Truck Company Ops 1 Flashcards
Collapse Zone distance?
at least one and one-half times the height of the building involved
pg.2
“Collapse Zone: The area around a building, at least one and one-half times the height of the building involved, that should be considered as a danger area for potential collapse.”
Definitions
Conventional Wood Floor/Roof Construction:
pg.2
“Construction methods using dimensional lumber for structural members that depend on mass for strength.”
How many GPS does an elevated master stream flow?
excess of 350 GPM
pg.2
“Elevated Master Stream: A fire stream in excess of 350 GPM that is deployed from the tip of an aerial device.”
Definitions
Flying Standpipe:
pg.2
“The use of the pre-piped master stream or laying a larger line (2.5-inch or 3- inch) up the aerial to serve as a standpipe to deploy a handline.”
Definitions
Ground Support Device:
pg.2
“Also called stabilizers or outriggers, these are deployed to stabilize the truck when the aerial device is in operation.”
Definitions
Lightweight Roof Construction:
pg.3
“This lightweight truss construction does not derive strength from mass, instead strength is obtained from multiple members that are in compression and tension. The strength of the individual structural member is dependent on the total sum of the other members; therefore, if one member fails, others may fail.”
Definitions
Inspection Cut:
pg.2
“A small cut used to determine conditions under the roof such as: nature of the smoke (i.e., color, volume, temperature, pushing under pressure); volume of fire; the location of fire; direction of fire travel; the type, size, roof thickness, rafter spacing, and run of the structural elements; and the fire’s extension.”
What does LIP stand for?
Life safety
Incident stabilization
Property conservation
pg.3
“Acronym for Life safety, Incident stabilization, and Property conservation, which serve as the primary incident priorities.”
Definitions
Quint:
pg.3
“Fire apparatus that is equipped with a fire pump, water tank, ground ladders, fire hose, and an aerial device.”
Definitions
Rapid Key Entry System:
pg.3
“A secure device with a lock operable only by a fire department master key, and containing building entry keys and other keys that may be required for access in an emergency.”
Definitions
RECEO-VS:
PG.3
“Acronym for Rescue, Exposure, Confine, Extinguish, Overhaul, Ventilate, and Salvage.”
Definitions
Roof Pitch:
pg.3
“A numerical measure whereby the rise (vertical distance) and the run (horizontal distance) determine the steepness of the roof.”
Definitions
SLICERS:
pg.4
SLICERS: Acronym utilized by first-arriving officer while conducting a lap to aid in tactical decision making. The acronym is defined as
- Size up
- Locate the fire
- Identify the flow path
- Cool the space from the safest location
- Extinguish the fire
- Rescue
- Salvage
What is a tiller truck also known as?
Tractor Drawn Aerial
pg.4
“Tractor Drawn Aerial: A tractor-trailer aerial apparatus, also known as a tiller truck, that is equipped with steerable rear wheels on the trailer.”
Definitions
Utility Control:
pg.4
“Utility Control: The act of shutting off the gas, electricity, and/or water to the structure or occupancy.”
Definitions
Vent for Search:
pg.4
“Situation where firefighters create openings, or break windows, to gain access from an exterior position to carry out a primary search in a high-risk area of the structure.”
Definitions
Vent for Extinguishment:
pg.4
“Improving interior conditions for firefighters by reducing heat levels and improving visibility.”
Definitions
Ventilate Enter Isolate Search (VEIS):
pg.4
“The specific tactic employed through the use of ground ladders as a means of access to the structure when using the interior, as a means of ingress, is hampered or not possible due to untenable conditions.”
Definitions
Verticial Ventilation:
pg.4
“Ventilating at the highest point of a building through existing or created openings and channeling the contaminated atmosphere vertically within the structure and out the top.”
What are the three basic types of aerial devices:
rear mount, midmount, and tractor drawn.
pg.6
“Fire apparatus manufacturers have developed three basic types of aerial devices: rear mount, midmount, and tractor drawn. Within each type are straight tip aerial ladders, termed trucks, and those with an elevated platform (or bucket) on the end of the ladder, known as towers.”
