Pierce Mid-Mount Ascendant Aerial Tower User manual

© 2021 Pierce Manufacturing Inc. Part No. PM-A-OM1000-0521
Operator’s Manual
Mid-Mount Steel Aerial
Tower
Command Zone™Controls
1000 Lb Tip Load
100ft

© 2021 Pierce Manufacturing Inc. All Rights Reserved. Mid-Mount Ascendant Aerial Tower / i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FOREWORD
1PURPOSE OF MANUAL ................................................................................................................................... vii
2S
COPE .......................................................................................................................................................... vii
3W
HO SHOULD USE, SERVICE, AND MAINTAIN THIS EQUIPMENT ...................................................................... vii
4B
EFORE PLACING THE AERIAL IN SERVICE .................................................................................................... viii
4.1 HYDRAULIC OIL ANALYSIS ................................................................................................................ viii
4.2 INSPECTING THE AERIAL ................................................................................................................... viii
5C
USTOMER ASSISTANCE INFORMATION ......................................................................................................... viii
6A
CCIDENT REPORTING AND INVESTIGATION ..................................................................................................... ix
SECTION 1. SAFETY
1-1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................. 1-1
1-1.1 TO THE OWNER .............................................................................................................................. 1-1
1-1.2 TO THE OPERATOR ......................................................................................................................... 1-2
1-1.3 MULTIPLE MANUALS REQUIRED ....................................................................................................... 1-2
1-1.3a CHASSIS ............................................................................................................................. 1-2
1-1.3b PUMP & BODY .................................................................................................................... 1-2
1-1.3c FOAM ................................................................................................................................. 1-3
1-1.3d ALL-STEER ......................................................................................................................... 1-3
1-1.4 INTENDED USE ................................................................................................................................ 1-3
1-1.5 FAMA SAFETY GUIDE ..................................................................................................................... 1-3
1-1.6 PARADES AND PUBLIC EVENTS ........................................................................................................ 1-3
1-2 SAFETY ALERTS ........................................................................................................................................... 1-3
1-2.1 DESCRIPTION OF “DANGER,” “WARNING,” AND “CAUTION” ......................................................... 1-3
1-3 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ...............................................................................................................................1-4
1-4 PREPARE FOR SAFE OPERATION .................................................................................................................. 1-5
1-4.1 AERIAL DEVICE INSPECTION ............................................................................................................ 1-5
1-5 SECURE YOUR EQUIPMENT ........................................................................................................................... 1-6
1-5.1 AERIAL APPARATUS HOSE CHUTES ................................................................................................. 1-6
1-5.2 HOSE RESTRAINT ............................................................................................................................ 1-7
1-5.3 EQUIPMENT MOUNTING AND STORAGE ............................................................................................. 1-7
1-6 ACCESS YOUR APPARATUS SAFELY ............................................................................................................. 1-8
1-6.1 CLIMBING AND WORKING ON THE APPARATUS .................................................................................. 1-8
1-6.2 NFPA DESIGNATED WALKWAYS ...................................................................................................... 1-9
1-6.3 COMPARTMENT DOORS ................................................................................................................... 1-9
1-7 RIDE SAFELY ............................................................................................................................................. 1-10
1-7.1 RIDING ON EXTERIOR .................................................................................................................... 1-10

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ii / Mid-Mount Ascendant Aerial Tower © 2021 Pierce Manufacturing Inc. All Rights Reserved.
