ETOWAH, TENNESSEE
FIRE DEPARTMENT ASSESSMENT FOR
THE ETOWAH FIRE DEPARTMENT
July 2011
David Hodges, MTAS Fire Contractor
The University of Tennessee, Institute for Public Service
Municipal Technical Advisory Service
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Executive Summary
3
Section 1 – Plan of Services
6
Section 2 – ISO Improvement Impact Analysis
13
Section 3 – Improvement Recommendations
16
Appendix 1 – ISO Rating Analysis
18
Appendix A
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
89
2
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On May 23, 2011, MTAS began an Insurance Service Office (ISO) Study for the City of
Etowah. This study explored three key categories to fire response:



The dispatch center
The water supply, and
The fire department.
Each category carries a percentage that will equate to the ISO rating. The dispatch
center which is rated on receiving and handling fire alarms (10%), the fire department
(50%), and the water supply (40%). As in any city, each category had strengths and
weaknesses. This study hopes to build on the weaknesses and as a result lower the
ISO rating for the City of Etowah.
Dispatch Center. The Etowah Fire Department is dispatched via the McMinn County
911 Center. This center dispatches for the entire county and receives 108,000 911 calls
per year. McMinn County 911 Center does an excellent job in receiving and dispatching
911 calls. The center answers calls in 80% of the time in 15 seconds. The center also
has a 95% average for answering calls within 40 seconds. Once these calls are
answered and information has been retrieved, McMinn County 911 has a remarkable
average of 93% dispatch time of 60 seconds or less.
Recommendation: McMinn County 911 Center’s greatest need is that of personnel. With
the center answering in excess of 100,000 calls per year, the 911 Center needs on duty
6 dispatchers plus a supervisor 24 hours a day seven days a week. This will result in full
ISO credit for manpower and improve (reduce) the time it takes to answer incoming
calls.
Water Supply. Etowah Utilities provides water for the City of Etowah and for McMinn
County. This is the main water source as well for the City of Etowah Fire Department for
fire suppression. Etowah Utilities’ only water source is the Hiwassee River. The water is
pumped into the water treatment plant located on Highway 411. Water is routed through
a network of filters and mains to meet the needs of citizens, businesses, and the fire
department. The average daily consumption of water provided by Etowah Utilities is
approximately 2.83 million gallons. Etowah Utilities has sufficient storage with nearly
nine million gallons of storage to meet fire flow and the daily consumption. Etowah
Utilities performs hydrant maintenance as well as testing two times a year. The utility
company tests and performs maintenance on 100% of the city’s hydrants.
Recommendations: It is recommended that Etowah Utilities conduct a comprehensive
standard of coverage study. This study should include the fire department for needed
information on hydrants that need to be installed and target hazards that may require
additional water supply. The utility is doing a great job on inspection and maintenance
on the hydrants and should continue.
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
3
It is recommended that Etowah Utilities look into computer management programs for
its water supply. This management program could benefit the utility by simulating
situations to identify and correct deficiencies in the existing system. The program could
also be of benefit in being able to predict the system’s performance during emergencies
such as large fires.
The Etowah Fire Department. The Etowah Fire Department is the primary fire
protection agency for the City of Etowah. The department has one fire station located at
1018 Tennessee Avenue in the City of Etowah. The fire department responded to 89
incidents from May of 2010 to May of 2011. Fifteen of these responses were actual
working structure fires. The department has two fire engines, 301 and 302, which are
housed at the fire station on Tennessee Avenue. The department does not have an
aerial device which is recommended for purchase. The department has a staff of six fulltime and six part-time employees. On a first alarm, the department, should per the
National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) 1710 from the time the fire department is
notified by the dispatch office, put a minimum of four personnel on the scene within five
minutes 20 seconds, which includes an 80-second turnout time, to 90% of fire incidents.
Turnout time is the time it requires a firefighter to don firefighting gear, board the engine,
and leave the station. A big misconception to the NFPA requirement is that the four
personnel have to be on each fire engine. They do not have to be on the fire engine, but
they can arrive on different pieces of apparatus as long as they are dispatched and
arrive at the same time, continuously operate together and are managed by one
company officer. For example, a two-person engine and two-person medic dispatched
at the same time and arriving together would be in compliance. Mutual aid and
automatic-aid agreements also may be used to comply. This is the only item within the
fire department section of ISO that carries a plus for exceeding 15 personnel on a first
alarm assignment. In other words, additional points could be obtained if a fire alarm
assignment of over fifteen personnel were available. Personnel staffing is the most
difficult and usually most costly aspect of meeting ISO requirements.
The department should strive to meet the needed ISO equipment as outlined in Table
512.A on pages 38 and 39 of the Appendix. Also, the department must start a training
program that will meet ISO required monthly training of 20 hours which equates to 240
hours per firefighter per year. Drills are another important portion of credit for training for
ISO. These drills should be held as half day training that encompasses both multiple
company drills as well as individual shift drills. ISO states that a fire department should
have two night drills annually as well. All businesses should be visited by the fire
department two times per year. This can be accomplished by establishment of a pre-fire
planning program. Etowah Fire Department needs to invest in records management
software that will track training, drills, pre-fire plans, incidents, and other valuable
information.
Recommendations Recap: (1) Purchase an aerial device; (2) consider additional
personnel; (3) consider needed ISO equipment as outlined in the report; (4) implement
a training program in accordance with ISO requirements; (5) perform drills (6)
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
4
implement a pre-fire planning program to include on-site visits to businesses; and (7)
purchase a records management software system to track training, drills, pre-fire plans,
incidents, etc.
In conclusion, the City of Etowah has some work to do before its next ISO review. At
this time Etowah is a Class 5 ISO, but this study proved that if ISO were to visit Etowah
today, the city would receive an ISO grade of 6. This would be a very high 6 that can
easily be lowered to a Class 5 by meeting some of the above mentioned
recommendations.
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
5
FIRE DEPARTMENT ASSESSMENT FOR
THE ETOWAH FIRE DEPARTMENT
July 2011
In May 2011, the Etowah City Council assigned a committee to research and review the
present conditions of the Etowah, Tennessee Fire Department as it relates to achieving
a better ISO classification. The department presently is an ISO Class 5 fire department.
To achieve this mission, the team members listed below each collected sectional data
and information that has been used to compile a study of the fire department’s potential
to improve the ISO rating. In this process it was determined that it would be useful to
include a “Plan of Services” and an “ISO Improvement Impact Analysis” as part of the
assessment.
Team Members:
City Manager Matthew Gravley
Fire Chief Dale Ammons
MTAS Fire Contractor David Hodges
Once all of the data was completed by this team, it was compiled and assembled into
this format and includes the three following sections.
Section 1 – Plan of Services
Section 2 – ISO Improvement Impact Analysis
Section 3 – Improvement Recommendations
SECTION 1 – PLAN OF SERVICES
A “plan of services” is defined as a document listing of specific services that are offered
to a community by a fire department. The services include both emergency and nonemergency services to the community. In almost every case, the services that a fire
department provides to a community are only limited by the lack of funding to pay for
additional services. Because of this, the plan of services includes a listing of services
currently offered as well as the level of service provided. The community expects the
fire department to be able to handle any emergency that arises within the scope of what
it perceives the fire department should be able to handle. That perception is what drives
the need to improve services in a community. It also sets priorities as to what level of
service will be provided. The fire department must first determine what is expected,
obtain necessary equipment to properly respond, and then train personnel on how to
safely respond. The department must also know its limitations and when the risk
outweighs a safe outcome.
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
6
Undoubtedly, the Etowah Fire Department has been fortunate not to have had many
major fires or significant loss of life. While the fire department maintains a good record
in saving property, it is only a matter of time when the fire department will be challenged
to perform at or beyond its maximum level.
Today’s fire department should provide many services to the community and champion
new community services that may become needed in the future. Most fire departments
limit themselves in providing community services and many don’t credit themselves as
providing some services.
The Etowah Fire Department has pride in providing the following services at the levels
listed.
Emergency Services Level of Service
1. Fire Suppression
2. Hazardous Materials (Light)
Essential Non-Emergency Services Level of Service
1. Public Fire Education all year in the community and schools
2. Install Smoke Detectors - smoke detector program (When Funding is Available)
3. Fire Extinguisher classes
If the department decides to expand these services, the chief should only look at
expanding into one area at a time and not attempt more than the department can
handle. When one service area is improved to the appropriate service level and
everyone is comfortable, the department can then either move to a different area or to a
higher level of service. When handled properly, this constant improvement within the
department is great for the morale of the department as well as the community.
The following tables list just a few possible services that the fire department should
consider offering in addition to what it already offers:
Additional Emergency Services Considered
1. Technical Rescue – High Angle, Confined Space, Swift Water Rescue
2. Wildland Firefighting/Wildland - Urban Interface
3. Vehicle Extraction – Heavy Rescue
4. Building Collapse
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
7
5. Weapons of Mass Destruction Response (WMD)
6. Trench Rescue
7. Emergency Medical Service (EMS)
Additional Non-Emergency Services Considered
1. After the Fire Services – Helping provide community assistance
2. Station Tours
3. Community Day at the Fire Department
4. Welfare Checks on Elderly Citizens
5. Blood Pressure Checks at Fire Station
6. Standby at Community Events and Concerts
7. Provide a First Aid Station at Community Events
8. Conduct Public Education for Churches, Clubs, and Organizations
9. Commercial Occupancy – Company Inspections Program
10. Home Safety Checks – Fireplace Safety Education
The Etowah Fire Department should be imaginative and original in providing new
services. Each year at the International Association of Fire Chief’s annual meeting,
awards are given out to fire departments around the country for the best new services
offered to the public by a fire department. A listing of previous years’ winners are
provided on the IAFC’s web site with many great ideas.
Calls for Service – Statistical Data
The Etowah Fire Department answered 89 calls from May/2010 – May/2011 with
approximately 15 being related to structure fire incidents. Emergency medical assists
accounted for 5 additional calls for service during the same time.
Statistically comparing the Etowah Fire Department with other small cities across the
state we find that the calls for service per 1,000 population for Etowah is approximately
25 where as the average calls for service per 1,000 population for other small cities is
51. Etowah averages approximately .015 structure fires per 1,000 population whereas
the small city average is .051structure fires per 1,000 population. Although it is not
recommended to rely on population comparisons between cities, this comparison does
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
8
however give an indication that the fire department is having fewer structure fires than
cities of similar size. The fire department participates in the Tennessee Fire Incident
Reporting System (TFIRS) and submits all run data to the State Fire Marshal’s Office
through this system.
Personnel and Response Times
Actual building fires account for nearly 17% of the overall calls for service with an
average response time of three (3) minutes. As for personnel, the three minute
response includes three to four on-duty personnel with off-duty call-in bringing the
average to five. This average increases to eight, when mutual aid personnel are
included. Unfortunately, the time span involved does not equate to an effective
firefighting force within the critical time frame involved in fire development. This critical
time frame is the answer for controlling the many variations involved in fire dynamics,
and lies in finding a common reference point. Find something that is common to all fires
regardless of the risk level of the structure, or the material involved. Regardless of the
rate of growth or length of burn time, all fires go through the same 3 basic steps; the
incipient stage, free burning, and smoldering. The incipient stage, or first stage, involves
the starting point of a fire. During this stage, there is no active flaming; it is composed
primarily of smoldering, sometimes for hours. The second phase, free burning, consists
of flame production accompanied by an increase in fuel consumption and heat
generation. Many fires go unnoticed until they reach this highly visible stage of growth.
The last stage, or the smoldering stage, is characterized by reduced oxygen in the
compartment resulting in a rapid decrease in heat production as well as a reduction in
visible flame.
While inherent dangers are present during all stages of fire development, one particular
event causes extreme danger and also facilitates a huge increase in property damage.
This event, referred to as Flashover, is a point during the free burning stage at which
the entire room or compartment breaks into open flame at once. The instantaneous
eruption into flame generates a tremendous amount of heat, smoke and pressure with
enough force to push beyond the room of origin, through doors and windows. The
science behind a flashover involves the hot-gas layer that develops at the ceiling level
during fire growth causing the radiant heating of combustibles remote from the origin of
the fire. As this radiant heat increases, the surrounding combustibles reach their ignition
temperature causing the entire area to erupt into flames. Typically the temperature
needed to create this event lies between 900 and 1100 degrees Fahrenheit. Measuring
the time to flashover is a function of time and temperature. This event is plotted on what
is commonly referred to as the time and temperature curve.
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
9
First, no living thing in the room of origin will survive, so the chance of saving lives,
drops. Second, flashover creates a quantum leap in the rate of combustion, and a
significantly greater amount of water is needed to extinguish the fire. This creates
increased property damage and facilitates the need for additional manpower.
In regard to the general Tactics and Strategy of fire suppression, in order to successfully
save lives and reduce property damage, the fire must be attacked prior to flashover. As
indicated in the time and temperature curve, the time frame prior to flashover is 8-9
minutes. This time frame supports the need for strategically located fire stations in order
to ensure response times allow for adequate fire suppression intervention.
For the reasons discussed above, the NFPA standard response for the full first alarm
assignment is 9 minutes 20 seconds from the time the phone rings in the dispatch office
to 90% of fire incidents with an average 15 to 16 suppression personnel per call. ISO
will accept an average of 13 suppression personnel call as a minimum.
The goal to control the fire before it has reached its maximum intensity requires
geographic dispersion (distribution) of technical expertise and cost effectiveness
(concentration) of apparatus for maximum effectiveness against the greatest number
and types of risk.
This is only half of the battle; the other part is getting enough people to the scene to
effectively handle the situation. This is especially true with structure fires where a
minimal response of manpower is required. This minimum response is determined by
both ISO and NFPA. In satisfying the ISO requirement, a department only gets credit for
what is dispatched on the "first alarm assignment". To receive the best possible score in
ISO grading, the fire department must dispatch the Needed Fire Flow for the address to
which it is responding or at the minimum the nearest two engine companies and the
nearest ladder or service company and at least one supervisor, whichever is greater. It
does not matter where the firefighters ride, on the engines, or in their own POV, but a
minimum of 13 firefighters must be dispatched to all alarms in structures. This can
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
10
consist of all career employees, all volunteers, or some combination. The basic design
to come up with the number 13 is: four firefighters per engine times two engines plus
four firefighters for the ladder or service company plus one supervisor. (4x2 = 8) + (4) +
(1) = 13. There is total flexibility for the fire department on how to get these 13 people to
the scene. If the correct numbers and types of vehicles are not dispatched to fire
alarms, the result can be as much as a 32% reduction in total ISO scores.
Etowah Fire Loss
The total fire dollar loss for this time period of one year, May 2010 – May 2011, is
$141,500. The Tennessee small city average dollar loss for 12 months is $860,100. No
firefighter or civilian casualties were reported for this time period. Tennessee has one of
the highest annual fire death rates in the United States. Tennessee has ranked in the
top five categories for fire deaths for at least the past ten years.
Apparatus Response and Resources
As far as apparatus response is concerned, the number of needed engine companies
required by ISO are based on three things.
1. The required fire flow of the community. Depending on required fire flow, the
department needs at least one but no more than three engines, plus one service
company. If you have five or more buildings requiring more than 3,500 gpm figured
using the ISO rate of flow formula, or five (normally not single family dwellings)
buildings 3 story or 35' or higher or any combination of five structures requiring more
than 3500 gpm, 3 stories and 35 feet of height, the department will need to run a
ladder company instead of a service company for full credit. Etowah has 5 buildings
that are 35 feet in height or greater. The proper response to any of these properties is
two fire engines and the ladder truck.
2. Station placement. Based on a 1½-mile response distance per engine and a 2½mile per ladder or service company, the department may be required to provide
additional apparatus to cover a larger area for complete credit. Please note if there
are five buildings 35 feet tall sprinkled or not, or 5 buildings with fire flows over 3500
gpm or a combination of the two outside of 2 ½ miles of where you house your aerial,
then you need a second ladder truck.
3. Running calls outside the community boundaries. The department’s lack of credit
for existing equipment is common. Unless the fire flow is less than 1,000 gpm (a
residential-only community without wood-shake roofs and spacing between homes of
30’ or more), the department must run two engines and a ladder or service company
on first alarm on all structure fires. If the department sends the one aerial it owns
outside of town on more than 10% of the structure fire calls, the department will need
a second aerial. If a department is required to have 3 engine companies, then at least
2 have to stay in town 90% of the time for full credit for those units. If the department
being rated covers a city or town and also goes out into the county or covers several
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
11
cities or towns, then the 10% rule does not apply as long as responses are less than
5 miles from the fire stations. Responses beyond 5 miles are considered outside
responses. Second or greater alarms outside the community do not count as outside
responses.
Etowah Response Resources
Vehicle Capabilities & Mission Tasks Specialized Equipment
Engine 301 is a 1976 American LaFrance with a 1,250 gpm pump and carries 300
gallons of water. This engine is assigned to Station 1 and responds to initial alarms in
District 1. For all equipment carried on Engine 301, please see Appendix A.
Engine 302 is an 1991 NBFU Pumper with a 1,250 gpm pump and carries 300 gallons
of water. This engine is assigned to Station 1 and responds to initial alarms in District 1.
For all equipment carried on Engine 302, please see Appendix A.
Service 1
Service 1 is listed in Etowah’s response, but it is a pickup truck with no equipment. To
receive full credit as a service unit, please see Table 544.A Equipment for a Service
Company.
General Response Matrix for the Etowah Fire Department
Type of Call -- 1st Alarm, 2nd Alarm, 3rd Alarm
Residential Structure Fire & Alarms
Engine 301
Engine 302
Service 1
Mutual Aid Commercial Structure Fire & Alarms
Engine 301
Engine 302
Service 1
Mutual Aid Downtown Commercial Structure Fire & Alarms
Engine 301
Engine 302
Service 1
Mutual Aid Dumpster/Trash Fire
Engine 301
Engine 302
Service 1
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
12
Mutual Aid Vehicle Fire
Engine 301
Engine 302
Service 1
Mutual Aid Fire Alarm
Engine 301
Plan of Services Summary
In summary, the Etowah Fire Department can only provide a minimum level of service
primarily because of the lack of additional funding to support additional manpower. This
is not uncommon in small communities but the community should realize that limited
funding provides only limited services. A risk analysis of the community as well as
known risk associated with understaffing concludes that the need is much greater than
what the department is able to offer.
So what should be reasonable in providing services? Again, this depends on what the
community expects in exchange for what they pay for services. The cost of fire
department services for Etowah can be figured per resident on an annual basis as well
as a cost per call each year. In the October 1998 issue of Fire Engineering, it described
the fire department as being an insurance policy. Most people will hopefully never use it
but when you do, you want it to provide the best coverage (or service) possible. Etowah
does need a few more firefighters to meet the challenges of a growing city like it is
protecting.
SECTION 2 – ISO IMPROVEMENT IMPACT ANALYSIS
INSURANCE SAVINGS POTENTIAL
Fire protection is the only service provided by a municipality where improving the level
of service can result in a reduction of property insurance premiums to the community. It
should also be understood that once these reductions are made, they must continue
year after year to avoid regression and the accompanying increase in insurance
premiums. The savings to the community is not just from the original amounts but as
property values increase so will the savings. The following table is based on a projected
growth in property values and insurance premiums over five years of 10% using 2006
as a base year.
