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1/17/2017 WHEN SHOULD YOU PURCHASE AN AERIAL LADDER?- Fire Engineering <br />apartment buildings, each more than 35 feet in height and housing approximately 40 residents. We can <br />make a distinction in this case and would give an aerial to the latter. <br />In determining the need for acquiring an aerial device, we are not going to ignore the <br />recommendations in the National Fire Protection Association's Fire Protection Handbook, 17th edition, <br />which recommends the following response patterns: <br />High -hazard occupancies (schools, hospitals, nursing homes, high-rise buildings): at least four <br />pumpers, two ladder trucks, and other specialized apparatus as may be identified or available for the <br />hazard. <br />Medium -hazard occupancies (apartments, offices, mercantile and industrial occupancies not normally <br />requiring extensive rescue or firefighting capabilities): at least three pumpers, one ladder truck, and <br />other specialized apparatus as may be identified or available. <br />Low -hazard occupancies (one-, two-, or three-family dwellings and scattered businesses and industrial <br />occupancies): at least two pumpers, one ladder truck, and other specialized apparatus as may be <br />identified or available. <br />Rural operations (scattered dwellings, small businesses, and farm buildings): at least one pumper with <br />a large water tank (500 gallons or more), one mobile water supply apparatus (1,000 -gallon or larger <br />tank), and other specialized apparatus as may be necessary to perform effective initial firefighting <br />operations. <br />These are excellent recommendations. However, as we have said, in many in -stances, the listing of a <br />requirement or recommendation does not satisfy the incessant questioning of a municipal government <br />official. That is the reason we are looking for actual physical criteria that can be used to justify <br />acquiring such an expensive piece of firefighting equipment. <br />RULES GOVERNING THE ACQUISITION OF AN AERIAL DEVICE <br />I. Consider acquiring an aerial device when the portable ground ladders in your community will not <br />reach the upper windows or roofs of buildings in your community. This is a simple but easily overlooked <br />way to justify your need. <br />2. If you need long ladders and do not have enough people to raise them, consider an aerial ladder or <br />elevating platform device. <br />Given that it takes four to six firefighters to raise and place a long ground ladder, ask the next question: <br />Do you have enough people to lay out the attack and supply hoselines and raise a long ground laddF <br />This fact is fairly easy to establish. <br />file:///C:/Users/H arlan/D ropbox/My%20documents/Centennial%20Fi re/WH EN %20SHOU LD%20YOU%20PU RCHASE%20AN %20AERIAL%20LADD ER—%2... 3/5 <br />76 <br />