Breathing Aperatus Flashcards
What are the 5 components of a PPS BA set?
1- FPS face Mask
2 - Cylinder
3 - Back Plate and Harness
4 - Pneumatic System
5 - ADSU
What are the minimum crewing roles for tactical ventilation? (8)
1 - IC
2 - Pump Op
3 - BA x2
4 - ECO
5 - Fan Op
6 - Safety Observer
7 - FF on covering Jet
What is the definition of a flashover?
What are the signs and symptoms of a flashover? (4)
In a fuel controlled fire, through a combination of radiation, convection and conduction, objects absorb heat, reach their thermal capacity and begin to pyralise simultaneously. Essentially a fire in a room becoming a room on fire.
1- sudden increase in temperature
2 - lowering of neutral plane
3 - surfaces pyrolising
4 - tongues of flame in the gas layer
Name the contents of the ECO Kit
- wedges x8
- wire cutters
- ACME thunder whistle
- Emergency BA Tally
- Main Guideline Tally, A & B
- Branch Guideline Tallies 1, 2, 3, 4
- Branch Guideline Chain
- ECO Tabbard
- Comms op Tabbard
- Reversible Sector Bands x2, A, B, C, D
- Chinagraph
- Speaker mic
MORE???
Name the 3 phases of Tactical Ventilation in the HIOWFRS
1 - Post incident - After the fire has been extinguished, used to clear residual fire gasses / smoke
2 - Defensive - No direct effect on the fire. Used to clear areas and rooms other than the fire compartment. Safe working platform created.
3 - Offensive - Direct effect on the fire. Outlet is in the fire compartment, as close to the fire as possible.
What are the 4 fire phenomena’s to be aware of
- Coanda effect
- Trench effect
- Porch effect
- Wind driven fires
EXPLANATIONS
What needs to be in place for rapid deployment?
When can rapid deployment be used?
1x appliance
2x BA wearers
3x BA qualified personnel
4x crew members riding the appliance
When the casualty is in imminent danger, in a known location close to the entry point.
To prevent significant escalation of the incident with a quick action.
Limitations of stage one incidents
- No more than 6 BA wearers deployed at any given time.
- no more than 1 entry control point
- Guidelines must NOT be used
- the building should be non-complex
- the incident is unlikely to be protracted
Limitations of a stage 2 incident
- more than 6 BA wearers deployed at any one time
- more than one entry control point
- guidelines CAN be used
- complex layout
- incident likely to be protracted
- line comms CAN be used
NOTE: if any one or more of these points is met, the incident will become level 2
What conditions can BA re-entry be used?
May be required for re-entry to perform specific task after they have withdrawn from original entry, reporter to ECP and closed down sets.
- clearly defined specific task, which should not be firefighting.
- cylinder contents is min 160 bar and sufficient for specific task
- wearers are physically and psychologically capable of task
- If ALL 3 are met, team can re-enter and fresh records are requires.
NOTE: If team withdraws to collect equipment, pass messages etc. but do not remove facemasks, close down sets, or collect tallies, but continue original task in building…
… this is part of their original working duration and NOT as a RE-ENTRY
When can a single BA wearer be used? (4)
At the discretion of IC and permissible when:
- not in building or structure
- wearer tally inserted into EC board
- wearer must be able to withdraw or be removed from risk area
- wearer always in view of IC or nominated officer or crew member
What can trigger a declaration of a BA emergency? (6)
What happens once a BA emergency is declared?
- Any BA wearer who fails to return to the ECP by calculated time of whistle and cannot be contacted by any means to confirm their safety.
- an ADSU is heard
- Audible/ Visual indications suggest BA wearer appears to be on distress or I’m intent danger
- Prolonged and unexpected breakdown in comms
- At BA wearers request
- Any other worthy circumstances
Once BA emergency team is deployed, ECO must inform IC and call for replacement emergency team ASAP.
If IC is not available then a message to fire control should be sent.
‘BA emergency
Name or originator
Address
Text: ‘BA Emergency in progress’
Type: ‘ADSU sounding’’
On receipt of BA emergency message, fire control will mobilize as a minimum:
- one pump
- OET
- request attendance of ambulance service
Considerations for emergency BA teams (4)
- responsibility of ECO
- must be established at all stage 2 incidents
- minimum 2 BA wearers but at least equal to size of largest team deployed at that ECP
- Stage 1 emergency team arrangements should be appropriate to risk. Minimum 1 team per EXP
Considerations when impounding a BA set (7)
If a BA wearer suffers distress, injury or set defect, the IC must ensure the following action is taken:
- initiate action for the welfare of the wearer
- Impound the set, noting the following in either a notebook, remarks column of ECO board or on BA drawing board:
- cylinder pressure
- precise number of full turns to close the cylinder valve
- time wearer entered the incident
- time wearer left incident
- gauge reading
- visual condition of set
- any remarks made by wearer or other BA team members
Next, put set, face-mask and tally in bag with copy of notes. Seal, label and give to station manager.