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
13
EXAMPLE ONLY
Premium
Year
Value of
Property
Premium
for Class
10
2006
2011
$100,000
$110,000
$875
$1,059
Premium
for Class
7
Savings
from 10
to 7
Premium
for Class
4
Savings
from 10
to 4
$585
$708
$290
$351
$497
$601
$378
$458
As you can see from the table above, there is a significant increase in savings both as
the class is lowered and over the period of five years. You can also realize the worth of
the fire department to the community by calculating the number of structures by the
savings from a class 10 to a class 4. This savings can be easily obtained by multiplying
the savings to the number of households in Etowah with property value of $110,000 or
more.
Now, the next question is whether it is worth the effort in improving the ISO rating in
relation to insurance premiums. The best way to analyze this is use the savings from
the five year average since the ISO rating is used for a minimum of 10 years, calculate
the savings by the number of present residential structures in each category, and then
calculate the overall impact over the 10-year period.
The following graph illustrates potential reductions in insurance rates as the ISO rate
improves. The graph assumes that for every dollar a homeowner with no fire protection
(Class 10) would pay for insurance, other homeowners would pay progressively less for
the same coverage as the community’s ISO rate improves.
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
14
Premium Paid per ISO Rating
$1.00
$0.80
$0.60
Premium
$0.40
$0.20
$0.00
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
ISO Rating
It should be remembered that ISO comes once every ten to fifteen years so the impact
is 10-15 years. It should also be understood that the impact is higher for commercial
and industrial property and is rated separately. The potential savings over the 10 year
period would affect citizens as well as businesses. The present Insurance Services
Office (ISO) rating for Etowah is a Class 5. In the example illustrated in the graph, an
Etowah homeowner would pay 63 cents (a 37% savings) versus $1.00 for a homeowner
with a similar home in a community with no fire protection.
DISCLAIMER
Reviewing the ISO process is very subjective according to the person conducting the
evaluation. The calculations and recommendations previously listed in this section are
interpretative and can vary. The fire department should carefully evaluate its situation
and be ready to defend particular scores that it feels are accurate. The opportunity to
question scores can be either during the evaluation or in the time period immediately
after receiving a new rating. If the new rating is worse than the original rating, an
eighteen month improvement period is typically allowed. To be more accurate, the
department should use conservative calculations in its figures. Remember the ISO
representative is usually open to discussion and willing to hear comments concerning
the way the department handles certain situations. The fire department should continue
the internal evaluation process and utilize a chart to determine where the department is
at and where it needs to go.
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
15
SECTION 3 – IMPROVEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS
Recommendations:
Fire Alarm Category
1. Need 4 additional dispatchers
Since McMinn County 911 dispatches for the entire county, there should be 6
operators plus 1 supervisor in the communication center 24/7. This is due to the
108,000 annual alarms answered by McMinn County 911.
Fire Department Category
1. Develop and man a service company
2. Obtain an Aerial Device
3. Training per ISO recommendations
4. Conduct drills per ISO
5. Institute a Pre-Fire Planning Process
6. Document all training, drills, pre-fire plans, and other pertinent documents
7. Add needed equipment to apparatus per ISO requirements
Water Supply Category
1. Conduct a comprehensive standard of coverage study
2. Continue fire hydrant inspection/service testing
3. Use computer management programs
ISO Public Protection Classification
City of Etowah
Item
Receiving and Handling Fire Alarms
Telephone Service
Credit for Operators
Credit for Dispatch Circuits
Total – Alarms
Relative Classification
Last ISO
Survey
Date
01-1993
1.80
1.50
2.50
5.80
MTAS
Study
Date
08-2011
1.80
2.25
5.00
8.63
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
Maximum
Points
2.00
3.00
5.00
10.00
16
Fire Department
Engine Companies
Reserve Pumpers
Pump Capacity
Ladder Service
Reserve Ladder Service
Credit for Distribution
Credit for Company Personnel
Credit for Training
Total for Fire Department
Relative Classification
8.31
.80
5.00
3.60
.80
2.80
2.26
1.26
24.11
5.80
0
3.2
0
0
2.9
8.6
0
20.50
10.00
1.00
5.00
5.00
1.00
4.00
15.00+
9.00
50.00+
31.70
1.50
1.64
19.6
1.80
2.60
35.00
2.00
3.00
35.02
25.00
40.00
5.80
24.11
35.02
7.87
57.06
5
8.63
20.50
25.00
4.91
49.22
6
10.00
50.00
40.00
0
100.00
Water Supply
Credit for Water System
Credit for Hydrants
Credit for Inspection & Condition of
Hydrants
Total for Water Supply
Relative Classification
Summary of Credit
Receiving and Handling Fire Alarms
Fire Department
Water Supply
Divergence
Total Credit
Protection Classification
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
17
APPENDIX 1
ISO RATING ANALYSIS
Based on information from the:
INSURANCE SERVICES OFFICE, ISO
Fire Suppression Rating Schedule
All estimates included are based on information received at the time of the analysis and will not
reflect the actual ISO rating numbers assigned to the city during a reevaluation.
Fire Suppression Rating Schedule —
Receiving and Handling Fire Alarms
400. GENERAL:
This item reviews the telephone facilities provided for the general public to report fires,
the operators on duty at the communication center, and the facilities used to dispatch
fire department companies to the fire.
400. RECEIVING AND HANDLING FIRE ALARMS
No.1 – A complete description or a detailed schematic of the fire alarm system is
needed for evaluation.
Description Attached: [ ] YES [X] NO
No. 2 – When emergency calls for the graded area (class 1-8) are received at one
Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) and then transferred to another PSAP, the
facilities at each location will be evaluated. The most limiting feature is then credited for
each applicable FSRS grading item (e.g., fire lines, lines for transferring emergency
calls, number of operators, etc.). The most limiting feature for each grading item will be
evaluated separately, based on each PSAP.
Are calls received at one Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) and then transferred to another
PSAP? [ ] YES [X] NO
No. 3 – When additional facilities such as box alarm systems are provided for the
general public to report fires, they will not be considered in the credit applied.
410. TELEPHONE SERVICE (TS):
Telephone service for fire alarms should be in accordance with the general criteria of
NFPA Standard 1221-Installation Emergency Services Communications Systems
Maintenance and Use Of. The needed number of telephone lines reserved for receiving
fire calls and business calls, at any one communication center is indicated below:
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
18
NUMBER OF RESERVED LINES POPULATION SERVED FIRE BUSINESS
Population
Under 40,000
40,001 - 125,000
125,001 - 300,000
Over 300,000
Emergency
2
4
6
8
Business
1
2
3
3
McMinn County 911 Center - Population served: 52,266
Needed Fire: 2 - Actual 911 Lines: 6
Needed Business: 2 - Actual 911 Business Lines: 6
City Population: 3,769
Square Miles: 2.7
McMinn County 911 Center - Total Lines: 12
1. Other Emergency Calls: When emergency calls for other than fire are received over
the fire number, double the number of needed reserved fire lines indicated above.
Police and EMS calls are received over the 911 lines. [X] YES [ ] NO
Needed Fire: 4 - Actual 911 Lines: 6
Needed Business: 4 - Actual 911 Business Lines: 6
2. Automatic Equipment: Automatic telephone dialing equipment used to report
alarms from private fire detection systems should have an emergency line separate
from the normal fire and business numbers.
410.B. TELEPHONE SERVICE - AUTOMATIC EQUIPMENT
Separate telephone lines for automatic dialing equipment are needed only when
automatic dialing equipment is known to exist in the city.
NO Alarm Number: [ ] YES [X] NO
3. Business Number: When only one telephone number is listed in the telephone
directory, no credit shall be given for a reserved fire line.
410. C. TELEPHONE SERVICE - BUSINESS NUMBER
When only one telephone number is listed in the telephone directory, the telephone
lines provided cannot be reserved for emergency calls because the general public is not
given a choice of telephone lines to use. Therefore, the operator/telecommunicator must
accept both emergency and business calls over the same line(s). Credit for the number
of reserved emergency lines shall be determined after reducing the number of
emergency (9-1-1 or 7-digit) lines by 1 line. If the number of actual emergency lines
exceeds the total number of needed fire lines and needed lines for other emergency
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
19
calls, the excess lines are disregarded and all calculations are capped to the number of
needed lines. If a designated business number is listed anywhere in the telephone
directory and can be clearly identified as a non-emergency number, credit can be given.
[X] YES [ ] NO
4. Progression: When the number of reserved fire lines equals or exceeds the number
of needed fire and business lines, and there is progression in the fire lines, credit
shall be given for progression from the fire lines to the business lines even if there is
no progression.
[X] YES [ ] NO
411. REVIEW OF TELEPHONE LINES (TL):
A. Number of needed fire lines provided, up to 25 points
B. Number of needed fire, business and private alarm lines provided, up to 25 points
No. 1 - The number of needed lines is the sum of the number of fire lines, other
emergency lines, business lines and automatic equipment lines needed as indicated in
Item 410. When the number of lines provided is equal to the number of lines needed,
the maximum number of points will be credited. When the number of lines provided is
less than the number needed, the credit will be prorated.
No. 2 - The number of business lines needed is indicated in Item 410. In cities without a
full-time operator on duty it may be appropriate to list in the telephone directory, and
identify as the fire department business number, a telephone number in the fire chief's
home or place of business, the town clerk's office or the number of some other person
connected with the business of the city. Such lines will be credited as Fire Department
business lines. Fire department business lines should have someone available during
normal business hours (M-F, 40 hours weekly minimum). A published business line
terminating at an unattended location or at an answering machine only, does not meet
the intent of NFPA 1221 or the FSRS.
No. 3 - The number of needed business (non-emergency) lines is determined by the
population served by the number designated as the non-emergency number for the
graded area (class 1-8). The credited lines will be those available and designated as
nonemergency lines for the graded area (regardless if the number is listed appropriately
or not). Business lines to a central communication center (or PSAP) should not be
considered, unless those lines are designated as the non-emergency number for the
graded area.
EXCEPTION: When business (non-emergency) calls terminate at a non-creditable
location, as indicated in No. 2 above, then the number of needed business lines shall be
determined by the population served by the communication center (PSAP). Credit will
then be given for the 1 emergency line deducted as directed under Item 410.C.
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
20
No. 4 - No credit shall be allowed for additional emergency lines when the number
provided is insufficient to meet the need but unanswered 911 calls go into a queue after
20 seconds, and callers simultaneously hear a recorded message that informs them
that they have reached 911.
25 points
411.C. TELEPHONE SERVICE - PROGRESSION
No. 1 - Emergency calls received by telephone should progress through the fire lines to
the business lines.
No. 2 - When there is progression of emergency calls to business (non-emergency)
lines at the PSAP, credit will be given for this item. This applies whether the lines are
designated as a business number for the graded area; whether the business number is
listed in the telephone directory; and whether there are an insufficient number of
creditable emergency lines.
10 points
No. 3 - When there is no progression of emergency calls to business (non-emergency)
lines and the number of reserved (creditable) emergency lines with progressive
operation equals or exceeds the number of needed emergency and business lines,
credit will be given for this item. However, this does not apply when the number of
actual emergency lines have been "capped" as directed under Item 410.C., since the
number of reserved (creditable) emergency lines considered will be the "capped"
number.
No. 4 - No credit shall be allowed for progression of emergency calls to business lines
when there is not progression but when unanswered 911 calls go into a queue after 20
seconds, and callers simultaneously hear a recorded message that informs them that
they have reached 911.
D. If detailed information of a fire is received and transmitted through more than one
communication center, DEDUCT 20 points.
10 points
411.D. When the name, address and other such detailed information of a fire is received
from the general public at one communication center, and the information is transmitted
to another communication center, where the information received from the operator at
the first communication center is transmitted over the dispatch circuits to fire stations,
20 points will be deducted. However, when a fire call is received at one communication
center and it is immediately transferred to another communication center where the
operator on duty obtains the necessary information from the person making the call and
transmits the alarm to the fire stations, no deduction should be made.
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
21
Scores for Sections: A: 25, B: 25, C: 10, D: - 0
TOTAL Equals (TL): 60
412. REVIEW OF TELEPHONE DIRECTORY (TD):
A. Fire emergency telephone number printed on the inside front cover or front page of
the white pages directory
10 points Note: Blank lines for the convenience of customers, even with headings of
FIRE or EMERGENCY, are not eligible for credit.
412. REVIEW OF TELEPHONE DIRECTORY (TD)
Credit for telephone company directory listings shall apply only to those for the fire
department and not for all other emergency agencies.
Note 1 – NFPA 1221- Chapter 5 - Emergency Response Facilities and Chapter 7
Directory Listing should be referred for standard criteria.
Note 2 – The total points applied for the factor "TD" shall not be less than zero.
B. Both the number to report a fire and the fire department business number are listed
under "Fire Department" in the white pages.
412.B.
When only one number is listed in the telephone directory, no credit is available.
5 points
C. Both the number to report a fire and the fire department business number are listed
under the name of the city in the white pages.
5 points
D. If the numbers for individual fire stations are listed, DEDUCT 10 points.
412.D. When only one fire station is in service and it houses the communication center,
no deduction will be made if the fire station is listed in the telephone company directory.
10 points
Score per Section: A: 10, B: 0, C: 0, D: 0
TOTAL Equals (TD): 10
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
22
413. REVIEW OF RECORDING DEVICE (RD):
With arrangement for immediate playback
20 points
Communications centers shall have a logging voice recorder, with one channel for each
of the following:
(1) Each transmitted or received radio channel or talk group.
(2) Each dispatch alarm circuit 3.3.16.2* Dispatch Circuit. A circuit over which an
alarm is retransmitted automatically or manually from the communications center to
an emergency response facility (ERF).
(3) Each telecommunicator telephone in order to assist the operator/telecommunicator
in verifying emergency messages received from the general public, arrangements
should be provided for immediate playback of emergency calls to be available to all
operators/telecommunicators. This may be accomplished by several methods
including recorder playback/recall remote control at each position, separate
recording devices at each position, or a dual-deck recorder with a playback/search
feature immediately adjacent to the operators/telecommunicators position. When a
recorder (without remote control) or recorder control is located in another building or
in a room remote from the operator/telecommunicator positions, or in any other way
is not immediately accessible, no credit shall be given for the devices. It is not
required for each position to have the capability to playback a call from another
position. Recording devices may include, but are not limited to, the following; analog
(reel-to-reel or cassette) tape, DAT (digital audiotape cassette), CD (compact disc),
DVD (digital videodisc), or various hard drive type systems. The "last call" feature of
the immediate provision is not needed to comply with Item 413 of the FSRS or
Section 6-6 of NFPA Standard No. 1221.
RD Score: 20
414. CREDIT FOR TELEPHONE SERVICE (CTS):
60 (TL) + 20 (TD) + 10 (RD) = 90 (TS)
CTS = 1.80 out of a possible 2.00
420. NUMBER OF NEEDED OPERATORS (NO):
The number of operators on duty to handle fire calls should be in accordance with
NFPA Standard 1221. No credit shall be given for operators when the telephone line for
reporting fires extends to a number of locations, such as residences, places of business
or fire stations, and no definite schedule of attendance at the telephone is provided.
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
23
421. REVIEW OF OPERATORS (PO):
A. Number of Operators on Duty (OD):
OD = 2 NO = 3.25
up to 80 points
421. A. REVIEW OF OPERATORS
1 - NFPA 1221 Chapter 6.3 - Staffing and 6.4 - Operating Procedure are used as criteria
for this item.
2 - Refer to NFPA 1221 Chapter 11.5.1 and 11.5.2 for guidance on recording keeping
and analysis.
3 - Definition "Call Detail Recording (CDR). A system that provides a record of each call
including the Automatic Number Identification (ANI) number, trunk number, and
answering attendant number; and the time of seizure, answer, and disconnect/
transfer."
4 - Where call detail recording (CDR) is provided, records shall be maintained for 2
years or as required by law or the Authority Having Jurisdiction.
5 - Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) records may be consulted, if available, regarding
the documentation of meeting the threshold of the 60-second dispatch.
Note: EMD protocols are where the telecommunicators have been trained in the use of
Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International, Inc.) (APCO), or
other similar type, flip charts or booklets with medical plans and actions in order to
assist or coach parties awaiting emergency response vehicles. The need for two
telecommunicators does not apply when they only answer and/or dispatch alarms,
including emergency medical calls, without providing EMD protocols.
6 - Feature Definitions. Computer Aided Dispatching (CAD) Dispatch data may include
response assignments, address locations, equipment status, utility locations, and
special hazards.
7 - If Call Detail Recording (CDR) is provided and record results indicate performance
criteria is not being met, use the following linear approach:
Determine the number of needed operators or telecommunicators when the number
of operators or telecommunicators provided is less than the number needed when
applying NFPA 1221 and the call performance falls short of standard.
Use the simple formula to calculate number of needed operators:
Existing Operators X Desired Percentage/Existing Percentage = Needed Operators
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
24
Example: There are 3 existing operators on duty at all times. The CDR data indicates
that 80% of calls are answered within 15 seconds. The desired performance level is
95% of calls answered within 15 seconds. There the calculation is as follows: 3 Existing
Operators X 95% / 80% = 3.56 Needed Operators.
McMinn County 911’s calculation 2 X 90/80 = 2.25
8 - The call volume matrix tables shall apply if CDR and CAD is not available and the
community has no other documentation of call recording or the fire report or
equivalent is unavailable.
CALL VOLUME MATRIX TABLE
(FOR PSAP THAT PERFORMS CALL TAKING AND DISPATCHING)
ALARMS PER YEAR NUMBER OF NEEDED OPERATORS
ANNUAL ALARMS
*Less than 731*
731 to 10,000
10,001 to 25,000
25,001 to 50,000
50,001 to 100,000
100,001 to 150,000
150,001 to 200,000
200,001 to 250,000
250,001 to 300,000
**Over 300,000**
(3 operators plus 1 supervisor
in the communication center)
(4 operators plus 1 supervisor
in the communication center)
(5 operators plus 1 supervisor
in the communication center)
(6 operators plus 1 supervisor
in the communication center)
(7 operators plus 1 supervisor
in the communication center)
(8 operators plus 1 supervisor
in the communication center)
(9 operators plus 1 supervisor
in the communication center)
(10 operators plus 1
supervisor in the
communication center)
NEEDED DISPATCHERS
1
2
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
*Exception: Communication centers that provide emergency medical dispatching (EMD)
protocols shall have two telecommunicators on duty at all times (as previously defined
above).
McMinn County 911 provides EMD
NOTE 1: The above staffing levels contemplate the prompt answering of all calls, use of
EMD protocols, operation of dispatch circuits, transmitting of alarms, operation of
tactical radio functions, response to trouble conditions and signals, and performance of
routine business activities associated with the communication center.
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
25
NOTE 2: The supervisor should be a separate person. Therefore, one person should
not be credited as both an operator and a supervisor. When the matrix calls for a
supervisor, the supervisor should be available in the communication center. The
definition of communication center from the 2002 edition of NFPA 1221 reads, "A
building or portion of a building that is specifically configured for the primary purpose of
providing emergency communications services or public safety answering point (PSAP)
services to one or more public safety agencies under the authority or authorities having
jurisdiction." If the communication center is located in a building which is not used solely
for the communication center, then the supervisor should be located in the portion of the
building that is used as the communication center.
NOTE 3: When using this matrix, if alarms are received at one PSAP (or call taking
location) and some alarms are transferred to a secondary PSAP for dispatching, the
determination of the number of needed operators for the initial PSAP should include all
such alarms. The number of operators credited should include only those available at
the initial PSAP. An evaluation should also be made of the secondary PSAP where the
alarms are actually dispatched to the fire department being graded. This evaluation
should include only the total number of alarms received by that PSAP and only the
number of operators available at that location. A comparison should then be made to
determine the most deficient condition(s) (operators on duty and operators awake at all
times), and each such condition is what should be credited in the grading.
