1 Flashcards
A building with either six or more stories or a building where the highest occupied story/floor is greater than 75 feet from the lowest level of fire dept vehicle access
High rise
When was the Virginia state code modified to require a fire control room in buildings having occupied floors located more than 75 feet above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access
February 1976
High rise buildings vary greatly in height ranging from six to seven stories, to structures that exceed………..stories
30
Modern high rise buildings are of two basic designs
Residential and commercial
These occupancies are characterized be center hallways, numerous interior compartment, and 24 hour occupancy
Residential high rise
Are characterized by center core construction with circuit corridors around the core of the building and may have relatively large, open expanses on each floor
Commercial
A common feature in newly constructed hotel and office high rise buildings that make it difficult to control smoke conditions
Atriums
Requirements for buildings with atriums include
Full sprinkler protection
Smoke exhaust systems
Smoke curtains
Buildings that were constructed prior to the 1976 code requirements are typically……………and may have a wide variety of design features and systems
Steel and concrete
Buildings constructed after the 1976 code change will be of………,which provides resistance to collapse of structural members
fire resistive construction
Required fire protection features
Class III standpipe system- outlets are 2 1/2” in diameter and have 11/2 “ reducers
Compartmentation option existed for buildings prior to April 1991
Buildings built after 1976 are either partially or fully sprinklered
Firefighters service to the elevators
Two approved means of egress from each floor
Local fire warning system
Building communications system
Fire control room
Standby and emergency power systems
With a few rare exceptions , all high rise buildings in Northern Virginia have
At least two approved exits
Enclosed stairwells
Some type of smoke control system or compartments, includes windows that can be opened, hvac systems that can exhaust smoke
Firewalls are typically multiple layers or thick……and …….., typically are two hour rating at minimum
gypsum and masonry walls
Common type of flat roof construction uses……….. with a rubberized or tar and gravel top layer(also known as built up) supported by steel bar joist
Composite Q decking
access to the roof area is normally through a ……. or …………. at the top of the stairwell or through penthouse machine room areas
hatch or bulkhead
……….. assemblies provides an inherent and useful void space for piping , wiring for communications, and other building systems
Steel truss
Suspended and drop ceilings are often used to create void spaces, this area is known as
The plenum area
interior walls of a residential high-rise and when present in office use, will typically be made of
Gypsum board mounted to metal studs
Due to security concerns, some occupancies have begun to use reinforced drywall which consists of …….
wire mesh or lexan inside of the drywall
……..are mounted to the floor sections or frame of a building, gaps of 6 to 12 inches are common between floor and exterior
Curtain walls
Floors may be made of …………concrete
Reinforced post-tension, cast in place, or reinforced pre-tensioned , precast concrete
Low mass concrete can consist of up to……….air to reduce the density of the concrete
20%
Low mass concrete is……………..than traditional concrete
10-88% lighter
Traditional concrete has a density range of……… pounds per cubic foot
150
Lower mass concrete can be broken down into……….. categories, they are light weight concrete and super lightweight concrete
2
Lightweight concrete ranges in density from…………., while super lightweight concrete carries a………..
60 to 100pcf, a density less than 60pcf
Low mass concrete provide a higher compression strength at………. compared to traditional concrete which only offers………..
60,000psi ,20,000psi strength
Research shows that under fire conditions failure occurred at……… of the designed load after…… of fire exposure
80%, 45 minutes
Thermal cracks appear within ……… to………minutes of fire exposure
14 to 16 minutes
Many high rise buildings have fixed window panes that can’t be opened, windows that can be opened are marked with
Maltese cross or a fire helmet etched in the lower corner of the pane
Doors that separate the various occupancies within a high rise are either………… or………. and are inward opening
Fire-rated metal or wood in metal frames
The presence of outward opening doors indicates
An electric or telephone room, or other type of closet
Doors from the stairwell to the hallways swing
Into the stairwell
In occupancies such as hospitals,hotels, or assisted living facilities, sections of hallways are usually divided into………..by self releasing, fire rated doors
Compartments
Usually have individual entrances and access only one section of the building
Isolated stairs
These stairs are simply independent stairwells on either side of the core, in some cases, each stairwell will only serve every other floor
Scissor stairs
Also known as access or convenience stairs, they are open unprotected stairways leading from floor to floor within a single occupants space
Accommodation stairs
……….. are installed at the lowest floor level that terminates at an exterior entrance
Security gate
Majority of standpipes found in interior applications at a high rise are
Wet systems
A hydrant should be located……………of the standpipe and sprinkler FDC’s
100 feet
Pressure- reducing valve’s can be defeated by
Breaking the L shaped arm that restricts the riser wheel
Central air condition within a high rise may interconnect……… to……… or more floors.
