IFSTA: High-Rise Firefighting Flashcards
According to IFSTA’s Structural Fire Fighting: High-Rise Fire Fighting, products of combustion travel upward toward the top of a building. If fire does not generate enough heat to cause the smoke to rise to the top of the building, the temperature of the smoke will eventually equal that of the surrounding air. When this equalization of temperature occurs, the smoke loses its buoyancy, ceases to rise, and forms layers of smoke within the building. This is known as: A) Stack effect B) Stratification C) Heat intensity and compartmentation D) Ceiling jets, or mushrooming
B) Stratification
According to IFSTA’s Structural Fire Fighting: High-Rise Fire Fighting, the natural vertical movement of heat and smoke (convection) in tall structures is known as \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. This occurs because of differences in the density of the air inside and outside of these buildings (due to temperature differences inside and outside the structure). The greater the difference between the inside and outside temperature and the greater the building height, the greater the effect will be. A) Stack effect B) Stratification C) Heat intensity and compartmentation D) Ceiling jets, or mushrooming
A) Stack effect
According to IFSTA’s Structural Fire Fighting: High-Rise Fire Fighting, when heat, smoke, and other products of combustion rise until they encounter a horizontal obstruction, they will spread laterally until they encounter a vertical obstruction, then bank downward. This is known as \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. A) Stack effect B) Stratification C) Heat intensity and compartmentation D) Ceiling jets, or mushrooming
D) Ceiling jets, or mushrooming
According to IFSTA’s Structural Fire Fighting: High-Rise Fire Fighting, the construction of high-rise apartment buildings helps protect adjoining apartments and common halls, but provides an extremely hot environment for firefighters. Fires in tightly sealed high-rise compartments may become ventilation controlled and flash over when a window fails or when firefighters open a door to make entry to a fire room. This is known as \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. A) Stack effect B) Stratification C) Heat intensity and compartmentation D) Ceiling jets, or mushrooming
C) Heat intensity and compartmentation
According to IFSTA’s Structural Fire Fighting: High-Rise Fire Fighting, there are several other variables that involve wind, which of the following is not a relevant variable? A) Height and shape of the structure B) Barometric pressure C) Wind speed D) Wind direction
B) Barometric pressure
According to IFSTA’s Structural Fire Fighting: High-Rise Fire Fighting, firefighters must remember that steel structural members elongate when heated. A 50-foot (15 m) beam may elongate by as much as \_\_\_ inches (\_\_\_\_ mm) when heated to a room temperature of about 1,000°F (538° C). A) 2 inches, 50 mm B) 4 inches, 100 mm C) 6 inches, 150 mm D) 10 inches, 255 mm
B) 4 inches, 100 mm
According to IFSTA’s Structural Fire Fighting: High-Rise Fire Fighting, which of the following about wind driven fires is incorrect?
A) Wind velocity may be negligible at ground level but reach significant force at upper levels, so firefighters cannot base tactical decisions on fire conditions that may occur many stories below the emergency floor
B) This effect is triggered when a door is left ajar and a window suddenly breaks under intense heat and a blast of wind
C) The instant combination of fire and wind can blast fireballs across rooms and down corridors without warning, In these situations, tremendous volumes of fire and high heat conditions can quickly consume compartmented occupancies and advance into public hallways
D) If windows in the fire area are intact, firefighters on attack lines do not need to maintain coordination with those tasked with ventilation from the floor above the fire or adjacent compartmented areas
D) If windows in the fire area are intact, firefighters on attack lines do not need to maintain coordination with those tasked with ventilation from the floor above the fire or adjacent compartmented areas
According to IFSTA’s Structural Fire Fighting: High-Rise Fire Fighting, in a report published in 2009 by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), a number of full-scale experiments were conducted in a seven- story building in New York City. Which of the following were identified?
