High Rise Operations Manual PDF

DIGITAL VEHICULAR REPEATER SYSTEM OVERVIEW • DVRS is a repeater system carried on SO-2 and BC vehicles • Think of the DVRS as a portable radio tower. Your portable radio signal only needs to reach the DVRS in the BC car, rather than needing to reach the nearest radio tower • DVRS boosts the signal a...

DIGITAL VEHICULAR REPEATER SYSTEM OVERVIEW • DVRS is a repeater system carried on SO-2 and BC vehicles • Think of the DVRS as a portable radio tower. Your portable radio signal only needs to reach the DVRS in the BC car, rather than needing to reach the nearest radio tower • DVRS boosts the signal and relays it to the nearest radio tower • DVRS has three modes: Off, Local Mode, and System Mode • Local Mode is a line-of-sight function like car-to-car (Direct C) • System Mode is what will be utilized to boost the radio signals • There are four available DVRS channels: CFD DVRS, 7TAC51 DVRS, 7MED65, and 7MED66 • CFD DVRS and 7TAC51 DVRS are available within zones 1-8 (B1 CFD DVRS, B1 7TAC51 DVRS, B2 CFD DVRS, B2 7TAC51 DVRS, etc.) • If two DVRS units are operating on the same frequency within approximately two miles of each other, one will go inactive. For large incidents, set the second DVRS to 7TAC51 • DVRS is a great option for high-rise buildings where radio signals have trouble getting out Click here to view an informational YouTube video about how the DVRS works BC AND SO-2 DVRS SETUP • The BC must notify all fireground companies they will be switching to DVRS and specify which DVRS channel will be used. The BC then places the directional magnetic antenna on top of the car facing toward the incident and turns on the DVRS PORTABLE RADIOS • Rotate the selector knob until the assigned FG DVRS channel is selected • Example: If assigned fireground channel is B5 FG, select B5 CFD DVRS on the radio • Once a second vehicle with a DVRS arrives, their DVRS unit can be used to operate a separate DVRS channel if needed (such as B5 7TAC51 DVRS) Click here to view Vector Solutions video about CFD DVRS Operations There are no current SOPs dictating how a Mayday will be handled if a DVRS channel is in use. Firefighters should discuss with their Battalion Chiefs what the “Stay” and “Change” talkgroups will be if a Mayday occurs while companies are operating on a DVRS channel. The next section will discuss the second half of high-rise operations: everything that happens from the resource floor and above. The operations that take place in the lobby/ground floor area set us up for success on the upper floors. Staying disciplined and knowing your role in the operation allows all crews to work together for the common goal: saving lives and extinguishing the fire. “Scientia potentia est—Knowledge is power.” Second Edition 01/11/22 73 PAGE LEFT BLANK FOR DOUBLE SIDED PRINTING Second Edition 01/11/22 74 ABOVE THE GROUND FLOOR HIGH-RISE OPERATIONS MANUAL SECTION TOPICS Arriving at the Resource Floor The Hose Advance The Floor Below the Fire 2 ½” Hose Line Options The Hose Stretch The Fire Floor and Floors Above The Control Firefighter SECTION OBJECTIVES Describe the initial actions taken when arriving at the resource floor Identify the team positions on the fire attack hose line State the groups that may be located on the resource floor State the proper pressures and flows for high-rise hose Understand the characteristics of residential high-rise floor construction Identify proper trouble-shooting procedures on the fire attack team State why the initial ladder company recon is so important for the Fire Attack Group State basic techniques for advancing high rise hose Discuss floor layout safety concerns when entering a commercial high-rise Identify additional groups that may be needed as a large incident progresses Second Edition 01/11/22 75 ARRIVING AT THE RESOURCE FLOOR OVERVIEW • The resource floor is two floors below the fire floor • All crews riding elevators will exit two floors below the fire floor, onto the resource floor • The Resource Group will operate on the resource floor • Extra equipment will be stored on the resource floor o SCBA bottles o Hose packs and standpipe kits o Hand tools o Lights, electric cords, and electric fans o Search ropes and RIT packs • The Resource Group Supervisor shall keep a unit activity log (ICS 214) STAGING • Interior crews will stage on the resource floor o Operations Chief could be located here o Operations Chief will move between the resource floor and the fire floor REHAB • Rehab of firefighting crews will happen on the resource floor o The EMS Supervisor is in-charge of rehab and the Casualty Collection Point (CCP) o One Medic crew will be assigned to rehab CASUALTY COLLECTION POINT • The Casualty Collection Point (CCP) will be set up on the resource floor o One Medic crew will be assigned to the CCP o The USE Group will bring any victims to the CCP o EMS triage of victims will start at the CCP The Resource Floor is the hub of operations above the lobby during a high-rise fire Second Edition 01/11/22 76 THE FLOOR BELOW THE FIRE OVERVIEW • The Fire Attack Group begins their operation on the floor below the fire. Forward accountability is also located here. This is where the second accountability board