Chapter 6 Me Flashcards
The goal of fire protection is to?
to contain the fire within a building or area
A document developed by gathering data used by responding personnel in effectively managing emergencies for the protection of occupants, participants, responding personnel, property, and the environment
Pre incident planning
NFPA 1620
What do pre incident plans provide?
- Identifies in advance strategies/tactics/actions to consider
- Makes fire fighters familiar with the building
- Useful at the company level of practicing initial operations
What represents the exterior of a structure?
Plot plan
Interior views of a building; features are in direct relationship to each other
Floor plan
The pre incident plan should identify the location and details of every?
- Fire department connection
- Fire pump
- Standpipe system
- Automatic sprinkler system
Also
Smoke management and hazard protection systems
Total quantity of combustible products found within a room or space. Determines how much heat and smoke will be produced by a fire, assuming that all of the combustible fuel in that space is consumed
Fuel load
Fire develops in what 4 stages?
- Incipient stage
- Growth stage
- Fully developed stage
- Decay stage
Establishes legally enforceable regulations that relate specifically to fire and life safety, including related subjects such as regulation of hazardous materials and process protection and operating features
A fire code
AHJ for a state fire code is usually the?
state fire marshal
Inspections are conducted by?
- State fire marshals office
- Local fire department
- Code enforcement officials
Regulations that apply to the construction of a new building or an extension or major renovation of an existing building
building code
A fire code applies to?
Existing buildings and to situations that involve a potential fire risk or hazard
Local fire codes are enacted by?
Ordinance
A law enacted by an authorized subdivision of a state, such as a city, county, or town
Developed by standards organization, such as NFPA, and made available for adoption by AHJs. Developed through consensus process using a network of technical committees.
Model codes
Model codes can be adopted in what 2 ways?
- Adoption by reference
- Adoption by transcription
Series of pipes with small discharge nozzles located throughout a building
Automatic sprinkler system
What are the different sprinkler types?
- Wet pipe: water is always in pipes; requires less maintenance; faster reaction
- Dry pipe: installed in cold climates; uses air pressure to release water
- Deluge: found in occupancies with flammable liquid hazards; ready to discharge water as soon as the control valve opens
- Preaction: similiar to dry pipe but includes separate detection system that fills pipe; designed to reduce risk of water damage
Arrangement of piping, valves, hose connections, and allied equipment that allow water to be discharged through hoses and nozzles to reach all parts of the building
Standpipe system
What are the 3 standpipe classes?
-Class 1 provides 2 1/2 inch male coupling, intended for use by fire department or fire brigade members trained in the use of large hose streams
-Class 2 provides 1 1/2 inch hose coupling with a pre connected hose and nozzle in a house station cabinet. The hose is designed for occupant use
-Class 3 provides both connections. The 1 1/2 inch connection may have a pre connected hose line that can be used by the occupants until the fire department arrives
Increases water pressure in standpipe and automatic sprinkler systems
Fire pumps
-Designed to start automatically when the water pressure drops in a system or a fire suppression system is activated
What are some special extinguishing system?
- Carbon dioxide: fixed system; from pressurized tanks; displaces oxygen
- Dry or wet chemical: fixed system; protects commercial cooking devices and industrial processes; wet is preferred
- Halon/ clean agent: more efficient than carbon dioxide; banned since 1994; depletes ozone layer;
- Foam system: low expansion foam system used to protect hazards involving flammable or combustible liquids
Fire alarm systems are activated by?
- Manual fire alarm box
- Smoke detectors
- Heat detectors
- Water flow or pressure switch in a sprinkler system
Type I construction
- Fire resistive
- Construction elements are non combustible
- Level of protection is described by number of hours a building can resist fire effects
- Most durable and lasting structure
- Often uses compartmentation instead of sprinklers
- Metal elements can fail due to age and rust
Type II construction
- Non combustible
- Classified into subdivisions based on fire resistance; Type IIA resists fire for 1 hour; Type IIB is not expected to resist fire effects
- Common 20th century construction
- Durable but not a legacy building
- Requires replacement every 30-40 years
- Frequently updated with Type V structural elements
Type III construction
- Ordinary
- Exterior load bearing walls are non combustible masonry
- Interior elements may be combustible or combination
- Different levels of fire protection possible; Type IIIA: Fire-resistive rating of 1-2 hours; Type IIIB: no fire resistance rating
- Used to build commercial, multi-family , mercantile buildings through 1980s
- No higher than 4 stories
- Designed to preserve load bearing walls
Type IV construction
- Heavy timber
- Exterior walls are non combustible (masonry)
- Interior elements are unprotected wood with large cross sectional dimension
- Mill construction
- Durable as Type I structures
- Most surviving structures have been converted
- A well seated fire in a non-sprinklered Type IV building may exceed capability of municipal water supply
Type V construction
- Wood frame
- Sometimes masonry veneer is applied
- Structural elements consist of wood frame
- Most common structures
- Include single- and multi-family residential
- Can injure or kill first-arriving fire fighters via weakened floor
- Flashover in 3-5 minutes
- Foundation for future innovative building methods and materials
The purpose for which a building or portion of a building is used or is intended to be used
Occupancy type
Occupancies are classified into use groups based on the?