NOTE 4: When all emergency calls (alarms) received at the primary PSAP (call taking
only) are immediately transferred (detailed information is not gathered) to a secondary
PSAP(s) where public safety agencies are then dispatched, the following matrix table
applies.
** For every 10 additional calls (alarms) average per hour (87,600 calls per year), add
one additional operator.
McMinn County 911 answers 108,000 calls annually
9 – When different numbers of operators are on duty during different periods, the
average number of operators on duty will be determined.
421. B: NUMBER OF OPERATORS AWAKE AT ALL TIMES (OA):
Up to 20 points
The McMinn County 911 is staffed with 2 telecommunicators 12 hours each day from 11
PM till 11 AM and then staffing is increased to 3 telecommunicators from 11 AM till 11
PM.
Section Scores: A: 49 B: 12
TOTAL Equals (PO): 61
Total Possible Points = 100
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
26
422. CREDIT FOR OPERATORS (CTO):
CTO = 1.83 out of a possible 3.00
430. DISPATCH CIRCUITS (DC):
Dispatch circuit facilities used to transmit alarms to fire department members should be
provided in accordance with the general criteria of NFPA Standard 1221. If all
responding firefighters are in the same building as the communication center, and are
alerted, no dispatch circuit is needed. No credit will be given for facilities that are
installed but not used.
NUMBER OF NEEDED CIRCUITS -- Two Circuits are needed (a primary and a
secondary). McMinn County 911 provides two circuits for dispatch service.
Primary Secondary
A. Dispatch Circuit(s) Provided:
Apply only one of the following for each needed dispatch circuit.
Maximum credit for this sub item is 40 points.
1. Circuit to fire station where personnel are on duty:
a. The circuit consists of radio, voice-amplification, facsimile, or teletype
facilities. McMinn County 911: 20
b. The circuit indicates only the box number or street intersection.
When the circuit indicated above is provided, and there is a telephone circuit or other
means of transmitting detailed information to the fire station, add
c. The circuit consists only of a telephone circuit.
2. Radio Receivers Carried by Members: The circuit consists of a radio transmitter at
the communication center and receivers carried by members.
a. Voice receivers. 20
b. Coded tone receivers.
c. Non-coded tone receivers. When the circuit indicated in "b" or "c" above is
provided, and there is a telephone circuit or other means of transmitting detailed
information to the fire station, add
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
27
3. Circuit To Outside Coded Sounding Device:
The circuit is to an outside coded sounding device to notify members.
When the circuit indicated above is provided, and there is a telephone circuit or other
means of transmitting detailed information to the fire station.
4. Circuit To Outside Non-coded Sounding Device:
The circuit is to an outside non-coded sounding device to notify members.
When the circuit indicated above is provided, and there is a telephone circuit or other
means of transmitting detailed information to the fire station.
5. Radio to Members' Homes and Businesses:
The circuit consists of a radio transmitter at the communication center and voice
receivers in the homes and businesses of members.
6. Group Alerting Telephone Circuit:
The circuit consists of a group alerting telephone circuit to telephones in the homes
and business of members.
7. No Circuit Provided: 0
2. Monitoring for Integrity of Circuit: McMinn County 911 does monitor for
integrity: 30 points
3. Dispatch Recording Facilities at Communication Center: 10 points
4. Emergency Power Supply:
Apply only one of the following for each needed dispatch circuit. When a dispatch
circuit is dependent upon power at both transmitting and receiving facilities, credit the
emergency power arrangement with the least points. Maximum credit for this subitem is 20 points.
1. Batteries and manually-started generator:
2. Automatically-started generator: McMinn County 911: 20
3. Manually-started generator: N/A
4. Batteries only: N/A
5. No emergency power provided: N/A
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
28
6. When no circuit is needed: N/A
Note: If some companies and members are notified by one method and others by
another method, prorate the points by the number of on-duty, or equivalent call or
volunteer, members alerted by each method.
432. CREDIT FOR DISPATCH CIRCUITS (CDC):
Possible 100 Points for CDC
CDC = 5 out of a possible 5.00
440. CREDIT FOR RECEIVING AND HANDLING FIRE ALARMS (CFA):
CDC = 7.34 - this calculates to a relative ISO score of CLASS 3
CFA = CTS + CTO + CDC
8.63 = 1.80 + 1.83 + 5
McMinn County 911 CFA Score: 8.63
Fire Suppression Rating Schedule — Fire Department
500. GENERAL:
This item reviews the engine and ladder-service companies, equipment carried,
response to fires, training and available firefighters.
501. BASIC FIRE FLOW (BFF):
From the Needed Fire Flows, determined in Item 340, the 5th highest is considered to
be the Basic Fire Flow. The Needed Fire Flows for buildings in the city rated and coded
sprinklered are not considered in determining the Basic Fire Flow. The maximum Basic
Fire Flow is 3,500 gpm.
510. NUMBER OF NEEDED ENGINE COMPANIES (NE):
1. Number of Needed Engine Companies by Basic Fire Flow:
BASIC FIRE FLOW, GPM
NUMBER OF NEEDED ENGINE COMPANIES
500 – 1000
1,250 – 2,500
3,000 – 3,500
1
2
3
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
29
2. Number of Needed Engine Companies for Distribution:
An additional engine company is needed for each area where a company needed in
510.A will not satisfy the first-due response distance, as defined in Item 560, to 50
percent or more of a standard response district. A standard response district is a
built upon area that is within satisfactory response travel distance. An additional
company is not needed for this item when it will not satisfy the response distance to
at least 50 percent of a standard response district.
Number of Engine companies needed = 2
510. A&B NUMBER OF NEEDED ENGINE COMPANIES
The number of needed engine companies is based upon the maximum number of
engine companies needed for:
1. Basic Fire Flow
2. Distribution
3. Operations
No. 1 – Basic Fire Flow
The FSRS clearly defines in Item 510.A how to determine the number of needed engine
companies due to the Basic Fire Flow (BFF) for a single community. When a fire
department also serves areas outside the community, the number of engine companies
needed by BFF is based upon the needed fire flows for the entire protected (Class 8 or
better) area served.
No. 2 – Distribution
Measure distribution by: Evaluation of existing engine company station locations must
be done in the following order and with the following specific and general guidelines:
1. Excess Travel Distance by Existing Engine Company Locations: Any current
engine company location that is located in such a way that the elimination of the
existing location would create areas that would be over 5 road miles from another
existing engine company location must be considered as existing and needed at the
location it is located currently. This is necessary for the reason that the protection
class or split protection class that is developed for the graded area will be applicable
to all areas within 5 road miles of all existing engine company fire stations.
2. Determination of Standard Response District (SRD): A standard response district
for engine companies is the maximum number of hydrants within 1 1/2 miles of an
existing or proposed, well-located engine company in the city being graded. The
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
30
Standard Response District in cities with multiple engine company locations is the
average number of hydrants served by the existing engine companies as determined
by the total of hydrants within 1 1/2 mile areas divided by the number of engine
company locations. Consideration may be given for excluding relatively low number
hydrant stations as described below.
Relatively low number of hydrants within 1 1/2 mile area of existing engine company
location. Any engine company location that has relatively significantly lower number
of hydrants compared with the overall average for other engine company locations
may be evaluated for consideration of being excluded from the calculation of the SRD
— even though the engine company location is required at the current site due to
Excess Travel Distance as specified under Excess Travel Distance by Existing
Engine Company Locations section. The decision to exclude an engine company
location from the SRD analysis is based on the actual number of hydrants in the total
group of engine company station locations and the average mix. Generally, engine
company locations with hydrants within 1 1/2 miles of the station that total less than
15% of the total preliminary average of all engine company locations in the graded
area or less than 8 hydrants can be considered for exclusion from the final calculation
of the SRD, so as to not adversely affect the SRD result. If excluded from the final
SRD analysis calculation, the station can be considered for relocation to a well
located needed location, provided the existing station location is not needed by
Method of Operation or Excess Travel Distance criteria as defined.
3. Overlapping Engine Company 1 1/2 Mile Response Areas: Where the 1 1/2 mile
response district boundary line of one engine company station location overlaps with
one or more other existing engine company locations 1 1/2 mile boundary lines,
analysis should be made to evaluate which engine company location should have the
maximum 1 1/2 mile extension of the boundary lines and which shall have less than
the maximum 1 1/2 mile extension of the boundary line to determine if a location
would result in a relatively low number of hydrants for any resulting smaller evaluated
area. Review of individual specific factors for the district (such as dead-end streets or
highways and rivers that are not passable except at limited points) are taken into
account when evaluating the 1 1/2 mile distribution area and possible additional
locations.
4. General Distribution Study Factors: a.) Distances must be measured by accessible
roadway, not as "the crow flies", or with a radius or rectangle. b.) In a graded area
where the Standard Response District is less than 16 hydrants, limit the number of
additional needed engine company locations to the maximum number needed by
BFF or operations, whichever is greater. This procedure is to limit the number of
additional needed engine company locations when there are very low numbers of
hydrants or widely spaced hydrants. The count of 16 hydrants represents the
approximate number of hydrants that would be within 1 1/2 miles of a fire station
located at the intersection of two perpendicular streets with hydrants spaced about
2000 feet apart. Buildings located along the streets would be within 1000 feet of a
hydrant.
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
31
Exception: When only one Engine Company is needed by Basic Fire Flow, a second
needed engine company location shall be required by calculating an area at 50% of a
Standard Response District (SRD), regardless of the number of hydrants within the
SRD.
NOTE: In all cases, there is no limitation to the number of any engine company fire
station locations needed due to EXCESS TRAVEL DISTANCE, which as defined must
be located at existing locations to provide the graded class or split class to areas within
5 road miles from the existing fire station location. c.) The FSRS clearly defines in Item
510 B how to determine the number of additional engine company locations needed by
distribution within a single community or graded area. When a fire department also
serves protected areas outside of the community or graded area, the number of
additional engine company locations needed by distribution is based upon the entire
protected areas served. d.) When any area beyond 1 1/2-miles of an engine company
equals 50% or more of a standard response district an additional engine company may
be needed. e.) Whenever the number of existing engine company locations plus the
number of additional needed engine company locations exceeds the number of engine
companies needed for the BFF, then the need by distribution of each existing engine
company location should be evaluated. Consider the need for each existing engine
company location one station at a time. An existing engine company location is needed
when, if it did not exist, a station would be needed by distribution in its vicinity. f.) The
total number of engine companies needed by Distribution is the number of needed
existing engine company locations plus the number of additional needed engine
company locations. g.) An engine company whether needed or not needed by
Distribution must still be evaluated on the basis of Method of Operations. For example,
only one engine company is needed in each fire station location when the number of
needed engine companies is based on Distribution. However, if any fire station has
more than one staffed engine company, but any engine company that:
1. Responds on first alarm structure fires to only certain portions of that fire station
response area or the district as a single or one of only two engine companies while
another staffed engine in the same station responds to other areas within the station
response area or district; or
2. Is part of a two-piece engine company; or
3. Is a special response company requiring it be at the location assigned; i.e.; special
foam equipped engine for response to an airport or refinery, in addition to structure
fire responses; requires that such an engine company shall be considered as needed
by Method of Operations at the location housed. The analysis and possible
modification of the Standard Response District and the total number of engine
company locations by Distribution must consider all of the items listed above.
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
32
No. 3 – Operations (Response)
a) The standard response on the 1st alarm for a reported fire in a building is 2 engine
companies (except when only 1 engine company is needed by BFF); and a ladder or
a service company.
b) When the existing number of in-service pumpers exceeds the number of engine
companies needed by BFF and by distribution and:
1.Three or more pumpers respond to some 1st alarms for fires in building.
or
2.Two or more pumpers are in a station and none of these pumpers are needed
elsewhere to satisfy a distribution need. Each pumper should be evaluated to
determine if it can be considered as a ladder or service company, part of the multiplepiece engine company, an extra pumper, or a surplus engine company.
c) The minimum number of engine companies needed by operation shall be 2 except
when only 1 is needed by BFF.
Number of Needed Engine Companies
The actual number of needed engine companies within a community (protected area) is
the highest number of those needed by BFF, or by distribution or by operations.
Additional engine companies may be needed according to Item 510.C of the FSRS due
to insufficient apparatus remaining in the community during responses outside the
protected area.
510.C: NUMBER OF NEEDED ENGINE COMPANIES FOR AREAS OUTSIDE THE
CITY:
When more than 10 percent of the total number of fire alarms are outside the city, and
less than 50 percent of the companies needed for the city remain within the city,
sufficient additional engine companies are needed to bring the number remaining within
the city up to the 50 percent level. However, this provision is not applicable when an
automatic-aid plan is credited under Item 512.
511. NUMBER OF EXISTING ENGINE COMPANIES (EE):
A. Engine Companies: Pumpers that are staffed on first alarms will be credited as
existing engine companies. Only apparatus with permanently mounted pumps rated
at 250 gpm or more at 150 psi shall be credited in this item. All Etowah fire apparatus
have pumps rated at 250 GPM or more at 150 PSI and two engines are staffed at all
times.
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
33
511. NUMBER OF EXISTING ENGINE COMPANIES
A. The acceptability of a pumper considered for credit for Class 8 or better will be
based upon a Certification Test or a 3-hour Acceptance Test satisfying all of the
following requirements:
100% of rated capacity at 150 psi net pump pressure.
70% of rated capacity at 200 psi net pump pressure.
50% of rated capacity at 250 psi net pump pressure.
Therefore, a pumper rated to pump at least 250 gpm at 150 psi but not rated to
pump at least 125 gpm at 250 psi is not acceptable.
B. Engine-Ladder or Engine-Service Companies:
Apparatus that carries both pumper and ladder-service equipment that is staffed on
first alarms shall be credited as an existing engine company if needed according to
Item 510.
511.B. ENGINE - LADDER OR ENGINE - SERVICE COMPANIES
No. 1 – A pumper-ladder truck that is staffed shall be credited as an engine company
when an engine company is needed and as 1/2 a ladder company when a ladder
company is needed. However, when an engine company is not needed it may be
credited as a full ladder company when a ladder company is needed. The same
conditions apply when a pumper-service truck is staffed.
No. 2 – This procedure shall be used in evaluating Quint type of fire apparatus. The
following procedure shall be used where communities have in service quint type of fire
apparatus housed in 50% or more of their existing fire stations and have a minimum of 2
quints in service. This qualification shall apply where the quints are not housed with
other in-service engine or ladder/service companies.
A minimum of a three apparatus response shall be on the initial alarm to reported
structure fires. Two of the apparatus should be capable of satisfying the minimum FSRS
criteria for a pumper and the remaining apparatus a ladder or service company. It may
be necessary to review the fire department's SOP/SOG as well as fire incident reports
to determine the number of apparatus that is dispatched to first alarm structure fires. A
quint will operate as an engine company on some first alarm structure fires and as a
ladder company on other first alarm structure fires within the operational first alarm
response areas of the quint. To determine the need for an aerial ladder or elevating
platform device, all 3-story or higher buildings, all 35 foot or higher buildings, and all
buildings that have a Needed Fire Flow greater than 3,500 gpm in the primary response
district of the apparatus (the 1st due area) and all adjacent response districts (where the
quint is the 2nd, 3rd, etc., due piece of fire apparatus) on first alarm structure responses
shall be used. A similar analysis shall be made for any additional needed location. The
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
34
height of the tallest building in the primary response district (the 1st due area) of the
quint and all adjacent response districts (where the quint is the 2nd, 3rd, etc., due piece
of fire apparatus) on first alarm structure responses shall be used as the needed height
of the aerial ladder or elevating platform (not exceeding 100 feet) for the quint
apparatus. The needed length of an aerial ladder or elevated platform for any additional
needed ladder company locations shall be based on a similar analysis of the height of
structures in the response district of the needed ladder company location and any other
adjacent operational first alarm structure fire response districts. The procedure shall
work as follows once the above has been established:
1. Conduct a distribution study using each quint as an engine company, measuring the
1.5 mile distance from each station housing a quint (as well as any single engine
companies). Determine the need for any additional engine company locations.
2. Conduct a distribution study using each quint as a ladder/service company,
measuring the 2.5 mile distance from each station housing a quint (as well as any
single ladder/service companies). Determine the need for any additional ladder/
service company locations.
3. If all apparatus are quints and there is no additional engine locations needed, then
there shall be no additional ladder/service locations needed. However, if there is a
mixture of single engines and quints, an additional ladder/service company location
may be needed even if there is no additional engine location needed based on a
Standard Response District Distribution study. In addition, any existing engine
company station location that is over 7.5 road miles from a current existing ladder/
service company or additional needed ladder/service company evaluated in Section
540 & 541 No. 1, shall require the existing engine company to be designated as an
existing needed engine/ladder or engine/service company by distribution due to
excess travel distance. Any additional needed ladder/service locations shall be
located at a location for a needed engine location or an existing single engine
location.
4. Credit all quints as existing engine companies under item 511(1).
5. Credit all equipment carried, hose, and testing for hose and the pump at full credit
under item EC (512).
6. Credit 100% under item 513(2) for the response of 2 engine companies.
7. Take the best equipped quint as a single pumper or single engine whichever has the
most credited engine points out of service for item 522(1).
8. Credit a reserve quint at full engine points for item 521(1). If the reserve is a pumper
only, credit the equipment it carries at full value under item 521(1).
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
35
9. Credit the full pump capacity of all quints under item 531(1) for in-service pumpers.
Less credit may be given for lack of test results or performance less than the rated
capacity.
10. Credit all quints as an existing ladder/service company location in item 540(1).
Credit any existing engine company location designated as a needed engine/
ladder or engine/service company as an existing ladder/service company in Item
540(1).
11. The total number of needed ladder companies in item 540 shall be entered in as
50% of the total number of quints. The total number of needed engine/ladder and
engine/service companies inserted in Item 540 shall be entered as the actual
number of such needed companies.
12. The number of in-service ladder companies in item 542(1) shall be entered in as
50% of the total number of quints. Any needed in-service existing engine/ladder or
engine/service companies shall be entered as the actual number of such
companies under Items 542(2) or 543(2).
13. The ladder equipment on the Apparatus & Equipment sheet for each quint shall be
credited at full credit including those items that were previously credited toward
engine equipment. These items that may be counted under both engine equipment
and ladder equipment include self-contained breathing apparatus, spare cylinders,
salvage covers, hand lights, mounted radios, portable radios, and the 24' extension
ladder. For example: if a quint carries 5 self-contained breathing apparatus, 4 shall
be credited under engine equipment when evaluating this unit as an engine and 5
shall be credited under ladder equipment when evaluating this unit as a ladder.
14. The ladder company equipment total in item 544 shall be entered in as 50% of the
total equipment points of all quints. Any needed engine/ladder or engine/service
company actual equipment total shall be entered in Item 543 or Item 547.
15. If the district for a quint does not need an aerial device, apply the above procedure
in the service company entries. For example: If the vehicle is an engine equipped
with additional ladder company equipment and is used in the same fashion as a
quint as noted above, this procedure may be applied for this apparatus.
16. For all single ladder or service companies, credit without making the 50%
adjustment in the above items.
17. Credit 100% under item 549(3) for the response of 1 ladder/service company.
18. A reserve quint may not be credited as both a reserve pumper and a reserve
ladder or service truck. Credit a reserve quint either as a reserve pumper, or as a
reserve ladder or service truck only, based on what is needed for the grading.
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
36
19. Take the best-equipped quint as a ladder or single ladder whichever has the most
credited ladder points out of service for item 552(1). The points to be entered
should be 50% of the ladder points for the best-equipped quint. If the best equipped
apparatus is a single ladder, credit the equipment it carries at full value.
