Fire Rescue SOG 320-03: Atmospheric Monitoring

• Palm Beach County Fire Rescue's Standard Operating Guideline SOG 320-03 concerns atmospheric monitoring
• The issue date for this guideline is 08/25/2021
• The effective date for this guideline is 09/08/2021
• This guideline offers general instructions for atmospheric monitoring during fire operations or activated detector alarms.
• The Fire Rescue Administrator is the authority for this guideline
• This must be adhered to by all Emergency Operations personnel.

Attachments

• Attachment A: A1-A2 Alarm Values
• Attachment B: Atmospheric Monitoring Maintenance
• Attachment C: Sensor Information
• Attachment D: Carbon Monoxide Step-by-Step

Single/Multi-Gas Monitor Equipment Standardization

• Each Engine, Aerial, Rescue, Battalion Chief, EMS Captain, and Special Operation vehicle must carry atmospheric monitoring equipment
• Each Engine, Aerial, and Rescue should have a PAC 5500 single gas CO monitor attached to the exterior of the Patient Assessment Bag
• Each Engine, Aerial, Battalion Chief, and Special Operations vehicle should carry a Drager X-am 2500 4-Gas monitor that is able to monitor Oxygen deficiency/enrichment (O2), Flammable Gases (Lower Explosive Limit), Carbon Monoxide toxicity (CO), and Hydrogen Sulfide toxicity (H2S)
• Each EMS Captain vehicle shall carry a Drager X-am 5000 5-Gas monitor that is able to monitor Oxygen deficiency/enrichment (O2), Flammable Gases (Lower Explosive Limit), Carbon Monoxide toxicity (CO), and Hydrogen Cyanide toxicity (HCN).

General Atmospheric Monitoring Guidelines

• The Incident Commander must ensure atmospheric monitoring is conducted when indicated, or the Company Officer if Incident Command isn't established
• Operators of atmospheric monitors must know how to use the monitor and understand the hazards they are detecting.
• Personnel performing the monitoring should wear full protective gear, including appropriate respiratory protection, preferably a positive pressure Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)
• If a monitor alarm activates during monitoring operations, the Incident Commander should be informed
• A primary search should be conducted for victims using full personal protective equipment and respiratory protection
• The Incident Commander must ensure proper Control Zones are established
• Personnel without full protective gear, including respiratory protection, must evacuate the structure and/or hazard area.
• Additional ventilation should be performed before any personnel remove any respiratory protection.

Passive Atmospheric Monitoring (Background Level Mode)

• This is when a monitor continually monitors the atmosphere without assistance.
• PAC 5500 Single Gas CO monitors are used for passive atmospheric monitoring to alert crews of carbon monoxide gas on emergency medical calls and should remain on at all times.
• PAC 5500 Single Gas CO monitors are not intended for monitoring combustion processes, activated residential or commercial detector alarms, multi-gas monitors are intended for these purposes
• PAC 5500 Single Gas CO monitors automatically re-set once the CO levels return to 0 PPM.

Active Atmospheric Monitoring (Investigative Mode)

• This is when a firefighter is actively monitoring an atmosphere
• Active atmospheric monitoring should be used when investigating residential or commercial alarm activations, to determine if any hazard exists before/after source removal, and after ventilation of any enclosed structure.
• The Drager X-am monitors have two alarm modes, A1 and A2
• In A1 alarm mode, a distinct audible alert tone is sounded that can be acknowledged, that means a dangerous environment is present
• In A2 alarm mode, a distinct audible alert tone is sounded that cannot be acknowledged and silenced until gas levels return to below A2 values, which means a more dangerous environment is present

Gas Monitoring

• Common gases the Drager X-am 2500 4-Gas and Drager X-am 5000 5-Gas monitor include Oxygen, Flammable Gases, and Carbon Monoxide
• Atmospheres deficient in or enriched with Oxygen must be carefully considered during any incident
• Oxygen must be above 10% for the Drager X-am monitors to operate correctly, and enriched atmospheres pose a flammability and explosion hazard.
• Flammable gases pose an explosion hazard
• The Incident Commander must assign personnel to find the source if a Lower Explosive Limit (LEL) alarm is reported
• Carbon monoxide is an acute hazard and can cause death quickly, and is a colorless, odorless gas that is lethal in small quantities
• Normal atmospheric conditions include 20.9% 02 (Oxygen), 0% LEL (Lower Explosive Limit), 0 ppm CO (Carbon Monoxide), and 0 ppm H2S (Hydrogen Sulfide)

Active Atmospheric Monitoring Using Drager X-am 2500 4-Gas

• Used for all activated detector alarm incidents
• Monitoring for hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas is unique to this monitor.
• Hydrogen sulfide is an acute hazard that can cause death quickly, a colorless gas with a strong rotten egg odor that fades rapidly, and monitoring for it should be for all below grade operations or operations where biological decomposition processes are likely to be occurring.

Active Atmospheric Monitoring Using Drager X-am 5000 5-Gas

• Used on all fire incidents when combustion processes have occurred
• Monitoring for hydrogen cyanide (HCN) and organic vapors (OV) are unique to this monitor
• Modern day fires produce harmful toxins such as Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN), Organic Vapors (OV), and Carbon Monoxide (CO).
• Hydrogen cyanide is an acute hazard and can cause death quickly, it is a colorless gas with an almond-like odor that is detectable at a low level (1-5ppm) to only 60-70% of the population.
• Organic Vapors are hazardous and can be carcinogens.
• This monitor screen displays EO (Ethylene Oxide) for Organic Vapors
• Atmospheric readings using must be obtained in all areas that are in close proximity to any fire
• The Incident Safety Officer must ensure atmospheric monitoring readings are at safe levels before allowing personnel to remove SCBA's during overhaul, monitoring must be continuous while operations are proceeding, and all personnel operating within areas where the Organic Vapor alarm activates have performed a risk benefit analysis and respiratory protection is used accordingly.

Respiratory Protection

• SCBA's reduce health hazards greatly
• Half-mask cartridge respirators with Organic Vapor filters may be used if Organic Vapors are the only abnormal gas present and Oxygen levels are normal.
• Half-mask cartridge respirators with Organic Vapor filters are particularly useful for Wildland fires, Driver Operators operating the pump panel, the Incident Safety Officer, and post fire activities when no other gases are abnormal.
• Half-mask cartridge respirators are designed to filter limited and specific chemicals and should NOT be used during any Hot Zone activities
• Use a full face mask with SCBA in the Hot Zone, in scenarios like fire attack, search and rescue, and back-up lines
• Personnel's proximity to products of combustion are evaluated and appropriate actions are taken to reduce exposures.
• Particular attention should be given to any units assigned to Ventilation and RIC, as well as the Incident Command Post location.
• Wind direction greatly influences the atmosphere surrounding the Hot Zone.
• Formal Control Zones may not occur at every fire incident, but all personnel should be aware that Control Zones still exist.
• The Incident Commander or Incident Safety Officer determines when it is safe for firefighters/occupants/fire investigators to remove their respiratory protection to enter any structure
• Positive pressure ventilation and atmospheric monitoring shall remain in effect during overhaul operations
• Fire Investigators refer to SOG 800-05 Fire Scene Safety for Investigators for respiratory protection guidelines.
• Fire Rescue personnel performing atmospheric monitoring should enter all readings obtained during an incident into the appropriate fire reporting system.