Emergency Procedures Flashcards
REMOVAL OF MANHOLE COVERS
- Sewer Manhole
A) Need approval of on scene Chief Officer
- Electric Manholes
A) Only remove if requested by on scene utility gas representative
B) Only if approved by on scene Chief Officer
C) Utility gas representative must test cover for stray voltage FIRST
D) Must be a ROUND cover
E) 2 Firefighters remove using Battalion manhole hooks
F) Do not pull electric cover if:
- Rectangular
- Square
- Manhole fire in area
- Smoking or arcing
- Any doubt which type of cover
NATURAL GAS - KEY POINTS
- Natural Gas
A) Explosive range: 5% to 15%
B) Lighter than air: Specific Gravity is 0.6
C) Ignition temperature: 1163 degrees F
D) Odor fade: Mercaptan, which normally gives gas a rotten egg odor,
is removed as gas passes through soil, or masked by
other odors, or stripped by other chemicals.
E) Static electricity: Gas flowing out of broken plastic pipe generates
static electricity on both inside and outside of pipe.
Do not attempt to approach or fold leaking plastic
pipe.
F) Intrinsically safe: FDNY flashlights
G) Not intrinsically safe: Non FDNY flashlights, TIC, FDNY fans.
- Gas Shutoffs:
A) Wing clock valves: most are 1/4 turn COUNTERCLOCKWISE
B) Curb valves: most are 1/4 turn CLOCKWISE
C) Once FDNY turns a gas valve off - DO NOT turn it back on.
- Priority Order of Valve Shutdown
A) Appliance valve
B) Meter valve - if building has single master meter with several interior
gas riser valves, then it is preferred to shut the interior
gas riser valve which only shuts down part of the
building. A single master meter shuts down whole
building.
C) Head of Service Valve - can be just inside the building or outside the
building before the meters.
D) Exterior gas riser valve - found on a gas riser before any external
meters (may also be outside with meters
inside)
E) Curb Valve - shuts gas to entire building
- Usually on sidewalk side.
- Use FDNY gas key to shut/most are 1/4 turn clockwise
- If valve operating nut is white, it is plastic, close gently
- Long Service: Nat Grid Curb valve - located across the
street, sometimes in the street.
- Have arrow on cover pointing to bldg. they supply
- Older curb valves may be 7 1/2 to 15 full turns.
- No more than 15 turns
F) Street valve: FDNY are not to operate these valves. Utility company
only to operate. National grid has ID number on north
side of cover.
- Indoor leaks
A) Ventilate buildings from TOP down
B) Consider fog nozzles
C) Low pressure piping only: use tape, stuff rags etc.
D) Major indoor leak: check at least 3 exposures on each side of
affected occupancies.
- Outdoor high pressure leak indicators
A) Loud roaring sound
B) Dirt and debris blowing into the air at an excavation site.
- FDNY Natural Gas meters - measure % of LEL
A) DCGI and Altair - sound an alarm at 10% LEL, and a different alarm
at 20% LEL.
B) 10% LEL - is FDNY indoor action level
C) 20% LEL - is FDNY outdoor action level
D) Evacuate at 10% LEL if unable to reduce LEL immediately
E) Utility meters indicate percent of gas in air - Multiply Utility meter by
20 to get % LEL. Example: Utility has 1% gas in air, FDNY meter
should read 20% LEL.
- Peck Vent
A) Found on high pressure services.
B) Vents excess gas to exterior if regulator fails
C) May indicate location of curb valve
D) Con Ed: 5-R-25
Start at left hand corner of house
Go 5 feet to right, then 25 feet towards sidewalk to find curb valve
E) National Grid: L-30, R-25, M-10
Curb valve found at intersection of L-30 and R-25 arcs
M-10 (10 feet from arc intersection is underground street main)
EFV (means there is no curb valve, just an Excess Flow Valve)
NC (also means no curb valve)
ALTAIR DIGITAL GAS METER
- ALTAIR Digital Gas Meter
A) Use with the TIFF
B) Has 2 sensors - one for combustible gas (only use for Natural Gas)
and one for oxygen.
C) May detect other combustible gases - but displayed readings will
not be accurate.
D) Turn meter on ONLY in area free of contamination to perform FAS
(Fresh Air Setup)
E) Fresh Air Setup - zeroes the LEL sensor to ambient air.
F) Normal Sensor Readings in fresh air
- LEL 0.0% - Oxygen 20.8%
G) An alarm will sound at the following LCD readings
- 10% LEL - 23% O2 (Oxygen enriched) - 19.5% O2 (Oxygen deficient)
- Combustible Gas Sensor:
A) LEL in fresh air - should read 0.0% LEL
B) Ventilate as 10% LEL is approached for indoor operations
C) If indoor levels climb and ventilation does not lower LEL - then begin
evacuation.
D) Series of crosses under COMB/EX icon - indicates atmosphere is
above 100% LEL.
Will appear as "+++". This is a potentially explosive environment and no operations within except for life saving.
E) The LEL sensor requires oxygen to operate.
F) If the atmosphere is OXYGEN DEFICIENT, the LEL sensors will not
be accurate.