Truck companies in this region typically have a rear-mount aerial device that can reach how many feet?
105
pg.6
“Truck companies in this region typically have an rear-mount aerial device that can reach 105 feet”
What is the main difference between a tower ladder and a ladder tower?
size of the ladder leading from the turntable to the basket.
- tower ladder = narrow, only emergency egress
- ladder tower = wide walkway, ascending/descending + victim removal
pg.6
“The main difference between a tower ladder and a ladder tower is the size of the ladder leading from the turntable to the basket. A tower ladder has a narrow ladder that is capable of only emergency egress while a ladder tower has a wide walkway that can be used ascending and descending, and for victim removal operations, Figure 2. In the region, both the tower ladder and the ladder tower are referred to as towers regardless of the type of ladder.”
Tractor drawn aerials require how many operators?
2
pg.7
“Tractor drawn aerial devices require two operators, a tractor operator and a tiller operator, Figure 4. Even though it is tractor-drawn it is still referred to as a truck company.”
What is setback?
The horizontal distance from the building to the turntable
pg.13
“The horizontal distance from the building to the turntable, known as setback, is critical to consider and may include things like parking areas, common grounds, sidewalks, and landscaping. Anything that takes up the space from the aerial turntable and the structure will ultimately have to be accounted for when determining positioning for the use of the aerial. If the aerial is needed but the turntable is too close to the building, the aerial cannot be rotated from the bedded position to the building. Optimally, towers should be able to place their bucket on the ground and/or below grade in front of the fire building, Figure 8.”
Stokes Basket Operations
pg.14
“The truck company is primarily responsible for the set up and operation of a stokes basket operation, Figure 9. Regardless of the type of system used to lace the patient to the basket and the rigging system used to secure the device to the aerial, truck company personnel should be familiar with the operation of not only their set up but also mutual aide truck company stokes operations.”
General Truck Positioning
What are the 2 ways the aerial device can be positioned on uneven terrain?
laterally (side-to-side) and longitudinally (front-to-rear)
pg.16
“The aerial device can be positioned one of two ways on uneven terrain: laterally (side-to-side) and longitudinally (front-to-rear). When considering both of these types of placement, personnel should reference the manufacturer’s specifciations with regard to the apparatus capabilities and capacity.”
Scrub Area:
portion of the building that can be reached by the tip of the aerial or the bucket of the tower.
pg.17
“The scrub area is the portion of the building that can be reached by the tip of the aerial or the bucket of the tower. Many variables will affect the scrub area, including the setback from the structure, the collapse zone, and overhead obstructions. When positioning, the tactical assignment will dictate whether the scrub surface coverage is needed for only one side of the building or multiple sides. Positioning on a corner allows for coverage on two sides of the building.”
Outriggers shall never be placed where?
manhole covers, storm sewer boxes, underground vaults, or curbs not supported by a sidewalk.
pg.21
“The ground on which the outriggers rest must be firm and level. Outriggers shall never be placed on manhole covers, storm sewer boxes, underground vaults, or curbs not supported by a sidewalk. Be aware that these obstacles are often found in the courtyards of apartment complexes. The truck driver must frequently check the jack plates to ensure that stability has not been compromised. Master steams, when flowing for extended periods of time, may affect the stability of the ground due to large influx of water and erosion of the ground.”
While short jacking use of the aerial is permitted on which side?
non-short jacked side of the apparatus
pg.22
“Before parking and positioning the aerial device operators should ensure that no obstructions such as vehicles, curbs, or other objects will prevent the outriggers from extending fully. However, there are times when the aerial device must be positioned in a specific location but obstructions or narrow alleyways prevent the full deployment of the outriggers. If this scenario occurs, the aerial device can still be raised by short jacking one set of the outriggers. Most aerial devices will not permit the use of the ladder on the short-jacked side, as safety limiters prevent this operation. Personnel should consult the specific manufacturer’s recommendations with regard to short jacking.”