1-8 KNOW YOUR AERIAL DEVICE ...................................................................................................................... 1-10
1-8.1 EMERGENCY STOP ........................................................................................................................ 1-10
1-8.2 EMERGENCY POWER UNIT ............................................................................................................. 1-10
1-8.3 MANUAL VALVE CONTROLS ........................................................................................................... 1-11
1-8.4 AERIAL INTERLOCKS ...................................................................................................................... 1-11
AERIAL/STABILIZER ..................................................................................................................... 1-11
BODY COLLISION ........................................................................................................................ 1-12
ROTATION INTERLOCK (SHORT-JACK) .......................................................................................... 1-12
MAXIMUM ELEVATION SLOW-DOWN ............................................................................................. 1-12
AERIAL FUNCTION INTERLOCKS ................................................................................................... 1-12
1-9 SAFE AERIAL SET-UP................................................................................................................................. 1-12
1-9.1 AERIAL APPARATUS POSITIONING .................................................................................................. 1-12
1-9.1a GROUND BEARING SUPPORT ............................................................................................. 1-12
1-9.2 AERIAL STABILIZER DEPLOYMENT .................................................................................................. 1-13
1-9.3 STABILIZER SHORT-JACK DEPLOYMENT ......................................................................................... 1-13
1-9.4 CRIBBING AND BLOCKING .............................................................................................................. 1-14
AERIAL STABILIZER CRIBBING AND BLOCKING .............................................................................. 1-14
1-9.5 ELECTROCUTION HAZARD FROM OVERHEAD POWER LINES ............................................................. 1-15
1-9.5a POWER LINE CONTACT EMERGENCY PROCEDURE ............................................................. 1-15
1-10 SAFE OPERATION ....................................................................................................................................... 1-16
1-10.1 OPERATOR REQUIREMENTS ........................................................................................................... 1-16
1-10.1a PRIMARY CONTROL OPERATOR ......................................................................................... 1-16
1-10.1b SECONDARY CONTROL OPERATOR .................................................................................... 1-16
1-10.1c COMMUNICATIONS ............................................................................................................. 1-17
1-10.2 USE OF A SPOTTER ....................................................................................................................... 1-17
1-10.3 OPERATING WITHIN SAFE LOAD LIMITS ........................................................................................... 1-18
1-10.4 AERIAL OPERATION AROUND STRUCTURES .................................................................................... 1-19
1-10.4a APPROACHING STRUCTURES ............................................................................................. 1-19
1-10.4b OPERATING ABOVE STRUCTURES ...................................................................................... 1-19
1-10.5 OPERATING WITHIN SAFE LEVEL LIMITS ......................................................................................... 1-19
1-10.6 AERIAL DEVICE FALL PROTECTION ................................................................................................. 1-20
FALL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT ................................................................................................... 1-20
SAFETY TETHER ANCHOR POINTS ............................................................................................... 1-20
1-10.7 LADDER BASE PINCH AND CRUSH .................................................................................................. 1-21
1-10.8 RUNGS ALIGNED ........................................................................................................................... 1-21
1-10.9 OPERATING WITH PERSONNEL NEAR THE AERIAL APPARATUS ......................................................... 1-21
1-10.10 OPERATING WITH PERSONNEL ON THE AERIAL DEVICE ................................................................... 1-22
1-10.11 CLIMBING THE AERIAL LADDER ...................................................................................................... 1-22
1-10.12 AERIAL WATER FLOW OPERATION ................................................................................................. 1-22
1-10.12a AERIAL WATER MONITOR OPERATION ............................................................................... 1-22
1-10.12b AERIAL LADDER WATER PIPE OPERATION .......................................................................... 1-23
1-10.13 SEVERE WEATHER ........................................................................................................................ 1-23
1-10.13a LIGHTNING THREAT ........................................................................................................... 1-23
1-10.14 AERIAL OPERATION IN COLD WEATHER .......................................................................................... 1-23
1-10.14a SLOW OPERATION POSSIBLE ............................................................................................. 1-23
1-10.14b ICING CONDITIONS ............................................................................................................ 1-23
1-10.14c ICE BUILD-UP LIMIT ........................................................................................................... 1-24
1-10.15 AERIAL OPERATION IN HIGH WINDS ............................................................................................... 1-24
