General Description/Construction Features Flashcards
Description of High Rise Class “E” Office Buildings?
75 feet or more in height
area 2,000 to 300,000 sq. ft
fireproof/non-combustible
Class E- transacting business/professional services/public and civic service
Class “E” High Rise Office built before 1945?
Heavy Weight- 20-23 pounds per cubic foot NO plenum type ceilings usually not centrally air conditioned Exterior windows are openable Core construction not used
All buildings erected between 1938 and 1968 were required to have ??
FIRE TOWER
some built before 1938 do have fire towers
High Rise, between 1945 and 1968?
Medium weight- 10-20 ppc
FIRE TOWERS required
mix of pre 1945 and post 1968
High Rise, built after 1968?
Lightweight- 8-10 ppc Lack of compartmentation structural steel sprayed with fireproofing exterior walls/glass and metal PLENUMS lack fire stopping HVAC SYSTEMS Exterior windows NOT OPENABLE FIRE TOWERS NOT REQUIRED Q DECKING CORE CONSTRUCTION
Which type of HVAC system is most commonly found in High Rise Office?
CENTRAL AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS
-processing equipment provides air to more than one floor
non central air serve only floor on which equipment is on
Any HVAC systems not automatically shut down, should be….?
Manually shut down, this includes both supply and return air fans
in some systems..smoke detectors will ONLY SHUT DOWN SUPPLY FANS…RETURN FANS MAY HAVE TO BE SHUT DOWN MANUALLY
How do you place HVAC systems into non circulating mode?
OPENING all outside air supply dampers
CLOSING all mixing dampers
OPENING all exhaust dampers
OCO
SME
After the fire floor has been determined, HVAC zones that do NOT include the fire area, shall??
have SUPPLY FANS activated
-this will pressurize these zones
AND
-provide fresh air and pressurized zones to limit smoke movement
The 1968 Building code, requires a Manual fire Pump in buildings over??
300 feet high
1938 code-250 feet
Where is the fire pump room normally located?
LOWEST FLOOR (Cellar or sub-cellar)
LOCATE bypass valve on discharge side of the fire pump , the discharge side readily identified by examining gauges…discharge gauge is calibrated for HIGHER pressures than inlet gauge
BYPASS should be CLOSED POSITION (STEM IN)..some engineers keep them open for test purposes
Can you start the pump without checking bypass valve?
Yes, but efficiency will be reduced by 25% in 8” riser and 45% in 6” riser
-pressure chart
1-10…150
11-20…200
etc…
4 step procedure for starting fire pumps using control panel?
- CLOSE knife switch to “ON” POSITION
- CLOSE circuit breaker and power “ON” light will glow
- PUSH starting button and pump “on” light will glow
- MOVE selector lever to desired position increasing pump speed and increasing pressure
IF FIRE PUMPS FAIL TO START, WHAT CAN BE DONE?
USE EMERGENCY POWER LEVER LOCATED ON PANEL
Who is assigned to operate pumps ?
ECC
If engineer is available, who should start the pumps?
ENGINEER, but ECC should assist
The pump capacity is usually??
750 gpm
some buildings have combo standpipe/sprinkler..usual arrangement one manual pump/one automatic pump….AUTOMATIC may be smaller capacity (250-500)
Building equipped with 2 manual fire pumps…?
START BOTH…should operate at near or same pressure
TWO MANUAL FIRE PUMPS-each pump will have own control panel , both should be started and used
Building fire pumps shall be capable of delivering what amount of pressure?
rated capacity at a pressure of 50 psi at the highest floor hose outlet
-relief valve limiting pump to 15 psi above that required to deliver this pressure
-good rule of thumb, have separate eying supply the standpipe system for each line in operation
A 10-76 shall be transmitted, when..?
A REPORT OF FIRE IS CONFIRMED
-ANY fire in a high rise officer building which requires the stretching and operating of one hose line will necessitate the use of “all hands’
When is a second alarm warranted in a HIGH RISE OFFICE BUILDING?
-any visible fire or smoke emanating through the exterior skin of the building
or
-SERIOUS FIRE
What does the initial IC determine from Fire Safety Director?
- fire floor definitely determined
- extent of evacuation
- any reports of sever life hazards
- status of ELEVATORS and HVAC
- any access stairs in vicinity of fire floor
- communications between fire floor and fire command station
- communications between fire command station and occupants
- condition of stairways/smoke or heat/are occupants self evacuating
- obtain BIC from Fire command station
IC should have FSD or Evacuation Supervisor make an announcement on PA system..?