20. Credit for distribution item 560(2) shall be based upon the number of hydrants (road
miles) over 1.5 miles from an existing quint and any existing engine company
locations.
21. Credit for distribution item 560(3) shall be based upon the number of hydrants (road
miles) over 2.5 miles from an existing quint and any existing ladder, service, engine/
ladder, and engine/service company locations.
22. Personnel credit is based on the average number on duty or responding.
23. No impact on the training item except that for credit for multiple company drills
under the use of facilities, two apparatus must be involved. For example: 2 quints or
1 quint and 1 engine.
3. Automatic-Aid Engine Companies:
Engine companies from outside the city and within 5 miles of the city limits will be
credited when they respond according to a definite plan and offset the lack of needed
engine companies.
512. EQUIPMENT ON EXISTING ENGINE COMPANIES (ECi):
For each company meeting the criteria of Item 511, the following items shall be
reviewed:
A. Pump Capacity (PCi): The actual pump capacity for each existing pumper shall be
credited at rated pump pressure.
Total Pump Capacity = 2,500 gpm
512.A. PUMP CAPACITY:
No. 1 – For creditable pump capacities see Item 530 - No. 2.
No. 2 – When a Class B pumper is to be credited a pump pressure of 120, psi is
satisfactory.
512.B. HOSE CARRIED:
No. 1 - When less than 400 feet of 2 1/2-inch hose is carried or less than 800 feet of
hose larger than 2 1/2-inch is carried, the value for the factor HCi will be less than 1.0.
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
37
When more than 400 feet of 2 1/2-inch hose and more than 800 feet of hose larger than
2 1/2-inch, or more than 1200 feet of 2 1/2-inch hose is carried, the value for the factor
HCi cannot exceed 1.0.
No. 2 - Two-inch hose may be credited in place of the 400 feet of 2 1/2-inch hose, but
shall not be credited in place of the 800 feet of 2 1/2-inch or larger hose. Also when 3inch hose is used as hand lines it may be credited in place of the 400 feet of 2 1/2-inch
hose.
SUPPLY HOSE CARRIED
Engine 301 (1200 feet 2½” hose) = 1,200 feet of supply hose
Engine 302 (1400 feet 2½”hose) = 1,400 feet of supply hose
512.C. EQUIPMENT (Ei)
The points credit for the equipment on each existing in-service pumper shall be
determined from Tables 512.A, 512.B, and 512.C.
512.D. AUTOMATIC-AID PLAN (AAi):
The credit for responding automatic-aid companies is dependent upon the value of
the automatic-aid arrangements (AAi), which is determined by application of the
following:
No Automatic Aid is used in Etowah.
512.E. CALCULATION FOR VALUE OF EXISTING ENGINE COMPANIES (ECi):
The value of ECi for each existing engine company shall be determined by the
following formula:
Note 1: The value of ECi shall be reduced by 2 percent for each 10 percent that the
apparatus exceeds the manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating.
All vehicle weights are within manufacturer’s gross vehicle weight rating.
Ladder 1 actual loaded weight: _________ Weight rating: _________
Engine 1 actual loaded weight: _________ Weight rating: _________
Engine 2 actual loaded weight: _________ Weight rating: _________
Note 2: When automatic aid is credited to offset the lack of a needed engine company,
multiply the value of ECi by the AAi developed for each credited automatic-aid engine
company.
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
38
TABLE 512.A PUMPER EQUIPMENT AND HOSE
Equipment and Hose Needed
Points
Credit/Unit Total Points
Relative Value of Pumper Equipment and Hose (Table 512.A)
Maximum
Points
Added to
Total
Percentage
FSRS
Points of Available Preliminary
Possible
Points
Score
Needed
Points
Credit/
Unit
Booster tank
300 gal.
1/10 gal.
30
4.59%
0.46
Hose: booster
200 feet
3/50
12
1.83%
0.18
Hose: 1-1/2" carried
400 feet
3/50
24
3.67%
0.37
Hose: 1-1/2" spare
200 feet
2/50
8
1.22%
0.12
Hose: 2-1/2" spare
200 feet
3/50
12
1.83%
0.18
Heavy-stream appliance
(1,000 gpm)
1
100
100
15.29%
1.53
Distributing nozzle
1
5
5
0.76%
0.08
Foam nozzle
(1-1/2" minimun)
1
4
4
0.61%
0.06
Foam: carried
10 gal.
3/5 gal.
6
0.92%
0.09
Foam: spare
15 gal.
2/5 gal.
6
0.92%
0.09
Nozzles: 2-1/2" playpipe
with shutoff
2
20
40
6.12%
0.61
Nozzles: 2-1/2" straight
stream & spray
2
30
60
9.17%
0.92
Nozzles: 1-1/2" straight
stream & spray
2
10
20
3.06%
0.31
Breathing equipment
(30-min. minimum)
4
16
64
9.79%
0.98
Breathing equipment extra
cylinders
4
4
16
2.45%
0.25
Salvage covers
2
2
4
0.61%
0.06
Handlight
(4V wet, 6V dry)
2
2
4
0.61%
0.06
Hose clamp
1
4
4
0.61%
0.06
Equipment & Hose
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
39
Hydrant hose gate (2-1/2")
1
4
4
0.61%
0.06
Burst hose jacket (2-1/2")
1
4
4
0.61%
0.06
Gated wye
(2-1/2" x 1-1/2" x 1-1/2")
1
4
4
0.61%
0.06
Radio: mounted
1
32
32
4.89%
0.49
Radio: portable
1
16
16
2.45%
0.25
Ladder: 12- or 14-ft. roof
1
10
10
1.53%
0.15
Ladder: 24-ft. extension
1
15
15
2.29%
0.23
Annual test: pumper
1
100
100
15.29%
1.53
Annual test: hose
1
50
50
7.65%
0.77
654
100%
10.00
Totals:
Total 654
*Extra pre-connected 1 1/2-inch hose may be substituted for booster hose.
¾A heavy stream device is not needed for a Basic Fire Flow of less than 1,500 gpm.
Table 512.A. PUMPER EQUIPMENT AND HOSE
No. 1 – Extra 1 1/2-and 2 1/2-inch hose carried on apparatus may be credited as spare
hose. Extra spare hose in one fire station may be credited as spare hose for apparatus
in another fire station.
No. 2 – A "Heavy Stream Appliance" refers to a portable or mounted turret nozzle
(deluge, monitor, wagon pipe, or deck guns). When an elevated stream device is
mounted on a pumper or pumper-ladder credited as an engine company, or on a
reserve pumper, it may be credited as a heavy stream appliance. Pre-piped (or preplumbed), LDH-inlet, or three-inlet appliances should be credited at 1000 gpm. A twoinlet appliance may be prorated at a lesser gpm credit if it is known that the appliance
will only produce that amount. There is no proration of a heavy stream appliance on a
pumper rated (or tested) at less than 1000 gpm due solely to the lesser pump capacity.
No. 3 – When a heavy stream appliance is carried on an in-service ladder or service
truck it should be given credit as if it were on an in-service pumper when both pumper
and ladder service units are housed in the same fire station, and respond together to all
structural alarms.
No. 4 – No credit is given for high expansion foam. Class B Foam or Class A Foam is
credited.
No. 5 – No credit shall be given for "flashlights" or "Maglights".
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
40
No. 6 – Four-volt, wet-cell powered electric hand lights are acceptable.
No. 7 – No credit shall be given for a 15-minute, self-contained breathing apparatus. No
additional credit is allowed for 60-minute SCBA. Breathing apparatus should meet
NFPA 1981, Standard for Open-Circuit Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus for Fire and
Emergency Services.
No. 8 – All spare foam in the department should be credited. Use the average amount
available per in-service and credited reserve pumpers. Foam listed in the UL Fire
Protection Equipment Directory as foam liquid concentrates is credited. Wetting agents,
liquid penetrants, emulsifiers and surfactants are not credited.
No. 9 – Either 1 1/2" or 2 1/2" foam eductors and foam nozzles are credited. Built-in
foam proportioning systems are creditable as a foam eductor. Compressed Air Foam
Systems (CAFS) is creditable. CAFS are meant to be used in conjunction with Class A
foam.
No. 10 – When the Basic Fire Flow is less than 1500 gpm, a heavy stream appliance is
not needed and the 100 points assigned shall be deducted from the sum for Ei and from
654 points in the denominator in the formula in Item 513.
No. 11 – When an engine-ladder or an engine-service company is to be credited, a
piece of equipment that is common to both engine companies and ladder service
companies shall be credited for one or the other but not both. The amount of common
equipment should be credited first for the engine company portion (up to the limit) and
the remainder (up to the limit) for the ladder or service company portion. Exception: A
mounted radio shall be credited for both units.
No. 12 – A combination radio (a portable unit in a dashboard adapter-charger bracket
on the apparatus) will be credited as a mounted radio only.
No. 13 – One and three quarter-inch hose may be credited in place of 1 1/2-inch hose
and 2-inch hose in place of 2 1/2-inch hose.
No. 14 – No credit will be given for hall runners, hose bed covers, or heavy mil plastic in
lieu of canvas or rip-stop plastic salvage covers.
No. 15 – No credit will be given for air cascade SCBA systems in lieu of spare bottles
required in NFPA Standard 1901.
No. 16 – Extra pre-connected 1 1/2" or 1 3/4" hose may be credited for booster hose.
No. 17 – A piercing nozzle may be credited in lieu of a distributing nozzle.
No. 18 – Credit will be allowed for an existing hose clamp in lieu of a burst hose jacket.
Only one is needed for both credits.
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
41
No. 19 – Built-in Foam proportioning or CAFS system is acceptable.
TABLE 512.B PUMPER SERVICE TESTS
Average Interval Between 3 Most Recent Tests
1 Year
2 Year
3 Year
4 Year
5 Years or more
Maximum points credited
100
75
50
25
0
A Pumper Service Test is similar to the Certification Test described in NFPA Standard
1901 except that the duration is reduced to 20 minutes at 150 psi, 10 minutes at 200 psi
and 10 minutes at 250 psi. The overload test is not necessary. Service tests are
described in the NFPA Standard 1911 – Standard for Service Tests of Fire Pump
Systems on Fire Apparatus.
Table 512.B. PUMPER SERVICE TESTS
No. 1 – The point’s credit in this Table for Service Tests of Pumpers conducted by the
fire department should be multiplied by the percentages given below for the time
duration of each part of the test as given in the Schedule:
20 Minutes at 150 psi Pump Pressure 80%
10 Minutes at 200 psi Pump Pressure 10%
10 Minutes at 250 psi Pump Pressure 10%
Spurt (165%), tank to pump, vacuum and pressure relief tests are not evaluated.
TABLE 512.C HOSE SERVICE TESTS
Average Interval Between 3 Most Recent Tests
1 Year
2 Years
3 Years
4 Years
5 Years or More
Maximum Points Credit
250 PSI
50
37
25
12
0
200 PSI
37
27
18
9
0
150 PSI
25
18
12
6
0
Tests for fire hose are described in NFPA Standard 1962 - Care, Use, and
Service Testing Fire Hose including Couplings and Nozzles. When the hose test
frequency, pressure, or both vary for 2 1/2-inch and larger hose and for 1 1/2-inch hose,
proportion the credit using 65 percent for the 2 1/2 inch and larger hose, and 35 percent
for the 1 1/2inch hose.
Note: If there are no records of tests claimed to have been conducted, reduce the
applicable points credit by 20 percent for Tables 512.B and 512.C.
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
42
Table 512.C. HOSE SERVICE TESTS
No. 1 – Large diameter hose (LDH) in excess of 3" in diameter shall be tested in
accordance with NFPA 1962. The 2 1/2-inch and larger and the 1 1/2-inch hose shall be
prorated based upon the 65% and 35% rules respectively. The total points then shall be
prorated based upon the total amount of LDH existing in relationship to the total amount
of all hose in use. Note: The highest test pressure needed for 3" in diameter and smaller
hose shall be 250 psi, commensurate with the FSRS. Note: Hose testing credit should
be proportioned on an aggregate department wide basis. This will eliminate the need to
do individual apparatus calculations and simplify the calculations when the frequency
and test pressure is the same or nearly the same for all apparatus. Use the 250 psi
column on page 20 of the FSRS to determine the applicable points for LDH, prorating
the points based upon the average interval between the 3 most recent tests. Therefore,
for 3 1/2-inch substitute 200 psi for 250 psi, 150 psi for 200 psi, and 100 psi for 150 psi.
Etowah’s hose test records are available for review.
513. CREDIT FOR ENGINE COMPANIES (CEC):
CEC = 5.8 out of a possible 10.00
If NE < EE, then NE = EE
where n = the number of existing engine companies (EE).
I = Percent of built-upon area of the city with first alarm response of at least 2 engine
companies to fires in buildings.
I' = Percent of built-upon area of the city with first alarm response of only one engine
company to fire in buildings, except in cities where only one engine company is needed.
Note 1: In cities where only one engine company is needed, I = 100%, and I'= 0.
Note 2: Reduce 654 to 554 if a heavy stream device is not needed and not credited
according to Table 512.A.
513. CREDIT FOR ENGINE COMPANIES
No. 1 - Some cities may dispatch a single engine company to fire alarms reported by
automatic alarm systems. The value of I' shall reflect the percentage of total built-upon
area of the city with response of only one engine company to reported fires in buildings.
This percentage should be calculated based upon Structure Fire Alarms for the year
under review. Some cities may dispatch a fire department car, or a police car, to
investigate a fire reported by automatic alarm. For all reported fires in buildings where
only a car is dispatched, the response shall be considered to be 0. This means that the
sum of I and I' will be less than 100%. Fire department personnel responding in a car
can be credited in Item 571 for that alarm. If only police personnel respond, there is no
credit for personnel for that alarm.
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
43
No. 2 - An automatic-aid engine company not otherwise creditable may be credited as
the 2nd needed responding engine company in "I" in the equation.
No. 3 - The mode of response (emergency with lights and siren or non-emergency)
shall not be considered in the evaluation of the response of all apparatus including
automatic alarms and structure fires. This includes all first and multiple alarm
responses. This shall also apply to ladder/service companies. This shall also apply to
any apparatus credited under an alternate water supply evaluation.
520. NUMBER OF NEEDED RESERVE PUMPERS (NRP):
The number of needed reserve pumpers is 1 for each 8 needed engine companies, or
any fraction thereof. When the number of existing engine companies (EE) exceeds the
number of needed engine companies (NE), the number of needed reserve pumpers is
based upon the number of existing engine companies.
NO RESERVE ENGINE
521. EQUIPMENT ON EXISTING RESERVE PUMPERS (RPCi):
Reserve pumpers are reviewed for pump capacity (PCi), hose carried (HCi) and
equipment (Ei) in the same manner as described in Item 512. The number of reserve
pumpers credited in this item shall not exceed the number of needed reserve pumpers.
The value of RPCi for each reserve pumper shall be determined by the following
formula: RPCi = (PCi)(HCi)(Ei)
Note: The value of RPCi shall be reduced 2 percent for each 10 percent that the
pumper exceeds the manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating. A reserve pumperladder or reserve pumper-service truck may be credited in this item as a reserve
pumper, or in Item 553 as a reserve ladder or service truck, but not both.
522. OUT OF SERVICE PUMPERS (OSPi):
The number of existing pumpers considered out of service shall be the number of
needed reserve pumpers. In-service apparatus with the largest number of points
credited in Item 513 shall be considered out of service.
OSPi = ECi for those pumpers considered as out of service.
523. CREDIT FOR RESERVE PUMPERS (CRP):
CRP = 0 out of a possible 1.00
If NE < EE, then NE = EE, where n = the number of creditable reserve pumpers from
Item 521, where n = the number of pumpers considered out of service (NRP).
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
44
Note: Reduce 654 to 554 if a heavy stream device is not needed and not credited
according to Table 512.A.
523. CREDIT FOR RESERVE PUMPERS
The credit for each engine-ladder and each engine-service company shall be the same
as that given in Item 513. When a multiple-piece engine company has been credited
and one of its pumpers has the largest number of points credited in Item 513, the
following procedure shall be used when the graded area has a reserve pumper:
(a) The total points for the combined engines shall be shown as being out of service in
Item 552 (1). Combine the equipment for the reserve engine and the engine that
would be left in service after the pumper with the largest number of points is
considered as being out of service. If the reserve pumper is located at a different
station and cannot be combined with the engine that is left in service, then it should
be determined which engine would give the greatest amount of points (The reserve
or the engine of the 2 piece company) and credit that unit as the reserve unit. A
single reserve engine shared among several communities may receive full credit for
each community. A written agreement is required to document the sharing
arrangement. A single reserve engine may receive full credit as a reserve for a total
of eight needed engines required by the sharing departments. This is the same
requirement the FSRS outlines in Item 520.
530. PUMP CAPACITY (PC):
The total available pump capacity should be sufficient for the basic fire flow in the city.
The pump capacity obtained by test at rated pump pressure, not to exceed rated
capacity, may be credited. Credit will be limited to 80 percent of the rated capacity if no
test data is available. Less than 80 percent may be credited if other mechanical features
of the apparatus indicate a generally poor mechanical performance.
ALL RECORDS OF PUMP TESTS ARE AVAILABLE.
530. PUMP CAPACITY
No. 1 – Total available pump capacity credited shall not exceed the basic fire flow
needed in the city.
No. 2 – When records of pumper service tests within the past 24 months are available,
the rated capacity of each unit shall be credited unless fire department test data
indicates an amount less than rated capacity.
No. 3 – When a performance demonstration is witnessed during a survey and the
apparatus cannot be started and moved outside the station, no credit shall be given for
the apparatus in any item of the grading.
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
45
No. 4 – When a performance demonstration indicates that the pump is capable of
delivering water, but it is observed that the apparatus is difficult to start, or the engine
"misses" excessively, or other obvious mechanical defects are noted, less than 80% of
the rated pump capacity may be credited.
No. 5 – The rated capacity of the pump should be established in the form of a
Certification Test or a 3-hour acceptance test, or by a test plate permanently attached to
the pumper at the pump operators' position.
531. REVIEW OF PUMP CAPACITY:
A. Existing Pump Capacity (EPi):
The pump capacity of in-service pumpers, pumper-ladder and pumper-service trucks
that were credited in Item 513 shall be credited in this item.
B. Reserve and Other Pump Capacity (RPi) and (OPi):
The creditable capacity of reserve pumpers, and reserve pumper-ladder and
pumper-service trucks that were credited in Item 523 shall be credited in this item.
One-half the capacity of permanently-mounted pumps, capable of delivering at least
50 gpm at 150 psi, on other apparatus, reserve pumpers, and reserve pumperladder and pumper-service trucks not credited in Items 513 or 523 shall be credited
in this item.
C. Automatic-Aid Pumper Capacity (AAPi):
The capacity of pumpers credited as automatic aid in Item 513 shall not exceed the
percent determined by the value of the automatic-aid plan (AAi) times the creditable
pump capacity for each credited automatic-aid pumper.
531. REVIEW OF PUMP CAPACITY
No credit shall be given for the pump capacity of any apparatus with a permanently
mounted pump that is not capable of pumping from a hydrant, or is not capable of
pumping from draft when a suction source has been credited.
532. CREDIT FOR PUMPER CAPACITY (CPC):
Where n = number of in-service apparatus from Item 513.
Where n = number of automatic-aid pumpers.
The value AAi is from Item 512.D.
Where n = number of reserve pumpers.
Where n = number of other apparatus.
