Select members of the Apparatus Committee, along with President Lamphier headed to Appleton, Wisconsin this week to perform a final inspection of the new pumper.  Arriving in town on Wednesday afternoon, they immediately went to work giving the pumper a quick going over.  A few cosmetic deficiencies were noticed and relayed to Pierce representatives.  Returning members of the committee reviewed the punch list from their previous visit to ensure those issues were handled.

Then it was off to the hotel to settle in and prepare for dinner and some Wisconsin nightlife.  The night was cut short, however, because the committee had a busy day ahead of them on Thursday.  Thursday started bright and early with a hearty breakfast before heading to the plant.  Once at the plant, the committee divided into teams, each with specific parts of the bid spec and components list to review.  This took most of the morning, and when completed they reviewed their findings and began a new punch list.  Then they switched and the pumper was given another thorough front to back, top to bottom inspection.  This again took a few hours to complete and when finished the committee regrouped to compare notes.

When all was said and done, a short punch list of 23 items was presented to Pierce, many of which were cosmetic in nature.  The most serious of “defects” noted were the inability to locate the power and antenna leads for the mobile radio, a possible fluid leak near the cab tilt reservoir, and a light bar that was not to specifications.  There was an error in specification on the driver’s seat, and Singer Associates (the dealer) is taking responsibility for that.

The pumper has passed all testing and has received its certification from UL (with the addition of a step under the rear tailboard).  Apparently the tailboard sits 3 inches too high per NFPA and therefore requires a step.  This may be moot once the pumper is loaded with a full tank of water and all its equipment, but for now it stays.

Providing Pierce completes the punch list in a timely manner, the pumper should be delivered to Singer towards the end of this coming week.  There, it will be outfitted with some equipment and then released for final approval.