High Rise Firefighting: Policy 633 10.07.17 Flashcards

1
Q

Define a high rise building for the purposes of this policy?

A

A building containing floors at such height or position that external firefighting and rescue operations may not be feasible.

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2
Q

List the 3 main hazard groups present when high rise firefighting:

A
  • Building height, layout and design.
  • Fire behaviour and development.
  • Firefighting and rescue operations.
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3
Q

Name 4 issues (not including fire behaviour) that building height can cause firefighters during a high rise fire?

A
  • Vertical travel distance for personnel, equipment and water supply.
  • Objects falling from height.
  • Comms.
  • Falling from height due to failed external structure.
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4
Q

What problems can building layout /design cause during high rise firefighting?

A
  • Security. Grilles, multi-lock doors, codes, multiple devices.
  • Odd or complex layouts including scissor style staircases. Increased risk of disorientation.
  • Cable entanglement.
  • Poorly maintained/Vandalised fixed installations. Poor housekeeping/narrow stairwell.
  • Timber frames causing rapid fire spread.
  • Additional hazards if under construction.
  • Fire suppression/total flooding systems.
  • Radiowaves from telecom antennas.
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5
Q

What are concerns/increased risks for fire behaviour and development during high rise firefighting?

A
  • Unpredictable Fire and smoke spread due to wind. Eg external spread and ‘blow torch’ effect.
  • Concealed smoke and heat travel through voids.
  • Downward smoke spread due to air currents and cooling smoke falling.
  • Fire Spread through falling combustion and open windows. Multiple seats of fire.
  • Unplanned ventilation or lack of ventilation.
  • Falling combustion/debris hazard to FFs and can burn hose.
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6
Q

What issues can arise during firefighting and rescue ops at a high rise?

A
  • No FI due to damage or construction.
  • The type of evac (if any) and layout can cause delays.
  • Difficultly identifying those involved.
  • Crews diverted from ICs task to aid evac can cause delays.
  • Difficulty in quickly identifying location of fire.
  • Potential for metabolic heat stress.
  • Blocked/Busy stairwells.
  • Manual handling injury from casualty handling.
  • Verbal and Physical attacks.
  • Unexpected hazards such as drug manufacture and associated electrical hazards.
  • Hoarding.
  • Compromised lobbies.
  • Failure of firefighting or normal lifts.
  • Moral pressure.
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7
Q

What height of building requires a wet riser?

A

60m and as of 2006 50m.

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8
Q

Building regs require all buildings over 18m to make provisions for FF and FF access. Name 4 keys things this may this include?

A
  • FF shafts.
  • FF lifts.
  • DRM/WRM.
  • Sprinklers and other fire engineered systems (curtains/ventilation etc).
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9
Q

What can/should be done in terms of planning for high rise incidents?

A
  • EPIPs and ORD if premises risk assessment score dictates.
  • PDA (can be changed due to risk factors eg temporary lack of FI. Request submitted by special attendance database or OOD).
  • Understanding of FI. Advice from FSO if necessary.
  • 7(2)(d) visits.
  • Contingency (water/bridgeheads/FI).
  • Training.
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10
Q

What should be done en-route to a high rise incident?

A
  • Info received en-route and any planning must be related to crews.
  • MDT used and if info printed/tablet taken.
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11
Q

On arrival an IC should:

A
  • Remain at ground unless preplanning dictates otherwise.
  • Info father and Identity fire floor.
  • Establish water, RM, bridgehead with relevant equipment.
  • 360
  • Any FI or advanced systems and/or any HVAC.
  • RVP.
  • Cordon.
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12
Q

What other early considerations should an IC have in order to assist operations?

A
  • Resources.
  • Wind/weather conditions.
  • Jets/Monitors for debris fire and external spread.
  • Separate evac and FF stairwell.
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13
Q

What could an IC do should the water supple from a RM not be sufficient?

A
  • Haul aloft.
  • Vertical water relay.
  • Branch flow rate settings.
  • Consider If RM damaged and if so can F.I.R.E fix it.
  • Augment WRM.
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14
Q

What does a FF lift need in terms of personnel and where should it remain?

A

A dedicated FF as lift operator and remain at bridgehead for quick evac of any casualties.

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15
Q

Where should a bridgehead be established?

A

2 floors below the fire unless building layout or conditions do not allow this.

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16
Q

What is the role of a fire sector commander and what is the minimum role?

A

To establish bridge head and commit for FF and SR.

CM.

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17
Q

What is minimum FFs for a fire sector commander to take to the bridgehead?

A
  1. 2 BA and 1 ECO.
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18
Q

What equipment needs to be at bridgehead as soon as possible?

A
  • 2 x 45mm hose.
  • IEC.
  • 2 BA.
  • Long Line.
  • Breaking In gear.
  • ECB.
  • TIC.
  • F.I.R.E bag.
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19
Q

As soon as practicably possible the FIRE system must be augmented with?

A
  • Sufficient hose for 2 lines.
  • An additional branch.
  • Bracket & Tripod for ECB.
  • Access keys/codes.
  • Floor plans(if available)
  • FIB.
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20
Q

What can be used to assist an IC or crews at a high rise information for basic and important info about the building?

A
  • EPIP
  • ORD
  • PIP
  • Signage in building itself.
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21
Q

What is FIB used for?

A
  • Recording location of those in need of rescue.

* Record those rescued and areas searched.

22
Q

What needs to be done if a bridgehead has to be repositioned?

