Engine Company Operations Flashcards
STANDPIPE KIT “CAP SONG”
Each Engine company shall carry a “standpipe kit” with the following minimum basic compliment of tools: “CAP SONG”
C - Chocks
A - Adapters as required (some buildings have floor outlet valves with
Non NYC threads)
P - Pipe wrench (minimum 18” in length)
S - Spanner
O - Operating wheel
N - 2 1/2” Nozzle with 1 1/8” MST and 1/2” OST
G - 2 1/2” x 2 1/2” Inline Pressure Gauge
DECISIONS THAT ENGINE OFFICER CAN DELEGATE TO NOZZLE TEAM: “DROPS LINE”
“DROPS LINE”
D - Direction of stream (OTHER THAN INITIAL)
R - Rate of advancement
O - Opening nozzle in EMERGENCY
P - Partial shut down to regain control
S - Sweeping floors with stream
Line - Calling for more LINE
NOTE: Be aware that opening the nozzle (other than in an emergency)
and direction of stream (other than initial stream direction)
cannot be delegated by Officer.
ENGINE OPERATIONS - KEY POINTS
- All Engine Company FFs should be:
A) Familiar with operating procedures for all hydrants
B) Familiar with hydrant security devices
C) Able to transfer Engine apparatus from “road” to “pump”
D) Able to connect the apparatus to a hydrant using each of the several
connections available and standard hose.
E) Able to charge and maintain adequate pressure on a line using the
pump panel controls.
- Nozzles
A) Solid Stream Tip (MST)
- High volume flow with long reach - Superior penetration - Reduced nozzle pressure - Required for standpipe use - Effective at low pressure
B) Fog tip (FT-2)
- Effective for ventilation - Fires near energized electrical equipment - Dispersing vapors at gas leaks - Maintained in straight stream position (Right to fight) - Used on both 1 3/4" & 2 1/2" line
- Engine Pumping Limits
A) Only 2 hand lines should be operated from a pumper
B) Supply pumper in a relay operation should not supply any hand lines
or large caliber streams.
C) The pumper supplying large caliber stream should not supply any
handlines or additional large caliber streams.
D) If an emergency requires exceeding the above guidelines:
- Supply or operating pumper shall be augmented ASAP & - IC notified
- Warning signs of a potential backdraft
A) Reversal of air, pulling smoke back into a smoke filled opening
B) Glass windows stained with smoke condensation and pulsating
C) Color of smoke varies:
- dense black smoke (indicates lack of oxygen) - other colors include dirty brown, yellow brown, gray yellow
SPRINKLER SYSTEMS
- Wet Pipe = Water in riser and piping at all times.
When head activates, water is immediately discharged. - Dry Pipe = Air/nitrogen under pressure in piping and riser at all times.
When head is activated, air/gas bleeds out and water fills
and discharges. Usually installed where freezing is a
problem. - Deluge = All heads are open and will flow water simultaneously when
activated by an electrical signal received from a detection
device. - Pre-Action = Dry piping water then fills and if needed then heads will
activate. Used where computer or electrical equipment
are used. - Combination = Sprinkler heads and standpipe outlets attached to a
common riser. May be wet or dry (Yellow caps) - Non-Automatic = depend solely on the FD for water. Usually found in
old commercial buildings cellar and sub cellars
(Aluminum caps) - Sprinklers are ALWAYS supplied with 3 1/2” hose
- If building has a combination SP & Sprinkler, the FIRST supply line
goes to the STANDPIPE SIAMESE. - If sprinklered building is not equipped with Standpipe, FIRST LINE
STRETCHED SHOULD BE A HANDLINE. The second line will
augment the sprinkler system. - Sprinkler systems should be supplied by AT LEAST 2 DIFFERENT
Engines.