1-10.16 AERIAL DEVICE WIRE ROPE CABLE ............................................................................................... 1-24
1-10.16a GLOVES AND CLOTHING .................................................................................................... 1-25
1-10.16b SHEAVE OR CABLE FAILURE .............................................................................................. 1-25

© 2021 Pierce Manufacturing Inc. All Rights Reserved. Mid-Mount Ascendant Aerial Tower / iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1-11 SAFE USE OF OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT .......................................................................................................... 1-26
1-11.1 ROPE RESCUE .............................................................................................................................. 1-26
1-11.2 LIFTING EYES ................................................................................................................................ 1-26
1-12 PERFORM MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE SAFELY .......................................................................................... 1-27
1-12.1 MODIFICATION ...............................................................................................................................1-27
1-12.2 AERIAL MOUNTED EQUIPMENT ADDITIONS ...................................................................................... 1-27
1-12.3 DRILLING HOLES OR WELDING ....................................................................................................... 1-27
1-12.4 DISSIMILAR METALS ...................................................................................................................... 1-27
1-12.5 CONTROL OF HAZARDOUS ENERGY (LOCKOUT/TAGOUT) ................................................................ 1-28
1-12.6 HIGH PRESSURE HYDRAULIC FLUID ............................................................................................... 1-29
SECTION 2. GENERAL
2-1 LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION OF MAJOR COMPONENTS ................................................................................. 2-1
2-1.1 IN-CAB POWER CONTROLS .............................................................................................................. 2-1
2-1.2 GENERAL CONTROL LOCATIONS ...................................................................................................... 2-2
2-1.3 STABILIZER CONTROLS .................................................................................................................... 2-4
2-1.4 STABILIZER AND OVERRIDE CONTROLS ............................................................................................ 2-6
2-1.5 STABILIZER JACKS AND GROUND PADS ............................................................................................ 2-7
2-1.6 TURNTABLE CONTROL CONSOLE ...................................................................................................... 2-8
2-1.7 BASKET CONTROLS ....................................................................................................................... 2-11
2-1.8 BASKET CONTROLS (CONTINUED) .................................................................................................. 2-12
2-1.9 AERIAL BASKET LIFTING EYES ....................................................................................................... 2-13
2-1.10 MANUAL OVERRIDE CONTROLS ...................................................................................................... 2-14
2-1.11 MANUAL ANGLE INDICATORS (BUBBLE GAUGES) ............................................................................ 2-18
2-1.12 TURNTABLE POWER DISTRIBUTION ................................................................................................. 2-19
2-1.13 LOWER POWER DISTRIBUTION ....................................................................................................... 2-20
2-1.14 OIL SAMPLE PORT ........................................................................................................................ 2-21
2-1.15 BREATHING AIR SYSTEM (OPTIONAL)............................................................................................. 2-22
2-2 COMMAND ZONE INFORMATION CENTER (CZIC) .......................................................................................... 2-23
2-2.1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................. 2-23
2-2.2 COLOR DISPLAY ............................................................................................................................ 2-23
2-2.2a ITEMS COMMON TO ALL SCREENS ..................................................................................... 2-23
MESSAGES AND FAULTS ............................................................................................................. 2-23
DATE AND TIME .......................................................................................................................... 2-23
SCREEN NAVIGATION BUTTONS ................................................................................................... 2-23
BASIC FUNCTIONS ...................................................................................................................... 2-23
2-2.2b COMMON SCREENS ........................................................................................................... 2-24
MAIN AERIAL SCREEN ................................................................................................................. 2-24
AERIAL SET-UP SCREEN ............................................................................................................. 2-25
AERIAL OPERATION SCREEN ....................................................................................................... 2-26
AERIAL LIMITATION SCREEN ........................................................................................................ 2-27
SECTION 3. LOAD AND LEVEL CHARTS
3-1 LOAD CHART AND LEVEL CHART INFORMATION ............................................................................................. 3-1
3-1.1 100-FT MID-MOUNT ASCENDANT AERIAL TOWER- (MAX BASKET CAP. 1000-LB DRY / 500-LB WET)3-2
3-1.1a LOAD CHARTS .................................................................................................................... 3-2
3-1.1b LEVEL CHARTS ................................................................................................................... 3-4

TABLE OF CONTENTS
iv / Mid-Mount Ascendant Aerial Tower © 2021 Pierce Manufacturing Inc. All Rights Reserved.
