California Code of Regulations › Title 21 - Public Works › Division 2 - Department of Transportation › Chapter 7 - Transportation Permits › Section 1411.7 - Fire Trucks

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a) Any fire
				truck may exceed the maximum allowable weights of the Department's
				Transportation Permit Program, but shall not exceed the following axle weight
				limits:
Axle Configuration
Max. allowable weight
Single steering axle (front and rear)
24,000 pounds
Single drive axle
31,000 pounds
Tandem axles
48,000 pounds
Tandem rear drive steer axles
48,000 pounds
Tridem axles
54,000 pounds
(b)
				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.
(c) 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 and rear steer 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.
(d)
				All fire truck axles shall have a minimum of 4 tires per axle, except for front
				and rear steer 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 24,000 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.
(e) 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.
(f) 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 single-unit fire
				apparatus may have a maximum length of 52 feet provided that they travel on
				roads that can safely accommodate them, and 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. A fire truck
				with two parts coupled together at an articulation point is defined in this
				regulation as a "combination of vehicles," regardless of whether the parts
				detach, and therefore must comply with the length limits for a combination of
				vehicles in Vehicle Code Section
				35401(a).
(g) Fire trucks meeting the requirements of
				this regulation may operate on State and local roadways without a
				transportation permit. Fire trucks that exceed the weight requirements of this
				regulation for tandem or tridem axles may receive transportation permits from
				the Department to operate on State routes and from local governments to operate
				on local roads. The permit shall not allow any increase in single axle weights.
				The permit shall limit tandem and tridem weights to no more than 15 percent
				over the weights allowed in these regulations. The permit shall allow bridge
				access only on bridges with a capacity rating that is adequate for the
				additional axle weights.
(h)
				Nothing in this Section shall preempt the requirements of Vehicle Code Section
				35002(d)
				and Section
				35002(e).
(i) Fire trucks exempted from provisions in
				Division 15 of the Vehicle Code shall comply with California Vehicle Code
				Section
				24011.
(j) Fire trucks may not travel on a bridge
				where the weight of the fire truck exceeds the posted maximum bridge
				weight.
(k) All fire trucks shall
				comply with the Vehicle Code Chapter 3, Brakes, commencing with Section
				26301. In addition, fire trucks
				purchased on or after January 1, 1994, 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 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
				purchased on or after January 1, 1994, that exceeds 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
				  percent 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.