What The "PUC"?

[x635 4,066]

I open the cover of Firehouse Magazine, and it's a Pierce ad with a litte red circle surrounded by water droplets that says "What The PUC?"

Says it will be announced at FDIC on April 19th.

Anyone have any idea what this may be?

[Guest]

I know one theroy is this stands for "Pump Under Cab"

How true that is is anyones guess.

[Guest]

Piercewww.piercemfg.com

i remember seeing something on there about "what the puc"

[Monty 35]

Interesting idea - especially given someof the recent posts. Reminds me of European pumpers, like the Rosenbauer. The pump panel is in the first drivers compartment. The pump is further up the chassis and can be accessed with the cab up. For what it's worth, it also has pump and roll! (Great if you're at a bowling alley fire - oops did I say that out loud )

I believe they still have their 30 minute unveiling on line. From the Pierce News site:

Today Pierce Manufacturing Inc., North America’s leading manufacturer of fire and rescue apparatus, unveiled its newest product – the PUC – at the Fire Department Instructor’s Conference in Indianapolis. The Pierce Ultimate Configuration (PUC) dramatically changes the way the fire service configures apparatus by removing the bulky pumphouse without compromising fire fighting capabilities.

The PUC is an industry-changing multi-purpose response vehicle. Pierce considers it to be the biggest news the fire apparatus industry has seen since the invention of the custom chassis.

“Some may find it hard to imagine that you can actually design a truck without the bulky pumphouse. By making better use of this space, the PUC will change how fire fighters do their job better and safer, and has the potential to change the industry,” said John Randjelovic, president of Pierce Manufacturing. To develop this product, Pierce conducted industry research to deliver what fire departments said they wanted and needed in a first response vehicle.

The five most significant benefits of the PUC for fire fighters include:

# Easier to use

# Easier to stay safer

# Easier to store more

# Easier to service and maintain

# Easier to maneuver

In addition to eliminating the bulky pumphouse, the PUC features a simplified two-step pump shift operation. It also positions the pump operator next to hose connections rather than over them, and the pump panel is redesigned for easier use. Hosebeds, crosslays and ladder access are lowered for better ergonomic use. The entire pump system is also located above the frame for easier and quicker service and maintenance. With a shortened wheelbase for improved maneuverability (as low as 172”*), the PUC also provides up to 500 cubic-feet of storage.*

“The PUC is a dramatic improvement to fire fighting apparatus design. By eliminating the pumphouse, departments can use that extra space and room for equipment and gear,” said Randjelovic. “It provides many benefits to fire fighters and municipalities with a safer two-step pump operation and easier maintenance, which means the truck spends more time on the frontline than in a service bay.”

The PUC, with patent-pending technology, is available on Pierce custom chassis, has a tank capacity of up to 1,600 gal., a pump range of up to 1,500 gpm, a 6-year standard warranty on the pump, a compartment load rating to 500 pounds each, and a 10-year structural warranty. Wheelbase offerings come in 172” to 212” (depending on body size and chassis).

* dependent on body size and chassis.

Pierce Manufacturing Inc., a subsidiary of Oshkosh Truck Corporation [NYSE: OSK], is the leading North American manufacturer of custom fire apparatus. Products include custom and commercial pumpers, aerials, rescue trucks, wildland trucks, minipumpers, elliptical tankers, and homeland security apparatus. In addition, Pierce designs its own foam systems and was the first company to introduce the Side Roll Protectionâ„¢ System to fire apparatus. To learn more about Pierce, visit www.piercemfg.com.

It will be interesting to see how successful they are. It's not clear to me where the crosslays are and I missed the bit about the ladders - maybe I'll try watching the video again.

[Capejake72 8]

looks like this would be a good concept for a Rescue pumper, all your pump equipment in one space, more body space for your heavy rescue gear, doesnt sound like a setup that you would use the pump much

[Remember585 815]

The crosslays are in a transverse compartment on trays that slide out.

I might be a little off today due to a lack of sleep, but how do you gain compartment space when the pump is in a compartment?

It's not a bad concept, I would like to see one in person one day.

[IzzyEng4 427]

I had posted on another forum that this concept, yet a good idea is not saving any compartment space at all. The only thing that it is doing is shortening the wheel base and having the pump panel, though protected in the first driver side compartment is taking up half of that compartment space! How can it be saving space??????

If you look at the concept drawing were the piping an wiring goes to the panel in the compartment, there is a lot of dead space behind the pump panel like in a pump housing. I think its just bad advertising stating there is more compartment space than there actually is. Take that pump panel out of the body and imagine the space that would be freed up it that was a standard set up, though the wheel base is longer.

I do like the fact that the pump panel controls area away from the preconnects, discharges and intakes and makes for a safe walking area for the MPO. It just a rear mount pumper, just located in the front body section with the piping instead of off the rear, keeping it at the traditional midship area.

I like Pierce but it think the advertising about compartment space is wrong and having designed and speced out a pumper recently looking at different models this is misleading.

Just my 2 cents.

[x635 4,066]

Has anyone seen this in person yet? What are your thoughts?

I really like the concept-seems like it gives you a lot more compartment space which is a big plus.

[Guest]

Found this video on the PUC

http://youtube.com/watch?v=tzra9-gKBHc

Edited July 23, 2007 by nutty1

[TR54 239]

PCFD ENG58 is looking very close at the "PUC"

Engine 58 -

a 1988 busy engine is over due for replacement.

I can not speak for Port Chester , but ANGELO has some great ideas to spec the "PUC" as the HQ'S engine in the village.

Not written in stone , but if you ask me It would be nice apparatus for the career guy "user safe"

It would be the first one in Westchester County NY.