High-Rise Procedures

Question 1

What hazards or difficulties might be encountered in high rise buildings? (List of 10)

Answer 1

Metabolic heat stress.
Delays in mounting firefighting and rescue operations.
Fixed installations unavailable for use.
Communication difficulties.
Antisocial behaviour.
Fire growth and smoke travel.
Layout of buildings.
Wind effects.
Falling objects.
Evacuation of occupants.

Question 2

What brings on metabolic heat stress?

Answer 2

The high physical workload on firefighters and the intensity of conditions encountered.

Question 3

What can cause delays in mounting firefighting and rescue operations?

Answer 3

Access can be limited by the number of stairways and lift shafts available.
Security measures can hinder progress (coded entry systems, multi lock doors)
The time taken to provide resources to the upper floors can increase the likelihood of fire spread.

Question 4

What is a fixed installation?

Answer 4

A measure designed into a building to assist firefighting operations.

Question 5

Why might high-rise buildings present communication difficulties?

Answer 5

The distance between the incident and the IC can result in communication difficulties.

Question 6

What examples of anti-social behaviour can prove hazardous to staff attending a high rise incident? (list of 6)

Answer 6

Rubbish in lobbies and staircases.
Fire doors wedged or propped open.
Lights removed or smashed.
Vandalised rising mains.
Razor blades and needles fixed to building facilities.
Burning materials left in lifts or escape routes.

Question 7

How might stairways act like chimneys?

Answer 7

Due to their higher heat than air, the products of combustion (smoke and flammable gasses) are able to rise, increasing the risk of fire spread to other floors.

Question 8

What is the ‘coanda effect’?

Answer 8

External fire spread, whereby a fire breaks out of a compartment window and then spread to another compartment or floor.

Question 9

In a high rise building, what three factors might have an impact on safe movement?

Answer 9

Large or complex floor layouts.
The operation of fire engineering systems.
A lack of information on the internal layout.

Question 10

Wind speed _______ with____

Answer 10

Wind speed INCREASES with HEIGHT.

Question 11

What is the ‘planing effect’?

Answer 11

Glass falling from a height, travelling a great horizontal distance due to the effect of wind.

Question 12

What precautions must be implemented to combat falling debris?

Answer 12

Staff and appliances should be kept at a safe distance.
Staff should be in full PPE.
Cordons should be placed around the base of the building.

Question 13

How many people can potentially be in a commercial high-rise building?

Answer 13

Up to 10,000.

Evacuation can take up to an hour.

Question 14

What is a phased evacuation?

Answer 14

Where the building is evacuated in stages.

It usually starts with the fire floor and one floor above.

Question 15

During an evacuation, what three factors can affect firefighting operations?

Answer 15

The type of evacuation.
The progress of the evacuation.
The number and mobility of the people being evacuated.

Question 16

Building regulations require all buildings over which height to make provisions for firefighting?

Answer 16

All buildings over 18 metres must make provisions.

Question 17

What height buildings must have a wet rising main?

Answer 17

Any building above 60m (50m as of 2006)

Question 18

What 3 basic facilities will be in high rise buildings.

Answer 18

Firefighting shafts.
Dry or wet rising systems.
A fire lift.

Question 19

What firefighting features might be found in modern high rise buildings? (list of 10)

Answer 19

A firefighting lobby.
A firefighting shaft.
Stair pressurisation system.
Communication systems.
Floor display plan.
Fire control centre.
Atrium.
Crossover floors.
Sprinkler systems and other fixed installations.
Combined heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems (HVAC).

Question 20

What procedure should be in place when using a firefighting lift?

Answer 20

One firefighter should be instructed to take control of the lift until they are relieved.

Question 21

What is a bridgehead?

Answer 21

A forward control point where resources are gathered to fight a fire, and effectively control firefighting teams.

Question 22

Where pre-planning is unavailable, where would a bridgehead be established?

Answer 22

At least two floors below the fire floor.

Question 23

What pieces of equipment should be taken to the bridgehead? (list of 10)

Answer 23

45mm hose.
Two branches.
One BA control board.
Two BA sets.
IEC pack.
Long line.
Breaking in gear.
TIC.
Access keys/codes.
Floor plans (if available)

Question 24

What are the 4 incident sectors?

Answer 24

Search sector.
Fire sector.
Bridgehead.
Lobby Sector.

Question 25

How many floors are included in the fire sector?

Answer 25

The floors directly involved, and a minimum of one above and one below.