Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Roof Operations PDF

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Standard Operating Guideline SOG 420-06 Roof Operations Issue Date: 05/21/2018...

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Standard Operating Guideline SOG 420-06 Roof Operations Issue Date: 05/21/2018 Effective Date: 06/21/2018 PURPOSE: To provide guidelines for safe operations while personnel are operating on a roof. AUTHORITY:  Fire Rescue Administrator SCOPE: This standard guideline shall apply to all Emergency Operations personnel. PROCEDURE: These guidelines provide a basic framework for most incidents. 1. General Information a. Aerials should be strategically positioned to allow safe access to and egress from the roof. A tactical position that would permit effective defensive operations if needed. b. Roof operations should use the minimum number of personnel needed to complete the task. 2. Incident Commander Responsibilities a. The Incident Commander should evaluate and determine the need to establish roof operations. Roof stability must be considered before committing personnel to it. b. The Incident Commander should consider: i. Assigning an Assistant Safety Officer to observe roof conditions. ii. Using the Aerial apparatus and personnel for roof operations. iii. Using mechanical ventilation (PPV) as an aid to vertical ventilation (refer to SOG 420-05 Ventilation “when NOT to use a PPV”). 3. Assistant Safety Officer Responsibilities a. The Assistant Safety Officer should be able to observe the roof operations from a safe distance (i.e., an aerial ladder, an adjacent building, etc…). 4. Company responsibilities a. A Company assigned to roof operations shall: i. Access the roof from an established stable platform. ii. Have a minimum of two means to egress. iii. Be in full personal protective equipment (including: SCBA and portable radio). iv. Have a roof ladder and tools to sound the roof. SOG 420-06 Roof Operations Page 1 of 3  b. A stable platform includes, any of the following: i. Safety lines ii. Roof ladders iii. Aerial devices c. An Area of Safe Refuge on an unexposed and structurally sound roof surface shall count as an egress. d. The first person reaching the roof must quickly evaluate the conditions to assure the roof is structurally sound before attempting to work on it. e. Once on the roof, personnel must evaluate their route and progress as they proceed. f. A constant re-evaluation must be performed throughout roof operations. g. Roof ladders used on metal roofs pose a slipping hazard where the roof ladder hooks contact the roof. Prior to using a roof ladder on a metal roof, evaluate its ability to remain affixed to the roof. h. The Company assigned to roof operations must make note of (and report to the Incident Commander) the following, if applicable: i. Roof design and construction ii. Structural conditions iii. Fire conditions or effects of fire on the roof iv. Location of fire walls v. Location of existing roof openings (natural openings) vi. Location of heavy objects vii. Ventilation plan and needs i. The objectives for roof operations include: i. Constantly evaluate the structural stability of the roof. ii. Complete adequate size vertical ventilation. iii. Provide progress reports to the Incident Commander. j. Upon successful completion of roof operations, all personnel shall vacate the roof. 5. Vertical Ventilation a. Vertical ventilation should only be performed when the exact location of the fire is known and the roof is safe to operate on. b. A vertical ventilation operation may require units to be teamed due to the amount of equipment and work that is needed to complete the task. c. Roof ladders: i. Should be utilized for purposes of weight distribution on the roof. ii. Have the potential to aid in the emergency escape of firefighters that may fall into the attic space of a weakened roof structure. d. All power saws shall be started on the ground to ensure operability. e. Saws shall not be running while climbing a ladder or while being hoisted up to the roof. f. Depending on roof type and degree of ease or difficulty of the operation, firefighters need to decide which cut to select when making a vertical ventilation hole. Examples include: i. 7-9-8 Cut for Flat roofs ii. Bay and Louver cuts for Pitch roofs SOG 420-06 Roof Operations Page 2 of 3  g. The vertical ventilation hole must be at least 16 square feet (sf) in size (i.e., 4’ X 4’) and as close to or directly over the fire as safe operations permit. h. Extending the initial vertical ventilation hole should be considered when necessary. i. The Company assigned to vertical ventilation should: i. Know and understand the roof structure and roof coverings. ii. Plan cuts to minimize time on the roof. iii. PAR on and off the roof (refer to SOG 220-01 Personnel Accountability). iv. Maintain a secondary means of egress. v. Sound the roof before stepping on it. vi. Frequently sound the roof during roof operations. vii. Travel near the edges. viii. Carry the following equipment, as a minimum: 1. Appropriate saw(s) 2. Axe 3. Halligan 4. Hook/pike pole 5. TIC 6. Roof ladder(s) ix. Utilize natural openings such as skylights, scuttle hatches, elevator houses and other building ventilation attributes in order to minimize time on a roof. x. Utilize any of the following to ascertain the presence of fire: 1. A Kerf (plunge) cut 2. Inspection (triangular) hole xi. Advise the Incident Commander when the ventilation hole is opened. xii. Exit the roof as soon as ventilation is complete. Supersession History 1. SOG #1715, issued 01/01/2006 2. SOG #1715, issued 10/01/2012 3. SOG 420-06, clerical 05/01/2018 4. SOG 420-06, issued 05/21/2018 SOG 420-06 Roof Operations Page 3 of 3