CPC = 3.2 out of a possible 5.00
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
46
540. NUMBER OF NEEDED LADDER COMPANIES (NL):
Response areas with 5 buildings that are 3 stories or 35 feet or more in height, or with 5
buildings that have a needed fire flow greater than 3,500 gpm, or any combination of
these criteria, should have a ladder company. The height of all buildings in the city,
including those protected by automatic sprinklers, is considered when determining the
number of needed ladder companies.
540. NUMBER OF NEEDED LADDER COMPANIES
No. 1 – Ladder/Service company operations are normally intended to provide primary
property protection operations of 1.) Forcible entry; 2.) Utility shut-off; 3.) Ladder
placement; 4.) Ventilation; 5.) Salvage and Overhaul; 6.) Lighting.
ISO Batch Report for Etowah Fire Department - Sorted by Number of Building
Stories
Street
134
824
600
425
923
Waupaca Dr.
Wash
N. TN Ave.
8th. Street
Ohio Ave.
Building
Description
Church
Motel
Church
Church
NFF GPM
# Floors
Total Area Sq. Ft.
40’
35’
40’
35’
40’
319,640
42,240
28,986
18,000
16,494
Are all of these buildings within the 2 ½ mile ladder response district?
When no individual response district alone needs a ladder company, at least one ladder
company is needed if buildings in the city meet the above criteria. The criteria from
Items 510.B and 510.C for the number of needed engine companies also applies to the
number of needed ladder companies.
541. NUMBER OF NEEDED SERVICE COMPANIES (NS):
Response areas not needing a ladder company according to Item 540 should have a
service company.
540. NUMBER OF NEEDED LADDER COMPANIES
No. 1 – Ladder/Service company operations are normally intended to provide primary
property protection operations of 1.) Forcible entry; 2.) Utility shut-off; 3.) Ladder
placement; 4.) Ventilation; 5.) Salvage and Overhaul; 6.) Lighting.
541. NUMBER OF NEEDED SERVICE COMPANIES
The number of needed ladder/service companies is the higher number of the number of
ladder/service companies needed for:
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
47
1. Distribution
2. Operations
The number and location of the existing and needed ladder/service companies is first
determined and only then is the needed type (ladder or service) of each company
determined.
No. 1 – Distribution: Every protected area should have a ladder/service company
response. Accordingly, at least one ladder/service, engine-service, or engine-ladder
company shall be considered as an existing company. Whenever any protected area is
beyond 2 1/2 miles of actual existing ladder/service companies and/or well-located,
designated engine-service or engine-ladder companies, a determination of any
additional needed ladder/service companies shall be made. See Item 510.B of the
FSRS.
No. 2 – Operation:
a. The standard response on 1st alarms for a fire in a building should include a
ladder/service company. Therefore, if a ladder/service company does not respond, a
responding engine company equipped with any ladder/service equipment (after
crediting engine company equipment) should be considered to be an engine-ladder
or an engine-service company. The designation to suit the type of ladder/service
company needed for the response area.
Exception: In a protected area with very definite differentiation between engine and
ladder/service companies (i.e., very little ladder/service equipment on engine
companies and well equipped actual dedicated ladder and/or service companies located
throughout the protected area) the percent of response in Item 549(3) can be adjusted
rather than designating an engine company as an engine-ladder or engine-service
company. This exception is only applicable when the graded area has actual ladder
trucks or actual service trucks staffed by dedicated crews that do respond routinely with
engine companies on reported first alarm structure fires except for a limited area
identified and noted in 549(3). In some communities, one or more ladder companies are
in service that only respond on 1st alarm to fires reported to be in tall buildings and/or in
selected areas. In order to have ladder/service company response on all 1st alarms for
fires in buildings in the station's response area, consider an engine company that
responds with each such ladder company, and in the same station if possible, to be an
engine-service company. The grading will then consider as needed, and as existing, an
engine service company and a ladder company for each such needed ladder company.
If the same firefighters that man the ladder would also man the engine-service
company, then in Item 571 we consider only one crew as needed and it is a crew for
each such ladder company.
b. Occasionally a ladder/service company is equipped with a ladder truck and with a
service truck and responds with one or the other truck depending upon the location of
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
48
the alarm. In such a case, we consider both trucks as existing and as needed in
Items 549, 553 and 561. In Item 571 we consider only one crew as needed and it is a
crew for the ladder truck.
NOTE: When evaluating existing (actual and designated) and additional needed
ladder/service companies under Item 540 and 541 for distribution and/or operations,
every attempt must be made to identify any apparatus that can be selected and thus
designated to meet the need for a ladder/service truck.
Therefore, when an actual ladder/service company does not exist, an engine company
that carries any of the equipment that can fulfill some of the essential property
protection functions, even though limited in quantity, should be designated an engineladder or engine-service company when a ladder/service company has been
determined as needed by distribution and/or operations.
c. Occasionally, a needed ladder/service company is sometimes out of service due to
lack of personnel. Then, an engine company in the same station shall be considered
to be an engine-ladder or engine-service company, whichever is needed, for the time
the ladder/service company is out of service. Proportion the equipment credits based
upon the time in service.
d. When 2 or more actual existing ladder/service apparatus are in-service at the same
location and some are not needed by operation, then those not needed by operation
can be considered for relocation to a proposed, optimally located needed
ladder/service location, provided the apparatus is not considered as part of a
multiple-piece ladder/service company at its current location.
No. 3 - Number of Needed Ladder/Service Companies
a. The actual number of needed ladder/service companies within the community
(protected area) is the higher number of the number needed by distribution and by
operations. Additional ladder/service companies may be needed according to Item
510.C (as listed in Item 540) of the FSRS due to insufficient apparatus remaining in
the community during responses outside the graded area.
b. A surplus ladder/service company shall be considered to be an existing ladder/
service company in Items 549, 553 and 561.
c. When automatic-aid, ladder/service companies meet the needs of the city being
graded they may be credited in place of additional needed companies.
No. 4 - Ladder or Service Company
a. The needed type of each existing and additional ladder/service company depends
upon the buildings in what would be its response area if all the needed ladder/service
companies were provided. A ladder/service company's response area can extend
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
49
beyond 2 1/2 miles of its station but may be limited to less than 2 1/2 miles by the
response area of other ladder/service companies. The response areas considered
shall cover the entire protected area. With the introduction of the new NFF CD,
sprinklered properties are now included in the data that is available to a FR when
surveying a community. Three-story and higher sprinklered buildings are treated the
same as non-sprinklered buildings when determining the number of 3-story and
higher buildings in a community and/or a response district.
b. In each response area in which there are at least 5 buildings that are 3 stories or 35
feet in height, or 1 and 2 stories in height with a needed fire flow greater than 3500
gpm, or any combination of these, a ladder company is needed. The height of
sprinklered buildings shall be included.
Etowah Fire Needs a Ladder for these responses
c. A ladder company is also needed when there are at least 5 buildings (that meet the
criteria given in 4b above) in 2 or more adjacent response areas that individually
would need only a service company. This is known as the concept of building
borrowing. The buildings in each response area shall be considered only once in this
determination. When borrowing buildings from adjacent response areas always follow
the following hierarchy: borrow 3 story and higher buildings first until exhausted. Next,
borrow buildings with NFFs greater than 3500 only up to the needed limit of 5
buildings.
d. A service company is needed in each ladder/service response area where a ladder
company is not needed in accordance with 4b and 4c above.
Note: A ladder/service response distribution study outlined in Item 541 shall
substantiate this need.
e. When only a service company is needed but an aerial or elevating platform truck is
provided, it will be evaluated as a service company.
542. NUMBER OF EXISTING LADDER COMPANIES (EL):
Companies responding to first alarms carrying any of the equipment listed in Tables
544.A and 544.B shall be considered as existing ladder companies when ladder
companies are needed according to Item 540. An engine-ladder company considered
as an existing engine company in Item 511 and carrying any of the equipment listed in
Tables 544.A and 544.B shall be considered as 1/2 a ladder company in this item when
a ladder company is needed according to Item 540. An engine-ladder company not
credited as an engine company in Item 511 and carrying any equipment listed in Tables
544.A and 544.B shall be credited as one ladder company if needed according to Item
540.
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
50
543. NUMBER OF EXISTING SERVICE COMPANIES (ES):
Companies responding to first alarms carrying any of the equipment listed in Table
544.A shall be considered as existing service companies when service companies are
needed according to Item 541. An engine-service company considered as an existing
engine company in Item 511 and carrying any of the equipment listed in Table 544.A
shall be considered as 1⁄2 a service company in this item when a service company is
needed according to Item 541. An engine-service company not credited as an engine
company in Item 511 and carrying any equipment listed in Table 544.A shall be credited
as one service company if needed according to Item 541.
543. NUMBER OF EXISTING SERVICE COMPANIES AND EQUIPMENT
No. 1 – When a service company is needed, but a ladder company is provided the
points creditable from Table 544.A and the applicable points from Table 544.B
(depending upon the number and type of ladders needed) shall be applied to the factor
SCEi.
No. 2 – When miscellaneous vehicles, such as rescue and squad trucks, are manned
and carry some of the equipment listed in Table 544.A, and always respond on first
alarms they may be credited as ladder or service companies whichever is needed.
No. 3 – When the adequate number of needed ladders of different length, from Table
544.B, is provided on a service company, but the longest needed ladder is not provided,
credit one less ladder than the number of ladders provided.
No. 4 – When an inadequate number of needed ladders of different length, from Table
544.B, are provided on a service company and the longest needed ladder is not
provided, credit the number of ladders that are provided.
No. 5 – When a service or ladder company is needed at a specific fire station and any
of the needed equipment listed in Tables 544.A and 544.B is carried on any of the
manned apparatus in the station, a ladder, service, engine-ladder or engine-service
company shall be credited. The points creditable from Tables 544.A and 544.B shall be
applied to the factors LCEi or ELCEi when a ladder company is needed and to SCEi or
ESCEi when a service company is needed.
Exception 1: When a service or ladder company is located in a fire station where a
service or ladder company is not needed and the company may be relocated to a fire
station where a service or ladder company is needed (but not provided) the company
shall be credited.
Exception 2: When a service or ladder company does not make up a necessary part of
a first alarm response, is located in a station where a service or ladder company is not
needed and it is not necessary to relocate the company to provide adequate ladder or
service company distribution it shall be credited as a surplus company.
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
51
No. 6 – When a city has more than one piece of manned apparatus in a fire station
where a service or ladder company is needed and the apparatus always responds
together, all the needed ladder/service equipment carried on the apparatus shall be
credited. However, credit shall not be given for any excess equipment carried.
Note 1: No credit can be given for the ladder/service equipment carried on the single
engine company housed in one fire station because a service company is not needed at
that station.
Note 2: Combined credit shall not be given for ladder/service equipment on apparatus
in different fire stations.
No. 7 – When the city has more than one ladder or service company in a fire station
where a ladder or service company is needed and the apparatus does not respond
together, the companies shall be credited in accordance with the needs of the city and
the alarms to which they respond.
544. LADDER COMPANY EQUIPMENT (LCEi):
The points credit for the equipment on each existing ladder truck considered in Item 542
shall be determined from Tables 544.A, 544.B and 544.C.
544. NUMBER OF EXISTING LADDER COMPANIES AND EQUIPMENT
No. 1 - When a ladder company is needed, and only a service company is provided that
carries some of the equipment listed in Table 544.A but none or only some of the
equipment in Table 544.B, the points creditable from Tables 544.A and B shall be
applied to the factor LCEi.
No. 2 - When ladder company equipment is carried on other apparatus located in a fire
station where a ladder company is needed apply applicable credits in accordance with
Nos. 4 and 5 in 543 and 546 below.
No. 3 - Consult the FSRS Equivalences List for crediting Ladders.
No. 4 - To be credited, an aerial ladder or an elevating platform must comply with the
general requirements of NFPA Standard No. 1901, Automotive Fire Apparatus; TeleSquirts; All Tele-Squirt apparatus should have full credit recognition unless one or more
of the following considerations dictates modifying the credit:
• Compliance with the NFPA Standard 1901 or 1904 in existence at the time of
manufacture for aerial ladder
• Needed as a ladder truck per item 542 of the FSRS
• Used as a ladder truck per Item 542 of the FSRS
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
52
• Tested as a ladder truck per NFPA 1914 including preload and nondestructive testing
No. 5 - An aerial ladder, an elevating platform and an elevating stream device shall be
of sufficient height to comply with the provisions given in Table 544.B of the Schedule.
The needed length of an aerial ladder, an elevating platform and an elevating stream
device shall be determined by the height of the tallest building in the ladder/service
district used to determine the need for a ladder company. One story normally equals at
least 10 feet. Building setback is not to be considered in the height determination. An
allowance is built in to the ladder design for normal access. The maximum height
needed for grading purposes shall be 100-ft.
Exception: When the height of the tallest building is 50 feet or less no credit shall be
given for an aerial ladder, elevating platform or elevating stream device that has a
length less than 50 feet. This provision is necessary to insure that the water stream from
an elevating stream device has additional "reach" for large area, low height buildings,
and the aerial ladder or elevating platform may be extended to compensate for possible
topographical conditions that may exist.
No. 6 - Aerial Ladder and Elevating Platform Tests
Certification Tests
The aerial device shall be inspected and tested in accordance with the requirements of
NFPA 1914, Standard for Testing Fire Department Aerial Devices. The nondestructive
testing shall be done prior to being subjected to the stability load tests and the aerial
device water system test defined in NFPA 1901, Standard for Automotive Fire
Apparatus.
Note: Pumpers equipped with an elevated stream device shall comply with all above
requirements before credit is allowed for a ladder truck.
Annual Service Testing
The visual examination, operational examination, load test, and water system test as
specified in NFPA 1914, Standard for Testing Fire Department Aerial Devices shall be
conducted at least annually; and after major repairs or overhaul. Complete inspections
and tests including the nondestructive testing (NDT) defined in NFPA 1914 shall be
done at least every 5 years. The inspection and tests specified in this standard shall be
considered the minimum service test requirements for all aerial devices. Table 544.C
Aerial Ladder/Elevating Platform Tests of the FSRS shall be used to determine the
points for frequency of testing. If no maximum elevation load test is performed, deduct
50% from the applicable points after adjusting for test frequency. If nondestructive test
or load testing has not been performed at the most recent 5-year interval, no credit shall
be given for the testing program; and the 100 points for the elevated stream device and
the 200 points for the Aerial Ladder/Elevating Platform shall not be credited. If
inspections or tests required by the Standard reveal any problems that affect the
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
53
structural integrity of the aerial device, and a certificate of inspection is not issued, the
credit for the aerial device and the credit for the elevated stream device shall be
withheld. However, the credit for the testing program shall be evaluated based upon the
3 most recent test dates.
Ladder Company Equipment
No. 1 - Chain saws equipped with carbide teeth are creditable as power saws. A
reciprocating saw with various cutting blades is NOT creditable in lieu of a rotary or
chain saw.
No. 2 - A large spray nozzle carried on an engine can receive full credit on a combined
sheet, when combined with another piece of apparatus that has not been credited as an
engine company.
No. 3 - A thermal or plasma cutting unit is creditable in lieu of an oxyacetylene cutting
unit.
545. ENGINE-LADDER COMPANY EQUIPMENT (ELCEi):
The points credit for the equipment on each existing pumper-ladder truck considered in
Items 511 and 542 shall be determined from Tables 544.A, 544.B and 544.C.
546. SERVICE COMPANY EQUIPMENT (SCEi):
For each building, up to 4, that is at least 3 stories or 35 feet in height, an additional
ladder of different length, from Table 544.B, should be carried by the service company.
One ladder should be of sufficient length to reach the roof of any building or a 40-foot
extension ladder, whichever is less. The points credit for the equipment on each existing
service truck considered in Item 543 shall be determined from Tables 544.A and 544.B.
547. ENGINE-SERVICE COMPANY EQUIPMENT (ESCEi):
The points credit for the equipment on each existing pumper-service truck considered in
Items 511 and 543 shall be determined from Tables 544.A and 544.B.
548. AUTOMATIC AID:
The value of an automatic-aid ladder or service company is the value of the company as
determined by Items 544 through 547 multiplied by AAi from Item 512.D.
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
54
TABLE 544.A EQUIPMENT FOR A SERVICE COMPANY
Relative Value of Equipment for a Service Company (Table 544. A)
Equipment & Hose
Maximum
Points
Percentage Added to
Total
of
FSRS
Points
Points
Available Preliminary
Needed Credit/Unit Possible
Points
Score
Large spray nozzle
(500-gpm minimum)
1
16
16
4.79%
0.24
Breathing equipment
(30-min. minimum)
6
16
96
28.74%
1.44
Breathing equipment extra
cylinders
6
4
24
7.19%
0.36
Salvage covers
10
2
20
5.99%
0.30
Electric generator
(2500 watts)
1
25
25
7.49%
0.37
Floodlight
(500 watts)
3
4
12
3.59%
0.18
Smoke ejector
1
20
20
5.99%
0.30
Oxyacetylene cutting unit
1
20
20
5.99%
0.30
Power saw
1
20
20
5.99%
0.30
Handlight
(4V wet, 6V dry)
4
2
8
2.40%
0.12
Hose roller
(equipment hoist)
1
4
4
1.20%
0.06
Pike pole
(plaster hook): 6 ft.
2
2
4
1.20%
0.06
Pike pole
(plaster hook): 8 ft.
2
2
4
1.20%
0.06
Pike pole
(plaster hook): 12 ft.
2
2
4
1.20%
0.06
Radio: mounted
1
32
32
9.58%
0.48
Radio: portable
1
16
16
4.79%
0.24
Ladder: 10-ft. collapsible
1
4
4
1.20%
0.06
Ladder: 14-ft. extension
1
5
5
1.50%
0.07
334
100%
5.00
Totals:
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
55
TABLE 544.B ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT FOR LADDER COMPANY
Relative Value of Equipment for a Ladder Company (Tables 544. A and 544.B)
Equipment & Hose
Maximum
Points
Percentage Added to
Total
of
FSRS
Points
Points
Available Preliminary
Needed Credit/Unit Possible
Points
Score
Large spray nozzle
(500-gpm minimum)
1
16
16
2.04%
0.10
Breathing equipment
(30-min. minimum)
6
16
96
12.24%
0.61
Breathing equipment extra
cylinders
6
4
24
3.06%
0.15
Salvage covers
10
2
20
2.55%
0.13
Electric generator
(2500 watts)
1
25
25
3.19%
0.16
Floodlight
(500 watts)
3
4
12
1.53%
0.08
Smoke ejector
1
20
20
2.55%
0.13
Oxyacetylene cutting unit
1
20
20
2.55%
0.13
Power saw
1
20
20
2.55%
0.13
Handlight
(4V wet, 6V dry)
4
2
8
1.02%
0.05
Hose roller (equipment
hoist)
1
4
4
0.51%
0.03
Pike pole
(plaster hook): 6 ft.
2
2
4
0.51%
0.03
Pike pole
(plaster hook): 8 ft.
2
2
4
0.51%
0.03
Pike pole
(plaster hook): 12 ft.
2
2
4
0.51%
0.03
Radio: mounted
1
32
32
4.08%
0.20
Radio: portable
1
16
16
2.04%
0.10
Ladder: 10-ft. collapsible
1
4
4
0.51%
0.03
Ladder: 14-ft. extension
1
5
5
0.64%
0.03
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
56
Ladder: 16-ft. roof
1
20
20
2.55%
0.13
Ladder: 20-ft. roof
1
20
20
2.55%
0.13
Ladder: 28-ft. extension
1
20
20
2.55%
0.13
Ladder: 35-ft. extension
1
20
20
2.55%
0.13
Ladder: 40-ft. extension
1
20
20
2.55%
0.13
Elevated stream device
1
100
100
12.76%
0.64
Aerial ladder/elevating
platform
1
200
200
25.51%
1.28
Annual test
(aerial/platform)
1
50
50
6.38%
0.32
Totals:
784
100%
5.00
Total:
*Of sufficient height to reach the roof of any building, or 100 feet, whichever is less. The
credit shall be prorated if existing equipment has insufficient reach.