10 to 20
Elevators in high- rises structures are typically controlled by………….. and ………..are located at the top of the elevator shaft
Electric traction, control rooms
…………bypasses a portion of the building via a blind shaft
Express elevators
Serves only a specified portion of the building and has no openings on other floors
Blind shaft
Fire control rooms will contain the following
Annuciator panels
Telephone communication systems
Public address systems
Pressurization/smoke control systems
Stairwell pressurization
Corridor pressurization
Elevator pressurization
HVAC
Emergency generator
Automatic door unlocking system
Telephone with outside line
Key box
Copy of building plans
Results in smoke rising upward from the floor until it reaches the roof/ceiling level
Mushrooming
Is the natural movement of air within a relatively tightly sealed building due to the temperature difference between the air on the inside and outside of the structure
Stack effect
Resulting in the movement of air in a vertical shaft, due to the outside temperature being higher than the temperature inside
Reverse stack effect
True or false: if concrete work is still underway and the framework is in place and burning, personnel must not be committed to the interior for operations
True
Operational plan for high-rise fires must consist of five basic points
Determine fire floor Verify fire floor Control occupants Control of building systems Confine and extinguish the fire
alternative tactics that have shown positive results when personnel can’t make entry into the hallway
An exterior attack using elevated master streams through the fire apartment window
Exterior attack via portable ladders
Contents of these buildings have a rate of heat release that can allow a fire to double in size…………
Every 90 seconds
Fire extension will be a significant concern if the fire is located on the lower…………..of a high rise with mercantile occupancies due to the higher………….
Two or three floors, Fire loading
Fire load in general office space is about
7.7 pounds per square foot
Fire loads in a conference area is approximately…….. while a file area is………..
5.9 pounds per square foot, 16 pounds per square foot
Combustibles can release……………… per pound
16,000 to 18,000 btu
It’s imperative that the …………. still be supplied, even if the initial attack is made with hand lines stretched directly from the apparatus.
Standpipe system
Prior to advancing hoselines into areas with suspended ceilings assemblies, firefighters should check…………… either physically or with a thermal imaging camera
For fire in the plenum
Fire load in residential occupancies is considered low and requires a fire flow of
10 GPM per 100 square feet
Fire load in a commercial occupancies is considered moderate and requires a fire flow
20 GPM per 100 square feet
Minimum initial alarm assignment for a high rise
5 engines 2 trucks 1 rescue squad 1 ems unit 2 battalion chiefs 1 command aide 1 ems supervisor
Park in proximity to building, don’t block access
- determine number of floor
- take note of wind direction
- bring rapid entry keys
- abandon the rig
- recall elevators
- determine elevator and stairwell that is used to proceed to fire floor
- officer and crew proceed to fire floor
- deploy initial attack line
First due engine responsibilities
It’s the first due engine officers responsibility to……. and ………. the fire floor
Identify and verify
If smoke conditions are found in the lobby, personnel must…..