A) Wind conditions need to be considered in size-up; wind speeds of 10 to 20 mph are high enough to create wind-driven effects in buildings with an uncontrolled flow path
B) Controlling doors is a basic yet effective way to interrupt the flow path in a building. Care should be taken when opening stairwell doors leading to the fire floor. If after opening the door a few inches there are rapid changes in the volume or velocity of the smoke in the hallway, the door should quickly be closed
C) Positive-pressure ventilation fans always improved stairwell conditions, but were not able to reverse the direction of wind-driven fires. Positive-pressure ventilation was successful when used in conjunction with controlling doors, window control devices, and nozzles operated from the floor below the fire
D) All of the above
D) All of the above
According to IFSTA’s Structural Fire Fighting: High-Rise Fire Fighting, in a report published in 2009 by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), a number of full-scale experiments were conducted in a seven- story building in New York City. Which of the following statements is incorrect?
A) In other tests, water was applied externally from either below or outside the fire room window. In all cases, application of water suppressed enough fire in the room to reduce corridor and stairwell temperatures by at least 50 percent
B) Controlling doors is not effective way to interrupt the flow path in a building
C) Wind conditions need to be considered in size-up; wind speeds of 10 to 20 mph are high enough to create wind-driven effects in buildings with an uncontrolled flow path
D) Positive-pressure ventilation fans always improved stairwell conditions, but were not able to reverse the direction of wind-driven fires. Positive-pressure ventilation was successful when used in conjunction with controlling doors, window control devices, and nozzles operated from the floor below the fire
B) Controlling doors is not effective way to interrupt the flow path in a building
Answer: (Pg. 68)
According to IFSTA’s Structural Fire Fighting: High-Rise Fire Fighting, standpipe systems are divided into three classes based on NFPA 14, Standard for the Installation of Standpipes and Hose Systems. Which of the three classes are designed only for fire department personnel or other trained personnel? A) Class I B) Class II C) Class III D) All of the above
Answer: A (Pg. 78)
A) Class I
According to IFSTA’s Structural Fire Fighting: High-Rise Fire Fighting, a full evacuation of a high-rise structure may be deemed necessary, but it will be a labour-intensive and lengthy effort. Which of the following is not a best practice when fully evacuating a high rise?
A) Designate fire attack stairwells and evacuation stairwells
B) Establish a Rapid Ascent Team
C) Use the emergency voice communication system to direct residents out
D) Create refuge stops on specific floors to allow evacuees to rest
Answer: D (pg. 148)
D) Create refuge stops on specific floors to allow evacuees to rest
According to IFSTA’s Structural Fire Fighting: High-Rise Fire Fighting, there are many problems to contend with during the evacuation of a high-rise building. Which of the following cause significant problems with evacuation? A) Locking exit doors B) Counterflow C) Stairway exit capacity D) All of the above
D) All of the above
Answer: D (Pg. 150, 151)
According to IFSTA’s Structural Fire Fighting: High-Rise Fire Fighting, in other special high-rise occupancies, a person’s ability to evacuate may be hindered by age or medical condition. In hospital and nursing facilities, \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ procedures are generally used for patients who are nonambulatory. A) Limited/Partial evacuation B) Shelter in place C) Full evacuation D) None of the above
B) Shelter in place
Answer: B (Pg. 155)
According to IFSTA’s Structural Fire Fighting: High-Rise Fire Fighting, a strategic priority during high-rise operations will be gaining access to and monitoring building systems. Which of the following is a building system firefighters should control? A) HVAC systems B) Communications systems C) Elevators D) All of the above
D) All of the above
Answer: D (Pg. 219)
According to IFSTA’s Structural Fire Fighting: High-Rise Fire Fighting, the primary responsibility of the first-arriving company is to locate and identify the emergency and determine its scope. The first arriving fire unit must address the following except:
A) Make a rapid initial size-up of readily visible conditions
B) Utilize the Voice Communication System to update residents
C) Confirm verbal occupant reports and information from the Fire Alarm Control Panel (FACP)
D) Assume command and request any immediately needed resources
B) Utilize the Voice Communication System to update residents
Answer: B (Pg. 221)