- Characteristics of the occupants
- Activities that are conducted
- Risk factors associated with the contents
An assembly is?
Used for gathering of people
Ex: churches, bars, theaters
Industrial building are?
Where products are manufactured, processed, assembled, mixed, packaged, etc
Ex: automobile plants, clothing manufacturers, food processing plant, cement plant
Institutional occupancy are?
Occupancy used for the purposes of medical or other treatment or for care where residents are incapable of self-preservation
Ex: hospitals, nursing homes; correctional facilities
A mercantile occupancy is?
Used for display and sale of merchandise
Ex: retail stores, department stores, drug stores
Special properties are?
Unusual structures
Towers
Water tanks
Barns
In the NFPA 704 marking system, what do the colors represent
Blue: health hazards
Red: flammability hazards
Yellow: material instability hazards
In the NFPA 704 marking system, what do the numbers represent
Numbers are 0-4
0: essentially no hazard
4: extreme danger
The last color in the diamond is white which is used
for special hazard and could include letters or numbers
NFPA 704 marking systems also requires labels to be affixed to containers inside the structure to indicate what hazards?
- Corrosive
- Flammable
- Poison
NFPA 704 marking system requires markers where?
- At each entrance
- On doorways to chemical storage areas
- On fixed storage tanks
While conducting an inspection, less critical issues can be corrected within a reasonable time generally?
30-90 days
Which occupancy must meet the most stringent requirements?
Mixed
Business on bottom, residential on top
Proves or disproves a fact or issue
Evidence
Includes material objects as well as documentary or oral statements that are admissible as testimony in a court of law
Tangible items that can be identified by witnesses, such as incendiary devices and fire scene debris
Demonstrative evidence
Witnesses speaking under oath
Testimonial evidence
Evidence in written form, such as reports, records, photographs, sketches, and witness statements
Documentary evidence
Material first ignited. Ignition source. Other items related to fire ignition/development/spread. Items on which fire patterns are present
Artifacts
When to request a fire investigator
- When a death or serious burn injury occurs
- For large loss fires
- For situations that could have caused great harm
The fire officers looks at buildings from 2 different perspectives
- First, prepares to handle emergency by developing a pre-incident plan
- Second, performs a fire and life safety inspection to ensure that the building meets the appropriate fire prevention code requirement
Pre-incident planning and code enforcement require similar skill sets including:
Fire growth and development, building construction, and built in fire protection systems
Fire officers play multiple roles in relation to properties within their communities, including handling the following critical tasks
- Identifying and correcting fire safety hazards through safety checks or code enforcement
- Developing and maintaining pre-incident plans
- Promoting fire safety through public relations
During pre-incident planning fire officer and firefighter should be on the lookout for ?
Fire and life safety hazards
A fire officer should always take proactive steps to?
Reduce the impact of any potential emergency that could occur, this includes identifying and correcting conditions that could contribute to fire spread or restrict or prevent occupants from leaving
Contains equipment, materials, or items that have a high replacement value.
For example properties containing agricultural equipment, electronic data processing equipment or scientific equipment; fine arts center; and storage and manufacturing site
High value property
Has the potential to produce catastrophic property or life loss in the event of a fire.
Ex: nuclear power plant, bulk fuel storage, hospital and jails
High risk property
A ____ is meant to identify in advance the strategies, tactics, and actions that should be considered if a predictable situation occurs, and to make the firefighters familiar with the building
A pre-incident plan
NFPA 1620 outlines 6 considerations to take into account when completing a pre-incident plan
- Identify physical elements and site considerations
- Identify occupancy considerations
- Identify water supply and fire protection systems
- Identify special considerations
- Identify emergency operations considerations
- Document findings
Provides a representation of the exterior of a structure, identifying site access, doors, utilities access, and any special considerations or hazards
Plot plan
Interior views of a building; rooms, hallways, cabinets, etc
Floor plan
During a test of the ore-incident plan, the fire officer should test two-way radios and document any interference. For example check if you can contact dispatch when in the inner core as well as in the basement. Such problem could be mitigated by having ?
