Toronto Fire Services Elevator Control PDF

Standard Operating Guideline ELEVATOR CONTROL Date Issued: April 19, 2021 Rescinds: March 29, 2019 Section: Incident and Emergency Operations File Code: G-ELCO PURPOSE To provide all Toronto Fire Services personnel with a guideline for using elevators at an alarm or fire incident. Incident conditi...

Standard Operating Guideline ELEVATOR CONTROL Date Issued: April 19, 2021 Rescinds: March 29, 2019 Section: Incident and Emergency Operations File Code: G-ELCO PURPOSE To provide all Toronto Fire Services personnel with a guideline for using elevators at an alarm or fire incident. Incident conditions may vary, which will dictate your actions, this guideline will be followed to the best of your ability. RESPONSIBILITY All personnel are responsible for understanding and following TFS Operating guidelines. All personnel are responsible for understanding and following the Training Note relating to Elevators. GUIDELINES 1. Elevator Use 1.1. For all emergencies other than a medical call, initial arriving firefighting crews shall use elevators in Phase Two any time they are used to ascend a structure. 1.2. An elevator shall be utilized to ascend a structure anytime an alarm or fire location is above the fourth floor and/or greater than forty feet above grade level. 1.3. Firefighters shall not use an elevator if the reported fire or alarm location is below grade. 1.4. A firefighter elevator identified by a red helmet will be utilized when available. 1.5. A firefighter elevator identified by a yellow helmet will be utilized, if an elevator identified with a red helmet is not available. 1.6. An elevator with no identifier may be utilized, if the emergency dictates. 1.7. Do not use construction elevators to ascend a structure. 2. Elevator Control 2.1. A firefighter shall remain with the elevator at all times during an incident and will be designated ‘Elevator Control’. G-ELCO Page 1 of 3  Standard Operating Guideline 2.2. Elevator Control will collect PITs of firefighters ascending in the elevator and act as Entry Control until it is set up in another area. 2.3. Elevator Control will be equipped with full PPE, including radio and flashlight. 2.4. Prior to ascending, a hand light shall be directed upward into the opening between the car and the hoist way to check for smoke, water or fire in the elevator shaft. If any of these conditions exist, that elevator shall not be used. Incident Command shall be notified and another elevator shall be selected for use. Elevator shafts shall be checked every five floors of travel if poor lighting conditions exist and the entire hoist way can not be visualized. 2.5. The Elevator Control Firefighter shall return to the lobby for subsequent arriving firefighters immediately after crews exit the elevator two floors below the fire location. 3. Firefighter Safety 3.1. Elevator functions shall be tested prior to ascending to ensure proper operation (door open, door close, call cancel and the automatic closure feature). 3.2. Firefighting crews ascending in an elevator will exit two floors below the lowest alarm location indicated. If no alarms are present, information may be gathered from other sources to find the location of the fire. These sources may include visual indications of fire from the exterior of the structure, security personnel, building maintenance staff or other residents exiting the building. The elevator shall be taken to two floors below this location. 3.3. Typically, no more than seven firefighters will ascend with the elevator. Do not exceed an elevator’s weight limit. 3.4. If the firefighter helmet warning light inside the elevator is flashing do not use the elevator. The alarm or fire is potentially affecting the elevator and is warning us not to use it. 3.5. If the elevator is not functioning properly or is acting erratically, do not use the elevator. If you have already begun to ascend in the elevator, exit at the next available floor if safe to do so. 3.6. All non TFS personnel (including other emergency agencies, building supervisory personnel, etc.) and equipment shall be removed from elevators prior to emergency operations beginning. G-ELCO Page 2 of 3  Standard Operating Guideline 4. Elevator Failure 4.1. If an elevator were to fail at any time during an incident and a firefighter(s) becomes trapped in the shaft, either an URGENT or MAYDAY should be transmitted. a) An URGENT should be transmitted if there is no immediate danger to the trapped firefighter(s). The loss of elevator control should be acknowledged by the Incident Commander (IC) and the Incident Action Plan (IAP) adjusted accordingly, if needed. b) A MAYDAY should be transmitted anytime the trapped firefighter(s) feels they are in need of immediate assistance. Examples of this may be the atmosphere within the car becomes compromised or a firefighter suffers a medical emergency. 4.2. Forcing an elevator from the inside should be avoided. Attempting to force an elevator from the inside could cause damage and compound the problem. The elevator may also be in a blind shaft, preventing safe exit. Trained personnel in elevator rescue should be deployed to extricate the trapped firefighter(s). ATTACHMENT(S) Click here to enter text. RELATED SOGS Click here to enter text. G-ELCO Page 3 of 3