Fire Truck Exemptions
PROPOSED REGULATIONS (See new proposed regulations below in red, as of August 26, 2009.)
ORIGINAL PROPOSED REGULATIONS: On October 31, 2008, a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for fire apparatus was published in the California Regulatory Notice Register (Notice Register). The proposed amendment would apply to the California Code of Regulations, Title 21, Division 2, Chapter 7, Section 1411.7. The proposed action would (1) increase the existing axle weight exemptions on fire trucks, (2) extend the length of a single-unit fire truck to 52 feet, and (3) expand both these exemptions to include all fire apparatus, which includes other emergency vehicles.
ORIGINAL NOTICE PUBLISHED: The original proposed regulations can be viewed in the Notice Register dated October 31, 2008 on this website: http://www.oal.ca.gov/notices/October2008_notice_pdf.htm. This published version has a minor typo on Page 1941. In the sentence at the 6th bullet, "complete" should read "compete." Since the correction was non-substantive, OAL granted permission to post the corrected version on the Caltrans website, which can be accessed at: Fire Apparatus Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
ORIGINAL REGULATIONS PACKAGE: See also the INITIAL STATEMENT OF REASONS and the PROPOSED TEXT OF REGULATION MARK-UP.
INITIAL COMMENTS: The initial comment period lasted 45 days, from October 31, 2008, to December 15, 2008. Comments were submitted to Casey Robb at the mailing address listed in the "Notice," or by e-mail at: casey_robb@dot.ca.gov. (The apparent blank space in the e-mail address is an underscore.)
NEW PROPOSED REGULATIONS as of August 25, 2009
NEW PROPOSED REGULATIONS: The original proposed regulations were modified. The new proposed regulations were sent to interested parties on August 25, 2009. The new proposed regulations would (1) increase the existing axle weight exemptions on fire trucks, though to lower limits than those previously proposed, (2) extend the length of a single-unit fire truck to 52 feet on those routes that can accommodate them, (3) expand both these exemptions to include all fire apparatus, which includes other emergency vehicles, except haul equipment, and (4) allow tandem and tridem weights to be permitted up to an additional 15%, but bridge access allowed only on those bridges with adequate capacity.
NEW REGULATIONS MARK-UP: The new proposed regulations mark-up can be viewed at this link: PROPOSED TEXT OF REGULATION MARK-UP 2009. The original proposed changes are marked with strikethrough (for deletions) and underlining (for additions). The new changes are marked with double strikethrough (for deletions) and double underlining (for additions). The new changes are located in sections (a), (b), (g), and (h).
FINAL COMMENTS: The final comment period will last for 15 days, from August 25, 2009, to September 9, 2009. Comments may be submitted to Casey Robb at the mailing address listed in the initial "Notice," or by e-mail at: casey_robb@dot.ca.gov. (The apparent blank space in the e-mail address is an underscore.)
The following is the existing regulation copied from the California Code of Regulations with some links added for convenience.
CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS
TITLE 21. Public Works
Division 2. Department of Transportation
Chapter 7. Transportation Permits
§1411.7. Fire Trucks.
(a) Any fire truck may exceed the maximum allowable axle weights of the Department’s Transportation Permit Program, but shall not exceed the following weight limits:
Axle Configuration
Max. allowable weight
Single steering axle
23,000 pounds
Single tiller axle
24,000 pounds
Single drive axle
24,000 pounds
Tandem axles
48,000 pounds
Tridem axles
54,000 pounds
(b) Notwithstanding the weight limits set forth in (a) above:
1) A two-axle aerial ladder fire truck and a two-axle aerial water tower fire truck shall not exceed 31,000 pounds on the rear axle. A three-axle aerial platform ladder fire truck shall not exceed 53,000 pounds on the tandem axle assembly. An aerial ladder fire truck, two-vehicle combination, shall not exceed 27,000 pounds on the single-drive axle of the power unit.
2) A pumper fire truck designed to carry a minimum capacity of 1,200 gallons shall not exceed 27,000 pounds on a single drive axle.
(c) A fire truck designed to carry a minimum capacity of 1,200 gallons and exceed axle weights authorized in California Vehicle Code Section 35551 or Section 35551.5 shall be permanently marked on the manufacturer’s GVW rating plate with the gallonage the fire truck is designed to carry.
