13 Verical Ventilation Flashcards
The preferred location for vertical venting is directly over seat of fire, but only if
It is judged to be a safe place
Before stepping onto any roof firefighters should first
Read the roof- the condition of it
Sound the roof- test its condition
And continue to do so as you move along it
If smoke or darkness makes roof reading difficult, what can be used to aid
Thermal imager
Every roof should be sounded with a hand tool except
A slate roof
Firefighters should leave the roof when
Vent is complete or conditions become unstable or dangerous
Primary hazard with vertical vent
On high steep surfaces with slip and fall hazard
Voltage of roof top solar panels
Up to 600 volts and 8 amps
When firefighters are on a roof the building should be laddered on how many sides
At least two, but on all sides if resources permit.
If ladders cannot reach the roof what methods should be used to gain access
Interior sitar ways,
exterior fire escapes
Adjoining buildings
To read a roof means
To observe the conditions of it, construction features and other indicators to unsafe conditions.
Roof conditions can be read from a position of safety such as
A parapet wall or aerial device
Things to be read of the roof before stepping onto it are
Age
Type of roof structure
Location and orientation of roof support members
Type and condition of roof coverings
Heavy tanks, machinery, solar, other loads
Visible smoke or fire
Skylights and vents can offer insight to the location of rafters or joists because
They are positioned between them.
Weathering of roof surface over time can reveal what
The rafter locations and how they are oriented
Thermal imagers can be used to identify what on the roof
Hot spots and rafters
Specific roof hazards to look for on a roof before stepping on, that indicate possible stability issues
Sagging roof surface
Roof vents are unusually tall (indicates sagging roof)
Large puddles of water
Smoke from roof vents
Heavy dead loads
Drop offs from light wells or varying roof elevations
Solar panels
If a roof is unstable vertical vent efforts may have to be done while working off of a
Aerial device
Sounding of a roof should be done with
The blunt end of a pike pole, rubbish hook, or axe head
In poor visibility, probing a roof surface can also reveal
Solar panels, vegetation, features, holes
A roof will sound
Hollow between rafters and solid over them, bounce in void space, and less so over rafters.
Roofs that have what, may not provide clear indications when sounded
Several layers of shingles or roof coverings
Roofs covered with slate or tile cannot be sounded, they must be
Have sections removed to reveal and inspect the surface
Ladders for roof access should be placed away from
Windows and wires, windows may vent fire and damage ladders or cut off escape
While on the ladde, one hand should sound with a tool while the other
Holds onto the ladder