AUC 266, 338, 351 Flashcards
Primary consideration at PCB incidents
Is a PCB Contaminated Transformer (50-499 PPM PCB) required to be marked by EPA?
Safety of Civilians & Fire Personnel
No- Same NON-PCB Transformer (0-49 PPM)
Combustible materials must not be stored w/in _ of PCB Transformer enclosure
5 meters 16.4 feet
Temporary Storage Site- Outdoor/indoor area that allows PCB & PCB Contaminated liquid to be stored up to _
30 days- PCB liquids (500>PPM PCB) NOT allowed
If oil is shown in type of fluid/coolant column, the PCB level column will be either “0”=; a number=; or blank =_
"0"= NO PCB; Number= amount of PCB in PPM; Blank= PCB Contaminated (50-499)
Can members deactivate Transformers
No member shall attempt deactivation of transformers. Only deactivated by Con Ed or Emergency Personnel familiar w/procedure
Decon shall begin when members/equipment exposed to _ levels of PCB
50 PPM/Higher of PCB
M2 Cars always operate in pairs. Which do not have a pantograph:
“B” car (odd numbered) No pantograph.
“A” car is even and has a pantograph
Best way to ID M2 Cars
Orange stripe on each side of the car & pantograph on roof of “A” car
NYC owned PCB Equipment- PCB contaminated decal characteristics
Letters & striping on Yellow background on 6” X 6” square. Requires decon (50-499 PPM PCB)
NYC Owned NON-PCB Equipment Decal characteristics
Letters & striping on Blue background 6” X 6” square. No Decon required 0-49 PPM PCB
The purpose of applying water streams to exposed electrical components is _
Can HL be used on energized electrical components at Con Ed facilities
Prevent collateral damage to surrounding equipment & minimize damage to unaffected adjacent components
Never
Define De-Energized Equipment
Can 1st Responding units make the decision to apply water streams to electrical components at Con Ed facilities
Isolated from all electrical sources but NOT grounded
No- only by Chief above rank of DC
Minimum Safe Operating Distances for water on energized/de-energized electrical components 138 vs 345 kV
15’ 138 kV 30 degree/greater fog stream
75’ 138 kV straight stream/less than 30 degree fog stream
25’ 345 kV 30 degree/greater fog stream
125’ 345 kV straight stream/less than 30 degree fog stream
NOTE: NO HL may be used
Minimum safe operating distances are from _ for energized electrical equipment
Tip of the nozzle to nearest energized electrical equipment in direction of the stream
Primary means of applying water to energized electrical Con Ed equipment is _
Via TL w/Turbostream. Flush hydrant water thoroughly & flush TL away from operation for several minutes until water runs clear
Once a safe operating position is established, what shall be done
If a TL cannot be used what are some other options
All members are removed from rig & no one is to touch the rig while it’s operating
Eng Apparatus Deck Gun, Ladder pipe on AL, or Multiversal.
NO Aquastream Nozzle to be used
Can FD members enter inside Con Ed facility property line
Can Salt water be used at Con Ed stations
Never enter unless escorted by Qualified Con Ed station personnel & with approval of IC
Never- only use Fresh water. No additives shall be used including foam
T/F Possibility of run off water from Con Ed Facility being charged w/electrical current is extremely remote
True members should avoid water run off
Fires in Distribution Substations Procedures:
Set up HL &/or LCS to protect bldgs around substations. Do NOT direct water into substation or put water onto electrical equipment unless requested by Con Ed White Hat
T/F 3 1/2” supply line shall be stretched but NOT charged to sprinkler Siamese if present at Distribution Substations
True Supply when requested by Con Ed White Hat. Sprinklers protect only the transformers
Small fires for Capacitor banks & Battery Room Fires use _ extinguisher
Dry Chem (Class C). CO2 Should NOT be used in Battery Room fires because they can crack the plastic battery shell
Can we force entry into a substation
Do NOT force entry. Wait for White Hat. Do NOT cut fences or force open locked door/gates
Raising AL & TL buckets at substations maintain _’ clearance horizontally from exterior fence line
18’. Do NOT place PL, AL, or TL booms/bucket against or over wall or fence
Photovoltaic (Solar Panel) systems greatest hazard-
Do PV systems produce electricity at night
Direct Current (DC) shock. Residential is smaller & contains fewer safety features
No, but they can produce electricity on cloudy days, but not as much as on sunny days