- extinguish fire on the floor
- stairway NYFD will operate in
- do not enter stairway
- remain in your place of employment
Where should the FSD be informed to remain?
LOBBY (FIRE SAFET DIRECTOR ) (bluff: engineer)
What should the CFRD unit carry, when assigned to Fire Sector Supervisor?
CFRD equipment and Forcible Entry Tools
Where is the FAST unit assigned?
Fire Sector Supervisor
What makes up the Fire Sector/Branch?
Fire Floor and Floor Above
What will be considered, before placement of the first line??
-fire in relation to stairway and standpipe
-number of stairways serving fire floor
-stairs being used by occupants evacuating
-
Can a hoseline be operated from a stairway with building occupants..?
NO..MUST BE CLEARED OF OCCUPANTS
What kind of stairway is good for an Evacuation stairway??
FIRE TOWER
INITIALLY, which stairways must be evacuated?
Fire Sector (fire floor and floor above)
Placement of 2nd line, may be used to?
- reinforce first line
- protect first line
- protect search and evacuation of fire floor
- prevent fire from wrapping around the core
Ventilation by removal of windows on fire floor or other floors is…
NOT an initial consideration…it should be delayed until an evaluation can be made of its effect on air movement in the fire area
All HORIZONTAL ventilation tactics shall be controlled, communicated and coordinated by the..?
INCIDENT COMMANDER
Fire sector supervisor should be?
2nd due BC
Fire sector or Branch shall be located?
first floor below fire, where conditions permit
Fire Sector Branch shall be equipped with the following…?
SCBA for all personnel
Copy of the floor plan
Fire Sector/Branch log
Post radio
Fire Sector Supervisor shall be responsible for..?
Control and coordination of the units operating on the fire floor and the floor above
The Command Channel, as well as hard wire communications shall be used between..?
Fire Sector/Branch
Forward Staging Area
Forward Triage Area
Search and Evacuation Group
IC operates on______? Aide operates on____?
Command Channel (Communicate with FS, FSA, FTA, SAE) Primary Tactical channel
Fire Sector Supervisor Shall establish following Communications Network..?
HT communications on primary tactical with units under his command
HT communications with ICP on the command channel (hard wire as well)
HT with Forward Staging Area on Command channel
FIRE SECTOR SUPERVISOR - primary tactical
AIDE -COMMAND
SAE SUPERVISOR - SECONDRY TACTICAL (WITH ICP)
AIDE - COMMAND
FOWARD STAGING AREA MANAGER - COMMAND (ICP and Fire sector )
aide -primary tactical
-always:
“fire sector to command”
“command to SAE group”
“forward staging to command”
When the Fire Sector/Branch is established, units under its command shall NOT communicate with the ICP…unless?
URGENT!!–mayday
What is the Forward Staging Area?
A designated location on an upper floor, where personnel and equipment are maintained….provide logistical support to all resources assigned to Fire Sector and SAE group
Lobby Control Unit…tasks?
- recall, control, and operate elevators-recall and search all elevator cars terminating at lobby
- control building access points and direct personnel to correct stair/elevator route
- direct building occupants and exiting personnel to ground level safe areas
System Control unit?
- monitor and control Class E communications system-HVAC-and any other systems
- evaluate communications systems- includes HT, hardwire phones, cellular phones, Post radios, cross band repeater and building repeaters
High Rise Support Unit?
-transport equipment via elevator(or stairways) to Forward Staging Area
Staging Area?
OUTSIDE building, away from falling glass and debris
Forward Triage Area?
- prompt response to injured civilians and members
- environmentally safe location, FLOOR BELOW FORWARD STAGING AREA
Who should staff the ICP?
First Arriving Officer
If first arriving Officer, leaves ICP before arrival of Chief Officer, he should designate____ to staff ICP?
A member, preferably the LCC OF FIRST ARRIVING LADDER COMPANY
-this member shall note units entering and leaving the lobby and their destination
How many Engines and Ladders should be at Forward Staging Area, ready for immediate support?
at least 3 engine and 2 ladders
SAE group requires..?
1 unit for every 5 floors to be covered
How many spare cylinders shall be maintained at Forward Staging Area?
at least 20
Engine Companies reporting to Forward Staging Area, shall bring?
- SCBA for each member
- spare cylinder for each member
- standpipe kit and nozzle
- length of hose per FF
Ladder companies reporting to Forward Staging Area, shall bring?
- SCBA for each member
- spare cylinder for each member
- 2 sets of forcible entry tools
- 2 6ft hooks
- search and utility ropes
High Rise support unit shall provide?
spare SCBA cylinder to FSA or other areas
special tools and equipment
When operating in a building that has fixed stairwell pressurization, that has activated…?
