Appliance Defects

The Auckland Local writes to members with regards to the appliance fleet. The Local has heard from members that some defects, as written in Appliance Defect Books, are not being repaired. That is, members are being called to uplift an appliance from workshops following servicing and not all noted defects have been corrected. This is quite bizarre, as the purpose of sending a vehicle for servicing is so that it can be serviced and maintained, including fixing things that are wrong with it.

In this regard, the Local instructs members to verify whether noted defects have been corrected. If a defect has not been addressed, then do not uplift an appliance until such time as the defect(s) have been fixed. 

Tyres

In addition to this, the Local has serious concerns around tyres being fitted to appliances, in particular, J-rated “Giti” brand tyres. A tyre with a J-rating has a maximum speed rating of 100km/h, as opposed to M-rated tyres, which are what would have been fitted to both Scania and MAN appliances at the factory. M-rated tyres can be operated up to 130km/h.

As the FENZ Response Driving Policy allows for speeds up to 105km/h, J-rated tyres are not fit for purpose when fitted to a fire appliance. A driver involved in a crash at over 100km/h, if they survived, would have no defence if the vehicle was exceeding the speed rating of the tyre. Members are instructed to examine the tyres on their appliance, including the inner duals, and, if one or more are “Giti” brand, then the appliance is to be returned to workshops to have M-rated tyres fitted.

This is seperate to the “Goldcoin” brand tyres fitted to the TTL. Those tyres are so rare that new replacements are apparently unobtainable until August. Quite why an organisation would purchase only two of something so rare beggars belief, but this certainly is indicative of the idiocy with which the Auckland fleet is managed.