhaust pipe
Newer engines need how much space on officers side to lower ladder rack?
5 feet
Who should you contact prior to attempting removal of any engine that has become stuck?
TSF
When can you drive on private driveways or private bridges?
During emergency response
When backing, where should the spotter be? Why?
On engineer’s side, 5-10 feet from the tailboard. This places the spotter in the most visible location for the engineer and allows the spotter full view of the rear of the engine.
What must the engineer and the spotter maintain?
Eye contact
Our primary water supply comes from where?
Fire hydrants; part of a city wide distribution network that also consists of wells, treatment plants, pumping stations, and water mains operated and maintained primarily by JEA
Main sizes range from ____ in diameter and average what psi static pressure?
- 6” to 24”
* 70psi
What communities operate their own water utilities?
Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, and Baldwin
In some cases, hydrant pressure is provided by what?
Head pressure from water towers
An alternative to the water main system is what?
Static source
All city fire hydrants are equipped with what size inlet, supplied by what?
6” inlet supplies by the water main system
The flow (GPM) will vary based on what? (Hydrants)
Diameter of the water main and water main pressure
What can interfere with hydrant flow? (4)
- dead end mains
- partially closed street valves
- sediment buildup
- damaged mains
City fire hydrants, supply main sizes
Residential -
Commercial -
- 6” to 10”
* 8” to 24”
Places that may utilize a private water supply? (5)
- commercial plants
- schools
- shopping centers
- aircraft hangars
- apartment complexes
What might be located at high risk facilities (chemical or petroleum)?
High pressure systems
Private fire hydrants (industrial facilities)
Static pressure?
Up to 175psi
Private fire hydrants (apartments and business complexes)
Supply mains size?
Dead end mains or loops
6” to 10”
Private hydrants are transitioning to what color? As of when?
White as of 2016
NFPA color codes
Blue -
Green -
Orange -
Red -
- 1500 GPM or more
- 1000-1499 GPM
- 500-999 GPM
- Below 500 GPM
Where may purple hydrants be found?
Why are they installed?
- on reclaimed water mains
* maintenance flushing
What size are access holes on access holes?
About 12”
What does drafting utilize to supply a fire pump through hard suction hose?
Atmospheric pressure
What are fire department pumps equipped with to reduce pressure inside the pump below atmospheric pressure?
Primer
What determines the flow from the booster tank?
Size of the TANK-TO-PUMP valve and head pressure
Flow from booster tank is limited to what?
700-800 GPM
Booster tank should be refilled from where?
ONLY from city hydrants and ALWAYS from the nearest source
Size of dry hydrant connection?
4 1/2” steamer
Considerations before using dry hydrant?
- is hydrant properly maintained by the property owner? (Damaged)
- can the engine gain access to hydrant?
- is there sufficient water available?
Who are JFRD engines built by? What are they fitted with?
Built by Pierce and fitted with midship mounted Waterous centrifugal pumps
What are engine pumps rated at?
1500, 1750, or 2000 GPM
How many different sections does the modern fire pump have? What are they?
Three
- intake manifold (lower half of pump body - green arrows)
- discharge manifold (upper half of pump body - red arrows)
- centrifugal pump assembly (including impeller(s) - yellow arrows)
Where is pump transfer case mounted? What does it do?
- Below the pump (blue arrows)
- it transfers power from the diesel motor to the drivetrain (in ROAD position) or to the pump impellers (in PUMP position)
What are JFRD engines powered by?
Six-cylinder turbo-charged diesel motors, manufactured by Caterpillar (C12 or C13) or Cummins (ISL series)
What type of design does the impeller have?
A “flow-through” design
What does intake pressure do?
Adds directly to the pressure produced by the pump
What does “slippage” do?
Prevents a continuous rise in discharge pressure but can generate excessive heat within the pump
Why can’t centrifugal pumps, pump air?
Due to their open design
Running the pump dry may cause what?
Excessive heat and pump damage
What does centrifugal force theory state?
A spinning object will exert force from the center towards the outer edge
Where does the impeller discharge water? What does that chamber do?
Volute, this chamber directs the pressurized water into the discharge manifold
As motor speed (RPM) increases, what happens to the impellers?
The velocity of the impellers increases
The pump shift controls what type of gear, where?
Ring gear, within transfer case
When is the neutral position used?
Only in the event of a failure with the pump shift requiring use of the manual pump shift control
Who tests centrifugal pumps?
Underwriters Laboratories (UL) in accordance with NFPA 1911
What does the pump test measure?
Volume at three pressures while drafting
What is the volume at 150psi called?
Rated capacity
A 1500 GPM engine must pump :
- 100% of rated capacity at ___
- 70% of rated capacity at ___
- 50% of rated capacity at ___
- 150psi (1500 GPM)
- 200psi (1050 GPM)
- 250psi (750 GPM)
What may the data plate also include?
Test RPM and governed speed
In pressure setting, each impeller provides pressure on ___
Series
In pressure setting, how much of the total pressure is produced by each impeller?
50%
The volume position is also called ____
Parallel or capacity
What is the advantage of the two-stage design?
Ability to operate in either setting : pressure (series) for max pressure or volume (parallel) for max volume
Attempting to pump high pressure in volume will require what?
Excessive RPM
When pumping beyond 50% of a pumps rated capacity, you must be in what setting?
