Q 51 - 75 Flashcards
Q. 51. According to STP - Where should Warden Intercom Points be in a building?
- At EICIE (Chief Wardens Handset)
- Within 4 m of exit within each emergency zone
- Within 4 m of exit on each storey
- Within emergency lift shafts
- Adjacent to FDCIE if remote from EICIE
EICIE = Emergency Intercom Control & Indicating Equipment
FDCIE = Fire Detection Control & Indicating Equipment
Q. 52. According to STP, name the components in an AS 2118.1 sprinkler alarm valve room.
- Main stop valve
- Test drain
- Sprinkler test facility
- Sprinkler alarm valve
- System pressure gauge
- Deluge valve
- Water supply with water supply pressure gauge.
Q. 53. According to STP, there are two control measures when dealing with live power at an incident. List and describe them.
Turning off power involves turning off the main switch, removing fuses and switching off circuit breakers at the switchboard. This removes power from the circuits within the structure supplied through that switchboard.
When power is turned off at the switchboard the wiring from the electricity network to the switchboard remains live until the power is isolated by the electricity company.
The consumers mains, the wiring inside the property that is still live after the switchboard is isolated, is a very real hazard for firefighters, especially because it is often hidden – in the roof, the eaves, the ceiling and/or the walls.
If a conducting material comes in contact with the consumers mains it may become electrified. Fire, water or structural collapse can increase the likelihood of an electrical fault occurring.
Isolating power is the best way to control an electrical hazard but this can only be done by the electricity company, and this takes time. The electricity company needs to drive to the site, work out how the power is supplied and then disconnect the power from the network to the site. As an interim measure, firefighters can turn off power at the switchboard.
Q. 54. According to STP - Firefighters can ‘turn off’ a solar power system to stop electricity feeding into the structure’s circuits or back to the electricity network if configured to do so. State the recommended procedure.
- On-site consultation: determine whether it is appropriate to turn solar power system off and how best to do so
- Assume switchboard is live: Don electrical safety gloves then over-gloves. Have your helmet visor down and look away
- Follow the shutdown procedure: This may be on or near the switchboard or inverter. If not found, turn off the inverter main switch then turn off the solar panel main switch
- Consider if benefits outweigh risks:
Restrict work as far as reasonably practical to that required to protect life or prevent dangerous expansion of the incident - Isolate the power: If required, have the owner/occupier contact their electrician to isolate the power.
Q. 55. According to STP -When a battery energy storage system is present at a residence, there should be an indicator to alert you to this. What is an example of an indicator, located outside the switchboard.
An ES sticker. There should also be data sheets, or further information about this type of system.
Q. 56. Operations Bulletin 2023-01- Lists operational actions to follow when dealing with Lithium-ion battery failure in small devices. List these actions.
- Use caution when approaching the device as thermal runaway and vapour release may occur without warning.
- If the device is connected to mains electricity (eg charging) ensure that electricity is switched off prior to applying water.
- Knock-down any fire using copious amounts of water.
- Cool the battery with a cooling stream of water.
- Submerge the device in a suitable container of water if safe to do so. Use a tool such as a long-handled shovel to move the device.
- If unable to submerge the device, continue cooling and conduct thermal checks every 15 minutes until ambient temperature is maintained for 60 minutes. Note: an increasing temperature is an indication that a thermal runaway event is occurring.
- Ensure that all cells are accounted for by searching the area around the device. Failure to account for all cells may lead to a secondary fire event.
- Notify FireCOM that the incident involves a lithium-ion device. FireCOM will send a notification to FIRU.
Q. 57. According to STP - If solar panels, or the attached isolators, are on fire, in addition to the considerations with turning off an alternative power source what actions should firefighters take?
- Conduct firefighting from the ground or an aerial appliance. Do not get onto the roof to extinguish the fire. Do not put a ladder against the roof as the gutter may be electrified.