By having a fixed antenna system or repeaters installed in the building
The fire officer should know how to access information about the number of occupants and their ages, their physical or mental conditions and any need for assisting them. Building specific information should include?
- Hours of operations
- Occupant load
- Location of occupants
The ______ is determined by evaluating the size of the building, their contents, construction type, occupancy, exposures, fire protection systems, and any other features that could affect the amount of water needed to control the fire
Required water flow
The _____ should note contact information for the facility hazardous materials coordinator and the location of material safety data sheets
The pre-incident plan
The ______ should include instructions for de-energizing electrical systems and isolating and securing mechanical systems
The pre-incident plan
The U.S. fire administration recommends four actions that can reduce arson in vacant and abandoned buildings and improve firefighter safety
- Monitor
- Secure
- Inspect
- Mark
In vacant or abandoned buildings ____ percent of fires are incendiary or suspicious origin
72%
The authority to inspect comes from?
Building codes and ordinances adopted by the jurisdiction
The national association of EMS physicians definition of a mass gathering event is?
When there are 1000 or more participants
______ considers the type of incident that may occur and develops the response structure for each type of incident
Hazard analysis
The IAP should be based on priorities of?
- Life safety
- Incident stabilization
- Property conservation
** In that order **
Fire stage that only involves the object of origin?
Incipient stage
A fire that has entered in the developed stage depending on the occupancy and construction factors, the pre incident plan might indicate
a defensive attack or an attack with larger hand lines
When a fire has consumed all the oxygen but has retained its heat and still has fuel available to it, it has entered the?
Decay stage (Smoldering)
Open pipe chases, elevator shafts, and balloon construction all contribute to?
Vertical fire spread
False ceilings and cocklofts may conceal?
Horizontal fire spread
The ______ should show the relationship of the building to other buildings, streets, hydrants, utility controls, and other features
Plot plan
A state fire code applies everywhere in the state, whereas a locally adopted code can be enforced only within?
That particular jurisdiction
A _______ or _____ sets a minimum standard, and local jurisdiction have the option of adopting more stringent requirements
State or provincial
Mini/max code
The local jurisdiction may not be able to exceed the state minimum
Fire code requirements are often adopted or amended in reaction to fire disasters, and approach know as
Catastrophic theory of reform
Term used in NFPA documents to refer to “an organization, office, or individual responsible for enforcing the requirements of a code or standard, or for approving equipment, materials, an installation, or a procedure
Authority having jurisdiction
In the case of a provincial fire code, the AHJ would be the?
Provincial fire marshal or fire commissioner
The AHJ for a local fire code would be?
The fire chief, fire marshal, or code enforcement official
The regulations contained in a fire code are enforced through?
Code compliance inspection
A complete set of model codes includes
- Building codes
- Electrical codes
- Plumbing codes
- Mechanical codes
- Fire codes
The primary advantage of a model code are?
The same regulations apply in many jurisdictions, and all of the requirements are coordinated to work together without conflict
______ occurs when the jurisdiction passes an ordinance that adopts a specific edition of the model code.
Ex: local jurisdiction may adopt NFPA 1, fire code
Adoption by reference
______ occurs when the jurisdiction adopts the entire text of the model code and publishes it as part of the adopting ordinance
Adoption by transcription
The model code updates the codes every?
Every 3 to 5 years
A jurisdiction code often allow more flexibility in the design of a building when built in fire protection systems are included. A building with sprinkler system can be?
Larger and taller
NFPA reports, U.S. experience with sprinklers, found that sprinklers operated effectively in _____ percent of all reported structure fires that were large enough to activate sprinklers
92%
What are the 3 primary components of water based fire protection systems
- Automatic sprinkler systems
- Standpipe systems
- Fire pumps
Depending on ____ and _____, automatic sprinkler systems may be wet pipe, dry pipe, deluge, or pre action
Usage and climate
A ______ limits the discharge pressures from standpipe hose outlets
Pressure regulating device
The objective of a fire code compliance inspection is to determine whether an existing property is in compliance with all of the applicable fire code requirements. Some codes call this a?
