Fire inspection text books

[ShaunFremontFD]

I am trying to set up a fire inspector class and I came across an issue. The state pays for the class itself but not the books. We need IFSTA Fire Inspection 7th edition and NFPA 1 Code Book either 2006 or 2009. The instructor said they cost $70 each from the respective agencies or even higher than that from the school. Does anyone know a cheaper source for these books? I wouldn't mind getting a few used ones either. I have 7 guys from my department alone that want to take the class and I don't want to turn anyone down but spending $980 is not really an option.

I have tried half.com, amazon.com and textbooks.com but no luck for anything cheaper. Thanks in advance!

[Acklan]

Sounds like FUND DRIVE TIME! BBQ chicken plates or a raffle. Actually $70 is not that much to come out of pocket, if you really want the certificate.

[FWDbuff]

Actually $70 is not that much to come out of pocket, if you really want the certificate.

I agree. I have been to many classes, including Inspector I and II, where IIRC I had to dish out the cash for the texts.

Have you tried calling IFSTA directly? I don't remember that text being that much, I am thinking 45-50 bucks, but I could be wrong.

[CaptOldTimer]

I am trying to set up a fire inspector class and I came across an issue. The state pays for the class itself but not the books. We need IFSTA Fire Inspection 7th edition and NFPA 1 Code Book either 2006 or 2009. The instructor said they cost $70 each from the respective agencies or even higher than that from the school. Does anyone know a cheaper source for these books? I wouldn't mind getting a few used ones either. I have 7 guys from my department alone that want to take the class and I don't want to turn anyone down but spending $980 is not really an option.

I have tried half.com, amazon.com and textbooks.com but no luck for anything cheaper. Thanks in advance!

Hey Bud, Tell your instructor that he full of it!! He is ordering them and reselling them to you guys and making money on each sell!!

Check out the Virginia Dept. Of Fire Programs site. They are an authorized dealer for what you are looking for.

http://www.vafire.com/bookstore/index.htm

You can order from them as well.

[FWDbuff]

Actually, the most recent edition right from IFSTA direct is 84 bucks...

[PaladinKnight]

Yep... $84 from OSU-FPP for 7th Edition.

http://imis-ext.osufpp.org/imispublic/Product_Search/core/orders/product.aspx?catid=12&prodid=2711&Section=Product_Search

[fire49]

3 suggestions

borrow from surrounding departments

any ex students that may have them, send out emails

check another fire academy or jr college

check the libraries around

[fire49]

share a couple books???

[ShaunFremontFD]

Thanks for the help. The best price I could find was at IFSTA and NFPA for each book. A friend told me there is a guy that is basically a dealer for all firefighting books and got them for me at 10% off the list price on those sites. It is still $140 for both books but what else do you do. That brings up another question. I have 7 guys that want to take the class, most of which are 35 or under. With that many guys wanting to take it, we are looking at nearly $1000 for books which I know for sure that will never fly at my department. Our yearly budget is $33,000 so you can see $1000 is a lot of money. How many would you recommend take the class? If it was up to me, I would say all of them but I don't get to make the decisions, yet!

[fire49]

Buy 2 or 3 books and have many many classes!!!



No departments around have the book to borrow?????

[ShaunFremontFD]

No departments seem to have any. I even told other departments that are sending guys and they said they have to buy them too.

[DeputyMarshal]

Honestly, Shaun, you need to look at the cost as part of the price of doing business.

While I'm not a big fan of IFSTA publications, it's a text that they'll still be able to make some use of after the class is over and done.

NFPA 1 - 2009 is a reference that they'll use every time they do an inspection (assuming, of course, it's the adopted code in your parts. If it isn't, I don't know why they'd be taking a class base don NFPA 1... )

Don't cheap out. If they're going to be working inspectors; they're going to need access to code books. If you can get them started and through class at under $200 each, you're getting a bargain.

If it's any indicator for you, I probably have at least $1000 invested in my personal code reference library and that's not counting access to the NFPA Subscription Service through work and various committees.

[ShaunFremontFD]

Honestly, Shaun, you need to look at the cost as part of the price of doing business.

While I'm not a big fan of IFSTA publications, it's a text that they'll still be able to make some use of after the class is over and done.

NFPA 1 - 2009 is a reference that they'll use every time they do an inspection (assuming, of course, it's the adopted code in your parts. If it isn't, I don't know why they'd be taking a class base don NFPA 1... )

Don't cheap out. If they're going to be working inspectors; they're going to need access to code books. If you can get them started and through class at under $200 each, you're getting a bargain.

If it's any indicator for you, I probably have at least $1000 invested in my personal code reference library and that's not counting access to the NFPA Subscription Service through work and various committees.

I agree 100%! But how do I convince the chief and assistant chief to spend that kind of money? Our chief wastes that much money every year when he goes to the fire chiefs convention and comes back and has nothing to share.

[Acklan]

I agree 100%! But how do I convince the chief and assistant chief to spend that kind of money? Our chief wastes that much money every year when he goes to the fire chiefs convention and comes back and has nothing to share.

You know I was not joking when I suggested a fund drive? Volunteer departments all over the country have fund drives to support special projects.
If nothing else Walmart will let you "thump a cup" in front of the store for a cause, as long as you follow their rules.

[ShaunFremontFD]

You know I was not joking when I suggested a fund drive? Volunteer departments all over the country have fund drives to support special projects.
If nothing else Walmart will let you "thump a cup" in front of the store for a cause, as long as you follow their rules.

We are already doing one to raise money for a grass truck. Although that is not going well. Actually now that I think about it, Culvers does something where they help you raise money by working there for one day or something like that. Hey thanks for the suggestion!