HIGH RISE BUILDINGS

Question 1

what is a high rise

Answer 1

building over 8 floors in height

Question 2

why can normal fire fighter media not be used on high rises

Answer 2

due to size and position, may not be feasable

Question 3

if a call is received early enough should it be restricted to its room/floor?

Answer 3

YES

Question 4

what are the integral features of high rise buildings

Answer 4

• fire fighter lifts (have a FIRE/FIGHTERS SWITCH to access)
• dry/wet riser
• protected/pressurised stairwells and lobbies
• services

Question 5

what are the features of fire fighters lifts

Answer 5

• when the firefighter switch is used the lift will return to lobby floor no matter where it is
• the buttons have to pressed in and held to work
• doors if left unoccupied will close and then return to lobby floor

Question 6

what are the measurements for dry/wet risers

Answer 6

dry riser=18m to 50/60m (they have no water in them)

wet riser=anything over 50/60m (have water in them)

Question 7

what do modern builds have now for services (gas)

Answer 7

they are outside the building and some run on the boiling itself due to safety

Question 8

what are the advantages if dry risers

Answer 8

• speed (1st crew doesnt have to take time lying hose to floor to incident)
• capacity (have larger capacity than 70mm, they are 100mm)
• damage (minimised due to no hoses potentially bursting and flooding floors)
• outlets(@roof level as well, can be. used to fight fires in adjacent buildings)

Question 9

what is the operational use of dry risers

Answer 9

on arrival OIC decides to charge riser or not!

-takes into account = visible indications of fire from outside of building, comments from occupiers, malicious call

Question 10

what does the OIC do after taking info into account for charging riser

Answer 10

if need to charge they will ! (2nd crew assists 1st) will set into charger with 70mm hose twin lines from hydrant to riser inlets. hydrant is opened and water held at pump

or

charge riser! hose is laid out and riser immediately charged = outlet has 3bar of pressure @highest outlet

Question 11

process of making up of dry risers

Answer 11

• drain all risers in use by opening drain valve near riser inlet
• no automatic air valve @top of riser (open highest outlet or enter main as water drains out)
• check all valves are left closed and boxes shut if used. close drain valve and leave inlet box secured

Question 12

what are sig. hazards of high risers

Answer 12

• height/remote ops
• falling debris (people/glass panning)
• effects of wind (COANDA EFFECT)
• fatigue of personal (lots of stairs!)
• comm black spots (goes)
• flashover/backdraft
• BLOWTORCH EFFECT
• poor visibility
• unusual fire spread (uptown,sideways)
• trailing cables (entrapment)
• lifts/holes

Question 13

what is the COANDA EFFECT

Answer 13

draws in hot smoke and gasses back against building

Question 14

what is the BLOWTORCH EFFECT

Answer 14

air enters open windows/openings giving fire O2 pushing it back through windows/openings (looks like a Bunsen burner flame)

Question 15

what is the PDA

Answer 15

predetermined attendance (differs for different areas)

Question 16

what is high rise sectorisation (from top)

Answer 16

• search area (above fire sector; search and rescue and other ops occurring)
• fire sector (main area of firefighting ops, has floor included plus 1 above and below)
• bridgehead (not a sector but is where FSC located and area of ops coordinations)
• lobby sector (area of ops from ground floor lobby to and including Bridgehead and Staging Point if needed)