(d) Tandem axles shall have a minimum axle spacing of 4 feet and tridem axles shall have a minimum axle spacing of 9 feet as measured from the centerline of the first axle to the centerline of the last axle in the axle group. Tandem axle spacing shall not exceed 8 feet and tridem axles shall not exceed 10 feet as measured from the centerline of the first axle to the centerline of the last axle in the axle group.
Except for front steer and tiller axles, all axles within the same loading group shall have a common suspension system that naturally divides weight between all axles in the suspension group equally and equitably, both statically and dynamically under all loading conditions without any influence from an outside source.
(e) All fire truck axles shall have a minimum of 4 tires per axle, except for front steer and tiller axles. Four tired axles may be equipped with super single tires with a minimum of 18 inches (445 mm) of cross section and 19.5 inches of bead diameter. When super singles are used on a single axle application, the maximum weight on that axle shall be limited to 23,000 pounds. The tires must have a rated capacity marked on the sidewall of the tire as required by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Standard FMVSS 119. The sum of the rated capacities of the tires on the axle shall equal or exceed the axle weight. The tire shall be of sufficient tire size so as not to exceed 685 pounds per inch of nominal tire width on front steering and tiller axles and not to exceed 625 pounds per inch of nominal tire width on all other axles. For purposes of this regulation, "nominal tire width" is the width of tire actually marked on the sidewall of the tire.
(f) Fire truck axle weights shall not exceed the axle manufacturer’s rated axle capacity when the axles are equipped with axle components of a corresponding rating.
(g) Fire trucks may exceed width limitations provided in Division 15 of the California Vehicle Code but cannot exceed 120 inches. All fire trucks shall comply with the length, height, and overhang limitations of Division 15 of the Vehicle Code except that fire trucks defined in sections 1411.1(d), (e) and (f) may have a maximum front overhang of 8 feet from the front bumper provided that the driver’s vision to the left and right is not impaired by the projecting or supporting structure.
(h) Fire trucks meeting the requirements of this regulation may operate on State highways without a transportation permit.
(i) Nothing in this Section shall preempt the requirements of Vehicle Code Section 35002(d) and Section 35002(e).
(j) Fire trucks exempted from provisions in Division 15 of the Vehicle Code shall comply with California Vehicle Code Section 24011.
(k) Fire truck weights shall not exceed the maximum weight limits posted for any bridge.
(l) All fire trucks shall comply with the Vehicle Code Chapter 3, Brakes, commencing with Section 26301. In addition, fire trucks that exceed the axle weight limits of 22,500 pounds on a single axle of 34,000 pounds on a tandem axle assembly, or where the gross vehicle weight exceeds statutory weight limits shall be equipped with a brake system designed to enhance vehicle control and stability during adverse weather conditions and emergency stops. Each type of fire truck that exceed the axle weight limits of 22,500 pounds on a single axle or 34,000 pounds on a tandem axle assembly, or where the gross vehicle weight exceeds statutory weight limits, prior to sales in California, shall be tested for compliance with the following Performance Tests:
1) Performance Tests
A vehicle with a brake system that is designed to enhance vehicle control and stability shall be tested for the following "Dry Road, Straight Line Stops" and "Slippery Road, Curved Stops" under the control of the General Test Conditions:
a) General Test Conditions
The following test conditions are applicable to both the "Dry Road, Straight Line Stops" and the "Slippery Road, Curved Stop" test:
- Level 12-foot width lane;
- Vehicle shall be centered in the lane at the initiation of braking;
- Test driver shall be allowed to steer as necessary during braking;
- Brake shall be fully applied as rapidly as possible;
- Initial brake temperature shall not exceed 250 degrees F (in lining) at the hottest brake, as measured by brake thermocouple installed in accordance with SAE J843;
- The transmission shall be in the neutral position or the clutch depressed;
- Test vehicle shall be tested both empty as delivered to the Fire District without the miscellaneous equipment installed by the Fire District, and loaded to the maximum gross vehicle weight rating. Vehicles equipped with tanks for liquid fire retardants shall be tested with tanks 2/3 filled with liquid.
- Surface Friction – Peak Friction Coefficient (PFC) as determined with an ASTM E 1134 tire on ASTM traction trailer using ASTM E 1337 procedure. Average value of 10 runs spaced evenly over the test surface.