Maintenance inspection
The purpose of conducting a fire inspection is to ?
Identify hazards and to ensure that the violations are corrected
Codes may classify building by?
- Construction type
- Occupancy type
- Use group
NFPA 220
Standard on types of building construction
Which type of building construction is considered the most durable and lasting structure where extensive fire suppression operations may be carried out before collapse?
Type 1
Fire resistive
Which type of building construction was classified as “Main Street USA” in the 1980
Type III
Ordinary
Which type of building construction is common is the 20th century?
Type II
Non combustible
Type of building construction that are the most common structures and include single family and multi family residential, and mercantile and low rise commercial buildings
Type V
Wood frame
______ starts by confirming that the occupancy is used for the original, approved purpose
Code enforcement
Buildings with significant quantities of hazardous materials may be required to use a marking system. The most widely recognized standard is?
NFPA 704
The NFPA 704 marking system colors indicate what?
- Blue = health hazards
- Red = fire hazards
- Yellow = reactivity hazards
- White = specific hazards
Life threatening hazard during an inspection, such as locked exits, must be corrected immediately.
Follow up for non life threatening code enforcement issues are as follows
- Fails first fire company level inspection; follow up in 30 days
- Fails second fire company level inspection; follow up in 15 to 30 days
- Fails third fire company level inspection; issue sent to fire prevention division; inspection within 2-30 days
- Fails first fire prevention division inspection; the fire marshal issues a notice of violation or correction order; owner can file an appeal within 10 days
- 7.
The fire code includes general ____ and ____ requirements that apply to every type of occupancy
Fire and life safety
The fire code describes requirements for the size, type, and location of extinguishers required by ____
NFPA 10
Standard for portable fire extinguisher a as
For most processed with high hazards, the occupancy is required to have a _____
Fire prevention division or hazardous permit
These permit are renewed annually
A major problem noted in many assembly inspection is?
Overcrowding
Mercantile fires are responsible for a _______ number of firefighter line of duty death
Higher than average
When a fire has occurred and the fire department has been called, the fire department has the right to determine the cause and origin of the fire. This process must be be accomplished in accordance with the law. In the ________ (1978), the U.S. Supreme Court held “fire officials are charged with not only extinguishing fires, but with finding their cause.
Michigan v. Tyler
Reaffirmed by Michigan v. Clifford
After the cause and the origin have both been determined, a _______ is required for any further search
search warrant or consent
To prove that the crime of arson occurred, the fire investigator must?
Rule out all possible accidental and natural causes of the fire
The process of re creating the physical scene before the fire occurred, either physically or theoretically
Fire scene reconstruction
The fire investigator interprets the fire scene and documents the fire development by?
Examining the damage to objects, devices, and surfaces
The _____ is responsible for protecting the fire scene evidence from the public and from excessive overhaul and salvage
The fire officer
The _______ is the first step in the chain of custody that is vital to successful prosecution of arson cases
The fire officer
General inspection pertains to?
Access and egress, exit signs, portable fire extinguishers, built in fire protection systems, special hazards, etc
The five most common issues discovered during pre fire plan that can immediately be corrected
- Blocked access to fire department system connections
- Improper storage in fire pump and riser rooms
- Items hanging from fire sprinklers and piping
- Not enough clearance to allow a fire sprinkler to fully operate
- Incorrect fire sprinkler coverage if occupancy or contents have changed
Restaurants are considered which type of occupancy?
Assembly
Colleges and universities are considered what type of occupancy?
Business
The authority having jurisdiction tailgates the power to enforce codes to who?
- Fire officers
- Fire inspectors
- Other individual who conduct inspections
A pre incident plan may provide information on how a fire at a facility can be expected to spread in advance how?
By considering pipe chases shafts and large open spaces which has predictable effect on fire spread
Which US Supreme Court case established the boundaries of “Plainview doctrine”
Michigan v. Clifford 1984
Which year is used to define the difference between legacy and modern dwelling
1980
Why are fire codes required often adopted or amended
Reaction to fire disasters
What are the most commonly encountered buildings
Type V frame construction
What often causes there to be insufficient means of egress for occupants
Improper storage
What does the inspections of the fire pump within a building normally consist of
Visual inspection
With what frequency must the occupant perform checks of exit signs and emergency lighting systems
Monthly
What is the goal for a code compliance inspections in a public assembly occupancy
Ensure that access and egress pathways are clear and in good order
