Residential and Commercial Townhouse Manual Flashcards

1
Q

What has caused an increase of life safety hazard?

A

Potential of early collapse due to light weight construction

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Because a variety of layouts and floor plans, what must be completed upon arrival?

A

A 360 lap to view as many sides as possible

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are characteristics of a townhouse?

A

Each occupancy has a separate address and its own entrance.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

How many floors do townhouses range from??

A

Two to four floors in height and may be different in height from front to rear.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is the definition of a townhouse?

A

A multi-story dwelling normally attached to several other units.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is a back to back townhouse?

A

a townhouse consisting of two or more occupancies under one roof connected by side Charlie wall.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is a piggyback townhouse?

A

Two stacked dwellings (one over the other) each with a separate address and entrance. Both share a common floor separated by a fire wall on that floor.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is an over-under townhouse?

A

Two stacked dwellings (one over the other), usually with entrances on opposite sides.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is a row house?

A

A multi-story building attached to at least two other dwellings which may or may not be separated by firewalls. Typically rowhomes have a common cockloft under a flat roof.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is a duplex?

A

Two dwellings under on roof sharing a common wall.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is a quad?

A

Four dwellings connected together under on roof with separate addresses.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is a hybrid building?

A

A construction style that can be inclusive of various types of townhouse styles under one roof.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is typical construction of a townhouse?

A

Lightweight frame using platform frame method (including fire stopping).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is the typical construction of duplex and rowhomes?

A

Ordinary construction

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What are the two types of roof frames?

A

Lightweight and wood frame

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is roof decking typically made of?

A

4’ x 8’ plywood sheathing or particleboard

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is a lightweight roof?

A

Triangular trusses that rest on the top floor load bearing and non load bearing walls, or parallel chord trusses or plywood I beams forming the peak from the front and rear load bearing walls to a ridge pole.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is a wood frame roof?

A

Sawn wood rafters forming the peak from the front and rear load bearing walls to a ridgepole

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What are typical roof decking materials on flat roof townhomes?

A

Gypsum integrated with fiberglass

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Many townhomes in the 1980’s have what kind of plywood sheathing roof deck, known to decompose and be very dangerous?

A

Fire retardant

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What are the typical roof styles of townhomes, and what can they occasionally be?

A

Pitched is typical, sometimes gabled, but can include flat or mansard.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What may be present in some attics?

A

Water heater and HVAC units. Some may have living spaces

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

When accessing the attic from the interior, where is the safest place to do so?

A

Hallways or bathrooms

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What are walls typically constructed of? What kind of studs can be found?

A

2x4 wood studs. Lightweight aluminum studs may be found in non load bearing walls.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What kind of walls found in units with lofts or dormers will contain void spaces or may serve as storage?

A

Knee walls

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

What are foundation walls made from?

A

masonry block or poured reinforced concrete monolithic (cast in place)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Depending on when the townhouse was constructed, firewalls can be?

A
  • Non-existent
  • located between each address
  • located between every other address
  • between occupied living spaces and does not extend into the attics or basements
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Firewalls can be constructed of what two types of materials?

A

Gypsum on both sides of wall studs or masonry

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Rooflines may be what at each address to accomplish separating attic space?

A

Offset

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

What is the spacing of floor joists, trusses, or beams?

A

16 to 24 inches

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

What is the most common style of windows in townhouses?

A

double-hung, sliding sash

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

How should casement windows be treated if they are found?

A

As if they are barred windows and they should be completely removed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

What ways do exterior doors swing on residential townhomes?

A

Inward

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

What way does the exterior doors on a commercial townhome swing?

A

Outward

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

Inward swinging doors typically lead to _____ and _____ while outward swinging doors usually lead to _____ or _____.

A

Bedrooms and bathrooms

Basement stairs and closets

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

What are the standard locks on exterior doors?

A

Mortise and rim

37
Q

What kind of stairways are typically found in townhomes and how are they laid out?

A

Open stairway; Stacked over each other

38
Q

Chimneys can be either ____ or ____

A

Masonry with a tile flue or wood framed with a metal flue

39
Q

Interior walls of garages attached to living spaces must be what, including door frame, door, and hardware.

A

Fire rated

40
Q

What is the estimated fire flow rate on a townhome?

A

10 gpm per 100 square feet

41
Q

Vinyl and asphalt siding can contribute to what?

A

Vertical and horizontal fire spreading

42
Q

Personal entering a fire with fire under them must _____

A

Sound the floor!

43
Q

Life safety is the highest priority and should be achieved through what?

A

Interior fire containment and extinguishment with a thorough primary search.

44
Q

When all occupants have been accounted for, what is the strategic goal?

A

Firefighter safety and fire extinguishment

45
Q

How should the rescue problem be addressed?

A

Interior primary search for victims focusing on areas near the fire, as well as bedrooms and means of egress

46
Q

How should the interior exposure problem be handled?

A

Rapid containment of the fire including advancement of an interior attack line to protect any occupants within the structure focusing on the interior stairway if present or vertical voids.

47
Q

Crews ordered to perform rooftop ventilation on a lightweight room must ______.

A

Be independently supported by the use of an aerial device or a roof ladder

48
Q

What situations should cue a second alarm?

A

Known rescues
Fire in two separate occupancies
Fire on more than one level of a townhome
Fire in the attic space

49
Q

What is the first alarm for a townhouse fire?

A
4 engines
2 trucks
1 rescue
1 medic unit
2 BC
1 command air
1 EMS capt
50
Q

What is the assignment list for a tanker task force?

A

3 tankers
1 Engine
1 BC

51
Q

What is the first engines initial action?

A

View as many sides as possible, position to allow for rapid advancement of hoselines, leave priority position for the truck… Pull at least 2 address past or before the involved unit to make sure the truck has is positioning.