Truck Company Positioning Strip Shopping Center:
Townhouse/ Rowhouse Positioning
If the fire is confirmed in the end unit, the truck company can position to access the fire unit, the Bravo exposure and the Alpha If the fire is confirmed to be in a middle unit, the truck can position in front of an exposure to access multiple floors of the fire unit and the exposures.
What are the safest locations during a collapse?
corners of a building
pg.26
“The first-due truck on a high-rise should park on side Alpha unless fire location can be readily identified. If so, the truck should then park on the fire side of the building if it is accessible. If feasible, based upon the location of the fire and if the hydraulic ladder is to be used, the responding trucks can be placed at the corners of the building to ensure two-sided scrub area. Positioning at a corner of the building places the aerial apparatus in the safest location should a collapse occur, as the corners are the safest location during a collapse. This also affords the truck company the ability to access two sides of the structure with one ladder.”
During advanced fires at outdoor self-storage facilities, consider positioning the aerial device where?
down a parallel alley and use the aerial master stream over the exposure
pg.27
“During advanced fires at outdoor self-storage facilities, consider positioning the aerial device down a parallel alley and use the aerial master stream over the exposure. This allows for a master stream attack but prevents positioning within the collapse zone and away from radiant heat.”
Interior and Exterior Tasks and Personnel Complement:
Control of utilities (gas, electric, and/or water) is which unit’s duty?
truck company
pg.37
“Control of utilities (gas, electric, and/or water) is a duty of the truck company. There are times when it is necessary to shut down utilities before an incident can be controlled. Incidents have been encountered where a fire could not be extinguished because it involved an inside gas meter or electric panel. Truck companies should shut off gas and electric as soon as possible”
Grease duct fires have the potential to easily extend to where?
combustible roofing materials
pg.41
“Overhaul is vital during grease duct fires, common in restaurants. Grease duct fires may easily extend to combustible roofing materials. A thorough check should be completed from both below and above the roofline.”
Lightweight roof Construction:
- trusses in compression and tension
- strength is dependent on each component
- common lightweight construction uses 2” x 3” or 2” x 4” wood members held by metal trusses
pg.42
“Unlike conventional construction, lightweight construction does not derive its strength from the shear mass of the lumber, but is the result of geometry and individual, lighter-weight members that are in compression and tension. These structures are commonly referred to as trusses. According to Francis Brannigan, a truss is defined as, “a framed structure consisting of a triangle or group of triangles arranged in a single plane in such a manner that loads applied at the points of intersections of the members will cause only direct stresses (tension and compression) in the members. Loads applied between these points cause flexural or bending stresses.”3
The strength of the entire truss system is dependent on each component. Should one of these components fail, it is likely that the entire truss system will fail and, subsequently, each truss system after that.
A common lightweight construction practice uses 2” x 3” or 2” x 4” wood structural members held together by metal truss connectors, Figure 32. In three-story structures and larger, the first floor will be constructed using 2” x 6”. It should be noted that all lumber is measured prior to milling and will reduce the size of the material by 1⁄2”. A 2” x 3” is actually 1 1⁄2” x 2 1⁄2” and a 2” x 4” is actually 1 1⁄2” x 3 1⁄2”.”
Which are more common truss/plywood I-beams or dimensional floor joists and roof rafters?
Truss and plywood I-beams
pg.43
“The truss and plywood I-beams, Figure 33, have become more common than dimensional floor joists or roof rafters, which are found in older conventional construction. The same truss construction concept may be found in floor joist assemblies as well. Another type worth noting is the plywood I-beam ,which is constructed using 2”x4”s for the top and bottom cords and the webbing or center core area is accomplished using oriented strand board (OSB). Again, as an engineered lumber, it makes for a relatively sound construction component, but when exposed to fire it will fail more quickly than sawn lumber. In addition to the lighter mass of the plywood I- beam, contractors will often decrease this mass even further by drilling through the OSB in order to pass wires, conduit, and pipes for plumbing.”