and second passport are used • The Fire Attack Group consists of the first two engines and the first ladder • Engine companies stand-by on the floor below while the ladder recons the fire area • Ladder company searches for the fire and determines which stairwell is best for fire attack o Rope and TICs should be used during the search o If victims are found, remove them to the CCP o Once the fire is found, tell the engine companies the best location to stretch from ▪ The shortest hose stretch is the best stretch ▪ By waiting for the recon report, the engine companies can relocate to another stairwell if it provides better access to the fire location • Ladder company designates the Attack stairwell and the Evacuation stairwell o All companies need to hear this radio message, including the I/C o Ladder company clears the stairwell above the attack entry point o Civilians need to be removed from the attack stairwell because the attack stairwell will become a vent point when firefighters advance onto the fire floor • The USE Group will move victims down the evacuation stairwell. The USE Group will use the evacuation stairwell as the main avenue of travel for both search and victim removal • During the ladder company’s recon efforts, a member of one of the engine companies should recon the floor below the fire. That member should be looking for additional stairwells in case the engine companies need to relocate to a different stairwell RESIDENTIAL HIGH-RISES • In residential high-rises, the floor layout on other floors will be the same as the fire floor • Residential high-rise buildings are built to utilize common building utilities • Room numbers and unit features are similar from floor to floor • Apartment #705 will be directly below apartment #805 • Counting the doors to apartment #705 will give firefighters an idea how far the stretch will be to apartment #805 • This photo shows a layout common in residential high-rises. If you were to turn around, the view would be nearly identical in the opposite direction Second Edition 01/11/22 77 The image on the left shows an overhead view of the general floor plan found in most residential high-rise buildings. Residential high rises will generally have a center hallway, and they will be more compartmentalized than the layouts found in commercial high-rise buildings COMMERCIAL HIGH-RISES • If the high-rise building is commercial, the floor layout will most likely be different from one floor to the next o The elevators, stairwells, and utility chases will be the same o Tenants can outfit their floor however they choose, which creates a different layout from floor to floor The photo on the left shows a common office floor plan found in commercial highrise buildings. This open area would generally be filled with cubicles to maximize work space. The open space design of this layout leads to unobstructed fire progression throughout the floor The image on the right shows a floor plan layout for a commercial floor similar to the photo above. Stairwells and elevator shafts compose the center of floor plans in this center core style of high-rise Second Edition 01/11/22 78 THE HOSE STRETCH OVERVIEW Once the fire has been located and the Attack stairwell has been designated, it is time for the Fire Attack Group crews to stretch the line and go to work. The Fire Attack Group should consist of seven to nine firefighters based on the time of day. Prior to 2000, seven firefighters; after 2000, nine firefighters. THE TEAM POSITIONS Fire Attack Group Supervisor • The IC will designate one of the engine officers to be the supervisor o Assigns hose team positions o Communicates for the group to the I/C o Monitors the conditions and the crew during the fire attack Nozzle Firefighter • Usually is the firefighter that carried the hose pack up • Unpacks the hose and prepares the two halves for the stretch • Stretches the nozzle half of the pack • Operates the nozzle on the fire floor Back-up Firefighter • Follows the hose line up, removing kinks and pushing hose to the outside • Moves hose from the fire floor stairwell into the fire area • Primary job is to absorb the nozzle reaction for the nozzle firefighter Door Firefighter 1 • Assists members with removing kinks and pushing hose to the outside • Positions on the landing between floors and moves hose up the stairs onto the fire floor • Travels between the floor below and the fire floor moving hose Door Firefighter 2 • Assists members with removing kinks and pushing hose to the outside • Positions on the fire floor landing • Usually is a ladder company firefighter • Opens and chocks the door for the hose advance • Moves hose from the fire floor stairwell into the fire area Control Firefighter • Positions at the standpipe outlet • Acts as the remote pump operator • Operates the hose outlet • Flakes out remaining hose on the floor below Click to view a video on Deploying the 2 1/2" Single Stack/Deploying 2" to the Fire Floor Door Click to view video on Deploying the 2 1/2" Twin Donut/Deploying 2" to the Half Landing Above Second Edition 01/11/22 79 THE CONTROL FIREFIGHTER IDENTIFY The first step in the standpipe hookup is to determine whether there is a PRD or a PRV present. Firefighters must