IC should continue operations with system on
fix systems should NOT be augmented by PPF’S
Who can authorize the use of PPV Fans?
INCIDENT COMMANDER
Naturall Vertical Ventilation should be used when?
the fire is EXTINGUISHED
- increases stack effect
- effect noticeable in buildings over 60 feet, and increases as height of building increases
What is positive and negative stack effect?
positive-upward movement of air in vertical shaft
negative-downward movement of air in vertical shaft
- positive stack effect increases as the outside air temp. decreases in relation to temp inside building
- negative stack effect may occur when outside temp is greater than temp inside building …greatest when OUTSIDE air temp is 90 degrees
- to obtain GREATEST benefit of stack effect, doors at the TOP AND BOTTOM of the stairway must be opened when a stairway is used of smoke removal…the street floor near this stairway must also be vented to the outer air
Greatest benefit from stack effect..?
doors at the top and bottom of the stairway must be opened when the stairway is being used for smoke removal
Should Fire Towers be used as attack stairs?
NOT RECOMMENDED, draw heat and smoke
FIRE SECTOR SUPERVISOR should be equipped with…?
- at least 2 HT’s
- SCBA for all members assigned
- Copy of Floor Plan
- Fire Sector Branch/Log
- Post Radio
Fire Sector Supervisor must ensure the attack stairway has been cleared of building occupants…?
AT LEAST 5 floors above the fire
The SAE Group is responsible for the search and examination of areas in the building…?
ABOVE the Fire Sector
IF POSSIBLE , SAE Group Supervisor shall choose a location on a floor which is…?
NOT SERVICED by the same bank of elevators as the fire floor and at least 5 FLOORS ABOVE THE FIRE FLOOR
FORWARD STAGING AREA SHALL BE ESTABLISHED…?
2 Floors below the original fire floor, when conditions permit
-control of units held in reserve and those units on R AND R
How many spare cylinders shall be maintained in FSA?
at least 20 spare cylinders
Forward Triage Area..?
prompt response to injured civilians and members
established in an environmentally safe location on floor below FSA
Two way communications are possible between the Fire Command Station and?
-Floor warden stations
-mechanical control center
-Elevators
-Air handling control rooms
-Elevator machinery rooms
WAMEEP
WARDEN/AIR HANDLING/MECHANICAL/ELEVATORS/ELEVATOR MACHINGER/PUMP ROOM
fire command station should have:
-PA ADDRESS SYSTEM to all floors stairways, elevators, collectively or selectively
floor warden station:
- capable to activate visual /audible alarm at fire command station
- two way communication with fire command station
- loud speaker system on FLOOR where it is located
Manual Fire Alarm locations?
at least one in each path of escape in each story of the building
additional stations installed so that NO POINT ON ANY FLOOR SHALL BE MORE THAN 200 FEET FROM THE NEAREST STATION
Activation of a manual fire alarm sending station will cause…?
- automatic transmission to FD central station
- visual and audible signal at the fire command station, mechanical control center and location of fire safety director
- sound of alarm on FIRE FLOOR and FLOOR ABOVE
ACTIVATION of any detectors in an HVAC SYSTEM shall stop the air supply into and the air return from the affected floor (these detectors are located in the air RETURN shaft on each floor)
the air supply and return fans will be automatically shut down (causing air to be stopped by an approved remote controlled reversible fire SHUTTER)…these fans cannot be reactivated until smoke is cleared or smoke detector relay has been electronically bypassed
When flexible connectors fail (between ducts and periphery air treatment equipment)
fire entering plenum can extend one floor to another .
Communications unit..
- evaluate communications systems for functionality and operability
- includes HT’S , CELLPHONE/POST RADIO, CROSS BAND REPEATERS and auxiliary communications
EACH ELEVATOR LANDING should have smoke doctor, activation shall:
-RECALL ELEVATORS
-SOUND FIRE ALARM ON FIRE FLOOR AND FLOOR ABOVE (2008 code, FLOOR BELOW)
-signal to central station
-STOP AIR SUPPLY into and the return air from floor where activated
-UNLOCK DOORS on the locked fail safe system
-activate air exhaust fans and dampers in the smoke shaft or the pressurizing fans in the stair enclosure
-cause fire alarm signal toe be sounded at fire command station, mechanical control center, and REGULARLY assigned location of fire safety director
NOTE: SPRINKLER WATER FLOW–SAME AS ABOVE
note: HVAC the same, EXCEPTION OF RECALLING ELEVATORS