SECTION 4. OPERATION
4-1 PREPARING FOR OPERATION ........................................................................................................................ 4-1
4-1.1 PRE-DRIVING CHECKS ..................................................................................................................... 4-1
4-1.2 RESPONSE SCENE LOCATION PLANNING .......................................................................................... 4-2
4-1.3 RESPONSE SCENE POSITION PLANNING FOR TERRAIN ...................................................................... 4-2
LEVEL TERRAIN ............................................................................................................................ 4-2
UNEVEN TERRAIN ......................................................................................................................... 4-2
4-1.3a DISADVANTAGES OF POSITIONING YOUR APPARATUS ON AN UPHILL GRADE: ........................... 4-2
4-1.3b DISADVANTAGES OF POSITIONING YOUR APPARATUS ON A DOWNHILL GRADE: ........................ 4-2
4-2 APPARATUS LEVELING SAFE OPERATING LIMITS ........................................................................................... 4-3
4-2.1 SAFE OPERATING LIMITS FOR LEVELING .......................................................................................... 4-3
4-3 STABILIZING THE APPARATUS ....................................................................................................................... 4-4
4-3.1 AERIAL SET-UP PREPARATION ......................................................................................................... 4-4
4-3.2 PREPARING APPARATUS FOR STABILIZER DEPLOYMENT .................................................................... 4-5
4-3.3 LEVELING APPARATUS WITH STABILIZERS ......................................................................................... 4-6
TIP HAZARD ................................................................................................................................. 4-6
4-3.3a APPARATUS POSITIONED ON LEVEL TERRAIN ....................................................................... 4-6
APPARATUS POINTED UP-HILL ...................................................................................................... 4-8
APPARATUS POINTED DOWN-HILL ............................................................................................... 4-10
APPARATUS ON SIDE-SLOPE ....................................................................................................... 4-12
4-3.4 FINAL SETUP ................................................................................................................................. 4-13
4-3.5 SHORT-JACK STABILIZER SET-UP.................................................................................................. 4-13
4-4 AERIAL OPERATIONS .................................................................................................................................. 4-14
4-4.1 PRE-OPERATION CHECKS .............................................................................................................. 4-14
4-4.2 PRIMARY OPERATOR ..................................................................................................................... 4-14
4-4.3 PRIMARY OPERATION .................................................................................................................... 4-15
4-4.4 OPERATING WITH PERSONNEL ON THE LADDER .............................................................................. 4-16
4-4.5 OPERATING WITH PERSONNEL IN THE PLATFORM ........................................................................... 4-16
PRIMARY OPERATOR .................................................................................................................. 4-16
ENTERING THE PLATFORM .......................................................................................................... 4-16
LADDER BELT ANCHORS ............................................................................................................. 4-16
COMMUNICATION ........................................................................................................................ 4-17
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS .......................................................................................................... 4-17
USING THE CONTROLS ................................................................................................................ 4-17
PLATFORM LEVELING .................................................................................................................. 4-17
4-4.6 OPERATING SUGGESTIONS ............................................................................................................ 4-17
4-5 POST-OPERATION ....................................................................................................................................... 4-18
4-5.1 STOWING THE AERIAL .................................................................................................................... 4-18
4-5.2 STOWING THE STABILIZERS ........................................................................................................... 4-20
4-5.3 PRE-DRIVING CHECKS ................................................................................................................... 4-22
4-6 EMERGENCY OR MALFUNCTION OPERATIONS .............................................................................................. 4-23
4-6.1 EMERGENCY SHUT-DOWN ............................................................................................................. 4-23
4-6.1a ELECTRIC EMERGENCY STOP SWITCHES ........................................................................... 4-23
4-6.2 AERIAL INTERLOCK OVERRIDE ....................................................................................................... 4-23
4-6.2a ELECTRONIC CONTROLS OVERRIDE ................................................................................... 4-23
4-6.3 STABILIZER INTERLOCK OVERRIDE ................................................................................................. 4-24
4-6.3a ELECTRONIC CONTROLS OVERRIDE ................................................................................... 4-24