Volume
How is changing between the two settings accomplished?
Transfer valve
What is normal position of transfer valve? Why?
Volume; it will produce max pump performance for the majority of pumping scenarios
What is main difference in operation from a single-stage pump to a two-stage pump?
Motor speed
A single stage pump will operate much like what?
A two-stage pump in volume
How many intakes do JFRD engines have?
What are they?
- Four or five
- two 6” steamer intakes and two 2 1/2” auxiliary intakes (often called “pony” intakes) Some engines have an additional 5” intake on front or rear w/electronically controlled valve
Both types of intake valves incorporate what 4 things?
- water control valve
- spring-operated pressure relief valve
- bleeder valve to bleed air from supply hose
- 5” Storz adapter
How is the pump protected from excess intake pressure?
Intake pressure relief valve built into the pump and PIV/BIV also include pressure relief valve for redundant pump protection
What psi are both the internal pressure relief valve and PIV/BIV preset at?
150psi
What is the diameter of the intake pipe determined by?
Rated capacity of the pump
What size are the front and rear intake pipes? What will they flow at draft and from hydrant?
- 5”
* 1000 GPM at draft, 1500 GPM from hydrant
E7 and E21 have one additional intake inside tailboard compartment. What type of intake is it? What color is it painted?
Direct tank fill; red
E7 and E21 are equipped with what? Where is the foam solution metered?
Foam proportioners; water for the foam solution is metered through the red intake into the booster tank for more accurate finished foam
Most intake and discharge valve are ___?
Quarter-turn ball valves
The electric front and rear intake valve take how long to fully open or fully close?
15-20 secs
What should you do before charging supply line connected to front or rear intake valve?
Partially open valve; valve may be held closed by hydrant pressure otherwise
Most commonly used valves?
TANK TO PUMP and TANK FILL
When the water supply is from a source other than booster tank, what must be closed?
TANK TO PUMP
What is critical to avoiding loss of prime?
Bleeding air from intake lines
JFRD engines discharge options range from what?
1” booster line to a 4” LDH discharge
Each gauge is of what type?
Compound type
Master discharge gauges read from what psi? Vacuum scale?
- 0-600 psi
* 0 to -30 inches
Master Gauges - intake on which side? Discharge?
- intake on left
* discharge on right
Why is a primer required?
Due to centrifugal pump inability to move air
What is the electric primer?
A rotary vane pump driven by a small electric motor and activated by a pull handle on the pump panel
Unlike the centrifugal pump, the primer is what type of pump?
Positive displacement pump which can pump air and water
When the primer is activated, what happens?
It creates a vacuum within the fire pump, removing air so water can enter the pump
If primer is inoperative, what are the two alternative methods for bleeding air from the pump? How effective are these methods?
- partially open deck gun valve, it will help purge air and prime the pump
- partially open TANK FILL valve, small amounts of air can be purged
- either of these methods may prime the pump faster than using the primer alone
Where do both types of priming pumps draw current from? What RPM provides best performance?
- vehicle charging system
* best performance between 1000-1200rpm
How many motor functions to be monitored while pumping? What are they? Perimeters?
- four
- oil pressure : 15psi at idle; 35-45psi at speed
- coolant temp : 180-220 degrees fully warmed up
- voltage : 13 to 14.5 bolts
- transmission temp : under 300 degrees is normal
Where are gauges located?
Pump panel and are redundant of cab gauges
What will low voltage indication result in?
Gradually reduce motor RPM
What could high coolant temp or low oil pressure result in?
Motor damage
What is another thing you should always be aware of while pumping?
Motor RPM
How many GPM does pump cooler/recirculating line flow? Generally, when is this valve needed?
- Less than 25 GPM
* when hoselines are charged but not flowing
The engine cooler or auxiliary cooler valve operates as what?
Heat exchanger
What must be engaged for the engine cooler valve to function?
Pump must be engaged
To operate the pump efficiently and safely, what does the engineer need?
A device for setting pressure (throttle) and controlling discharge pressure (pressure relief)
Each JFRD engine utilizes an electronic pressure governor which combines what two things into one device?
Throttle and pressure relief
A pressure governor can make automatic adjustments to ___ pressure to compensate for variables in ___ pressure.
- Discharge
* Intake
The governor is integrated into what system? What does it control and how?
The governor is integrated into the motors fuel management system and controls pump discharge pressure (PDP) by changing motor RPM
The pressure governor consists of only two major parts -
The control box (located on pump panel) and pressure sensor (installed within the discharge manifold)
What does the pressure sensor monitor? What does it transmit and where?
- PDP
* PDP signals to the control box
Where and what does the control box transmit signals to?
Transmits signals to the motors fuel management system to increase or decrease RPM as required to maintain the PDP as set by the engineer
When the pump is engaged, what is disabled?
The cab throttle controls (accelerator pedal and high idle switch)
Any changes to the discharge pressure will be compensated by the governor through what?
A change in rpm
What is the most common disruption to PDP?
The opening and closing of nozzles
Any change to intake pressure will also be felt where?
Discharge side of the pump
The engineer must select PSI mode for the following fireground operations : (3)
- pumping hand lines
- pumping ladder pipes or ground monitors
- supplying a sprinkler or standpipe system
Selecting RPM MODE disables what?
The pressure sensor