52
Q

What is the second engines initial action?

A

Ensure water supply, ensure first line is operational, deploy second line

53
Q

What is the third engines initial action?

A

Position to allow crew rapid access to the structure while maintaining access and egress to the incident for additional resources. Prepare for secondary water. Visual inspection of side charlie, check for fire extension and possible exposure line. If it cannot park on side charlie, THE THIRD ARRIVING ENGINE SHOULD POSITION AT THE END OF THE ROW CLOSEST TO THE INVOLVED UNIT TO ENSURE HOSLINES CAN BE PLACED IN THE REAR.

54
Q

What is the fourth engines initial action?

A

Position out of the way, RIT, driver ensures secondary water is complete.

55
Q

What is the first trucks initial action?

A

Position in most strategic location that will allow for rapid placement of ladders and entry to the structure. Turntable should be placed directly in front of or upwind of the involved area. Other duties; force entry, conduct primary search, coordinate ventilation.

56
Q

What is the second trucks initial action?

A

Position on the rear or in a position to cover the rear. If no access, position on side A in front of the uncovered exposure. Rear operations are still priority.

57
Q

The second line for most townhouse fires will be placed where?

A

With the initial attack line or above the fire.

58
Q

Where is the second line typically pulled from?

A

The first engine

59
Q

What are the purposes of the line above the fire?

A

Protect the company doing the search and extinguish vertical extension

60
Q

How many hoselines can be stretched through one enterance?

A

NO MORE THAN TWO

61
Q

Where should master streams be aimed?

A

At corners of the building and not directly at the building, utilizing a sweeping motion when flowing water

62
Q

What size line should be used for a soffit attack?

A

2 1/2 inch matching the pitch of the roof and flowing under the gutter through the soffit.

63
Q

What are two particularly challenging characteristics of basement fires?

A
  • limited access points

- The potential to have immediate, unimpeded fire impingement on the structural support for the floor above

64
Q

What are two important needs of the two lines on a basement fire?

A

to be coordinated and rapidly get into position is of the utmost importance

65
Q

What is the preferred point of initial attack of a basement fire?

A

an exterior access point that leads directly into the basement

66
Q

What kind of nozzle pattern should be used if a basement cant be isolated?

A

Narrow fog pattern aimed at the ceiling over the stairway to contain the fire to stop vertical extension

67
Q

How should well advanced basement fires be handled when there is no exterior entrance?

A
  • A fire stream through a basement window
  • Removing a band board on the exterior, using a straight or solid stream once this is complete
  • Extend a window cut down
  • Deploy a bresnan distributor nozzle from the exterior placing the nozzle over the immediate fire area is preferred and most effective
68
Q

If a determination is made that a basement attack must be made through the interior, what must be in place before that happens?

A

A second handline

69
Q

When large volume flows are anticipated, what should be designated early in the incident?

A

A water supply officer

70
Q

If you do not need reach or penetration of a master stream, what nozzle should be used?

A

A narrow fog nozzle because it will extinguish fire more rapidly than a smooth bore nozzle.

71
Q

What must be considered when dealing with brick veneer?

A

This single layer of brick may easily collapse under fire and master stream conditions

72
Q

Why are tower ladders generally preferred over deck guns and straight ladders?

A

They have greater scrub area and rapid mobility

73
Q

Winds as low as what can cause wind driven fires?

A

10-20 MPH

74
Q

What are the five conditions that must exist for wind driven fires to occur?

A
  • Fire in the structure
  • Failed or open window to the outside in the fire area
  • Presence of wind on the exterior of the structure
  • Failed or open living area
  • An unobstructed path to an outlet for the fire to vent
75
Q

When personnel cannot make entry, NIST recommend what alternatives?

A
  • Using elevated master streams through fire room window
  • Via portable ladders
  • Large caliber streams and wind at the back of the crew
76
Q

For large volume fires, first engine may have to what?

A

Perform a holding action or quick knockdown on the townhouse of origin using a master stream device or 2 1/2 inch hoseline

77
Q

Where should the second line be stretched in large volume fires?

A

The most severely threatened exposure, most likely downwind.

78
Q

What is paramount in the quick control of a large volume fire and must be a priority of arriving engine companies?

A

Water supply

79
Q

When determining placement of a truck company on a contents fire with aggressive interior attack, where should the turntable be placed?

A

In front of the involved unit

80
Q

If the fire is in an attic, where should the turntable of the truck be placed?

A

In front of the upwind exposure

81
Q

For Heavy involved fire that require the use of master streams, where should the first and second truck companies position?

A

The first should position with the turntable in front of the most threatened exposure.
The second should position with the turntable in front of the next most threatened exposure
If possible, both turntables should be able to rotate back to the original fire occupancy to assist with completion of extinguishment

82
Q

Before venting a fire, what must be in place and ready?

A

The initial handline

83
Q

Where are the two most dangerous areas of a fire?

A

The area closest to the fire on the fire floor and the area above the fire

84
Q

Where are the most critical areas to search?

A

Means of egress and sleeping areas

85
Q

Support for the primary search should include what?

A

Ladders to the upper story windows and hoseline engaged on the fire

86
Q

What are the two reasons ventilation is preformed?

A

To support a search or support fire attack

87
Q

Where should laddering take place?

A

All available sides of all floors above ground level with attention given to bedroom windows. This can generally be accomplished with ladders less than 35 feet.

88
Q

Crews assigned to perform rooftop ventilation on lightweight construction must…

A

Be independently supported by the use of an aerial device or a roof ladder

89
Q

What does defending the firewall mean?

A

Applying heavy caliber streams to the fire side of the firewall to prevent horizontal spread of fire to the attached exposure.