be able to identify which type of PRD or PRV is present in order to remove or adjust the device. Pressure Reducing Device • If a PRD is found, firefighters shall remove it Pressure Reducing Valve • If PRVs are encountered, the Fire Attack Group Supervisor should be notified Factory Pre-Set Non-Adjustable PRV For a factory pre-set non-adjustable PRV, firefighters will not know if the valve is set correctly until they complete the entire hook up and begin flowing water to set the pressure. If the valve is improperly set, firefighters may find that there is not enough pressure to achieve an effective fire stream. At this point, firefighters should try a different valve. If the valve on the floor below the fire is found to be inadequate, firefighters must now go two floors below the fire floor and try that valve. Another option is to try a valve in a different stairwell, but using an alternate stairwell for attack would need to be coordinated with Incident Command. There is no way to increase pressure in a factory pre-set non-adjustable valve. Whatever pressure is obtained when the valve is fully open is the maximum pressure the valve will be able to supply. Trying to increase the pressure by having the FDC engine take over for the fire pump and supply more pressure to the standpipe will not work. The valve will continue to reduce the pressure to whatever pressure it was pre-set to at the factory. Field Adjustable Valve If a field adjustable valve is identified, things have just gotten much better for the operation if firefighters are familiar with these devices. There is no need to adjust a field adjustable valve until the hookup is complete and water is flowing. Most of the valves will be set correctly. If there is inadequate flow when setting the pressure, firefighters can then adjust the valve as needed. Giacomini Second Edition 01/11/22 Zurn Urfa 80 CONNECT STANDPIPE APPLIANCES Gate Valve A 2.5” gate valve should be placed directly on the standpipe outlet prior to flushing the system. The purpose of the gate valve is to make the operation easier and take the hand wheel out of play during the operation. Most of the hand wheels on standpipes have not been opened in years. Therefore, these hand wheels may be very difficult to operate. With the gate valve in place, open the hand wheel on the standpipe fully. From this point on in the operation all adjustments will be made from the gate valve. Flushing the standpipe and dialing in the flow pressure will be accomplished much more efficiently with the gate valve than with the standpipe valve’s hand wheel. The less the hand wheel is used the better; this means less chance of breaking the hand wheel off and having to open the standpipe with a pipe wrench. Click here to view Vector Solutions video on Connecting to the Standpipe Flush Prior to any hookup, a proper flush of the system must be performed. Open the standpipe valve enough to remove any debris from the system. The water in the system will be nasty! • A 3-5 second flush per floor above the lobby should be performed • For example, the 12th floor would get approximately a 30 second—1 minute flush The water will clear up some, but the main purpose of the flush is to remove any scale in the system (small pieces of rust inside the pipe). In a wet system, the only debris that should be present is scale. Other debris such as bags, gloves, cans, etc. should not be found as there is no place to introduce them into the system. Firefighters will find such debris in dry pipe systems such as a parking garage. Dry pipe systems can be a nightmare because of this debris; special caution should be taken. Flush the dry pipe system longer if needed. The photo on the left shows how improper flushing could cause debris to make its way to the nozzle. Note the color of the water (photo on right) from the standpipe without a proper flush. Second Edition 01/11/22 81 45° Elbow with Bleeder Valve The elbow should be placed on the gate valve. It is designed to make a gradual turn toward the direction in which the hose line will be placed. In situations where the connection is being made in a hose cabinet, it may be necessary to place the elbow directly on the standpipe to provide the clearance needed to hook up the gate valve. In-Line Pressure Gauge The inline pressure gauge should be placed AFTER the elbow whenever possible. Partially opening the gate valve creates turbulence in the water just after the gate valve. Placing the inline pressure gauge after the elbow allows the turbulence to be reduced before it reaches the gauge. This provides a more accurate gauge reading when setting the flow pressure. Attach the Attack Hose Once the standpipe has been properly flushed and all appliances are attached in the correct order, the hoseline may now be attached to the in-line gauge. Wait to charge the line until the hose team has laid out the hose appropriately and is ready for water. Once water is called for, open the gate valve slowly and allow the hose to fill with water. Once the hose is full, open the gate valve completely and prepare to set the pressure. The photo above shows the proper way the control firefighter should be making the standpipe connection. Second Edition 01/11/22 82