- Oxygen Sensor:
A) Normal reading is 20.8%
B) Low oxygen alarm is 19.5%
C) High oxygen alarm is 23.5% (Conflict with 23%?!?!)
- Oxygen Deficient Atmosphere
A) Low oxygen alarm activates at 19.5%
B) Don SCBA facepiece and notify IC of abnormal readings
C) Request Utility company and ETA.
D) LEL sensors will not be accurate
- Oxygen Enriched Atmosphere
A) High alarm activates at 23.5%
B) Flash points of combustibles is decreased
C) Increased chance of ignition of material not normally thought of as
ignition hazard.
D) Series of three crosses “+++” under O2 icon (atmosphere above
25% oxygen)
Extremely dangerous - since actual readings are unknown.
WATER RESCUE
- Ice/cold water rescue
- Reach method = victim is ambulatory & can assist in their own
rescue. The rescuer uses a hook, pole or other
device extended to the victim. When the victim has
gained a hold on the object, rescuers can pull the
victim to safety. - Throw method = used when the reach method is not feasible. Using a
throw rope, the rescuer hurls the rope to the victim.
The victim should wrap the rope around their arm to
be pulled to safety. - Go method = used for a non-ambulatory victim (unable to assist in
their rescue) or is too far from shore. Victims exposed
to cold water will have problems with their motor skills
and manual dexterity, making them unable to hold a
pole or a rope. This should be the last method tried
since it is the most dangerous - Primary rescuer is tethered and wearing a cold water suit.
2. Surf Rescue - NO TETHERS on rescuers
- PFD and fins worn (NO SUIT IS WORN)
- Surfboard is tethered / member is not tethered
- Factors to consider when not to enter water:
A) Entry into water or onto ice is a LAST RESORT.
B) Water/weather conditions - factors such as wave height, presence of
riptide or sweep tides and lightning
storms.
C) Location of victim - how far out the victim is and if they can be
reached safely.
D) Skill level of rescuer - can the rescuer reach the victim under the
above circumstances or will the rescuer
eventually become a victim.
E) Night operations - Members should not be allowed last the line of
sight from the shore. Portable lights should be
brought to the scene.
PRIORITY ORDER OF NATURAL GAS VALVE SHUTDOWN
“ALL MY RED M&Ms HAVE BEEN EATEN ON ME”
- (A)ppliance valve
- (M)eter valve
- Gas (R)iser Valves coming off Master Meter
- (M)aster (M)eter
- (H)ead of Service Valve / (B)uilding Service Valve found just inside the
building where the gas service enters. - (E)xterior gas riser valve on the gas riser outside of the building
before any exterior meters. - External (O)utside (M)eters - installations will have a riser valve
installed prior to the meter. - Curb valve
- Street valve - AKA line, main or isolation valves.
6.
STEAM SYSTEM EMERGENCIES
1) General
A) High Pressure Steam is piped underground to nearly 2,000
buildings in Manhattan.
B) Steam is generated in plants in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens
C) Steam pipes run under streets and sidewalks with manholes
providing access to the underground steam systems.
D) CONCRETE SLABS typically cover steam vaults with access
manholes placed in pairs.
2) Steam
A) Steam is invisible. The white mist seen is the condensation that
forms when steam cools.
B) Steam in generating plants can reach temperatures as high as
900 degrees F
C) Steam in buried piping can reach temperatures as high as 350
degrees F.
3) Steam Pipe Rupture
A) When water comes in contact with the outside of a high pressure
steam pipe, it may cause the steam inside the pipe to cool,
causing it to condense into water.
B) This water normally drains out of the pipe via drains known as
"Traps"
C) If the water does not drain, a water slug will form
D) Water slugs can be pushed through the piping by steam at
speeds as high as 200 mph.
E) The water slug can cause a rupture to the piping, causing a high
pressure steam release, known as a High Energy Line Break
(HELB)
4) FDNY Operations Inside a Con Ed Generating Plant
A) NEVER enter a generating plant without Con Ed personnel B) Respond to the designated muster site
C) Only enter the plant to perform search and rescue for missing
plant personnel (Stay close to Con Ed escort)
5) FDNY Operations at a HELB in the street
A) Approach from upwind and stay clear of vapor plume
B) Consult with the Con Ed White Hat
C) Limit the number of firefighters exposed to possible asbestos
contamination.
D) Prevent nearby building occupants from exiting buildings into the
Exclusion Zone. Consider using side and rear exits.
E) Consider shutting the HVAC to nearby buildings.
F) If the Con Ed Vent Stack is found with a blue stripe, it indicates
that a street steam leak is the result of a water leak (leaking sewer,
water main break, etc.) not a leaking steam main.
6) HELB in a building
A) Can range from a leaking radiator to a high pressure steam riser
rupture.
B) Risers can be found in walls and a rupture can be deadly to
anyone in the vicinity of the release.
C) The rupture can fill rooms with superheated steam that scalds
occupants and makes the area oxygen deficient.
D) Occupants may not be able to escape the area.
E) Steam pipes found in buildings will likely be insulated with
asbestos.
F) Search and rescue may be impossible until the steam is shut and
the area is vented.
G) In an emergency, FDNY units may shut the building's INSIDE
SERVICE VALVE found in the buildings steam control room.