- Extinguish the fire with a spray nozzle, using a pulse spray in a dispersed pattern. If the solar panel is at ground level, consider using CO2 to extinguish the fire, ensuring that there is at least 250 mm air gap between the CO2 extinguisher nozzle and any electrified components.
Q. 58. According to ADASHI First Responder Fact sheets - If you are the first arriving crew, you must send an initial radio report as well as pressing Code 3 on your MDT. FireCOM needs this information for what reasons?
TBC
Q. 59. According to STP - Overhaul is a procedure we follow after we attend an incident and extinguish the fire. For your safety during overhaul what is it essential for you to do?
- Wear SCBA and a full set of firefighting clothing
- Perform atmospheric monitoring using a gas detector.
Q. 60. According to STP - What is the minimum PPE that can be worn at a bush fire?
- Multi-purpose helmet
- Goggles
- Multi-purpose Jacket
- GP gloves
Firefighting Gloves (Direct attack) - Duty wear trousers
- FF boots
- P2 mask
Q. 61. According to STP - Property protection is the act of protecting property from the impact of a wildfire. At a major wildfire, FRNSW crews generally engage in property protection roles. We generally have 3 strategies for carrying out property protection. Name and describe them.
- Line defence
- Ember defence
- Backstop defence
A line defence is used when conditions would normally allow an offensive attack but there are not enough units to mount an offensive attack in time. It involves preventing the approaching line of fire from closely approaching the property.
An ember defence is used when the approaching line of fire is too intense to be suppressed by offensive means and is producing significant ember attack.
It involves extinguishing small fires that occur in and around buildings, when and as they occur.
Firefighters operate from safe positions behind suitable shielding from the main fire front and pull back to safer refuge if needed.
A backstop defence is used when there is no safe defensible space around buildings and/or the approaching fire is so intense that firefighters cannot safely protect the buildings during the impact of the fire. Firefighters withdraw temporarily a short distance away to a suitable safe refuge, with the intention of coming back after the fire front passes. After the main fire front subsides, they move forward to put out the property on fire.
Q. 62. Operations Bulletin 2023-01- Lists the hazards and risks at incidents involving Lithium-ion batteries in small devices. List all as stated in the bulletin.
- Thermal runaway
- Extreme fire behaviour
- Release of toxic vapour and gases
- Hazardous materials and leaked electrolytes
- Stranded energy
- Projectiles
- Secondary ignition
Summary
Thermal runaway = When batteries create more heat than they can dissipate, an uncontrollable, self-heating state with high temperatures, violent cell venting, flammable vapour and fire can develop. If this spreads to surrounding cells through thermal propagation = a chain reaction = thermal runaway.
Extreme fire behaviour = Flammable vapours released during thermal runaway build to a level higher than the UEL, and FFer entry into a compartment (creation of an airpath) may cause a vapour cloud explosion.
Release of toxic vapour/gas = Toxic + flammable/potentially explosive. Volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) may vent.
HAZMAT’s + leaked electrolytes = Electrolytes contain volatile hydrocarbon-based liquid and dissolved lithium salts. Spills are likely to evaporate rapidly, leaving a white salt residue. Evaporated electrolyte is both a respiratory irritant and is flammable. Ignition of electrolyte may cause incident expansion.
Stranded energy = Electrical hazard. Potential shock from DC/AC/conductive materials.
Projectiles = Cells ejected under pressure during fire/explosion.
Secondary ignition = Even months later following a second thermal runaway event.
Q. 63. As described in STP - When conducting ventilation using a fan, what is the most effective inlet/outlet ratio?
1:4
Q. 64. According to SOGs - When an LPG container is involved in fire, what area of the container is considered most crucial and a high priority area for cooling?
The container’s vapour space (area above the liquid) is most crucial and is to be considered a high priority area for cooling. Cool all containers by using sprays in preference to jets of water.
Q. 65. As recommended in STP - When conducting ventilation with a fan, the fan should be set back approximately how far from the door.
Approximately the height of the door.
