TAC Stick SOG 300-02

• The Palm Beach County Fire Rescue uses a Standard Operating Guideline (SOG) for the safe use and application of the TAC Stick.
• SOG 300-02 was issued May 21, 2018, and became effective on June 21, 2018.
• The guidelines apply to all Emergency Operations personnel.
• The Fire Rescue Administrator has the authority regarding this guideline.
• A basic framework for most incidents is provided by these guidelines.
• The Will-Burt TAC Stick Operating Manual should be referred to for the TAC Stick's basic operation.

Cautions

• All electrical lines should be treated as energized, regardless of the TAC Stick readings.
• Always exercise extreme caution when approaching areas where live voltage may be present.
• Treat downed wires as if they are voltage-carrying.
• Do not contact a potentially energized source with the TAC Stick.
• The TAC Stick should be used to identify an energized source for isolation and creation of an Exclusion Zone.
• The TAC Stick's purpose is to help personnel identify previously unknown energy sources.
• It is not to be used as a "deemed safe" device.
• Any energy source posing a potential threat to personnel must be isolated and have an Exclusion Zone created.
• Only qualified utility personnel can deem an energy source safe.
• Extreme caution should be used even after a qualified utility deems an energy source safe due to the possibility of open-neutrals and automatic or back-fed generators.

Description

• Alternating Current (AC) and Direct Current (DC) are the two types of current.
• Alternating Current (AC) is electric current that reverses its direction many times a second (e.g., house wires, power plants).
• Direct Current (DC) is electric current flowing in one direction (e.g., solar cells, car batteries).
• The TAC Stick detects Alternating Current (AC) voltage.
• The TAC Stick provides a warning signal with audible beeps and LED flashes.
• As the signal amplitude increases, the warning signals increase.
• It is possible to quickly locate the signal's source due to the warning signals.
• The TAC Stick doesn't warn of hazards from direct current (DC) sources or shielded AC voltage.
• There are three sensitivity settings on the TAC Stick: HIGH SENSITIVITY, LOW SENSITIVITY, and FRONT FOCUSED.
• Begin with the HIGH SENSITIVITY setting and proceed through the other settings as the source search narrows.
• In the FRONT FOCUSED setting, signals are picked up only from the front tip end.
• Do not use the LOW SENSITIVITY setting or the FRONT FOCUSED setting when starting a search.
• The FRONT FOCUSED setting has greatly reduced sensitivity, and the TAC Stick will not pick up signals from certain directions and distances.

Applications

• During site assessment, move the TAC Stick sideways and up and down while moving slowly forward, observing the LED and listening for beeps.
• If a signal is noticed, hold still and try to find the direction from which the signal comes.
• The Stick will beep and flash more frequently as it gets closer to the AC voltage source.
• Reduce the sensitivity switch to LOW or FRONT FOCUSED when needed to better pinpoint a source.
• This device is useful during night operations when energy sources are hard to see and during post-storm searches when debris hides energy sources.
• Highway wire fences have been reported to carry dangerous AC voltages from downed power lines several miles away.
• The TAC Stick is useful in identifying energy sources during fires when night operations, smoke, debris and dynamic activity make energy sources difficult to see.
• See SOG 300-01 Power Line Incidents for assistance with power line incidents.