T/F Stand alone PV systems operate independent of utility grid
How are PV Stand Mounts Installed on roof
True
Affixed directly to roof joists using metal hardware. Must be able to withstand wind loads
Can FF’s walk on PV modules
Avoid walking on- can be exposed to electric shock. Also, Never cut any wires associated w/PV array
Does shutting off power at main electrical panel ensure all power to building has been removed
No- shut off power to the inverter to ensure power does NOT enter the building as well
Prime focus of ladder ops for PV systems
Opening/removing of skylights & scuttles as well as horizontal ventilation. Saw use may not be possible. Open ceilings from inside building
PV System Components on fire, can a HL be used
Yes, but hose streams should NOT be applied directly onto energized PV system components. Fog nozzle w/30 degree pattern recommended. Straight stream or foam should NOT be used
Can FF remove modules
No- Utility company & trained solar power installer/electrician should be requested to respond via Dispatcher
What can be used at incipient fires for PV systems
What can be used on Battery fires for PV systems
Class C Dry Chem. Advanced fires- fog pattern HL. Avoid standing in pooling water
Dry Chem or foam extinguishing agents
Buildings w/sloped roof- PV arrays will generally be installed on _ & _ facing sides
PV systems add _ load
South & West
Dead load- increases roof collapse potential
Who shall be assigned to the roof to oversee operations when FF’s are working in close proximity to PV systems
Safety Officer
Safe Distance for Distribution substations with Voltages of
345,000 V = _’
15,000-38,000 V = _’
18’;
10’
T/F Distribution substations have Capacitor Banks found in locked caged areas. Even after power has been removed, capacitors retain a potentially deadly electrical charge
True
Transmissions & distribution substations typically have _ battery rooms containing as many as 60-car-type batteries in each
Two (Warning sign will be posted on locked door)
_ is viscous insulation oil currently used in capacitor banks;
_ is non-PCB insulation oil, resembling cooking oil used to cool underground transmission lines
Edisol XT;
Dielectric fluid
Still treat all capacitor fires as PCB incidents until proven otherwise
Sulfur Hexafluoride gas (SF6) odor:
Colorless and odorless gas that’s 5 times heavier than air. Insulates electrical equipment
Thermal decomposition of SF6 gas produces _ with an odor of _
Hydrogen Fluoride (HF); Rotten eggs. Results in immediate or delayed pulmonary edema
_ is a white powder byproduct of thermal decomposition of SF6 gas. Extremely corrosive to bare skin. Do NOT inhale
Metal fluoride powder
Emergencies at Transmission & Distribution Substations- FD shall respond to _
Designated Mustering sites to meet with Con Ed White Hat. If NOT on scene- call posted number & request one responds
T/F All Con Ed substations have been entered into CIDS
True- but independent substations may be found that are NOT under control of Con Ed. Enter these into CIDS
Permanent Storage Site may allow a period of _ for PCB items & PCB liquids
One Year
EPA: Use of RR Car Transformers containing fluids w/a PCB concentration greater than _PPM is prohibited
> 1000 PPM
Capacitor bank fires are usually small fires extinguished by substation personnel before our arrival. Small fires can be extinguished with _
Dry Chem extinguisher
Photovoltaic Electrical Systems modules of a PV array are first connected in \_\_\_\_\_\_ to obtain correct voltage for the system and individual leads are then connected in \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ to allow the system to add more current (amperage.) A. Parallel; Parallel B. Parallel; Series C. Series; Parallel D. Series; Series
C
When raising AL & TL buckets, maintain an _' safe clearance horizontally from a transmission or distribution substation’s exterior fence line and do not place PL, AL or TL booms or buckets against or over the wall or fence. A) 10 B) 15 C) 5 D) 18
D
AUC 338 Add # 2, section 6
When operating at a battery room fire in a substation, which extinguishing agent cannot be used?
A) Dry chemical
B) Water application from a safe distance
C) Carbon Dioxide
D) All of the above
C (AUC 338 Add # 2, section 5.5)
Incorrect with PV Arrays
A) FFs must avoid walking on modules that can expose them to electric shock. Additionally, FFs must never cut any wires associated w/a PV array.
