NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHER
I firmly believe that virtually all of the products sold to the fire service are good, reliable products sold by reputable firms. The market itself demands no less. We are comfortable with the traditional and are skeptical of the new, and the grapevine is very fast—particularly when a new product fails in the line of duty.
Manufacturers have succeeded in this market by producing quality products, submitting them to departments for testing and evaluation in the field as well as to third-party testing facilities to obtain NFPA, UL, DOT, OSHA, etc. approval/certification. These agencies work diligently to design minimum performance standards to ensure that the product you use, if it meets those standards and is used according to its manufacturer’s recommendations, will meet a predictable expectation.
I know of a company with a product currently being sold to the bicyclist/jogger athletic market. The company wants to sell to the fire service but can’t pass one particularly stringent NFPA test. Should it enter the market anyway, figuring it can get away with it? No, the company knows better, as do most. Why? In the freeenterprise system, competitors monitor, regulate, and police each other continually to prevent deception and/or false claims.
Mas something occurred to prompt this message from the publisher? You bell It seems to happen each year at about this time. During the winter months, manufacturers continue to modify and improve their products, many with a target deadline of having new innovations ready to announce for the spring and summer trade show season. Starting in March and running through September, thousands of us attend numerous shows throughout the country. What better opportunity for a company to make its products and innovations known?
Unfortunately, at these shows, some “educational sessions” turn into sales pitches and some demos turn into competitor bashing. That’s not the way it should be done in the fire service, and that’s not the type of information you need or should expect from your local salesperson or dealer. What you should look for are advertisements, literature, and sales presentations that emphasize the product’s benefit to you, its innovations, and the company’s commitment to quality and service. Look for NFPA, UL, etc. compliance (where appropriate); conduct your own field testing; and communicate with other fire departments. Beware of marginal “shoot-out” comparisons that have been photocopied, homegrown videotapes, or other documents that obviously have not been proudly supplied to the market by the manufacturer.
Remember, the reason the manufacturer got your attention in the first place is that it probably manufactures a pretty good product. It’s up to you to determine if it’s the best one for your needs.