© 2021 Pierce Manufacturing Inc. All Rights Reserved. Mid-Mount Ascendant Aerial Tower / v
TABLE OF CONTENTS
4-6.4 HYDRAULIC POWER SUPPLY FAILURE ............................................................................................ 4-24
4-6.4a AERIAL EPU OPERATION .................................................................................................. 4-24
4-6.4b STABILIZER EPU OPERATION ............................................................................................ 4-25
4-7 OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT OPERATION ............................................................................................................. 4-25
4-7.1 WATER PUMP OPERATION (IFEQUIPPED)...................................................................................... 4-25
4-7.2 LYFEEYE™ RAPPELLING (PLATFORM OPTION)............................................................................... 4-26
4-7.3 LYFELADDER™ (PLATFORM OPTION)............................................................................................. 4-26
4-7.4 LYFESUPPORT™ RESCUE BASKET (PLATFORM OPTION)................................................................4-28
4-7.5 FRONT STABILIZER JACK EXTENSIONS (OPTIONAL)......................................................................... 4-29
4-7.5a INSTALLATION ................................................................................................................... 4-30
4-7.5b REMOVAL ......................................................................................................................... 4-30
4-8 COLD WEATHER OPERATION ...................................................................................................................... 4-31
SECTION 5. MAINTENANCE
5-1 MAINTENANCE INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................... 5-1
5-2 TROUBLESHOOTING ...................................................................................................................................... 5-2
5-3 HYDRAULIC SYSTEM ..................................................................................................................................... 5-6
5-3.1 HYDRAULIC SYSTEM COMPONENTS .................................................................................................. 5-6
5-3.2 HYDRAULIC OIL RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................................ 5-7
5-3.3 HYDRAULIC OIL FILTER RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................................................... 5-7
5-4 PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE CHECKS AND SERVICE ....................................................................................... 5-8
5-4.1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................ 5-8
5-4.2 EXPLANATION OF COLUMNS ............................................................................................................. 5-8
5-5 PRIMARY INSPECTION ................................................................................................................................... 5-9
5-6 TWENTY-FIVE (25) HOUR/QUARTERLY INSPECTION ...................................................................................... 5-10
5-7 FIFTY (50) HOUR/ANNUAL INSPECTION ........................................................................................................ 5-10
5-8 FOUR-HUNDRED (400) HOUR/ANNUAL INSPECTION ..................................................................................... 5-13
5-9 EXTREME ENVIRONMENT MAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS ............................................................................... 5-14
5-9.1 GENERAL TEMPERATURE CONCERNS ............................................................................................. 5-14
5-9.2 EXTREME HIGH-TEMPERATURE CONCERNS .................................................................................... 5-14
5-9.3 EXTREME LOW-TEMPERATURE CONCERNS ..................................................................................... 5-14
5-9.4 EXTREME WIND-SWEPT SAND AND DIRT CONCERNS ...................................................................... 5-14
5-9.5 SALT-AIR ENVIRONMENT CONCERNS ............................................................................................. 5-14
5-10 LUBRICATION INSTRUCTIONS ....................................................................................................................... 5-15
5-10.1 RECOMMENDED LUBRICANTS ......................................................................................................... 5-15
SYNTHETIC GREASE ................................................................................................................... 5-15
ROTATION GEAR BOX LUBE ........................................................................................................ 5-15
5-10.2 LUBRICATION CHART ..................................................................................................................... 5-16
Equipment Inspection and Maintenance Worksheet

TABLE OF CONTENTS
vi / Mid-Mount Ascendant Aerial Tower © 2021 Pierce Manufacturing Inc. All Rights Reserved.
INDEX

© 2021 Pierce Manufacturing Inc. All Rights Reserved. Mid-Mount Ascendant Aerial Tower / vii
FOREWORD
1. Purpose of Manual
The information in this manual is for the operation and maintenance of Pierce aerial apparatus. It is intended to serve
as a guide to assist qualified operator’s and service personnel in the operation and maintenance of Pierce
apparatus.
Keep this manual with the apparatus at all times.
NOTE: Some of the details of your apparatus’s design and construction may be unique to your department
alone. For this reason, information contained in this manual may be generic at times. Questions on
major inconsistencies between your apparatus’s configuration and the information contained in this
manual should be directed to your Pierce Dealer or Sales Representative.
2. Scope
This operator’s manual provides operating and maintenance instructions for apparatus manufactured by Pierce
Manufacturing Inc.
This manual provides information under the following headings:
Safety. Contains important safety information, requirements before placing a apparatus in service, and information
on installing custom equipment and accessories.