A
  • IC, all officers and BA teams must be informed.
  • BA teams must be informed and take further egress time into account for air management.
  • Consider withdrawal of BA(risk/benefit)
  • Emergency team asap if not already.
  • All info and resources moved to new location.
  • Consider stage 2.
  • Where lifesaving operations are delayed consider alternative methods of rescue.
23
Q

What needs to be in place for the message High Rise procedure implemented?

A
  • The location of bridgehead has been risk assessed as appropriate.
  • Access and egress to and from bridgehead is secured and maintained.
  • 2 charged jets deployed.
24
Q

Where should initial jet be plugged in?

A

1 floor below the fire. If unavailable the next nearest outlet on a lower floor.

25
Q

Where should second jet be plugged in?

A

On fire floor. If not possible nearest outlet on a lower floor (this can include dividing breach).

26
Q

Can a BA team commit with just 1 jet and no back up jet in place?

A

Yes. However if there are signs/symptoms of a backdraft, flashover or abnormal fire development then the second jet and BA crew must be in place.

27
Q

When charging hose where and how should this be done?

A

In an area unaffected by fire or smoke and behind fire resistant structure or door. It should be charged before going through a door way to prevent hose getting stuck or obstructed.

28
Q

Can crews work above the bridgehead without BA?

A

Yes. If confirmed by IC and area unaffected by fire and smoke and buildings fire engineered systems have not been compromised. Comms with bridgehead must be maintained and a safety officer must be deployed in stairwell and be in contact with IC and other safety officers external. Withdrawal as soon as risk to conditions.

29
Q

What role can be nominated to assist with search and rescue?

A

Search co-ordinator.

30
Q

In terms of evac an IC should?

A

Follow evac plan devised as part of occupiers fire risk assessment unless conditions dictate otherwise. Partial or full evac may still be needed on a building with a stay put policy.

31
Q

For evac an IC needs to consider the implications on FF and resources. What are these?

A
  • The effect of FF on evac and vice verse.
  • Resources needed.
  • Can other emergency service personnel assist?
  • Disabled residents or those other wise impaired (drugs, alcohol etc).
  • Separate attack and evac stairwell.
32
Q

Is FSG appliance included in either PDA or assistance attendance numbers?

A

No it is additional appliance.

33
Q

When can ventilation be undertaken?

A

On instruction of IC.

34
Q

Prior to operating and ventilation systems or ventilating, an IC should consider?

A
  • Any adverse affect on fire development and the effects on personnel and occupants.
  • Impact of wind if doors, windows, exits opened or fail.
  • Consideration of withdrawal prior.
  • Sufficient resources if need to breach Andy built in or engineered systems.
  • Covering jets.
35
Q

If a ventilation system is in operation inside a building on arrival what should the IC do?

A

Leave it on unless satisfied after discussion with on site engineer or FSO that switching on will not cause escalation.

36
Q

Where are safety officers useful at high rise and when should they be appointed?

A

Bridgehead (stairwell/shaft) and all relevant external sides.

37
Q

What should the safety officer on the exterior check for?

A
  • Falling debris.
  • Cordon maintenance.
  • External Fire/smoke spread.
38
Q

What are the post incident considerations for an IC?

A
  • Is structure safe and fire protected before hand over.
  • Reinstate where possible all FI, HVAC and alarm systems.
  • Consider review/or new addition of premises info.
  • Contemporaneous notes if necessary.
  • Report fire safety contraventions.
  • Any relevant community safety initiative considerations.
  • Advice from FSOs.
39
Q

In brief what is a FF shaft?

A

A means of enabling FF to reach any point in fastest possible time whilst providing relative safety.
They contain FF stair, lobby with RM and lift.
Some may have ventilation systems. Hose can compromise conditions.

40
Q

What is a Fireman’s switch on a lift?

A

It is a normal lift just fitted with an override button for the fire service. It does not have the safety features of a dedicated modern firefighting lift. Normal installed prior to or around the 1980s.

41
Q

What is a firefighting lift?

A

A lift installed to certain standards with additional protection, functions, controls and separate electrical supply.
It should were possible be for 8 persons or more and carry a load up to 850kg.

42
Q

Minimum features or a FF lift should include?

A
  • Primary and secondary power.
  • Water protection.
  • FF recall switch at access level.
  • FF in car controls.
  • FF Comms system.
  • Floor indicators.
43
Q

What are the benefits of a DRM?

A
  • Reduces time to get water to upper levels.
  • Less hose.
  • Less frictional loss.
  • Less equipment.
  • Less effort.
  • Keeps stairways clear of hose.
44
Q

How much water can a DRM provide?

A

1500 litres per minute.

45
Q

How much water can a WRM provide and at what pressure?

A

1500 litres per min for 45 minutes as a minimum.

Buildings constructed prior to 2006 will provide 4-5 bars but now recommended at 8 bars.

46
Q

Can you reduce pressure from a WRM?

A

Yes there are pressure reduction valves fitted to the outlets.

47
Q

How many dividing breechings can be used on 1 main?

A
  1. If two separate mains in one building then strict Comms must be established between sector commanders for identification of correct branches.
48
Q

What is the standard procedure for using a dividing breaching?

A

Should always be taken to bridgehead as part of FIRE bag and plugged in floor below fire as main jet. 2nd jet defaults to fire floor but if no outlet there it can be plugged into dividing breaching. If 2nd jet on fire floor remaining outlet on breeching can be used for 3rd jet.

49
Q

What problems can a burst length cause when plugged into the dividing breaching?

A

Cause other jet to lose pressure. Crews must consider withdrawal until isolated at dividing breeching. Inform ECO regardless who must inform fire sector commander.

50
Q

What must ANY personnel do if they notice something that could cause a reduction in water supply to FFs?

A

Immediately inform fire sector commander.