Impel™

Each community has its own unique needs. A fire truck designed and built for one department may not necessarily be the best configuration for another. So Pierce is partnering the new Velocity™ chassis with Impel™. The Impel was designed with many of the advantages and options available on Velocity, however it is powered by a medium block engine. This configuration provides a price-conscious chassis. As part of the Velocity generation of chassis, the Impel is able to provide improved cab space, enhanced visibility through a single-piece panoramic windshield and the safety and comfort of PS6® seats, but without the premium operator’s console and other features standard on Velocity. IMPEL — Performance On Your Terms

Efficiency

Impel begins with a base model design and configuration, including a medium block engine and transmission to deliver outstanding performance efficiency.

Flexibility

Departments have the option of sticking with tried and true components and systems or selecting upgraded options. Impel’s baseline model includes barrier doors, painted interior finish, a conventional console configuration, round headlight bezels, optional chrome grille or stainless steel trim band and a painted front end.

More Interior Space

• The industry’s widest doors – 43" front and 38" rear – and larger, deeper interior and exterior handles that can be easily gripped with a gloved hand to make entry safer and exit quicker and more efficient.

• Easy entry and a lower, door-to-door floor without recessed stepwells in the rear of the cab to help firefighters enter, exit and move easily and more safely.

• Cab Interior Design For Safety, Comfort & Performance. The interior of the Impel chassis offers more legroom and more cab space to comfortably carry more personnel (up to 8) and more equipment. It also features an advanced HVAC system with a large defrost capacity, easy-to-see LED backlit status bars, and a custom-designed push-button electronic control panel with optional officer side position. Heaters, located in the crew cab under the rear facing seats, displace heat to both the front and the rear of the cab, and are more efficient as hot air rises. The A/C certified system has an increased capacity and 14 adjustable overhead vents to help cool every seating position faster in hot weather. (A/C cools the cab to 66 degrees within 30 minutes after being heated to 100 degrees F at 50% relative humidity.)

• 2007 Engine Changes. Even as the 2007 emissions regulations have increased the sizes of engines and engine tunnels, Pierce has meticulously designed the Impel to get the greatest use from every square inch of space, ensuring the comfort and maneuverability of firefighters. It’s in the details.

• An HVAC system with electronic controls and better airflow to provide greater comfort and reduce stress.

Safety & Visibility

• As another industry first for Pierce, Impel offers FRONTAL AIR BAGS.

• PIERCE'S FORWARD-MOUNTED ONE-ELEVEN MIRRORS (optional) make the Impel the only OEM fire truck to meet FMVSS-111 visibility standards for school buses. They are positioned to minimize both the body and head movements of the driver, and they ensure that the officer’s position does not interfere with passenger side mirror visibility. This positioning has the added advantages of providing visibility down to the front bumper as well as along the sides of the body, and narrows the overall width of the vehicle by as much as eight inches as compared to conventional door-mounted mirrors.

• IMPEL’S SINGLE-PIECE BONDED WINDSHIELD increases visibility and reduces the risk of accidents as the driver is able to clearly see the road, pedestrians and traffic. There is no center post to obstruct the driver’s vision, and the absence of an outside curved windshield results in considerably less distortion to the corners.

• THREE WIPER BLADES clear at least 86% – that’s 60% more – of the panoramic windshield’s surface, which significantly aids the driver’s vision in all types of weather conditions.

• # Impel offers the THICKEST FIREWALL IN THE INDUSTRY, which not only helps keep firefighters safe from outside dangers like heat and flame, but also reduces outside noise so firefighters can hear better while in the cab.

PIERCE PS6® SEATS

A firefighter who is less stressed is going to be safer and more effective. There's no doubt about that. So anything we can do to alleviate stress on the way to the scene has great benefits that go way beyond a comfortable ride.

• Side roll protection
• Dual seat belt retractors and double-length seat belts
• Hands-free SCBA holders
• Lumbar support
• 7.5 degree angle of recline
• 17" cushion (front to back)

The Impel chassis features Pierce’s exclusive PS6® seats, the first custom-designed, safer and noticeably more comfortable seat in the industry, featuring a 7.5 degree angle of recline.

PS6® seats with double length seat belts and dual retractors that are located within easy reach and can be pulled quickly and comfortably over a firefighter in full turnout gear.

Inertia-activated hands-free SCBA holders provide easy walk-away operation without the hassle of levers or straps. Developed with LifeGuard Technologies, a division of IMMI, the hands-free brackets set a new safety standard among seating solutions available in fire trucks.

EASIER MAINTENANCE
The Impel’s systems, components and structures are smartly configured to speed diagnostics and provide quick and ready access. Among the many considerations that contribute to a low cost of ownership are the following:

• Fast access service tilt front hood for easy routine maintenance
• Three wiper blades and motor are quick and easy to replace
• Lift / tow frame extension can tow vehicle without special equipment and reduces damage from towing
• Rotomolded dash and door panels are ultra-durable
• Wire raceways and easy harness access reduces time needed to trace and troubleshoot
• Easy to access and service electrical systems, breakers, components and modules.
• Command Zone™ advanced electronics with easy access to breakers, fuses and modules
• Visual electrical diagnostics are simple to use, requiring no special equipment for troubleshooting
• Three-piece overhead console provides quick access to electrical systems
• Check / fill access door in engine tunnel for quick access to engine and transmission fluid levels
• 13 3/8" frame rails transfer less wear and tear to vehicle’s body and are the largest and strongest in the industry at 120,000 PSI
• Rubber tube sheet transmission cooler with 3-year $10,000 collateral damage warranty and 5-year cooler warranty
• TAK-4® Independent Front Suspension system improves ride quality by more than 300%
• Water proof air filter protects engine and requires less time to service
• Frame rail clamping provides easy, organized access to electrical, pneumatic and hydraulic components
• Hub piloted wheels require less time to service
• Aluminum core radiator features efficient cooling