Determine if the fire is located on the lobby level or possibly on a floor below
These units shall proceed together to the reported fire floor
First engine,first due truck, and rescue squad
If elevators are equipped with fire service controls, the shaft shall
Be checked for smoke, fire and water
Elevators that do not have fire service control shall not be used until
The first engine, along with first due truck crew and rescue squad have climbed he stairs and assessed the fire floor condition
Companies must stop…… and use the stairs for the remainder of their ascent to the fire floor
Two floors below the fire floor
No more than………… should be in the elevator together
Two companies
If the fire is reported to be …………… above ground level, or lower, personnel should walk up
Six floors
establish water / supply FDC , driver remains with apparatus
- remaining crew reports to the fire floor to assist first engine in placing the first hose line in service
- prepare to deploy a second hose line
Second due engine responsibilities
- establish water supply to secondary FDC ( if present)
- view opposite side of the structure from where first due engine is positioned
- proceed to the floor above the fire to work with second due truck in checking for extension
Third due engine responsibilities
- park away from building
- entire crew process to the attack stairwell one floor below the fire as the RIT
- if fire is below grade, RIT shall position outside IDLH, however in close proximity of the fire floor
Fourth due engine responsibilities
- report directly to command post, confer with IC
- assume lobby control
- crew proceeds to lobby with their compliment of tools
Fifth due engine responsibilities
First due truck responsibilities
- truck and rescue duties closely parallel one another
-park on side A unless fire location can be readily identified
If smoke, fire, or victim are evident and within reach of aerial
-be raised to access unit/area involved- laddering shouldn’t be placed to window or balcony showing fire unless someone is in need of rescue
-if apartment/ unit is totally involved, aerial should be raised to adjoining unit
- laddering shouldn’t be placed to window or balcony showing fire unless someone is in need of rescue
In residential occupancies, search priority is as follows
- The fire unit
- Exit hallways
- The adjacent units and the units across the hall from the involved unit
In commercial occupancies, search priority is as follows
- The immediate fire area and floor
- The floor above the fire area
- The top floor including the hallways, stairwells, and elevators leading to these areas
-Floors between the floor above and the fire and the top floor
Second due truck responsibilities
- view as much of the structure as possible, take note of fire/smoke location,number of floors, conditions evident, and persons in distress
- assess the need for elevated master streams
- take note of wind direction
- bring rapid entry keys
- should ensure that a stairwell has been identified as the evacuation stairwell
Rescue squad responsibilities
- park away from building
- entire crew to the fire floor
- tasks include searching for victims, locating the fire, forcible entry, ventilation, and control of utilities
The rescue squad will perform the same initial functions as the first due truck company until personnel reach the fire floor, once on the fire floor they’re responsible for
- deployment of tag line
- forcible entry on the adjacent units for primary search and possible fire attack options
- coordinating the evacuation into the adjacent units
- assessment of fire extension into adjacent units
- depending on the number and type of hoselines deployed, personnel may assist in the movement and operation
Additional alarms will bring
At least 3 engines, 1 truck, and 1 battalion chief
Is established by sixth due engine, typically the first engine on the second alarm. In a high rise fire situation,this area will become a parking area for fire apparatus
Base area
The ……………. of the sixth engine should become he base officer
Driver
Staging will be set up at least………… below the fire floor
Two floors
Each engine company of the second alarm or greater shall bring two………..per unit to the staging area
spare cylinders
Additional engine companies shall report to staging , unless otherwise directed by incident commander with
100 foot 2 1/2” high rise pack and 100ft
1 3/4” high rise pack
Lobby control is responsible for a variety of critical tasks
- unit tracking and recording
- elevator operations
- building control systems
- stairwell identification
- coordinating civilian evacuation
Unit tracking and recording(crew 1)
Done by officer and right bucket firefighter
Unit identification
Task assigned and location
Time entered and air level
Number of personnel
Building control systems ( crew 2)
Left bucket firefighter
- attempt to make contact with building engineer to take control of the following - fire pump,fire alarm system,sprinkler system,HVAC,PA system,monitor fire phones, pressurization system,elevator status
Elevator operations (crew 3)
Driver / operator
- obtain set of keys, inclusive of the elevator recall key
- proceed to elevator lobby and attempt to recall all of the elevators
- determine which elevators have firefighter service
- check shaft for any fire, smoke, or water, enter car and take control of the car operations
- based on direction from command , deliver companies to the appropriate floors
Three basic ventilation tactics include
Horizontal through the windows
Vertical through the stairwells
Use of buildings hvac systems
True or false, where possible windows should be opened rather than broken
True
The preferred method is to use ………………….. by pressurizing the attack stairwell with the intention of forcing smoke out the fire department window
Horizontal ventilation
Should be activated of there are more than two floors above the fire that still contain occupants
A search and evacuation branch or group
All units operating under the search and evacuation branch or group shall use
The evacuation stairwell to ascend/descend and remove victims
At minimum, stairwell support will need a firefighter positioned every ……………… to effectively shuttle equipment
Two floors
The RIT crew stages where
In attack stairwell, one floor below the fire floor