NOTEWORTHY
pg.44
“When under fire conditions, the center chord of the ply-I will burn away quickly, while the plywood floor that is supported by the ply-I sustains little or no damage. Wood joists made with dimensional lumber provide higher fire resistance as compared to engineered floor joists”
What is the standard tool of choise for rapid vertical ventilation?
chain saw
pg.45
“The conventional A-frame Gable style roof using dimensional lumber/Type-III ordinary construction roofing system has moderate resistance to failure under fire conditions, Figure 35. The use of dimensional lumber and nails enables this roof to resist the effects of fire for a moderate amount of time. These roofing systems tend to burn away rather than collapse into the building. A chain saw is the standard tool of choice for rapid vertical ventilation.”
One-piece Laminated Arch
- moderately resistant to failure under fire
- wood members provide significant mass
- multiple layers of wood glued together
- exttended heat causes glue to decompose
- violent collapses as roof tends to kick out at base
- can fail suddenly without warning
- wood planking/metal are common decking materials
pg.47
“The one-piece laminated arch roofing system is moderately resistant to failure under fire conditions, Figure 39 and Figure 40. The use of large wooden structural members provides significant mass. Unlike heavy timber construction, these large mass timbers are multiple layers of wood and are glued together. Extended exposure to heat will cause the glue to decompose and the arch to lose its structural integrity. This roofing design tends to kick out at the base and collapse violently into the structure upon failure. They typically fail suddenly and without warning. Firefighters should operate independently from an aerial or tower bucket. The choice of ventilation tool will vary upon the roof deck material. Wood planking and metal are common decking materials.”
Lightweight Truss Roofing System
- vunerbale to rapid failure when under fire conditions
- lightweight 2 x 4 joist, truss plates and plywood reduce strucutal mass
- roofs burn away rather than collapse
pg.46
“The lightweight truss roofing system is vulnerable to rapid failure under fire conditions, Figure 38. The use of lightweight 2” x 4” joist, truss plates and plywood reduce the structural mass and create rapid failure. These roofs tend to burn away rather than collapse into the building. Firefighters must not work on these roofs directly over the fire. While working under these roof systems firefighters should attempt to operate in smaller compartments due to large spans and concentrated loads. Unless positioned well ahead of the fire, firefighters shall work independently of the roofing system (aerial ladder/tower bucket). A chain saw is the tool of choice for rapid vertical ventilation.”
Multiple-Section Laminated Arches
- fails faster than 1 piece lamiated arch
- large wooden structural members provided mass
- multiple layers of wood glued together (decomposses under fire)
- bolted together w/metal gusset plates
- when gusset plates fail so does the arch
- kicks out at the base
- failure without warning
pg.48
“The multiple-section laminated arches roofing system is subject to failure faster than the one piece laminated arch. The use of large wooden structural members provides significant mass. Unlike heavy timber construction, these large mass timbers are multiple layers of wood that are glued together. Extended exposure to heat will cause the glue to decompose and the arch to lose its integrity. Unlike the one-piece laminated arch, the multi-section laminated arch is typically bolted together with metal gusset plates, Figure 41. The metal gusset plates absorb heat at a rate much higher rate than wood. When the metal gusset plate fails, the entire arch will fail. This roofing design tends to kick out at the base and collapse violently into the structure upon failure. They typically fail suddenly and without warning. Firefighters should operate independently from an aerial or tower bucket. The choice of ventilation tool will vary upon the roof deck material. Wood planking and metal are common decking materials.”
Metal roof deck
- usually supported by metal bar joist
- hot bubbling melting tar, white smoke, soft feeling under foot - impending failure signs
- When heated the asphalt emits combustible vapors
- vapors contribute to fire extension
pg.49
“The metal roof deck roofing system’s ability to resist the effects of fire depends on the supporting system, Figure 42. These types of roofs are typically supported by metal bar joist. Unprotected metal bar joist are subject to rapid failure under fire conditions. Although subject to rather rapid deterioration, this roofing system typically provides warning signs of pending failure. However, should you have a failure of the steel support girder system that supports the metal deck there may be no warning at all, dropping the entire roof system at once. Hot bubbling melting tar, white smoke issuing from the deck, and a soft feeling under foot are all signs of pending failure. The collapse pattern will depend on the supporting system’s failure. If multiple supporting metal trusses fail simultaneously, the entire roof system may violently collapse into the building. Firefighters should not work directly over the fire on the hot slippery tar. Rotary disk saws are the tools of choice for rapid ventilation. This type of roofing system was initially designed to resist the effects of fire and was used exclusively in non-combustible buildings. Following several large fires in buildings with this roofing system, engineers discovered that the roofing system actually contributed to the fire spread. As heat is applied to the underside of the metal deck, the asphalt becomes hot and emits combustible vapors. The vapors are pushed downward through the metal deck seams and contribute to the extension of the fire.”