What information from the BA tally is over-written on the ECB?
BA set number
What term is defined by the following description;
Used to create a safe area as the team advances in to the compartment by cooling and diluting unignited fire gases above them.
Safety
Normally a BA descending a staircase should do so individually, but on what occasion may they descend together?
Whilst rescuing a casualty
Normally a BA descending a staircase should do so individually, but on what occasion may they descend together?
Whilst rescuing a casualty
True or false…
Tactical Ventilation does not always require the use of a fan.
True
You are team leader of a BA team sent on a ground floor right hand search of a premises. On contacting a staircase on your right hand search what action should you take.
Treat the staircase as a small room and carry out a thorough search of it up to the next level and then return to searching on the ground floor.
Using a Thermal Imaging Camera a BA search and rescue team are able to identify the casualty in front. Given the enhanced visibility afforded by the device what action should be taken?
Carry on against the reference wall to a point where the casualty can be recovered and removed.
Define the 3 branch settings:
- safety
- long pulse
- painting
Safety: Used to create a safe areas as the team advances into the compartment, by cooling and diluting un-ignited fire gases
above the team.
Long pulse: Used to cool & dilute ignited fire gases, and to push them back towards the fire, allowing the team to advance into the compartment.
Painting: Applied directly onto any surfaces that are still pyrolising, to stop the pyrolosis process.
Considerations for a door safety? (4)
- Narrow cone setting
• Applied directly above the door into the un-burnt fire gases.
• Short in duration
• Used to create a safe area before entering, by cooling and diluting any fire gases that are just inside the door
What is a fog spike?
What types do we have in the fire service? (2)
Considerations when deploying a fog spike?
A lightweight, portable water mist application device designed to:
• Apply water externally into a fire compartment whilst limiting any increase in ventilation
•Reduce risk to operational crews by improving conditions in a fire compartment prior to their entry
•Provide faster and safer fire suppression, minimising fire damage
•Reduce temperatures inside compartments such as roof spaces, voids, rooms and vehicles, prior to entry
——————
Types of fog spike in the fire service:
- Attack
- Restrict
—————
When deploying consider:
•Locations that offer least resistance and where it will be most effective
•Deploy at an upward angle to effectively deal with the fire gases
•Deploying into the upper section of the fire compartment will also reduce the risk to any casualty and is less likely to encounter services
•Do not deploy through glass, as this will shatter and change the vent profile
•Consider areas between frames and brickwork
What surfaces can you penetrate with a fog spike? And any considerations?
Risk assess the area to be penetrated to ensure that there are no electrical cables, ducting, pipework or other hazards present
A ‘Hierarchal Approach’ should be adopted when identifying surfaces to penetrate:
●Doors (letterbox)
●Door frames
●Window frames
●Walls (brick/block use SDS masonry drill)
●Ceilings
●Roofs
●Floors
When using the Attack Fog Spike the equipment may need to be held in place during deployment due to the jet reaction
When must forced tactical ventilation not be used? (4)
Forced ventilation must not be used if one or more of the following are evident:
•The location of the fire is unknown
•There is more than one seat of fire
•There is a casualty in the outlet
•Rapid deployment is in use
What are the golden rules for tactical ventilation? (12)
Never open an initial outlet / vent without permission from the IC.
•Go with the wind whenever possible. Go against the wind with extreme caution and always monitor.
•Rapid deployment and Tac Vent are not permitted at the same time.
•The fire compartment door remains open after the fire is extinguished. Return and check periodically if sequentially venting. (Phase 1)
•Always check for indicators of Flashover or Backdraft.
•Monitor the outlet and increase or decrease the revs depending on observations.
•If you don’t know where the fire is, do not undertake Tactical Ventilation until you do know its’ location.
•Only one seat of fire to enable TV to go ahead. Multiple seats = No TV.
•TV Phase 3 requires an aggressive attack on the fire by the first BA team making entry.
•Create a Safe Working Platform whenever possible.
•360 Thermal-scanning and visual observations are important before and during the incident.
•A door entry risk assessment does not go away.
What are the definitions for the 3 types of ventilation:
- ventilation
- automatic ventilation
- self ventilation
Ventilation
The removal of heated air, smoke and other airborne contaminants from a structure and their replacement with a fresher, cleaner supply of air.
Automatic Ventilation
This occurs when pre-installed vents are opened automatically, usually in the early stages of a fire by a fire detection system, to enable occupants’ safe egress from a building.
Smoke clearance systems can be for the removal of smoke or specifically for life-safety to enable safe egress from a building in the event of a fire.