General. Includes equipment identification, location and description of major components.
Operation. Contains procedures on normal equipment operation and special operating procedures.
Maintenance. Contains scheduled maintenance and lubrication information.
To order a replacement manual or replacement safety warning labels, call Pierce Manufacturing Inc. at 1-888-974-
3723.
3. Who Should Use, Service, and Maintain This Equipment
This manual explains the operation and maintenance of this apparatus and equipment.
The manual provides basic principles of operation, highlights common safety concerns and procedures, and gives
recommendations for using and maintaining the apparatus and equipment.
This manual assumes that you:
• Have already been fully trained to operate the apparatus and equipment.
• Have demonstrated the effectiveness of your training and the extent of your knowledge.
BEFORE operating this apparatus and equipment, you, the operator or maintainer, must read, understand, and
follow the instructions found in this operator and maintenance manual and the operator and maintenance manuals
from the manufacturers of major components used on this apparatus or equipment.
Proper tools and service equipment must be used, taking appropriate precautions as required by accepted safety
practices, to prevent personal injury and/or equipment damage.
If you are uncertain about the safe operation of any aspect of this apparatus or equipment, stop immediately and
seek further training.
You are the only person who knows what you don't know. You must speak up about the things you don't know, so
you can learn about them before someone is injured or killed because of your lack of knowledge.

FOREWORD
viii / Mid-Mount Ascendant Aerial Tower © 2021 Pierce Manufacturing Inc. All Rights Reserved.
You are responsible for learning how to operate this apparatus and equipment under all conditions without having
to pause to read this manual.
4. Before Placing the Aerial in Service
4.1. Hydraulic Oil Analysis
Pierce Manufacturing Inc. recommends taking a hydraulic oil sample and having it analyzed before putting the aerial
in service. This analysis serves as a baseline for future oil sample analyses taken at subsequent maintenance
inspections. Comparing results with the original oil test data will help determine the condition and requirement for
additional filtering or fluid replacement. The minimum analysis should include spectrochemical, particle count,
viscosity, and water content. The oil sample should be taken from the oil sample port (also used as the load sense
test nipple) located on the control valve, after the oil has warmed to normal system temperature (115°F or higher),
using oil sample kit (Pierce part number 1483503).
4.2. Inspecting the Aerial
Before the aerial is put into service, a primary inspection should be performed. The primary inspection is part of the
preventive maintenance forms provided with your new truck. The reason for this inspection is to check for proper
operation and adjustment of components, along with cleaning and lubrication, after initial training use and delivery
travel.
The operators of the aerial should also become familiar with the inspection process. Their knowledge of a properly
adjusted and maintained aerial could prevent a failure or accident by something that has become loose or damaged.
5. Customer Assistance Information
Your satisfaction with your Pierce apparatus is important to your dealer and Pierce Manufacturing Inc. Normally, any
question or concern you may have with your apparatus can be handled by your selling or servicing dealer. Your
dealer has the facility, trained technicians, special tools, and up-to-date information to promptly address any issue
that may arise. Pierce Manufacturing Inc. has empowered dealers to make decisions and repair apparatus, and they
are eager to resolve your issues to your complete satisfaction. Should you encounter an issue with your Pierce
apparatus that requires service, take the following steps:
Step 1.) Contact your authorized Pierce selling or servicing dealer. They will make the necessary arrangements to
order the necessary parts and make the required repairs.
Step 2.) If they are not able to repair the problem to your satisfaction, discuss your concern with a member of dealer
management. Normally, concerns can be quickly resolved at that level. If the matter has already been reviewed with
the Sales, Service, or Parts Manager, contact the owner of the dealership or the General Manager.
Step 3.) If, after contacting a member of the dealership management, it appears your question or concern cannot be
resolved by the dealership without further help, you may contact Pierce Manufacturing Inc. at 888-Y-PIERCE (888-
974-3723).
Only trained personnel should operate this apparatus and equipment.
Do not operate or service until you have read and understood the operation and service manual
supplied with this equipment.
Manuals can be obtained from manufacturer's website or by contacting customer service.
Operating this equipment without knowledge or training may lead to injury or death for you or others.