TABLE 544.C AERIAL LADDER/ELEVATING PLATFORM TESTS
Average Interval Between 3 Most Recent Tests
1 Year
2 Years
3 Years
4 Years
5 Years or more
Maximum Point Credit
50
37
25
12
0
Annual Service Testing
The visual examination, operational examination, load test, and water system test as
specified in NFPA 1914, Standard for Testing Fire Department Aerial Devices shall be
conducted at least annually; and after major repairs or overhaul. Complete inspections
and tests including the nondestructive testing (NDT) defined in NFPA 1914 shall be
done at least every 5 years. The inspection and tests specified in this standard shall be
considered the minimum service test requirements for all aerial devices. Table 544.C
Aerial Ladder/Elevating Platform Tests of the FSRS shall be used to determine the
points for frequency of testing.
If no maximum elevation load test is performed, deduct 50% from the applicable points
after adjusting for test frequency. If nondestructive test or load testing has not been
performed at the most recent 5-year interval, no credit shall be given for the testing
program; and the 100 points for the elevated stream device and the 200 points for the
aerial ladder/elevating platform shall not be credited. If the inspections or tests required
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
57
by the Standard reveal any problems that affect the structural integrity of the aerial
device, and a certificate of inspection is not issued, the credit for the aerial device and
the credit for the elevated stream device shall be withheld. However, the credit for the
testing program shall be evaluated based upon the 3 most recent tests.
Certification Tests
The aerial device shall be inspected and tested in accordance with the requirements of
NFPA 1914, Standard for Testing Fire Department Aerial Devices. The nondestructive
testing shall be done prior to being subjected to the stability load tests and the aerial
device water system test defined in NFPA 1901, Standard for Automotive Fire
Apparatus.
Note: Pumpers equipped with an elevated stream device shall comply with all above
requirements before credit is allowed for a ladder truck.
Tests for aerial ladder and elevating platforms are described in NFPA 1914.
Testing Fire Department Aerial Ladders and Elevating Platforms.
Note: If there are no records of tests claimed to have been conducted, reduce the
applicable points credit by 20 percent for Table 544.C.
549. CREDIT FOR LADDER SERVICE (CLS):
If NL < EL, then NL = EL
If NS < ES, then NS = ES
, Where n = sum of points for equipment, from Item 544.
, Where n = sum of points for equipment from Item 545.
, Where n = sum of points for equipment, from Item 546.
, Where n = sum of points for equipment from Item 547.
Note: The value for ladder and service truck equipment (items 544, 545, 546 and 547)
shall be reduced by 2 percent for each 10 percent that the truck exceeds the
manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating. A = Percent of built-upon area of the city
with first alarm response of a ladder, service, engine-ladder or engine-service company
to fires in buildings. ¾ add the assigned points for any additional ladders needed from
Table 544.B.
549. CREDIT FOR LADDER SERVICE
The percentage of the built-upon area of the city, to which a ladder, service, engineladder or engine-service company responds on first alarm building fires shall be credited
for the Factor "A" in this item. Some cities may not dispatch a ladder/service company
to fire alarms reported by automatic alarm systems. The value of "A" shall reflect the
percentage of total built-upon area of the city with response of no ladder/service
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
58
company to reported fires in buildings. This percentage should be calculated based
upon all reported structure fire alarms for the year under review. A review of fire incident
reports is necessary to determine the correct percentage. Reduced response of a single
engine to automatic alarms reported while under a declared National Weather Service
(NWS) thunderstorm warning may be considered as adequate when compiling
the percentage Factor for "A".
CLS = 0 out of a possible 5.00
550. NUMBER OF NEEDED RESERVE LADDER SERVICE TRUCKS (NRLS):
The number of needed reserve ladder and service trucks is 1 for each 8 needed ladder
and service companies (NLS), or any fraction thereof. NLS = NL + NS
When the number of existing ladder and service companies (ELS) exceeds the number
of needed ladder and service companies, the number of needed reserve ladder and
service trucks is based upon the number of existing ladder and service companies.
ELS = EL + ES
Note 1: When 8 or less ladder and service companies are needed, and 1 or more
ladder companies are needed, the reserve truck should be a ladder truck. When more
than 8 ladder companies are needed, there should be a reserve ladder truck for each 8,
or fraction thereof.
Note 2: When the number of needed reserve ladder and service trucks exceeds the
number of needed reserve ladder trucks, the difference shall be considered as needed
reserve service trucks.
550. NUMBER OF NEEDED RESERVE LADDER SERVICE TRUCKS
No. 1 – When the number of needed ladder and service companies total 8 or less, one
reserve truck is needed; and when at least one of the companies needed is a ladder
company, the reserve truck shall be a ladder truck. If no ladder companies are needed,
the reserve truck may be a service truck.
No. 2 – When the number of needed ladder and service companies totals 9, two
reserve trucks are needed; and when 1 to 8 of the needed companies are ladder
companies, one of the 2 needed reserve trucks may be a service truck. If 9 ladder
companies are needed, 2 reserve ladder trucks are needed.
No. 3 – A single reserve ladder or service apparatus shared among several
communities may receive full credit for each community. A written agreement is
required to document the sharing arrangement. A single reserve ladder or service
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
59
apparatus may receive full credit as a reserve for a total of eight needed ladder or
service apparatus required by the sharing departments. This is the same requirement
the FSRS outlines in Item 550, Notes 1 and 2 apply to this situation.
551. EQUIPMENT ON RESERVE LADDER AND SERVICE TRUCKS (RLSCi):
The equipment on credited reserve ladder and service trucks shall be reviewed by
application of Tables 544.A, 544.B and 544.C.
Note: The value of RLSCi shall be reduced 2 percent for each 10 percent that the truck
exceeds the manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating. The number of reserve ladder
and service trucks credited in this item shall not exceed the number of needed reserve
ladder and service trucks. A reserve pumper-ladder or reserve pumper-service truck
may be credited in this item as a reserve ladder or service truck, or in Item 523 as a
reserve pumper, but not both.
552. OUT OF SERVICE LADDER AND SERVICE TRUCKS (OSLSi):
The number of in-service ladder and service trucks considered out of service shall be
the number of needed reserve ladder and service trucks. The in-service ladder and
service trucks credited in Item 549 having the largest number of points (LCEi and SCEi)
shall be considered out of service.
OSLSi = LCEi or SCEi for those trucks considered out of service.
553. CREDIT FOR RESERVE LADDER AND SERVICE TRUCKS (CRLS):
If NL < EL, then NL = EL
If NS < ES, then NS = ES
, where n = the number of creditable reserve ladder and service trucks.
, where n = number of ladder and service trucks considered out of service.
¾Add the assigned points for any additional ladders needed from Table
544.B.
CRLS = 0 out of a possible 1.00
560. DISTRIBUTION OF COMPANIES (DC):
The built-upon area of the city should have a first-due engine company within 1 1/2
miles and a ladder-service company within 2 1/2 miles.
561. CREDIT FOR DISTRIBUTION (CD):
AE = The percent of built-upon area within 1 1/2 miles of a first-due engine, engineladder or engine-service company.
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
60
AL = The percent of the built-upon area within 21/2 miles of a ladder, service, engineladder or engine-service company. ¾¾Add the assigned points for any additional
ladders needed for existing service companies from Table 544.B.
561. CREDIT FOR DISTRIBUTION
No. 1 - The value of the factors "AE" and "AL" should be determined from the
information gathered in 510.A&B-No. 2, and 540 and 541 respectively.
No. 2 - The formula in the schedule should be interpreted as having the "Brackets" as
follows:
CD = 2.9 out of a possible 4.00
570. EXISTING COMPANY PERSONNEL (ECP):
Existing company personnel is the average number of firefighters and company officers
on duty for existing companies determined by the following criteria:
570. EXISTING COMPANY PERSONNEL
No. 1 – Chief officers and non-firefighting personnel are not creditable.
Exception: When more than one chief officer responds to alarms, the extra chief officers
shall be credited as firefighters if they perform company duties.
No. 2 – Volunteer personnel should be credited using the average creditable response
for the most recent structural fires. Apply the personnel credit limit to each response.
Excess response on some alarms does not offset minimal response on other alarms.
For grading without water mains deduct the water supply personnel before applying the
personnel credit limit.
No. 3 – On-duty personnel should be credited using the average number on duty for the
credited 12-month period, except when the on-duty schedule results in differences
between shifts; then the credit shall be prorated.
No. 4 – When response is made outside the protected area (other than automatic and
outside aid), staffing credits will be determined only for response of companies within
the protected area.
No. 5 – Public Safety Officer (PSO) or other persons who participate in fire ground
operations and can meet all of the following criteria shall be credited on a two for one
basis.
a. Each person shall have a two-way radio with them, at all times, while available for
duty to receive alarms.
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
61
b. Each person shall be notified of alarms and shall immediately respond when the
company to which they are assigned responds.
c. Each person must be assigned to a specific fire company during this period of duty
except as indicated in "d" below.
d. Each person must remain within the fire company, first-due, response district to
which they are assigned while awaiting an alarm.
Exception: Fire-police officers may be credited when the police cruising district and the
first due fire company responds district overlap.
e. Each person must be provided with a vehicle equipped with emergency lights and a
siren.
f. Each person must have a protective fire ensemble available to them on the fire
grounds.
g. A schedule, including days of the month and times of the day, when these persons
are available shall be maintained in written form.
h. Records shall be maintained of the response of these persons to each alarm. No
credit shall be given for a response when the person experiences unusual delays. For
example: a fire-police officer may be delayed because they are in the process of
making an arrest when they receive an alarm of fire. Credit is allowed at 50% for the
average response to fires.
A.
On-Duty Strength (OM):
The total number of members on duty with companies shall be taken as a yearly
average considering vacations, sick leave and other absences. Chiefs' aides shall be
included in company strength if they participate in firefighting operations. Administrative
personnel will not be included in this item. Members on apparatus not credited under
Items 513 and 549 that regularly respond to first alarms to aid engine, ladder and
service companies shall be included in this item as increasing total company strength.
Personnel staffing ambulances or other units serving the general public shall be
credited if they participate in firefighting operations, the number depending upon the
extent to which they are available and are used for response to first alarms of fire.
570.A. EXISTING COMPANY PERSONNEL - ON-DUTY STRENGTH
No. 1 - When calculating the on-duty staffing, determine the average number of
firefighters, including company officers, that are assigned within the credited 12-month
period. Then, subtract from this the average number of members that were absent due
to vacations, sick leave, details to non-firefighting duty or any other absences from
normal duty within the credited 12-month period.
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
62
No. 2 - Members responding on first alarms with apparatus not credited in Items
513 and 549, such as rescue trucks, squad trucks and ambulances, shall be credited if
they assist the engine, ladder and service companies with firefighting operations. The
amount of credit shall be pro-rated in accordance with their availability for firefighting
operations.
No. 3 - When firefighters respond to medical calls, deduct one firefighter for every 2000
such calls per year.
No. 4 - Minimum Staffing. Some fire departments have established a minimum staffing
level for on-duty strength with fire companies by providing overtime hours for on-duty
firefighters. If a minimum staffing policy has been established with corresponding
budget allocations to pay overtime hours, the minimum staffing level per platoon may be
credited in lieu of going through the vacation, holiday and sick leave analysis. However,
duty rosters and/or incident reports shall be checked for the previous 12 months to
determine that appropriate minimum staffing levels are in agreement with existing
standard operating procedures or standard operating guide (SOP/SOG).
B. Call and Volunteer Members (VM):
Call and volunteer members shall be credited on the basis of the average number
staffing apparatus on first alarms. Off-shift paid members responding on first alarms
shall be considered on the same basis as call and volunteer members. Call and
volunteer members sleeping at fire stations shall be considered as on-duty members
(OM) for the proportional time they are on duty.
570.B. EXISTING COMPANY PERSONNEL - CALL AND VOLUNTEER
No. 1 – When a fire department with call or volunteer staffing is organized so that the
call or volunteer members are assigned to each company or fire station in service, and
when one or more of the companies do not respond to each first alarm, the average
creditable response of personnel shall be determined on a per company basis.
No. 2 – The following is an example of crediting volunteer members who sleep at fire
stations and respond with the apparatus. One volunteer member sleeps at each of the 2
fire stations during the night shift 7 days a week. The credit for these members is 2 in
the factor "OM” for the night shift. They should, also be included in the factor "VM" if
they responded as volunteers during the day shift.
No. 3 – When call or volunteer members respond to a single fire station and man
apparatus, but the apparatus is not dispatched to a first alarm, no credit shall be
given for the response of these members.
Exception: When 3 engine companies are needed by the basic fire flow and only 2 by
distribution, and the third company does not make up a part of first alarm response, the
members staffing the third company shall be credited.
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
63
Exception: When more than one fire station is needed by Basic Fire Flow, distribution,
or method of operation, you may credit the aggregate volunteer response.
C. Automatic-Aid Response:
The average number of personnel responding with those companies credited as
automatic aid under Items 513 and 549 shall be considered in A and B above.
The actual number to be added to OM and VM is the average number of personnel
responding multiplied by the value of AAi determined in Item 512.D.
D. Special Apparatus:
Personnel responding to first alarms on special apparatus such as squad and salvage
trucks shall be considered in A and B above.
E. Service, Pumper-Service and Pumper-Ladder Trucks:
When a service truck has been credited in Item 549, it shall be considered as one
existing service company in Item 571. When a pumper-service truck has been credited
in Items 513 and 549, it shall be considered as one existing engine company and as
one existing service company in Item 571. When a pumper ladder truck has been
credited in Items 513 and 549, it shall be considered as one existing engine company
and as one existing ladder company in Item 571.
F. Surplus Companies (SC):
When the number of existing companies exceeds the number of needed companies and
the extra companies do not form a necessary part of the first alarm response to any
location in the city, the extra companies are considered surplus. The personnel
responding with surplus companies shall be credited in A and B above. When there is a
difference between day and night shifts, or between days in the week, the credit shall be
prorated. The maximum credit for any response of on-duty, call and volunteer members
is 12 firefighters, including company officers, for each existing engine and ladder
company and 6 for each existing service company.
571. CREDIT FOR COMPANY PERSONNEL (CCP):
Note: The number of existing companies shall be adjusted, if necessary, to conform
with Item 570.E. If satisfactory records of response are not kept, use 6 instead of 3.
CCP = 8.6 out of a possible 15.00+
580. TRAINING (T):
The credit for training shall be reviewed as follows:
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
64
580. TRAINING
Minimum Requirements for Grading: Training for all active members shall be conducted
at least 2 hours every 2 months for 12 hours per year. ISO will recognize 50% or more
of active members that receive the 12 hours but not less than 4 members. Training
received from sources outside the local fire department, such as training approved for a
state firefighter certification program, or training from another paid or volunteer fire
department may be credited provided that the fire department can document such
training. Items eligible for this training credit include FSRS:
Item 580.B COMPANY TRAINING – up to 50%
Item 580.C CLASSES FOR OFFICERS – up to 100%
Item 580.E NEW DRIVER AND OPERATOR TRAINING – up to 100%
Item 580.F TRAINING ON HAZARDOUS MATERIALS – up to 100%
Item 580.G RECRUIT TRAINING – up to 100%
NOTE: None of the training received outside of the local fire department is to be applied
to Item.
580.A. Drill Training, since credit under Item 580.A is intended to be conducted with fire
apparatus and personnel of the local fire department to reinforce the operational
effectiveness of the local department's use of equipment, personnel and procedures, no
credit should apply to Item 580.D.
Driver & Operator Training or Item 580.H Pre-Fire Planning for the reasons listed for
Item 580.A above. When the time for training for paid and for volunteer personnel is
different, prorate the credit by the total paid and total volunteer personnel carried on the
roster. Credit may be given for the use of various training media (such as video, CDROM, computer based training (CBT), closed circuit or satellite TV, etc.) when the
subject material relates to structural firefighting and related topics. The intent is to credit
materials that have an educational component, not just viewing "materials that are just
entertainment in nature." The credit will be based on the following criteria:
a. If the training is done in the context of a company training session whereby members
of that company are in attendance, the number of hours credited will be limited to a
maximum of 50% of the hours needed as defined in the FSRS. For instance, under
580.B. "Company Training", company training constituting 30 hours of structure fire
training via a feed from satellite TV over a one month period of time would be eligible
for a maximum of 10 hours credit.
b. Items eligible for this training include FSRS:
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
65
Item 580.B
Item 580.C
Item 580.D.
Item 580.E.
Item 580.F.
Training media is an essential part of most recruit training classes, but the foundation of
these classes revolve around instructor guided classes and practical lessons. It is not
anticipated that up to 50% of recruit training will be from media identified above, nor is it
the intention of this policy to restrict the prudent use of media for recruit training where
appropriate.
Training – Incomplete
When some members do not receive some phase of training, the credit is prorated on
the basis of the percentage of the members that are trained.
A. Facilities, Aids and Use (Ti1):
Facilities and Aids (FA)
Drill Tower
Fire Building (Including Smoke Room)
Combustible Liquid Pit
Library and Training Manuals
Slide and Movie Projectors and Pump and
Hydrant Cutaways
Training Area (this may include streets or open
areas when no other training facilities are
provided)
Points
8
8
5
2
2
10
580. A.1. TRAINING – FACILITIES
The height of the drill tower should be in accordance with the following. The height of
sprinklered buildings shall be included in this evaluation.
a. When a service company is needed but none of the ladders listed in Table 544.B are
needed because there are no buildings are 3 or more stories or the equivalent in
height, a drill tower at least 2 stories in height is needed.
b. When a service company is needed and at least one ladder listed in Table 544.B is
needed because at least one building (but not more than 4) is at least 3 stories or 35
feet in height, the drill tower shall be at least 3 stories in height.
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
66
c. When a ladder company is needed, the drill tower shall be at least 4 stories in height.
The fire building should have walls, floors, ceilings and other permanent features that
have a strong resistance to heat generated by fires so that the extinguishment of "live
fires" can be practiced. When a drill tower/fire building is separated by a common wall
from the fire building, this will receive full credit. The fire building must meet the
general requirements of NFPA 1402 Guide to Building Fire Service Training Centers,
Chapter 10.
When specifying interior fire-resistant coverings to protect live fire training structures,
consideration should be given to the durability of the material and the ease of replacing
damaged sections. To provide high-temperature protection to the structural elements of
the live fire training structure, the materials specified in NFPA 1402 Chapter 10 can be
utilized. For training facilities that do not receive credit, a brief description must be
provided in the fire department notes section.
The combustible liquid pit should cover an area of approximately 1,500 square feet, and
should be accessible from all directions so that simulated fire ground conditions can be
practiced for a tank truck "spill" type fire. A video depicting extinguishment of flammable
liquids fires may be credited in areas where the use of such pits is prohibited by Federal
or State Officials. The library and training manuals should be suitable for the needs of
the department. The library should include "The Fire Protection Handbook" published by
the National Fire Protection Association, "The Fire Chief's Handbook" published by Fire
Engineering, "Managing Fire and Rescue Services" published by the International City
Manager's Association, and NFPA 1201 Standard for Developing Fire Protection
Services for the Public.
