Purpose Statement
Equipment Groups allow departments to organize and manage equipment within apparatus compartments by defining structured categories of equipment with required minimum quantities. This ensures critical equipment is consistently stored in designated compartments and helps maintain operational readiness.
By establishing equipment groups, departments can standardize apparatus layouts, simplify equipment checks, and ensure crews always have access to essential tools and supplies. If the number of items in a group falls below the configured minimum, the system will alert users during compartment edits or equipment audits.
Background Information
Equipment Groups provide a structured way to manage related equipment within an apparatus compartment. Instead of individually tracking every item, departments can create groups that represent a category of equipment and define how many items from that group must always be present.
A common example is SCBA spare cylinders. If a compartment must always contain four spare cylinders for use during structure fires, an SCBA Cylinder equipment group can be created with a minimum quantity of four. If equipment audits or compartment edits detect fewer than four items, the system will display an alert indicating that the minimum requirement has not been met.
Equipment groups are configured within the Assets Module while creating or editing apparatus compartments. Once configured, the group creates dedicated equipment slots that can be populated by selecting equipment, entering equipment IDs, or scanning barcodes.
This feature also supports flexible management options, allowing users to:
Add additional equipment to a group without changing the minimum requirement
Edit group settings, including minimum quantities
Remove a group entirely if the configuration changes
Equipment groups also support apparatus equipment checks by helping departments verify that required equipment quantities are present during inspections.
Required Permissions
To create or manage equipment groups in apparatus compartments, users typically need the following permissions:
Apparatus Overview: Allow
Equipment Overview: Allow
Compartments: Read, Create, Update, Delete
Equipment: Read, Create, Update, Delete
Setup Equipment Group: Allow
Start Checks: Allow (for equipment verification during audits)
Update Status of Equipment: Allow (if equipment status changes during edits)
These permissions are commonly assigned to Supervisors, Module Managers, Asset Administrators, or other personnel responsible for apparatus configuration.
Video
Step-by-Step Guide
1. Navigate to Apparatus Overview
Click the First Due logo to open the system navigation.
Select the Assets module.
Click Apparatus Overview.
2. Select the Apparatus
Locate the apparatus you want to configure.
Open the apparatus record.
Select Compartments within the apparatus record.
Click New Compartment to create a new compartment.
Alternatively, click the Edit (pencil) icon on an existing compartment to modify its configuration.
3. Enter the Compartment Information
Enter the Compartment Name.
Open the Equipment section of the compartment configuration.
4. Add an Equipment Group
Click + Group.
Select the desired Equipment Group from the dropdown list.
You can begin typing the group name to quickly locate it.
5. Set the Minimum Quantity
Enter the minimum number of equipment items required from this group.
The system will automatically generate the corresponding number of equipment slots for the group.
Example: Setting a minimum of 4 SCBA cylinders will create four equipment line items for that group.
6. Add Equipment to the Group
Click the Equipment field within the group.
Begin typing the name of the desired equipment item and select it from the list.
Alternatively, you can:
Enter a specific Equipment ID
Select the barcode icon to scan the equipment barcode
Important Note:
Equipment IDs must be configured before barcode scanning can be used.
7. Manage the Equipment Group (Optional)
The Equipment Group header includes three management options:
+ Equipment
Adds additional equipment items to the group without changing the required minimum quantity.
Edit Equipment Group
Allows users to adjust group settings such as the minimum quantity.
Remove Equipment Group
Deletes the equipment group from the compartment configuration.
8. Save the Compartment Configuration
Review the equipment assignments.
Click Save to apply the configuration.
The compartment will now enforce the defined equipment group requirements during compartment, equipment & kits audits and checklists.
Best Practices
Standardize Equipment Groups Across Apparatus
Use consistent equipment groups across similar apparatus types to simplify training and apparatus checks.
Align Minimum Quantities with Operational Needs
Set minimum quantities based on operational requirements, call volume, and department SOPs.
Use Barcode Scanning for Accuracy
Barcode scanning helps ensure the correct equipment is assigned and speeds up compartment configuration.
Review Equipment Groups During Apparatus Checks
Regularly verify equipment groups during routine apparatus inspections.
Maintain Clear Naming Conventions
Use consistent and descriptive names for equipment groups and equipment items.
Update Groups as Operational Needs Change
Adjust minimum quantities or equipment groups as apparatus configurations evolve.
Troubleshooting & FAQs
I cannot find the equipment group I need in the dropdown.
Equipment groups must be created in system setup before they can be assigned to compartments. Contact your administrator or a user with Setup Equipment Group permissions.
Barcode scanning is not working. Why?
The equipment item must have an Equipment ID configured before it can be scanned.
Can I add more equipment than the minimum requirement?
Yes. Use the + Equipment option to add additional items without affecting the group’s required minimum quantity.
Can I change the minimum quantity later?
Yes. Edit the compartment and select Edit Equipment Group to update the minimum requirement.
What happens if the minimum quantity is not met?
The system will display a warning during equipment edits or checklist audits indicating that the group’s minimum requirement has not been satisfied.
Can equipment groups be used in multiple compartments?
Yes. The same equipment group can be assigned to multiple compartments, each with its own minimum quantity requirement.
Will removing a group delete equipment items from the system?
No. Removing a group only removes it from the compartment configuration. Equipment records remain in the system.