Poured-in-place Concrete Roof
- typically supported by metal bar joist
- flat concrete roof may give little, if any, warning of pending failure
- Concrete has satisfactory compression strength but minimal tensile strength
- post tensioning - steel cable ran in hollow tubes and is pulled as concrete is drying
- DO NOT CUT CABLES!!!
- rotary disk saw for rapid ventilation
- Sledge hammer may be used to knock of concrete
pg. 50
”
The poured-in-place concrete roof’s ability to resist the effects of fire depends on the supporting system, Figure 43. These type roofs are typically supported by metal bar joist. Unprotected metal bar joists are subject to rapid failure under fire conditions. Unlike the metal roof deck, a flat concrete roof may give little, if any, warning of pending failure. If multiple supporting metal trusses fail simultaneously, the entire roof system may violently collapse into the building.
Concrete has satisfactory compression strength but minimal tensile strength. A steel cable runs in hollow tubes and is pulled tight as the concrete is drying; this is known as post tensioning and is performed to provide tensile strength. Metal anchors hold tension on the cable. As concrete is heated, the moisture content may expand and cause spalling. Spalling refers to sections of concrete breaking and popping off. Spalling may expose the metal tensioning cables. If the heat causes the metal tensioning cable(s) to fail, that portion of the concrete roof will fail. If multiple cables fail, expect a large collapse. These roofs tend to collapse violently into the building, often collapsing other walls as they fail. The rotary disk saw is the tool of choice for rapid ventilation. DO NOT cut the cables. Personnel should be aware that the cables might be encased in PVC or other materials. If the presence of PVC bits is noticed discharging from the saw this is good indication that you may have begun to cut into a cable and the cutting operation should stop until an inspection can be made. A sledgehammer may be used to knock the concrete off the cables. Many rescue companies carry concrete cutting wet saws.”
Lightweight Pre-cast Concrete Roof
- Fire resitance is limited as compared to solid concrete
- concrete poured overpre- tensioned cables
- no anchors, as found in post- tensioned concrete
- concrete itself holds the cable in place
- Concrete is aerated to make it lighter
- DO NOT CUT CABLES!!!
pg. 50/51
“A lightweight pre-cast concrete roof’s ability to resist the effects of fire is limited when compared to solid concrete, Figure 44. The pre-cast panels are typically poured off site. Concrete is poured over pre-tensioned cables. After the concrete is dry, the concrete panels are cut to the
desired size and shipped to the construction site. There are no anchors, as found in post- tensioned concrete. The concrete itself holds the cable in place. As concrete is heated, the moisture content may expand and cause spalling. These roofs tend to collapse violently into the building, often collapsing other walls as they fail.
Lightweight concrete is also aerated. Air is injected into the concrete and many lightweight concrete slabs have hollow holes through the concrete. Both of these engineering techniques are used to make the concrete lighter. As with most materials, less mass equals less resistance to fire. If the heat causes the metal tensioning cable(s) to fail, that portion of the concrete roof will fail. If multiple cables fail, expect a large collapse. DO NOT cut the cables.”
Which concrete roofing system has the greatest resistance to fire?
Flat Concrete Roof/Pre-cast or Poured-in-place with Concrete Columns, because of the large concrete columns supporting it
Total collapse is unlikely.
pg.51
“Of all the concrete roofing systems, this one has the greatest resistance to fire, not because of the specific roof, but because of the large concrete columns that support it, Figure 45. Although collapse is never eliminated under fire conditions, a total catastrophic collapse would be unlikely.”