Self Ventilation
This occurs when the fire damages the structure so that increased ventilation occurs and may change conditions. E.G. – Glazing failing, allowing more air to enter a room.
What is the definition of a backdraft?
What are the indications? (5)
Definition:
Limited ventilation can lead to a fire producing smoke/gases containing significant proportions of unburnt fuel. If these accumulate then the admission of air when an opening is made to the compartment can lead to a sudden and sustained deflagration, moving through the compartment and out of the opening. This deflagration is known as a “backdraught”.
Indications:
•Smoke blackened windows
•Dense smoke with no fire
•Heat damage (blistering) paintwork around doors/windows
•Pushing & pulling of smoke around gaps of doors/windows.
•Whistling sound may be heard
What is a fire gas explosion?
When smoke/gases leak into an area adjacent to the fire compartment , they may mix with air (Premixed). This mixture can expand into all or parts of the compartment and concentrate above the lower explosive limit.
•If the mixture ignites the pressure will increase significantly. This is known as a Fire Gas Explosion.
What is the Coandă Effect?
Expressed as the tendency of a fluid (or gas) to be attracted to a nearby surface.
For instance when fire gases exit a window in a high rise, the lower pressure between the fire gases and build cause the fire gases to be pulled towards the building.
This causes the flames to be drawn towards the surface and pre-heats this area, which creates a more rapidly spreading fire.
Trench effect.
Restricted air entrainment in a trench leads to a effect which combined with flashover leads to the “Trench effect”.
•Starts at around a 10° incline.
•Most prominent between a 24°and 27° incline.
•Although this type of fire phenomena is uncommon, there is a potential for it to occur in all stairway enclosures.
Identified during the Kings Cross 1987 Underground fire investigation.
Steam suppression considerations (4) & method
- servers conditions (backdraft potential)
- no access to outlet with current conditions
- no salvable life
- top dangerous to enter
Method:
The team should carry out a ‘hot door’ procedure
2.No 1 will give the order “Door Open” at which point No 2 Opens the door approximately 0.5m.
3.No 1 will observe the gasses looking at colour, density and volume, move around into the opening and direct a 3 - 4 second long pulse up into the over pressure.
4.No 2 shuts the door and contains any steam inside the compartment for approximately 10 seconds.
5.After approximately 10 seconds, No 1 gives the order “Door Open” and moves around into the opening and directs a further 3 - 4 second long pulse this time into the under pressure. The door is then again closed.
6.This process is repeated until conditions in the compartment have been adequately suppressed to allow entry, or further tactical ventilation to be instigated.
Guideline length?
Long tab length?
Short tab length?
Length between sets of long and short tabs?
Guide line tallies?
Branch line tallies?
Personal line set contents?
Length: 60m
Long tab:125mm, way in
Short tab: 50mm, way out
Distance between sets of long and short tabs: 2.5m
Guideline tallies: x2, A & B, Circular
Branch tallies: x4, 1 - 4, Rectangular
Personal line: 6m, 4.75m line attached to bag with small hook, other end attaches to bag with tennex button and additional 1.25m with karabiner.
When to use guidelines? (3)
When to use guidelines?
- under IC instruction only
- always to he considered when no other means of retracing way out from risk area
- essential on high Ex foam
How to attach guideline to wearer?
Where and who attached guideline to initial point?
Can you extend a guideline?
How to tie off guidelines along route? On search and upon withdrawing?
Contact with team and guidelines?
Branch guideline considerations? (4)
Attach guideline snap hook to small D-ring on harness of BA team leader and then strap Velcro around leg.
Attach guideline to an immovable object at EC point with round turn, 2 half hitches.
Attach main guideline tally to tail end with dog clip - ONLY ECO DOES THIS
Only one main guideline along any single route. You can attach more than one guideline together.
Secure guideline to suitable objects along search pattern at around waste height. Use round turn 2 half hitches and ensure both parts of the guideline is tied.
When a room has been searched, withdraw the guideline and tie off loosely across closed door to indicate it’s been searched.
Upon completion of task or withdrawal of incident, guideline should be attached to last tie pff point using guideline dog clip.
TL personal line in contact with guidelines, No 2 personal line attaches to TL. Team must always remain in physical contact. Only TL can extend full 6m on personal line.
Branch guideline considerations (4):
- used when search is greater than 6m from main guideline
- no more than 4 branches from one ECP
- tallies attached outside by ECO (tally to chain to guideline)
- branch guidelines can be extended as required
- secure branch guideline chain with
clothes hitch and clip onto chain with 3-5 ring bite.
What does EASE stand for?
Which vehicles are they kept on?
Which types of incidents is EASE. Used?
Where are they left on standby when in attendance at a job?
