Multi-Story Building Operating Guidelines PDF

OPERATING GUIDELINES FOR MULTI-STORY BUILDINGS These structures are usually of Concrete Block & Stucco (CBS) or reinforced concrete and steel framed construction and may consist of several fire protection devices (i.e., smoke detectors, standpipes, sprinklers, fire alarm systems, etc.). PUMPERS The...

OPERATING GUIDELINES FOR MULTI-STORY BUILDINGS These structures are usually of Concrete Block & Stucco (CBS) or reinforced concrete and steel framed construction and may consist of several fire protection devices (i.e., smoke detectors, standpipes, sprinklers, fire alarm systems, etc.). PUMPERS The majority of these fires can be extinguished using a jumpline or High Rise Kit. The Company Officer will need to consider: 1. Private fire protection devices a. Sprinkler and/or standpipe systems  Location(s) of the siamese connection(s), with priority given to them. b. Fire alarm system  Annunciator panel should be checked to verify location of problem and monitored throughout the incident. 2. Fire lines - fires in these structures are usually confined to one unit. A 1¾” line (preconnected jumpline or High Rise Kit line) is usually sufficient with consideration given to back-up lines. a. In multi-story buildings that do NOT have a standpipe system built in, crews can attack fire on the upper floors using their High Rise Kit by creating their own standpipe using 3” hose run up the exterior side of the building.  Crews should need to bring a rope with them, in addition to their High Rise Kit in order to lower down to hoist up the 3” hose. 3. Type of attack - offensive vs. defensive. The attack is usually offensive but consideration needs to be given to extension to the floors above and attic. AERIALS/QUINTS With these structures, problems can exist not only on one floor, but several or throughout the building. The Company Officer will need to consider the following: 1. Search and Rescue - time of day, type of occupancy (office vs. residential), type of construction, means of egress (location, number, and type), and number of floors. Crews performing search and rescue shall be equipped with forcible entry gear. In buildings equipped with a standpipe, crews shall take their high-rise kit. 2. Ventilation - horizontal, vertical, and positive pressure. Ventilation can be accomplished using either mechanical fans (i.e., electric, typhoon, gas - do not use gas powered fans in a confined space due to Carbon Monoxide (CO) which is flammable and asphyxiating) or natural (i.e., opening windows, etc.). The Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system may need to be shut down by the building engineer to prevent further extension. Due to the design and/or construction material to some of these buildings, ventilation may be very difficult and time consuming. 3. Forcible Entry -locked doors and windows. Windows may not be accessible because of building design, height, or material 4. Lights - for search and rescue, overhaul, outside of structure during nighttime operations, 4/2/2013 EOM / Article 3 / Section 30 Page 1 etc. 5. Aerial Device - because of the height and design of these structures, the Company Officer on arrival needs to take into consideration not only the use of portable equipment off their apparatus, but also the use of the aerial device for rescue, standpipe system, etc. when spotting apparatus. RESCUES With these structures usually being large with a high occupancy load, Rescues will be assigned as needed (i.e. patient care, medical rehabilitation (Rehab), fire fighting activities, etc.). When assigned to patient care, the Rescue Officer should consider the following: 1. Number of victims. 2. Determine if a Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) exists, what level (I, II, III, IV or V) of response to request, and the assignment of personnel to the different EMS sectors. 3. Setting up medical rehab for Fire Fighting personnel. If the first arriving Rescue Officer determines that their unit is going to be involved in fire fighting, the Incident Commander (IC) shall be advised and the other Rescue dispatched will be for patient care and rehab. If both rescues are needed for fire fighting, the Incident Commander will request another rescue for patient care and rehab. DISTRICT CHIEFS With these types of structures, fires are usually isolated to a specific unit on a particular floor, but smoke extension can occur throughout the building. In these structures, the building engineer needs to be found to assist in locating and shutting down equipment (i.e., HVAC). The District Chief on arrival will assume command and direct operations while considering the following: 1. Search and Rescue is performed and occupants accounted for in an organized way. 2. Exposures are protected. 3. Fire and smoke extension - floors above and below the fire floor are systematically checked. 4. Hazards - personnel are made aware of any hazards and they are eliminated as soon as possible (i.e., shutting gas off, switching circuit breakers off, downed power lines, etc.). If hazards cannot be eliminated, area where hazard exists should be cordoned off and guarded. 5. Fire lines - Supply sprinkler/standpipe system and coordinate attack (i.e., not having opposing lines during an inside attack, not having outside lines attacking the fire while personnel are inside attacking the fire, etc.), back-up lines in place, lines are in place for exposures and when ventilation and/or forcible entry are occurring, etc. 6. Lobby Control - control of elevators/stairways is established for advancing fire fighters and the evacuation of occupants or victims. 