Fire Engines Photos

Does anyone else think the offside front jacking pads look a 'little iffy' ?

Added by Rick Loudon on 25 October 2009.

Rick, what's got me wondering, has it got a front nearside jack, because the one between both nearside sets of wheels looks like the rear nearside jack? Maybe just the angle of photo. I was never an operator so far from me to pass a qualified comment. Whichever way, I'm certain it would have turned a few heads of motorists driving past!!

Added by Pav on 03 November 2009.

Pav, the jack you can see on the nearside is the front jack the rear is hidden by the bodywork of the vehicle - as you say its the angle of the photograph, the nearside front jack is only partly extended out from the side of the vehicle (as is the rear nearside probably) this is 'restricted jacking' and whilst safe, limits the 'operation envelope' of the booms on the nearside side - it won't be able to reach as far out from the vehicle as on the other side (all computer controlled) my concern is,it is bad practice to jack one pad on top of another - especially as they are in this picture, then, to compound the issue the vehicle is jacked on the edge of a verge or gully - again bad practice - its a known fact and one operators of all ariels should look for that service ducts and pipes/drains are laid in roadside gutters thereby creating an area of known unstable ground - that is something computers cannot control its down to the operator being competent and confident - I would refuse to go up in that cage and certainly would not have set up like this

Added by Rick Loudon on 03 November 2009.

there was no 1 in the cage the was just going up and down to see how far they could get it to reach

Added by Harvey Dan on 03 November 2009.

Harvey - that makes no difference the fact there was no one in the cage, - it looks to me like unsafe jacking and not considering the ground conditions before setting up - I'll dig out a picture to prove my point in the next few weeks !

Added by Rick Loudon on 05 November 2009.

Im sure the professionals know what there doing!

Added by Richard Whiting on 06 November 2009.

Rick, what a disaster waiting to happen, wind shear and tall building springs to mind as well as your other observations.

Added by John Stott on 06 November 2009.

Richard,

I am a 'retired professional' and was a Turntable ladder operator for 28 years out of my 32 years service, and a 'Platform operator' for 18 and for the last six of my service a platform instructor - its all about applied loads and forces - 'burdened and unburdened jacks' it concerns me greatly to see this set up - its contravening 3 basic 'rules' about setting up an ariel appliance - I've found the picture I mentioned earlier I just need to scan it into the computer to prove my point !

Added by Rick Loudon on 06 November 2009.

I would like to add that it is perfectly safe to put ground plates on top of each other. You can have upto four under any jack. Tend to agree with where the jack is placed though.

Added by Pete on 28 August 2010.

I lived in this block (South View). Was this an exercise or real fire?

Added by James Alan on 03 October 2012.

I cant speak for definate regarding this photo, but as a Bronto instructor, it looks very similar to scenarios I would set up or show to student Bronto operators. The idea would be to demonstrate the capabilities of the jacking system rather than actually using it as it is jacked. It also looks as if the nearside jack, is what we call "narrow jacked" ie not extended beyond the body, and it is just the photographic perspective that makes it look as if the jack isnt thereand again this imjpacts on outreach of the vehicle and is done during training to demonstrate how it affects the machines "working envelope". I doubt if the machine would be set up for actual operational use as it is but maybe it was.

Added by Gearóid Blake on 05 October 2012.

Hi Gearoid - I see what you are saying but do not understand the point of showing 'the capabilities of the jacking system' if the outcome of the set up would be unsafe (which I believe it is) I would not use the appliance with the jack (and pads) as they are !

Pete - yes I agree you can put stacked pads or groundplates down (if the ground is level and they are stacked properly) - the scenario in question is neither !

Added by Rick Loudon on 05 October 2012.

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