Rescue of breathing crew members and you ntra piped crew member considerations?
What does EASE stand for?
- Emergence Air Supply Equipment
Which vehicles are they kept on?
- Command support Vehicles (CSV)
Which types of incidents is EASE. Used?
- Large or deep seated fires
- entrapment of crew
- when snatch rescue of crew is not possible
Where are they left on standby when in attendance at a job?
- placed at the ECP. If more than one ECP, placed at Alpha or BA Sector Command
Rescue of breathing crew members considerations?
- quick and safe rescue is the priority.
- check gauge reading to see if sufficient air to avoid using EASE
- if using EASE: remove demand valve from wearer and EASE set and then connect ease demand valve to wearer face mask
- in exceptional circumstance the face mask will need to be changed too.
- aim to do any EASE change as quickly as possible!
- carrying strap of EASE set placed around casualty’s neck.
Place EASE set on casualty’s lap
- BA set remains on casualty and face mask fitted accordingly.
Rescue of entrapped crew members considerations is similar to rescuing of crew member.
What is the entrapped procedure considerations? (5)
- Update BAECO of the situation
•Just one person to operate their ADSU and torch
•Cease all strenuous physical activity and adopt a sitting or reclining position
•Ensure that all members remain conscious and alert and stay in personal contact
•Breath slowly and calmly.
What are the consumption rates achieved by the entrapment procedure? Liters per minute and total cylinder duration?
By following this procedure the wearers demands for air can be reduced to approximately 8 litres per minute.
•Consumption Rates in litres per minute:
•50 Lpm / 2430 L cylinder = 48 minutes
•10 Lpm / 2430 L cylinder = 243 minutes
•8 Lpm / 2430 L cylinder = 303 minutes
What are the 5 main components of the Draeger PSS7000 Breathing Apparatus set?
•P - Personal
•S - Safety
•S - System
The five main components are:
1 - Compressed air cylinder 300 Bar
•Carbon fibre full wrap composite:
•Aluminum liner
•Carbon fibre overwrap
•Glass fibre overwrapping
•Outer resin layer
•9L Capacity
•300 Bar
•2430 L full capacity
•5.3kg.
•Black/white shoulders with an individual cylinder number
•Working duration 36 minutes
•Safety Margin 12 minutes
•Cylinder Valve - protected by rubber buffer
•Hand wheel fitted with ratchet to prevent unintentional shutting of cylinder valve.
- PSS 7000 Carrying System – Back plate & Harness
Harness:
•New advanced material
•High wear resistance
•Maintains shape and form for easy donning
•High grip material - grips body and remains in position
•Heavy duty stainless steel buckles
•Hose cover protection
•Fixing points for accessories.
•Pouches for BA wedges and cable cutters
Back plate:
•High strength light-weight carbon composite
•Spring loaded pivoting & swivelling waist belt
•Improved height adjustment
•Built-in carrying handles
•Integrated electronics
•Integrated hoses
•Reinforced cylinder band for easy fitting of cylinder.
3 - Pneumatic assembly
Cylinder connection assembly
•Hand wheel connection, finger tight only
Pressure Reducer
•Piston operated
•Reduces cylinder pressure to 6 - 9 bar
•Pressure relief valve operates at 11-16 bar
Positive Pressure Lung Demand Valve (LDV)
•Positive Pressure - first breath actuated
•Rotating couplings (on valve & supply hose)
•Button – resets first breath mechanism
•Manually operated supplementary supply provides constant flow (60 - 120 lpm)
4 - FPS 7000 facemask
•FPS 7000 Facemask
•Double reflex seal
•Grade 1 impact Flexi Glass polycarbonate visor.
•Anti scratch
•Voice amplification
•Orinasal mask
•Push fit Demand Valve connection
•Double reflex seal
•Grade 1 impact Flexi Glass polycarbonate visor.
•Anti scratch
•Voice amplification
•Orinasal mask
•Push fit Demand Valve connection
5 - PSS Bodyguard 7000
Digital pressure reading
•Time remaining
•Automatic and manual ADSU
•Audible and visual alarms
•Bright back light
•Large Screen
•Large buttons
•Scrolling text.
Ancillary Equipment
B.A. tally
•Attached to Operational Tally key
•To comply with B.A. control procedures
Personal line and pouch
•Attached to waist belt for additional security
•Covered on guideline theory
Wedge Pouch
•Pouch for the storage of 2 BA wedges.
Wolf Torch
•Intrinsically safe
•Switch (off, on)
•LED unit that will flash red in operation mode, light changes to solid when battery needs replacing (20%)
Cable cutters
•Rated to 1000v
Radio
Each BA set has its own Motorola GP340 intrinsically safe radio attached to the right hand shoulder strap of the BA set
