A flexible exhaust hose with one end attached to the exhaust pipe and the other outside the building can be effective, but, the hose must not be not too long or damaged, and the end around the exhaust pipe must fit snugly. Any exhaust system installed needs to be used and maintained properly and effectively. Station personnel should be familiar with the system and how it is to be used. A general exhaust system should run long enough after vehicles leave or return to clear the air in the apparatus area. As conditions vary from station to station, system running time should be determined locally.
Some stations have automatic controls that turn on exhaust ventilation.
They may be activated by bay door openings, by exhaust sensors, or by other means. A timer turns off the ventilation after a period of time thought sufficient to clear the air. Where such controls also control bay door operation, fail-safe mechanisms are needed to prevent accidents caused by moving bay doors. Isolation is one method of controlling migration of exhaust fumes. Isolation measures, in effect, seal off the apparatus room from other areas.