- Brake Burnish – Burnish brakes as per FMVSS 121 burnish procedure prior to testing (i.e., 500 snubs from 40 to 20 mph at 10 fpsps on a 1.0 mile interval.
- The brakes shall be adjusted within the manufacturer’s recommended tolerances;
- The tires shall be inflated to the manufacturer’s recommended pressure for the load of the tire.
b) Dry Road, Straight Line Stops
The fire truck shall enter the test lane described in the General Test Conditions with the surface friction and initial speed shown below. Thereafter, the brakes shall be applied as required in the General Test Conditions:
- Surface friction level-PFC=0.9 (Most dry asphalt and concrete surfaces are at this level);
- 60 mph initial speed;
- 3 repeat runs.
c) Slippery Road, Curved Stops
The fire truck shall enter the test lane described in the General Test Conditions at the surface friction, radius, and initial speed shown below. Thereafter, the brakes shall be applied as required in the General Test Conditions:
- Surface friction level-PFC=0.5 (wet, sealed asphalt in good condition is usually at or below this level); 500 ft. curve radius (lane centerline);
- Initial speed to be the lower of: 30 mph (48 km/h) or 75% of the maximum drive through speed.
- Drive through speed is the highest speed that the vehicle can be driven through 200 feet (60.8 meter) of the 500 foot radius curve without leaving the lane. The vehicle is to be centered in the lane at the initiation of the drive through test;
- 3 repeat runs.
2) Fail-safe Protection and Failure Warning
In the event of an electrical failure in the system installed to enhance the vehicle stability and control, the performance of the basic foundation brakes shall be unaffected. The vehicle shall be equipped so that when the left front, right front, left rear, or right rear brake assembly of the enhanced system fails to function as designed, the operator can tell without the need to connect external test equipment. Upon failure of the system, an amber light(s) shall illuminate on the instrument panel of the vehicle. The system installed to enhance the stability and control shall continue to operate without malfunction when electrical current to the stop light circuit fails.
3) Test Results
The final stage manufacturers shall test each type of fire truck and show compliance with (l)(1)(b) and (l)(1)(c) when tested under the General Test Conditions of (l)(1)(a) above. Each type of fire truck shall be capable of making a full emergency stop in both the Straight Line Stop and the Curved Stop without any portion of the fire truck leaving the test lane. The test report shall be written in simple terms, and shall include Performance Test results in (l)(1)(b) and (l)(1)(c). The final stage manufacturers shall make the test report available upon written request from State, city, or county officials.
(m) Manufacturer’s Certification.
Each fire truck equipped with a system to enhance stability and control shall be certified by the final stage manufacturer that the additional brake enhancing system is installed and functional.
(n) This section shall be effective and apply to vehicles purchased on or after January 1, 1994.
NOTE
Authority cited: Sections 35002 and 35795, Vehicle Code. Reference: Sections 35002 and 35780
HISTORY
New section filed 8-23-93; operative 9-22-93 (Register 93, No. 35).
CALIFORNIA VEHICLE CODE
Whenever a federal motor vehicle safety standard is established under federal law (49 U.S.C. Sec. 30101 et seq.), no dealer shall sell or offer for sale a vehicle to which the standard is applicable, and no person shall sell or offer for sale for use upon a vehicle an item of equipment to which the standard is applicable, unless: (a) The vehicle or equipment conforms to the applicable federal standard. (b) The vehicle or equipment bears thereon a certification by the manufacturer or distributor that it complies with the applicable federal standards. The certification may be in the form of a symbol prescribed in the federal standards or, if there is no federal symbol, by a symbol acceptable to the department.
Chapter 3 Brakes articles are linked below:
Division 12. Equipment of Vehicles
Chapter 3. Brakes
Article 1. Brake Requirements 26301-26311
Article 2. Operations of Brakes 26450-26458.5
Article 3. Airbrakes 26502-26508
Article 4. Vacuum Brakes 26520-26522
CONTACTS
Caltrans Legal Truck Size & Weight Work Group
Casey Robb
Manuel Fonseca
General number (916) 654-5741
E-mail: Truck Size & Weight Unit.
Return to the Caltrans "Office of Truck Services" page.
Revised 8/26/09.
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