B) Rooftop disconnects should not be relied upon since they are mainly installed in order to perform maintenance on the system.
C) Shut-off electrical power to inverter to ensure power doesn’t enter the bldg from PV array conduit, batteries, or back-up generator.
D) Combiner boxes should be opened by firefighters in an attempt to shutdown the PV array.
E) Avoid disconnecting or cutting the wires that connect the batteries to each other or to the system in an attempt to disable them because of the arcing that could occur.
Answer: D =
Combiner boxes should not be opened by firefighters in an attempt to shutdown the PV array
Correct procedure(s) with PV Arrays
1. Hose streams should not be applied directly onto energized PV system components.
2. A fog nozzle, utilized from a distance set at a 30 degree or greater spray pattern is recommended to prevent electric current from traveling upstream towards members operating hose-lines.
3. Straight steams or foam should not be used since they are excellent conductors.
4. Removal of modules by FFs is NOT an option
A) 1, 2, 3 only B) 1 & 2 only
C) 1, 3, 4 only D) 1, 2, 3, 4
D
Correct use of streams on energized PV (solar panel) electrical system components with a fog: A. 15 degree angle spray pattern B. 30 degree C. 45 degree D. 60 degree
B
Correct for Photovoltaic Systems
A. FFs walking on modules will not be exposed to electric shock as long as power is shut off at the main electrical panel
B. FFs must never cut any wires associated w/PV array, unless power is removed at inverter
C. Inverters have capacitors which store energy. The energy w/in capacitors will discharge soon after the power to the inverter is disconnected
D. At fires, the opening/removal of skylights & scuttles as well as horizontal vent should be prime focus of Lad Cos. If further vent needed ,the PV modules may be removed & roof cut
C
After cutting an exam hole in the roof, Roof FF discovered advanced fire in cockloft & PV conduit. Choose incorrect
A. 3rd Eng stretched HL w/fog noz to top fl to ext fire in cockloft. Off ensured noz was set at 30 degree spray pattern
B. 2nd Alarm Eng prepared for foam ops in case fire involved PV components
C. Utility co & PV installer were requested to respond via Dispatcher
D. 3rd Eng used limited water & used reach of stream when operating the fog stream near energized PV components
B
PV system shut down, but a separate fire is discovered in battery room in cellar. Incorrect
A. Spilled electrolyte (sulfuric acid) from lead acid batteries will release toxic fumes during evaporation. Sulfuric acid will dissolve many metals, releasing flammable hydrogen
B. Lithium ion batteries may burn rapidly & ignite nearby combustibles. Full PPE & respiratory protection is mandatory
C. Dry chem proven effective on battery fires. Foam agents are ineffective on battery fires
D. IC may suspend interior ops to test for hazardous conditions.
C
Transmission and distribution substations typically have \_\_ battery room(s), each containing as many as \_\_ car-type batteries. A. 1; 40 B. 1; 60 C. 2; 40 D. 2; 60
D
What type of PV system(s) may be difficult or impossible to detect during nighttime hours? A. Integrated only B. Flush-mounted only C. Integrated and flush-mounted D. Stand-mounted and Integrated
C
Incorrect
A. “Oil” shown for type of coolant column, PCB level will be “0”, a number or blank. If blank assume equipment is PCB Contaminated (50-499 PPM)
B. Silicon is non PCB type of dielectric fluid used as a replacement for PCB fluids in a transformer
C. Transformer cooled by air will contain large amounts of PCB
D. Carcasses are “PCB transformers” taken OOS. If drained, they will always contain residual dielectric fluid
C AUC 338
T/F Deactivation of transformers shall be performed only by Con Ed personnel or FD members when accompanied by Engineering Personnel
False Deactivation of transformers performed only by Con Edison Personnel or Engineering Personnel of the premises familiar with procedure. No member shall attempt deactivation by direction or upon instruction of engineering personnel.
Correct to extinguish Battery room fires at Con Ed Substations
A. Dry chem extinguisher only
B. Carbon Dioxide extinguisher only
C. Dry chem or water from a safe distance
D. Carbon dioxide extinguisher or water from safe distance
C AUC 338
Transmission & distribution substations typically have _ battery room(s), each containing as many as _ car-type batteries. A: 1; 40 B: 1; 60 C: 2; 40 D: 2; 60
D AUC 338 Add 2 2.4