The training manuals should include structural fire training subject material covered in
NFPA 1001 Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications, NFPA 1002 Standard
for Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator Professional Qualifications, NFPA 1451 Standard for
a Fire Service Vehicle Operations Training Program, and NFPA 1021 Standard for Fire
Officer Professional Qualifications; NFPA 1403 Standard on Live Fire Training
Evolutions, NFPA 1410 Standard on Training for Initial Emergency Scene Operations,
NFPA 472 Standard for Professional Competence of Responders to Hazardous
Materials, NFPA 1620 Standard Recommended Practice for Pre-Incident Planning, and
NFPA 1401 Standard Recommended Practice for Fire Service Training Reports and
Records. The training manuals may be compared with those published by the
International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA), or equivalent.
Training manuals in multimedia format are acceptable. Centralization, within the graded
area, of a library and training resources is acceptable. Slide and visual media projectors
should be a part of the department's training equipment, or should be available when
needed. When training facilities are provided, the training area should be of a suitable
size for the facilities provided but should be at least 2 acres. When no facilities are
provided, apply a 10-point credit when streets, open areas and public buildings are used
for training evolutions.
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
67
NOTE: In applying Item 580.A.2 and 580.B credit should not be given for EMS and
similar type drills or for business and social meetings. Technical rescue and/or
hazardous materials type training may be credited on a selective basis depending on
cross-pollination with structural firefighting subjects (i.e. ropes and knots, search and
rescue or use of rescue tools). In jurisdictions where a significant wildland/structure
interface or intermix exposure exists, up to two, 3-hour drills and up to five hours of
company training per month may be credited for training in wildland firefighting
techniques directly applicable to protecting structures from wildland fire exposure. The
hours credited for wildland training shall not exceed 25 percent of the total hours
credited in either category. No credit is given for training in large-scale wildland fire
control not involving structure protection. No credit is given for routine training for small
scale field, grass or brush firefighting.
580.A.2. TRAINING - FACILITY USE
The factors in this part of the item are cumulative. To receive the maximum factor of 1.0
a minimum of 8 one-half day sessions should be conducted (using the facilities credited)
per shift, per company, of which 4 should be multiple company drills, and 2 should be
conducted at night. A 1.0 factor should also be applied if 8 single company drills, 4
multiple company drills and 2 night drills are conducted for a total of 14 drills per shift,
per company. A 1.0 factor would also apply if 8 or more multiple company drills
(including 2 or more at night) are conducted per shift, per company.
Note (1): A drill may be either classroom training or outdoor evolutions, or a combination
of both.
Note (2): When drills are held for periods of less than 3 hours, pro-rate the credit (e.g.,
for a 2 - hour drill, use 2 divided by 3 = 0.67 equivalent three-hour drills). When drills are
held for periods of more than 3 hours but less than 6 hours, prorate the credit (e.g., for a
4-hour drill use 4 divided by 3 = 1.33 equivalent three-hour drills). Also, when one allday session of drills is held for at least 6 hours or more, apply the credit for 2 three-hour
drills.
Credit can be given for the use of training facilities outside the graded area (Class 1-8).
Full credit can be given when the facilities are within 5 miles of the graded area
boundary. Full credit can be given when the facilities are beyond 5 miles of the graded
area boundary and at least 50% of the needed companies are available for protection to
the graded area during the training sessions.
The companies may be provided by the graded area's fire department or by other fire
departments or by a combination. These companies should be located either within the
graded area or on specific standby duty at fire stations located within 5 miles of the
graded area boundary and are scheduled to respond on first alarms to structure fires
within the graded area during the training sessions. If less than 50% of the needed
companies are available based on the above criteria during the training sessions, no
credit should be allowed for item 580(16).
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
68
B.2. USE (FU)
Multiply the point’s credit for facilities and aids by the following factors for use of the
facilities and aids by all company members:
Duration of Drill
Half-day (3 hrs.) drills, 8 per yr. (0.05 each)
Half-day (3 hrs.) drills, multiple-company drills,
4 per yr. (0.10 each)
Night drills (3 hrs.) 2 per yr. (0.10 each)
Maximum
0.40
0.40
0.20
C.Note: A single company drill may receive credit under a and c; a multiple company
drill may receive credit under a, b, and c.
D.Ti1 = (FA) (FU)
A. Company Training (Ti2):
Company training at fire stations (20 hours per member per month) up to 25 points
B. Classes for Officers (Ti3):
2 days per year for all officers, up to 15 points
C. Driver and Operator Training (Ti4):
4 half-day sessions per year, up to 2 points
D. New Driver and Operator Training (Ti5):
Classes for new drivers and operators, 40 hours, up to 2 points
E. Training on Radioactivity (Ti6):
1/2 day per member per year 1 point
F. Recruit Training (Ti7):
240 hours per recruit, up to 5 points
G. Pre-Fire Planning Inspections (Ti8):
Pre-fire planning inspections of each commercial, industrial, institutional and other
similar type building should be made twice a year. Records of the inspections should
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
69
include complete and up-to-date notes and sketches. Use the point credit for frequency
of inspections from Item 630 times 15⁄100.
H. The sum of points credited in Item 580.A through 580.H shall be reduced by up to 20
points for incomplete records (Ti9):
580.A. TRAINING - COMPANY TRAINING
Company training is normally conducted at the fire station by the company officers for
the members assigned to that company or fire station. This type of training is in addition
to that conducted using the facilities credited in part "A" of this item. When it cannot be
determined whether the drills are company or department training, each drill or training
session shall first be credited in the "A" part and the remainder of time (if any) credited
in the "B" part of this item.
Specialized training, individual classes attended, usually off-site from the fire
department's facilities (such as state or county training facilities, etc.) may be credited
under Company Training if they meet all of the following criteria:
a. The class must be related to structural firefighting and related topics. For example,
acceptable classes may include: Firefighting tactics for garden apartment fires,
sprinkler operations, elevator rescue, etc. Examples of classes that would not qualify
include Emergency Medical Services (EMS) training, first aid training, marine
firefighting operations, fast water rescue, etc.
b. The training is not credited elsewhere under the training item. For example, a
firefighter I class may be credited for recruit training and no additional credit should
be extended under company training for this class. Another example is that a
firefighter II class may be credited under company training if this class is not credited
under recruit training.
c. Crediting shall be at 50% of the total number of hours per member (not to exceed 240
hours per year, which is based on 20 hours per month times 12 months). Percentage
of participation shall be considered.
d. Course certificates of completion should be used in crediting this item. Physical
fitness training is creditable as company training in a small amount not to exceed 20
minutes per member per duty day or 3 hours and 20 minutes per member per month.
580.B. TRAINING - OFFICER TRAINING
The 2 days of fire command chief officer and company officer classes should be
devoted to leadership instruction and training. Any chief officer responsible for fireground interior or exterior command duties should be included in officer classes. When
officer meetings are held, and only part of the time is devoted to leadership training, the
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
70
credit shall be reduced by 50%. Percentage of officer participation shall be considered.
NFPA Standard 1021, Fire Officer Professional Qualifications, may be used as a
reference to determine the suitability of the subject matter.
580.C. TRAINING - DRIVER AND OPERATOR TRAINING
The 4 half-day sessions should be devoted only to driver and operator training. When
this type of training is included only as part of other training at the training center and at
fire stations, the credit shall be reduced by 50%. Percentage of driver/operator
participation shall be considered.
580.D. TRAINING - NEW DRIVER AND OPERATOR TRAINING
New drivers and operators should receive individual instruction according to a definite
preplanned course of instruction. When this type of training is included as part of other
training at the training center and at fire stations, the credit shall be reduced by 50%.
Percentage of new driver/operation participation shall be considered. NFPA Standard
1002, Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator Professional Qualifications, and NFPA Standard
1451, Fire Service Vehicle Operations Training Program, may be used as a reference to
determine the suitability of the subject matter.
580.E. TRAINING - HAZARDOUS MATERIAL TRAINING
All departments need some training in fires involving hazardous materials. Although
there may be no hazardous materials in the city it may be transported through the city
and create a hazard en route. Usually radioactive materials training is included.
Percentage of company member participation shall be considered. NFPA Standard 472,
Professional Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials Incidents, may be
used as a reference to determine suitability of subject matter.
580.F. TRAINING - RECRUIT TRAINING
A new member should receive 240 hours of training within the first year of service. For
each 6-month period the training is extended beyond one year in completing the course,
deduct 2 points of credit. Recruit training should be evaluated based upon current
policies and procedures rather than past history. Documentation may be provided from
the fire department standard operating procedures or standard operating guide
(SOP/SOG) outlining the program performance objectives, and/or other courses that
may be required, such as county- or state-level programs. The number of hours to be
used may be directly from the department's SOP/SOG, the class hours of state or
county level programs, or by interview with the fire department. The number of hours for
meeting performance objectives may be determined from recent past history or by
interview with the fire department or by records that show hours for recent recruit
firefighters. Normally the percentage of participation for this item will be 100%.
Differences in the number of hours may be found in combination departments between
volunteer and career members. When this individual type of training is included as part
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
71
of other training conducted at the training center and at fire stations, reduce the credit
by 50%. Percentage of new member participation shall be considered. NFPA Standard
1001, Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications, may be used as a reference to determine
suitability of subject matter.
580.G. TRAINING - PRE-FIRE PLANNING INSPECTIONS
All buildings, except 1- to 4-family dwellings, should be inspected for pre-fire planning
purposes by company personnel. When inspections are made by other than company
personnel, no credit shall be given in this part of the item unless records and sketches
are suitable and are used for pre-fire planning by company personnel. The frequency of
inspections is evaluated in part "H," and the records of inspections are evaluated in part
"I" of this item. Percentage of company member participation shall be considered. NFPA
Standard 1620, Recommended Practice for Pre-Incident Planning, may be used as a
reference to determine the suitability of the pre-fire planning training program.
580.H. TRAINING - RECORDS
When points have been credited in Parts "A" through "H" of this item, a 10% deduction
is made for incomplete records and a 20% deduction is made for no records of the
points credited in part 580.A thru H, provided there is reasonable evidence that qualified
training occurred.
581. CREDIT FOR TRAINING (CT):
CT = 0 out of a possible 9.00
590. CREDIT FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT (CFD):
CFD = CEC + CRP + CPC + CLS + CRLS + CD + CCP + CT
Etowah Fire Department Information
One Fire Station: Station 1
Personnel 6 career personnel and 6 volunteer personnel
Minimum staffing standard = 2 personnel on duty
NFPA 1710 Compliance – 50% Career / 50% Volunteer
Classification – Combination FD
Runs (2010) Total Alarms - 89
Structure fires - 15 Non-structure – 74
EMS – 5 Haz Mat – 0
Other – Unknown False Alarms – Unknown
# Multiple Alarms – 12
Assuming that everything is in order and all records are available and
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
72
1. All required equipment is on all apparatus.
2. All incident responses are maintained as currently setup.
3. Training and records continue as they have in the past.
4. Additional manpower is added as recommended.
5. Minimum staffing guidelines are constantly followed.
The following calculations can be predicted:
CFD = Relative Class
CFD= 5.8 + 0 + 3.2 + 0 + 0
+ 2.9 + 8.6 + 0
CFD = 20.5 out of a possible 50.00+ Points
Fire Suppression Rating Schedule — Water Supply
600. GENERAL:
This item reviews the water supply system that is available for fire suppression in the
city.
601. PART OF CITY UNPROTECTED:
If any built-on area of the city is not within 1,000 feet of a recognized water system, the
unprotected area may receive Class 9 (See Items 801 and 802). See Hydrant Coverage
Map for details. ____% of the city has hydrant coverage. Most of the area that doesn’t is
considered undeveloped at this time.
a. Is the supply limited by water rights? No
b. Is the supply limited by governmental authority? Yes: flow regulated by the
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
c. Are there other limitations or restrictions to the supply? No
602. MAXIMUM DAILY CONSUMPTION RATE (MDC):
The maximum daily consumption rate is the average rate of consumption on the
maximum day. The maximum day is the 24-hour period during which the highest
consumption total is recorded in the latest 3-year period. High consumption that will not
occur again due to changes in the system, or that was caused by unusual operations,
will not be considered.
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
73
The highest daily consumption rate was 3.75 million gallons per day which occurred on
August 12, 2009. The average daily consumption rate over the last 12 months was 2.83
mgd. Records are available and show a twelve month average daily gallons pumped of
2.83 mgd.
When no actual figure for maximum daily consumption is available, it will be estimated
on the basis of consumption in other cities of similar character and climate. Such
estimates will be at least 50 percent greater than the average daily consumption. When
a system is in 2 or more service levels, consider the total maximum daily consumption
that must pass through the service level being reviewed.
603. MINIMUM PRESSURE:
A water system is reviewed at a residual water pressure of 20 psi.
604. FIRE FLOW AND DURATION:
The fire flow duration should be 2 hours for Needed Fire Flows (NFFi) up to 2,500 gpm,
and 3 hours for Needed Fire Flows of 3,000 and 3,500 gpm. Needed fire flow is
determined to be 2,500 gpm times 120 minutes equals 300,000 gallons needed for fire
flow.
This plus average daily consumption equals a little over three million gallons. Storage
capacity in the city’s five storage tanks and clearwell equals nearly nine million gallons.
This is more than enough water to take care of the daily consumption and needed fire
flow.
605. SERVICE LEVEL:
A service level is a part of the city distribution system that is served by one or more
sources of supply but that is separated from the remaining distribution system by closed
valves, check valves or pressure regulating equipment, or is not connected. When a
system is supplied from 2 or more sources or supply works, the credit shall be based
upon the combined protection provided from all sources or supply works.
Etowah utilizes only one source of water supply, the Hiwassee River.
610. REVIEW OF SUPPLY SYSTEM:
The ability of the water supply system to deliver the Needed Fire Flow (NFFi) at
representative locations throughout the city is reviewed in Items 611 through 616. For
each representative location, the supply works, mains, and hydrant distribution are
reviewed separately.
The Etowah Utilities operates a water treatment plant that supplies water to the City of
Etowah. Water is pumped from the surface of water source; the Hiwassee River. The
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
74
plant is located on Highway 411 at the Hiwassee River Bridge in Polk County, TN.
Water is pumped from the river into two separate settling basins to settle solids out
before traveling through the plant to the filters. Eight filters trickle into the system and
the finished product of potable water is transmitted into a 24 inch ductile iron water main
and sent north toward Etowah. About three miles up it splits and runs a 16 inch ductile
iron water main in a westerly direction feeding out the Goodsprings area before coming
to a water booster station. The system is split into two distinct pressure zones which are
the high and low pressure zones. In the low zone, which includes a large portion of
Etowah City and south towards the water treatment plant and further on towards
Benton, TN, there are two storage tanks. One is a metal tank in the Linsdale area of
Polk County and the storage capacity is 200,000 gallons. The other is a pre-stressed
concrete storage tank which is referred to as Parkstown Tank, located just outside of
Etowah City and the capacity of the tank is 4 million gallons. Water runs from the 16
inch main to the West 5th Street booster station which boosts the pressure and volume
to the northern service area north of the city limits of Etowah and also feeds Englewood
Water System which Etowah Utilities is a wholesale supplier to. Water is boosted
through 4 separate pumps that are alternated. No more than 2 pumps can run at a
single time with a capacity of just over 2,200 GPM. Two pumps are variable speed
drives which can regulate the amount of water flowed and the older two are direct drive
with pumping capacity of 1,000 GPM each. Water is boosted into the Etowah Utilities’
High Pressure Zone which is Highway 30 north including the hospital area, Waupaca,
and the north industrial park, including Johns Manville located just outside of Etowah.
Two storage tanks are located in this zone. Eastview Tank which is located off County
Road 526 northwest of Etowah is a pre-stressed concrete tank and its capacity is 3
million gallons of storage. The other storage tank on the High Pressure Zone is the
Manville Tank, which is another pre-stressed concrete tank with a storage capacity of 2
million galls stored. This is just a summary of the Etowah Utilities, Water Distribution
System’s, distribution system. Along the large transmission lines there are numerous
laterals and secondary feed lines that help keep volume and pressure above state
required levels during high flow situations.
611. SUPPLY WORKS:
The absolute minimum supply available from water sources under extreme dry weather
conditions should not be taken as the measure of the normal ability of the source of
supply. The normal sustained flow of supplies should be used as the normal capacity of
the source. If the supply is regularly reduced for a period exceeding one month per
year, prorate the available supply by the time available.
A. Minimum Storage (MSi):
The average daily minimum water storage maintained is the maximum amount that can
be credited. For storage floating on the distribution system, only the portion of average
daily minimum storage that can be delivered at the required residual pressure, and for
the fire duration at the point of use, shall be credited. (MS) is the sum of all these
storages available at the test location for the fire duration, expressed in gpm. For
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
75
ground or below-ground storage, where the average daily minimum storage must be repumped, the storage is credited, or is limited by pumps under PUi according to the
capacity of the pumping facility for the fire duration. When a city experiences large
seasonal fluctuations of population and therefore wide variations in consumption, the
average daily minimum storage will be considered at the time when consumption is
average for the maximum population.
Records are available for Minimum Storage levels. All tanks are kept to their maximum
levels through plant operational periods. Parkstown Tank 4.0 million gallons gravity flow,
Eastview Tank 3.0 million gallons gravity flow, Manville Tank 2.0 million gallons gravity
flow, and Linsdale Tank 200,000 gallons.
B. Pumps (PUi):
Pumps should be credited at their effective capacities when delivering at normal
operating pressures. The effective capacity may be limited by filters, softeners, or other
devices in suction or discharge lines, and, when pumping stored water their effective
capacity may be limited by the average minimum daily storage. The total pumping
capacity (PU) shall be the sum of all pump facilities available at the test location,
expressed in gpm. When there are 2 or more pump lifts in series, the effective pump
capacity is the capacity of the lift with the lowest total capacity. When the same pumps
can operate in 2 or more lifts, they shall be credited in each lift to determine the lift with
the lowest total capacity.
Records are available for minimum pump capacities, type, maintenance and service.
What is the simultaneous operating capacity for:
a. Low lift pumps with considerations for limitation by suction or discharge piping or by
power arrangement? 2,400 gpm
b. High lift pumps with considerations for limitation by suction or discharge piping or by
power arrangement? 2,700 gpm
c. Transfer pumps with considerations for limitation by suction or discharge piping or by
power arrangement? N/A gpm
d. Booster pumps with considerations for limitation by suction or discharge piping or by
power arrangement? 2,200 gpm
C. Filters (FLi):
Filters may be considered as capable of operating at a reasonable overload capacity
based on records. When filters limit the capacity of subsequent pumping stages,
consider them as a pump capacity limit (PUi). When filters deliver water directly into the
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
76
distribution system, without pumping, the total filter capacity (FL) shall be the sum of all
filter capacities available at the test location, expressed in gpm.
Records are available for filter operation although filters are rated to operate higher than
the raw water pumps and high service pumps.
What is the combined filter capacity in gallons per minute for each treatment plant?
Total filter capacity: 3,840 GPM
Treatment plant name: Etowah Water Treatment Plant
If the filter capacity can be overloaded, what percent is permitted? 0%
Describe any flow limitations from other treatment facilities such as sedimentation
basins, mixing chambers, aerators, etc.: 2 sedimentation basins are used to settle solids
out before traveling through the plant to the eight filters.
D. Emergency Supply (EMi):
The ability to utilize emergency supplies through connections from other systems or
from separate sources, storage, or equipment not normally used shall be considered in
reviewing the system. Credit shall be given for emergency supplies that come in
automatically. Credit will also be given for other emergency supplies when sufficient
supply is available on the system being reviewed to maintain the total rate credited
during the period that would elapse before delivery is possible from the emergency
supplies. The total emergency supply capacity (EM) shall be the sum of all emergency
supplies available at the test location, expressed in gpm.