GREEN = Automatic Sprinkler
RED = Standpipe
YELLOW = Combination (Standpipe & Sprinkler)
ALUMINUM = Non Automatic Sprinkler or Perforated Pipe
WHEN NOT TO USE AN 1 3/4” LINE “DALLAS”
“DALLAS”
D - Defensive position
A - Advanced fire on arrival
L - Large fire in a large uncompartmented area
L - Large volume of water needed
A - Area or size cannot be determined
S - Standpipe
MARKING OF HOSE “GIRLS REMEMBER DATES / GUYS HAVE COMPANY PRIDE”
“GIRLS REMEMBER DATES / GUYS HAVE COMPANY PRIDE”
Female End - mark the date
Male End - mark the company
DO NOT TEST HOSE WHEN “BMW CAR GO”
“BMW CAR GO”
B - Burnt Jacket
M - Mildew
W - Worn Jacket
C - Coupling damage
A - Abrasions
R - Rot
G - Gasket cracked, dried or broken
O - Out of round couplings
- Hose exposed to oil, acid, chemicals, etc. must be properly
decontaminated and not repacked. Assistance from HazMat unit is
requested. - Note: salt water is flushed 15 minutes
ADVANTAGES OF IN-LINE PUMPING “F-SLEEP”
“F-SLEEP”
F - Fast water on the fire
S - Stretches shorter and faster
L - Lower engine pressure required
E - Equipment closer to the fire
E - ECC in better position to assist
P - Pumper in position for exterior stream
WHEN CAN APPARATUS DRIVE OVER HOSE
A) Only done when absolutely necessary
B) Charge the line if possible
C) Running over couplings should be avoided
D) Speed should be reduced to a minimum
E) 5 inch hose should not be driven over unless properly bridged
ENGINE OPERATIONS - CHAPTER 9
1) Siamese Colors
A) Red = STANDPIPE
B) Green = SPRINKLER
C) Aluminum = NON AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER / PERFORATED PIPE
D) Yellow = COMBINATION SPRINKLER / STANDPIPE
E) As a general rule, there should be a separate Engine company
supplying the standpipe system for each hose line placed in service.
F) Standpipe systems should ALWAYS be supplied with 3 1/2” hose
G) Whenever possible, standpipe systems should be supplied by 2
different pumpers.
H) If the PRD can’t be removed, and there is no other available outlet
without a PRD, than it is permissible to use an outlet with a PRD.
I) Occupant hose = may be used by LADDER AND RESCUE
COMPANIES operating REMOTELY from an engine
company in an attempt to SAVE LIVES.
2) Standpipe Kit “CAP SONG”
A) C - Chocks
B) A - Adapters
C) P - Pipe Wrench (Minimum 18”)
D) S - Spanners
E) O - Operating Wheel
F) N - Nozzle (2 1/2” controlling nozzle with 1 1/8” MST, 1/2” OST)
G) G - Gauge (In-Line Pressure Gauge)
3) Operating from the Standpipe
A) 1st and 2nd engines will ALWAYS operate together to place the first
line into operation.
B) All hoselines stretched from standpipes shall be 2 1/2” hose with a
controlling nozzle and 1 1/8” MST.
C) All hoselines stretched from standpipes shall be connected to
outlets on floors BELOW the fire floor.
D) Inline pressure gauges should ALWAYS be used to ensure correct
nozzle pressure.
E) Flush the outlet prior to attaching the inline pressure gauge.
F) As a general rule of thumb:
3 lengths of 2 1/2” hose requires 70 psi at the outlet w/water flowing
4 lengths of 2 1/2” hose required 80 psi at the outlet w/water flowing
HIGH PRESSURE PUMPING
1) General
A) High pressure pumpers and 3rd stage pumpers identified by the
suffix “P” on response tickets (E266P)
B) High pressure pumping is defined as operating at discharge
pressures over 250 psi. The IC shall be notified when high pressure
pumping is necessary.
2) Equipment
A) 3” high pressure supply hose (50’ lengths)
B) Fittings (painted white, noticeably heavier than conventional fittings)
C) Tether straps with gated hooks
D) High pressure outlets: One high pressure outlet on HPP
Two high pressure outlets on 3rd stage
3) Operations
A) Whenever possible, supplying engine should be positioned within 1
length of Siamese connection.
B) No more than 2 connected lengths of high pressure supply hose
stretched to the Siamese.
C) 50’ safety zone on each side of the engine and supply hose. (May be
expanded if 2 lengths of supply hose are used)
D) All unused gates and outlets on the apparatus MUST BE CLOSED
AND CAPPED.
E) 2 ECCS at each pumper operating at high pressure ops. One to
operate pumper, one to monitor radio communications.
F) Supply lines MUST be secured using the tether strap.
G) Preset pressures on rigs with pressure governors should NOT be
used when charging a standpipe system.
4) 3rd Stage Pumping
A) REQUIRED for pressures exceeding 600 psi
B) PREFERRED for pressures over 500 psi
C) Can only be ordered by an IC at the rank of BC or higher.
RECOMMENDED PUMP DISCHARGE PRESSURE CHART
FIRE FLOOR Engine Discharge Pressure
1-10 150 psi
11-20 200 psi
21-30 250 psi
31-40 300 psi
41-50 350 psi
51-60 400 psi
61-70 450 psi
71-80 500 psi
81-90 550 psi
91-100 600 psi
101-110 650 psi
