17 - Highrise Fire

Question 1

EFRS considers a highrise to have ____ or more floors above ground.

Answer 1

6 or more floors

Question 2

2 styles of high rise conscruction

Answer 2

Centre core: Concrete continueum design containing stairs, elevators, hvac, and utilities. TYpically office space environments, so open on each floor, allowing for rapid lateral fire spread.
-Windows typically do not open.
-Floor trusses must have 2 hour fire rating.
Centre Hall: Stairs and elevators found on either side of the building, with compartments running the length on either side of a hallway.
-Lateral fire spread is slower due to compartments.
-Standpipes located in stairwells or just inside hallways.

Question 3

Most common stairwell designs`

Answer 3

Straight: extend in a straight line for their entire length
Circular: Convienice stairway that covers minimal floor space while combining 2 floors typically in a multiflloor apartment.
Return: Stairs with a landing incorporated, typically the top and bottom of the stairs are located in the same position.
Scissor, 2 return stairs beisde eachother, forming an X pattern.

Question 4

Protected vs unprotected stairwells

Answer 4

Protected: enclosed fire rated shafts that serve primarily as a path for emergency egress. Protected by fire doors to ensure the shaft is pressurized to prevent smoke from entering.
Unprotected: stairwells that can be exposed to fire.

Question 5

Elevator use in a fire

Answer 5

Gain control of elevator using firefighter keys and switch.
Check the shaft for signs of smoke.
Never take the elevator to the fire floor, Take it 2 floors below and take the stairs the remainder of the way.
Test the operation before continueing by proceeding to the second floor.

Question 6

Standpipe system

Answer 6

Arrangment of piping, valves and hose connection installed in a building to assist with firefighting efforts. A standpipe delivers water supply to hose connections and sprinklers.

Question 7

Types of standpipe systems

Answer 7

Wet: standpipes are already charged with water, typically by a pump built into the building, but for firefighting efforts will still need a pumper to suppliment pressure.
Dry: The system is clear of all water
Combination: portions of the system have water pressure, some is dry.

Question 8

Classes of standpipe systems

Answer 8

Class I: a 65mm connection in the stairwell
Class II: a 38mm preconnected hose in a cabinet within the hallway, for civilian use.
Class III: a combined system, the 38mm preconnect and a 65 connection for firefighters.

Question 9

According to EFRS, how do you use standpipes

Answer 9

Connect to the standpipe on the floor below the firefloor, then advance hose up the stairwell and into the fire suite.

Question 10

Standpipe issues and trouble shooting

Answer 10

Valves open or partially open on other floors, reducing the pressure the attack line recieves.
Garbage and debris within the valve (flush the valve before connection)

Question 11

Sectors assigned by fire command, and brief responisblities

Answer 11

Lobby: locate keybox, determine alarm panel location and cause, locate on site personnel, Direct occupants to exits, Locate and control stairwells and elevators.
Recon: Have all tools (high rise kits, irons, tic), obtain keys, proceed 2 floors below fire floor then use stairs, walk the floor below of activated floor.
Fire attack: Deploy high rise kits in stairwell, advise FC on conditions, perform attacks.
Search and rescue: Search prioreties; Fire floor, floor above, below, top, then down.
Ventilation sector: Determine how to ventilate, maybe use stairwells that are empty.
RIC: Stage 2 floors below the fire floor.
Evacuation: based on occupancy and fire location, evacuate if high hazard or shelter in place if no immidiate danger.
Interior staging: 2 floors below fire floor
Rehab: Area away from event site to be used for rest and rehab/evaluation.
Salvage and overhaul:

Question 12

Search and rescue in highrise, whats the floor priorety

Answer 12

Fire floor
Floor above
Floor below
Top floor
Down from the top

Question 13

Evacuation Possibilities

Answer 13

Evacuate if high hazard.
Shelter in place if no immidate danger.
Limited or partial evacuation: Evacuate the fire floor and a number of floors above and below the floor.
Full evacuation

Question 14

What tools should be brought to interior staging

Answer 14

Irons, Tic, Spare bottles, Smoke ejectors, power cords, curtains, spare nozzles and hoselines, medical and rehab, more high rise kits.

Question 15

When should firefighters go to rehab

Answer 15

After 2 air cylinders or around 45min to an hour interval of work.

Question 16

RED BAG - STOP Inventory

Answer 16

3m length of 65mm with preconnected gated wye.
Length of 44mm.
10mmx20m rope bag
2 Sprinkler wedges, 2 dowels, 1 recessed sprinkler wedge.
10 Rubber door stop, 3 door wedges
Pipe wrench, hose key, retract a bit, 2 sets of lumbar crayons

Question 17

GREEN BAG - GO Inventory

Answer 17

2 lengths of 44mm preconnected to a fog nozzle
Not in the bag but bring a set of irons too.

Question 18

Walk up apartment is considered any building uner ___ in height.
These do NOT always have an _______.
They are most often centre _____ in design.
______/_____ systems MAY be on site
Usually have a common ____ space.

Answer 18

Under 5 stories is considered a walk up style apartment.
These do not always have an elevator.
They are most often centre hall in design.
Standpipe/srpinkler systems MAY be on site.
Usually have a common attic space.