7. Fire Alarm System is monitored throughout the incident for possible extension. 8. Assignment of Rescue for rehab and patient care. 9. Blockage of streets and control of crowd is established through the Police Department. 4/2/2013 EOM / Article 3 / Section 30 Page 2 10. Initial Rapid Intervention Team (IRIT)/Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) standing by. 11. PASSPORT Accountability System in place. 12. Stairwell support - elevators may be turned off. 13. Assignment of a Scene Safety Officer and potentially an additional Interior Safety Officer SPECIFIC PROBLEMS WITH THIS TYPE OF STRUCTURE With these types of structures there are potential problems that could occur that the responding units need to be aware of. Listed below are some of these problems: 1. Buildings taller than 15 stories may contain Pressure Reducing Valves (PRV) that limit the pressure available at the standpipe hook up on each floor. These valves cannot be reset or modified by firefighters to increase the pressure available at the valve. PRV are normally set between 100 and 175 Pounds per Square Inch (PSI) to reduce the pressure that comes from a fire pump delivering pressure greater that 175 psi to the standpipe system. Malfunctions, obstructions in the valve, or the placement of the wrong valve in the standpipe system may cause the pressure to be lower than the required minimum pressure of 100 PSI. 2. NFPA 14 (NFPA 14- Installation of Standpipe and Hoses Systems, 7.2.2.3), allows 200’ of distance between the standpipe hookup and the most remote portions of a sprinkled floor. Distances greater than 200’ may be encountered if the closest standpipe is not utilized when hooking up. 3. To overcome the potential low pressure from a standpipe PRV and greater distances from the standpipe to the most remote portions of a sprinkled floor the standard Miami Fire-Rescue High Rise Kit has been modified to include 200’ of hose and the addition of a line pressure gauge (Piezometer). Utilization of low friction loss hose (currently “Ponn Conquest” 1¾” hose) and solid tip nozzles will assist in obtaining required fire flows in high-rise structures. A line pressure gauge will allow firefighters to determine the pressure available at the standpipe connection and can be used to determine if a problem with the valve exists. Consideration should be given to hooking up on another floor or at a second remote standpipe if a problem exists. The potential for debris in the standpipe is a very good possibility with numerous items being discovered in Fire Department Connections (FDC) during routine inspections. The use of a solid stream nozzle will prevent flow restrictions at the nozzle and allow small debris to pass through without reducing the flow. 4. Attic and Upper Floors - consideration needs to be given to the floors above the fire and the attic. If extension does occur on the floors above, a 1 ¾” line is usually sufficient with back-up lines. If extension occurs in the attic, consideration needs be given to ventilating the roof above the fire (a fire line should be in place on the roof to protect personnel performing ventilating function) and extinguished in one of two ways:  pulling ceiling down with pike poles and extinguishing with hand lines. This is usually the method of choice because it allows for a visual check of the attic, and because it limits water damage.  piercing nozzles (ceiling will still need to be pulled down to verify) 4/2/2013 EOM / Article 3 / Section 30 Page 3 5. Drop Ceilings - they are very common in these structures to hide plumbing, Air Conditioning (A/C) ducts, electrical, and other miscellaneous equipment. These spaces not only allow for fire travel, but also the accumulation of toxic and explosive gases. These spaces need to be checked thoroughly. 6. Utilities - the concern is electrical and gas: Electrical problems occur because wire is exposed when walls or ceilings collapse, fixtures fall, and insulation to the wire is burned off. Also, power lines may have fallen because of being burned off at the weather head. Circuit breakers should be turned off and Florida Power & Light (FPL) requested to disconnect power at pole. Gas (natural or Liquefied Petroleum Gas-LPG) leaks may occur because of faulty appliances, defective lines or connections. The gas should be turned off at the meter or tank and the gas company notified. 7. Air Handling System - in these types of buildings, smoke extension can occur throughout because of the air handling system. It is extremely important to locate the building engineer and shut this system down immediately. 8. Building design, size and occupant load - the major problems created by these features is with search, rescue and evacuation. The difficulty with accomplishing these objectives are a result of these structures being very large and more than 1 story in height, a large number of occupants, limited number of exit ways, and construction material and design which effects ventilation by limiting the different ways to ventilate and the time involved to complete this task. For search, rescue, and evacuation to be successful, the Incident Commander has to:  Have the building systematically searched (primary and secondary)  have the manpower available to accomplish a thorough search  Take control of the elevators and stairways. Designate which one will be used for advancing Fire Fighters and equipment and which one will be used for evacuation.  Establish an area for medical treatment and assign the appropriate personnel. 4/2/2013 EOM / Article 3 / Section 30 Page 4