Are bays, rivers, canals, streams, ponds, wells, cisterns, or other similar sources
available as a suction supply source for fire department pumpers? Yes
If the answer to the above is yes, please provide the following information for each
supply source:
a. Location of suction supply source: Hiwassee River
b. Available flow from the suction supply source: Unlimited gpm Unlimited hours
c. Is the suction supply source accessible by an all-weather access road? Yes
d. Is the suction source available during freezing weather, floods, droughts, or other
adverse conditions? Yes
E. Suction Supply (SSi):
Where bays, rivers, canals, streams, ponds, wells, cisterns, or other similar sources are
available as suction supply for fire department pumpers, the suction supply shall be
considered with respect to its ability, including accessibility, availability during freezing
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
77
weather, floods, droughts, or other adverse conditions to satisfy the Needed Fire Flow
(NFFi) at test locations. The total suction supply (SS) credited shall be the sum of
suction supplies at the test location for the fire duration, or the capacity of the fire
department pumping equipment, whichever is less, expressed in gpm.
F. Fire Department Supply (FDS):
Supply delivered by fire department vehicles carrying or relaying at least 250 gpm to the
fire shall be credited. This application rate shall be obtained within 5 minutes of arrival at
the fire site, and shall continue for the fire duration of the Needed Fire Flow (NFFi). If
the rate of flow can be increased within 15 minutes of arrival at the fire site, and can be
continued for the fire duration of the Needed Fire Flow, the higher rate will be credited.
The travel time of apparatus shall be calculated from the formula:
T = 0.65 + 1.7D
T = minutes.
D = miles.
Slower speeds will be used for underpowered apparatus, or apparatus laying hose
lines. The fire department supply (FDS) shall be the capacity of the supply for the fire
duration, the capacity of the source pumping equipment, the capacity of the delivery
equipment, or the capacity of the final delivery pumping equipment, whichever is least,
at the test location, expressed in gpm.
Etowah Fire Department would utilize mutual aid for tanker water supplies. These
services are available when needed.
Does the fire department have the capability of shuttling water from a water source to a
fire site through the use of water tankers or tenders? Yes via Mutual Aid
612. SUPPLY WORKS CAPACITY (SWCi):
Calculate the supply works capacity, considering the fire flow duration, for each
representative test location. Express the result in gpm.
for one supply
where 2 or more supplies are available at a test location,
, where n = the number of supplies.
MS = 2/3’s of storage (2,366,253) or 1,577,502 gallons = 1,577 gpm
PU = 1,650 gpm (high service pump)
FL = 1,400 gpm @ 8 hours per day plus 200,000 gallons from the Spring source =
872,000 gallon per day on normal operations. The average daily gallons pumped are
871,167 gallons. Meaning that under normal conditions the supply source is available
for fire protection.
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
78
EM = 0 (emergency supply) but could run the treatment plant longer hours to provide up
to an additional 1 million more gallons per day.
SS and FDS = 0 (it’s available but not counted on)
Amount of water available for Fire Protection Daily = 1,587,335 gallons
SWC = 1,400 gpm
Treatment plant will treat 1,400 gpm through all components
613. MAIN CAPACITY (MCi):
The normal ability of the distribution system to deliver Needed Fire Flows (NFFi) at
those test locations considered in Item 612 shall be reviewed. The results of a flow test
at a representative test location will indicate the ability of mains to carry water to that
location. If tests are made on 2 or more systems or service levels at the same location,
credit will be given for the sum of the test results on each system, or service, up to the
limit of supply, for the fire flow duration at that location.
MCi = Tested gpm at 20-psi residual pressure.
613. MAIN CAPACITY
No. 1 – A fire flow test may be at a location with both commercial and residential risks.
Show the highest needed fire flow. If it is greater than 3,500 gpm, show the highest
commercial needed fire flow under 4,000 gpm, if any. The residential needed fire flow
may also be shown.
No. 2 – The available fire flow at 20 psi residual should be rounded to the nearest 50
gpm for flows under 1,000 gpm, and to the nearest 100 gpm for flows over 1,000 gpm.
No. 3 – When flow tests are run on two service levels at the same location and the
lower service level is fed by regulators from the upper service, the two tests should be
run simultaneously. When the upper service is fed by pumps from the lower service, the
tests can be run independently; however, the amount of credit will be limited by the
supply limit of the lower service or of the system.
No. 4 – When a flow test is run on a service supplied by pressure regulators, the
residual pressure should, where possible, be reduced to near 20 psi to cause the
regulators to open. Sufficient flowing time should be allowed to completely stabilize the
residual pressure with the regulators open. If it is not possible to reduce the residual
pressure to near 20 psi, at least as much as the Needed Fire Flow should be flowed.
614. HYDRANT DISTRIBUTION (HDi):
This item reviews each hydrant within 1,000 feet of a representative test location,
measured as hose can be laid by apparatus, to satisfy the Needed Fire Flow (NFFi).
Credit up to 1,000 gpm from each hydrant within 300 feet of the location, 670 gpm from
hydrants within 301 to 600 feet of the location and 250 gpm from hydrants within 601 to
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
79
1,000 feet of the location. The normal distribution of hydrants in the vicinity of those test
locations considered in Items 612 and 613 shall be evaluated. When there are 2 or
more systems or services distributing water at the same location, credit shall be given
on the basis of the joint protection provided by all systems and services available.
A. Sub-standard type hydrants, with at least one fire department outlet, will be
considered if capable of delivering at least 250 gpm.
B. A cistern or other suction point shall be capable of supplying 250 gpm for at least 2
hours to be recognized.
C. The maximum credit for a hydrant may be limited by A or B above and shall be
limited by the number and size of outlets as follows:
At least one pumper outlet
Two or more hose outlets, no pumper outlet
One hose outlet only
Maximum Credit
1,000 GPM
750 GPM
500 GPM
HDik is the creditable capacity for each hydrant within 1,000 feet of the test location,
expressed in gpm.
, where n = the number of hydrants within 1,000 feet of the test location.
614. HYDRANT DISTRIBUTION
No. 1 – Privately owned hydrants should be credited based upon their availability and
potential use by the fire department. If they are not readily accessible, or would not be
used because of local circumstances, no credit should be given. If accessible and used
by the fire department, count as any other hydrant. Should the private hydrants not be
of proper size, not properly inspected or not maintained, they will reduce the credit
according to their percentage of the total.
No. 2 – Where hydrants are officially available for use, but are located within an
adjacent and separately graded city, they count as any other hydrant. Basic
considerations must include availability and location. Size and conditions should be
graded as for any other credited hydrant.
No. 3 – When a fire department has the capability of delivering water using hose larger
than 2 1/2 inch hose at higher rates than indicated in Item 614, the flow credited for
hydrant recognition shall be modified.
A. To determine the additional amount to credit, the following information shall be
analyzed:
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
80
1. The minimum size and length of hose load for all the apparatus credited as engine
companies including automatic aid engines credited under item 512. All engine
companies credited in Item 512 must carry hose larger than 2 ½ inches in diameter.
2. The minimum pump size for all apparatus credited as engine companies including
automatic aid engines credited under item 512. The minimum pump size shall be the
rated pump capacity without deductions for lack of testing or lack of test records.
3. When the minimum size and length of hose load is on one engine and the minimum
pump size is on another engine apply the least credit.
4. Determination of the standard operating procedure of using the supply hose;
whether a pumper is used on the hydrant to pump the line to the fire site or whether
the supply hose is laid in to the scene without a pumper connected to the hydrant but
the hose line connected only to the pumper at the fire site. If there is no pumper
connected either at the supply point (hydrant) or fire site, then no additional credit
shall be given under this item except in those communities that have dedicated high
pressure water main systems designed for fire service and the pressures maintained
in the system can support hose lines without the use of a pumper.
B. From the above information; select the minimum criteria and apply one of the charts
below.
1. The first chart is to be used when a pumper is located at the supply point (hydrant)
and pumps the larger supply line. These values are not correlated to the actual water
available.
2. The second chart is to be used when there is no pumper located at the supply point
(hydrant) but the supply line is connected to a pumper at the fire site. If there is no
SOP and it is unclear whether the fire department uses a pumper at the hydrant, use
the second chart. These values are not correlated to the actual water available.
3. The additional flow credit shall be based on the current standard intervals
of:
a. 0' to 300'
b. 301' to 600'
c. 601' to 1000'
4. Both charts are set up in increments of 301' to 600' and 601' to 1000'. There are no
entries for 0' to 300' as 1000 GPM is the minimum credit under FSRS Item 614 for
that distance. The charts include the hose sizes of 3" to 5" and pump capacities from
500 GPM to 2,000 GPM. For 2,250 GPM capacity pumpers, use the figures under the
2,000 GPM pump capacity.
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
81
5. The minimum credited flows based on 2 1/2" hose as outlined in FSRS Item 614 shall
always be used.
6. The flow shall be limited by the size and number of outlets on the hydrant.
7. In case of variations of mixtures of hose carried, follow the below examples:
a. Example 1: One engine carries 500' of 4" hose and 500' of 5" hose. Simply credit it as
1,000' of 4" hose and read off the appropriate chart.
b. Example 2: One engine carries 700' of 4" hose and 500' of 3" hose. Credit the 301' to
600' distance using 4" hose and credit the 601' to1000' distance using 3" hose.
c. Example 3: One engine carries only 700' of 5" hose and the rest of the hose is 1 1/2"
hose. Credit the 301' to 600' distance using 5" hose and use the default of 250 GPM
for the 601' to 1000' distance.
8. Using the Chart when the pumper is connected to the water supply point, 550' or 950'
of large diameter hose is acceptable as the minimum for the respective distances of
301' to 600' and 601' to 1000' as the last 50' of hose is made up of either 2 1/2" or 3"
parallel hose lines. It will not be necessary to differentiate between 2 1/2" or 3" hose
for this last segment of the hose calculations.
9. All hydrants located within 1,000' of a needed fire flow building including Section II
Individual Properties shall be included in this analysis.
615. CAPABILITY OF WATER SYSTEM AT TEST LOCATION (TLCi):
The creditable rate of flow at each test location is the lowest of NFFi, SWCi, MCi or HDi.
NFF = 2,500 gpm
SWC = 1,400 gpm TLC = 1,400 gpm
616. CREDIT FOR SUPPLY SYSTEM (CSS):
(1,400 / 2,500) x 35 = 19.60
, where n = number of test locations.
, where n = number of test locations.
CSS = 19.60 out of a possible 35.00
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
82
620. HYDRANTS - SIZE, TYPE AND INSTALLATION (PH):
Prorate points from the following sub-items according to the number of hydrants of each
type compared with the total number of hydrants.
Points
A. With 6-inch or larger branch, and a pumper outlet; with or without 2 1/2-inch outlets
100 Points
B. With 6-inch or larger branch, no pumper outlet but 2 or more 2 1/2-inch outlets, or
with small foot valve or with small barrel 75 Points
C. With only one 2 1/2 -inch outlet 25 Points
D. With less than 6-inch branch 25 Points
E. Flush type 25 Points
F. Cistern or suction point 25 Points
Note 1: Deduct 2 points for each 10 percent of the hydrants not opening in the direction
of the majority, or with operating nuts different from the majority.
Note 2: Deduct 10 points if more than one thread is used for pumper or hose outlets.
Note 3: Maximum points under this item are 100.
621. CREDIT FOR HYDRANTS (CH):
CH = 1.8 out of a possible 2.0
630. INSPECTION AND CONDITION OF HYDRANTS:
Inspection and condition of hydrants should be in accordance with American Water
Works Association Manual M-17 - Installation, Maintenance, and Field Testing of Fire
Hydrants.
A. Inspection (HI):
The frequency of inspection is the average time interval between the 3 most recent
inspections.
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
83
Frequency of Inspections
½ year
1 year
2 years
3 years
4 years
5 years or more
Points
100
80
65
55
45
40
B. Note 1: The points for inspection frequency shall be reduced by 10 points if the
inspections are incomplete. An additional reduction of 10 points shall be made if
hydrants are not subjected to full system pressure during inspections. If the inspection
of cisterns or suction points does not include actual drafting with a pumper, deduct 40
points.
C. Note 2: If there are no records of claimed inspections, deduct an additional 20
points.
D. Condition (HF):
Prorate a factor (HF) from the following list of conditions according to the actual
condition of hydrants examined compared with the total number examined during the
survey:
Condition
Standard (no leaks, opens easily, conspicuous,
well located for use by pumper)
Usable
Not useable
Factor
1.0
0.5
0.0
630. INSPECTION AND CONDITION OF HYDRANTS
No. 1 – Points for the average interval between inspections shall be interpolated for
intervals other than those listed.
No. 2 – If hydrants are not flushed during an inspection, the inspection is incomplete
and the credit shall be reduced by 10 points.
No. 3 – The pressure testing of the hydrant barrel is a separate grading consideration
for all dry-barrel hydrants. Apply 10 points credit for wet-barrel hydrants. Recording the
pressure with a gauge is not necessary. Proportion the credit when both dry and wet
barrel hydrants are installed.
No. 4 – The semi-annual inspection of drafting sites shall verify the suitability and
accessibility for pumpers the year around and shall include drafting with a pumper.
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
84
No. 5 – The semi-annual inspection of dry hydrants shall include back flushing and then
drafting with a pumper.
No. 6 – When there are 2 or more water systems, it may be necessary to prorate the
credit for inspections. It is not necessary to prorate the conditions.
No. 7 – Records should indicate the date of inspection, that the hydrants were flowed,
and that the hydrants were pressure tested.
No. 8 – The condition factor for drafting sites is a maximum of 0.5 unless they are
equipped with dry hydrants.
No. 9 – The minimum credit for inspection shall be 20 points after the deductions are
made.
No. 10 – If hydrant flow data is provided by the community and no data on condition of
hydrants is provided, then 20% of the hydrants used for flow test locations shall be
considered useable, but with defects.
Fire Hydrant Information
16. Please provide the following information regarding the fire hydrants within your
community:
a. Are hydrants installed per recognized standard? Yes
b. Indicate the number of hydrants on a 6-in or larger branch line with 5" or greater
barrels with: a pumper outlet: 55
No pumper outlet but (2) or more 2½" outlets: 19
No pumper outlet but only (1) 2½" outlet: 0
c. Indicate the number of hydrants on a 6-in or larger branch line with a barrel less than
5" with: a pumper outlet: 123
No pumper outlet but (2) or more 2½" outlets: 45
No pumper outlet but only (1) 2½" outlet: 0
d. Indicate the number of hydrants on a 4-in or smaller branch line with: a pumper
outlet: 0
No pumper outlet but (2) or more 2½" outlets: 0
No pumper outlet but only (1) 2½" outlet: 0
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
85
e. Indicate the number of flush type, in-ground hydrants: 0
f. Indicate the number of cistern or other drafting sites: 0
g. Indicate the total number of fire hydrants: 250
h. Of the above total, how many are private hydrants? 0
i. What percent of the hydrants operate (turn on and off) in a uniform direction? 100 %
j. What percent of the hydrants have operating nuts of the same size? 100 %
k. What percent of the hose threads are the same for each outlet size? 100 %
Please provide the following information regarding the inspection and condition of the
fire hydrants within your community:
a. Are inspections of fire hydrants conducted in your community? Yes
i. What department conducts the inspections? Etowah Utilities, Water Department
ii. What is the date of the most recent inspection? October 21, 2010
iii. Regarding the frequency of inspections, what is the average time interval between
the three most recent hydrant inspections? ½ year
iv. Are current records of hydrant inspections maintained? Yes
If the answer to the above question is yes, provide an exhibit showing a sample of
hydrant inspection records for at least five hydrants (Exhibit 9A – 17 – Hydrant Records)
v. What percent of the hydrants are flushed as part of the inspection? 100 %
vi. What percent of the hydrants are tested for leaks as part of the inspection? 100%
vii. Does the inspection of cisterns or suction points include actual drafting with a
pumper? N/A
631. CREDIT FOR INSPECTION AND CONDITION (CIC):
CIC = 2.60 out of a possible 3.00
640. CREDIT FOR WATER SUPPLY (CWS):
CWS = 25.00 or a Relative ISO Class 5 out of a possible 40.00
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
86
Background Information
Indicate the points of contact(s) for the water department, district, or provider providing
services to the fire agency’s jurisdiction:
Water Provider: Etowah Utilities
Contact Brandon Frost Title: Water Quality Coordinator
Email: bfrost@eubnet.org
Street 1313 S. TN Ave. PO Box 927
City: Etowah, Tennessee 37331 Phone: 423-263-9441
Fire Suppression Rating Schedule — Total Credit and Classification
700. GENERAL:
This item develops the Public Protection Classification number by summarizing the
credits developed in Items 400 through 640, and by adjusting for the difference in credit
between Items 590 and 640.
701. PUBLIC PROTECTION CLASSIFICATION (PPC):
*Raise any decimal to the next higher number; e.g., 5.12=6.
100 – {(8.63 + 20.5 + 25) – 0.5[I(25)-0.8(20.5)I]}
10
100 – {(50.9) – 0.5[25-16.80]}
10
100 – {(50.9) – 0.58.63]}
10
100 – {50.9 – [4.1]}
10
100 – 50.9
10
__49.10__
10
4.91 Divergence Score
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
87
Overall scores were
Communication Center: 8.63
Fire Department: 20.5
Water Supply: 25
Total: 54.13
Minus Divergence 4.91
Equals ISO score: 49.22
Etowah’s ISO score would be a 49.22 which is equals a class 6 ISO. There are several
recommendations that should easily move Etowah to a Class 5. Etowah is scoring a
very high Class 6 rating; see ratings below.
Class 1 – 90.00 or more points
Class 2 – 80.00 or 89.9 points
Class 3 – 70.00 or 79.99 points
Class 4 – 60.00 or 69.99 points
Class 5 – 50.00 or 59.99 points
Class 6 – 40.00 or 49.99 points **********
Class 7 – 30.00 or 39.99 points
Class 8 – 20.00 or 29.99 points
Class 9 – 10.00 or 19.99 points
Class 10 – 0 or 9.99 points
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
88
APPENDIX A
Engine 301
Assigned to Station 1
Response area: District 1
Fire Suppression
Fire Engine – 1250 gpm pump
Tank: 300 gallons
200 ft. of booster hose
400 ft. of 1¾ inch fire hose
1200 ft. of 2½ inch supply hose
1 heavy stream nozzle
1 distributing nozzle
1 foam nozzle
1 blitz nozzle
4 – 1½ inch combo nozzles
2 – 2½ inch straight nozzles
2 – 2½ inch combo nozzles
4 – SCBAs
4 – spare SCBA bottles
2 – salvage covers
2 – hand lights
1 – hose clamp
1 – LDH manifold
1 – gated Y
12 ft. roof ladder
24 ft. extension ladder
Engine 302
Assigned to Station 1
Response area: District 1
NFPA Equipped: Engine
Fire Suppression
Fire Engine – 1250 gpm pump
Tank: 300 gallons
200 ft. of booster hose
400 ft. of 1¾ inch fire hose
1200 ft. of 2½ inch supply hose
1 heavy stream nozzle
1 distributing nozzle
1 foam nozzle
1 blitz nozzle
2 – 1½ inch combo nozzles
2 – 2½ inch straight nozzles
2 – 2½ inch combo nozzles
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
89
4 – SCBAs
4 – spare SCBA bottles
6 – salvage covers
2 – hand lights
1 – hose clamp
1 – LDH manifold
1 – gated Y
12 ft. roof ladder
24 ft. extension ladder
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service
90