tac_vent Flashcards
In order to ensure tactical ventilation operations are carried out as safely as possible what control measures must be implemented?
Minimum of Stage One BA Entry Control procedures when any tactical ventilation operations are in use
All BA teams within the building must be equipped with a suitable extinguishing media
Effective incident ground communications are essential and must be established
Only personnel who are trained and competent in the use of Phase 2 and 3 PPV should be deployed when PPV attack is in use
what are the tactical priorities of tac vent?
Carry out any immediate rescues or lifesaving actions
Consider the need and urgency for entry into the Building
Develop and communicate a firefighting plan and ventilation strategy
Secure adequate water supply and equipment
what risks are associated with the use of tactical ventilation?
Increased risk of flashover or backdraught due to introducing air into a fire compartment.
Inappropriate use can lead to potential fire spread
Loose debris in the vicinity of the PPV fans can be drawn into the airflow and expelled at force.
Pilot lights/naked flames in gas appliances extinguished by the airflow could create an explosive atmosphere.
Prolonged noise exposure from the fan causing injury and affecting fireground communications
If the petrol PPV fan is used inside a building, exhaust gases from the fan may accumulate and create an irrespirable environment.
Hidden voids – consider the potential for undetected fire spread
what are the restrictions on phase 2 and 3 tactical ventilation?
Phase 2 and phase 3 must only be used in low-rise buildings (ground to 3rd floor)
what are the considerations when creating and selecting inlet and exhaust vent positions?
Is there a primary purpose for the opening?
Is its use part of the overall tactical plan?
Where is the fire located?
What signs and symptoms are being displayed?
Wind direction and its likely influence on the fire and/or vent
Where is the fire attack team located?
The location of other firefighters in the building
The possibility of more than one fire within the building before creating vents
Phase 1 PPV Considerations:
The Incident Commander (IC) must ensure that:
All fires have been extinguished
Ventilation is monitored internally in order to prevent re-ignition and fire spread
The airflow route is managed to ensure unobstructed flow of air
Unaffected parts of the building are isolated
gas monitors should be in use, and DRA to determine RPE
Phase 2 PPV Considerations:
The IC must ensure that:
A staffed ‘covering jet’ is in place at the exhaust vent
PPV should only be brought into operation when the fire is under control after BA wearers within the building have confirmed it is appropriate to do so
Ventilation is monitored internally and externally.
Any vent used to exhaust hot gasses from a building before the fire has been fully extinguished must have a charged and staffed covering jet for cooling and stopping external fire spread.
Phase 3 PPV Considerations:
The IC must ensure that:
The fire should be in a known location and only one seat of fire suspected
An exhaust vent is identified as close to the fire as possible
A staffed ‘covering jet’ is in place at the exhaust vent
The inlet and entry point for BA wearers is created and the PPV fan(s) are brought into operation by the BA wearers
Phase 3 Considerations:
Once confirmed that fire gases are being vented due to the fans being introduced:
The BA firefighting team is committed to extinguish the fire
The airflow route is managed to ensure an unobstructed flow of air from the inlet to the exhaust vent
Ventilation is monitored internally and externally
If benefits are not seen immediately (dependent upon size/complexity of building), fans should be turned away and revert to Phase 2
There may be situations when certain tactical ventilation techniques will be inappropriate or counter-productive and the decision may need to be taken to not utilise tactical ventilation techniques.
list situations when PPV must not be used
PPV must not be used or must cease under the following circumstances
If signs and symptoms of backdraught/flashover exist or are suspected
If effective communications cannot be established between initial crews and the IC
If the strength and direction of the wind is likely to overcome the effects of the fan
when may anti-ventilation be used?
This may be appropriate when:
Fire is demonstrating limited ventilation conditions
Fire is advancing towards flashover and the firefighting jet has insufficient flow to deal with the escalating fire conditions (for example, close fire compartment door to isolate the air flow)
Firefighting jets are not yet in position to attack the fire
Location of inlet and/or exhaust vent may spread fire and fire gases into unaffected areas
Wind is entering the inlet and/or exhaust vent.
All incidents should be continually monitored for changing conditions, especially when PPV is in use. Factors that should be monitored include:
Size and rate of fire spread
Colour and quantity of smoke being produced
The pressure under which the smoke is exiting the structure.
If the petrol PPV fan is used inside a building, exhaust gases from the fan may accumulate and create an irrespirable environment. What considerations could be made?
An additional fan should be used to ensure exhaust gases are expelled from the building, produced from the fan inside
Consider the use of electric PPV
Consider the use of a Smoke Stopper Curtain to aid with the increase of pressure from the
PPV and to aid with PPV positioning in an area of limited space
Consider closing part of the inlet vent down increase pressure within the compartment
Ensure that firefighting operations or PPV fans do not create dust clouds
If the decision to ventilate is made by the IC then the objective of its use must be identified and communicated. What are the two ventilation syles?
Offensive Ventilation close to a fire to have a direct effect on the fire itself, to limit fire spread and/or to improve conditions for BA wearers and casualties.
Defensive Ventilation away from the fire or after the fire is out to have a direct effect on hot gases and/or smoke located in the structure.
when can tac vent be used at an incident, and when can it be authorised?
Tactical ventilation can be applied at any point during an incident using either forced or natural methods.
Its use must only be authorised by the IC after an appropriate and sufficient risk assessment has taken place and control measures implemented. Only trained/competent crews should be used to implement tactical ventilation techniques and procedures.
