NFPA Large Apparatus Lighting Requirements
This page provides a general overview of the Large Apparatus emergency warning light requirements of the “NFPA 1901 Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus – 2016 Edition”. The NFPA 1901 standard defines a Large Apparatus as an apparatus that has a bumper-to-bumper length of 25 feet or more, or an apparatus that has the optical center of any optical warning device at greater than 8 feet above level ground.
Warning Zones
Rev 5/20
Each apparatus, 25 feet long or greater, is divided into eight (8) warning zones – four upper and four lower.
Modes of Operation
Calling for Right of Way: Apparatus responding to an emergency.
Blocking Right of Way: Apparatus at emergency scene. White light not permitted.
Permissible Colors
All colors must meet the SAE J578 color
specification for White, Red, Blue, and Amber.
The diagram at right shows which colors are
allowed in each zone.
| Color |
Calling for Right of Way |
Blocking Right of Way |
| Red |
Any zone |
Any zone |
| Blue |
Any zone |
Any zone |
| Amber |
Any zone except A |
Any zone |
| White |
Any zone except C |
Not permitted |
Flash Rate and Failure
The minimum flash rate allowed is 75 flashes per minute for any single optical source and 150 flashes per minute from all of the light sources visible at any data point (i.e., at least two warning lights are required in each zone). Failure of a lighting device should not leave a data point without a signal.
Light Energy Requirements for Apparatus–Values in Candela-Seconds per Minute
For vehicles 25 feet or longer: Light energy at each data point on the horizontal plane must be a minimum of 10K and 3.5K at +5o.
Midship Optical Warning Devices
A midship optical warning device shall be mounted on both the right and the left sides of the apparatus if the distance between the front and rear lower-level optical devices exceeds 25 ft (7.6 m) at the optical center. Additional midship optical warning devices shall be required, where necessary, to maintain a horizontal distance between the centers of adjacent lower-level optical warning devices of 25 ft (7.6 m) or less. The optical center of any midship mounted optical warning device shall be between 18 in. and 62 in. (460 mm and 1600 mm) above level ground.
