Responding to "Routine" Emergencies Flashcards
When responding to an odor of smoke in a commercial occupancy, telephone exchange, or a building that houses a transformer, one hazard may be present in the burning insulation?
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
At an odor of smoke call, flickering, Tim, or nonfunctioning fluorescent lamp can indicate that the _________ is heating up.
ballast
It is possible, in ballast devices manufactured before 1979, that the capacitor contains a small amount of ____ contaminated dielectric fluid.
PCB
True or false: removing a fluorescent lamp smaller than eight feet will stop the flow of electricity.
False
underwriter laboratories didn’t require thermal protection for approved recessed lighting until what year?
1982
since the smell of overheating rubber mimics that of an electrical problem, you should consider checking ____________at an electrical odor call.
the belts of major appliances
If you suspect that ignited lint is the source of the smoke condition, you’ll have to check both the clothes dryer itself and the entire run of the
vent duct.
True or false: a loose wire in a junction box may cause overheating in another box, provoking a fire remote from the cause.
True
a non-invasive way to check behind the wall for hot wires, smoldering beams, or active flaming is to use a
TIC
should the fire department open sealed electrical boxes?
No
in a residential building, will opening the main switch necessarily cut off all power to the home?
No
true or false: some new meters may be removed without interrupting the flow of electricity into the building.
True
does aluminum siding pose a threat of shock hazard?
Yes
name four dangers associated with spraying water on a burning pole mounted transformer.
- Electrocution,
- PCB contamination,
- Explosion,
- Down wires
treat all wires as if they were
live
Is it entirely safe to use a rope or a wooden Pike pole to remove a downed power line from a vehicle?
No
when power lines are down, danger zone should be at least ________in either direction of the fault.
one span between poles
If, at the request of the utility company, the decision is made to flood in electrical manhole, the proper procedure you should follow is to
tie off the butt end of an open hose and remove all personnel to a safe distance.
The major problem experienced with electrical manholes in the North East is deterioration due to
salt corrosion
The gases generated by burning wiring are not only noxious and deadly, they are also _______and ________.
flammable and explosive
The author recommends that you routinely test for dangerous levels of ____at every manhole incident.
CO
Who should pull the cover off of a smoking manhole?
appropriately trained utility personnel.
The most common home heating fuels are ___and _______.
oil and natural gas.
Based on its viscosity, fuel oil is separated into how many grades?
6
the capacity of the fuel tank in a private dwelling is typically ___ gallons.
275 gallons.
To ignite the fuel oil in the combustion chamber of an oil burner, the fuel is _____, thus increasing its surface area.
atomized
Safety devices allowing oil burner pump to operate for no more than about ___seconds if no flames present.
90 seconds
This oil burner emergency occurs when unburned atomized fuel is ignited at the start of the burn cycle, resulting in an explosion. ____________.
Delayed ignition - Puff back.
The burning of pooled oil in the combustion chamber after the burner has shut down is known as ________.
afterburner.
This condition occurs when the flame repeatedly jumps away from and then returns to the burner nosecone. ________
Pulsation
since the white ghost is a potentially explosive situation, you should treat it as a _________
gas leak.
On arrival at an oil burner emergency, should you close the furnace door if you find it open? __________________.
No, closing the door causes severe pulsation.
After shutting down the power in the fuel supply valve, what is the proper way to extinguish a fire in the combustion chamber of an oil burner? __________________
Let it burn out on its own.
If smoke is filling the burner room accompanied by an oily odor, suspect _______________________
a blocked or disconnected flue or chimney.
The primary threat of an oil spill in the basement is that the vapors _____________________
will make the occupants of the building sick.
Typically, on residential water heaters, the temperature or pressure valve will function if the water reaches _________ or if the pressure exceeds ______.
210 degrees F or if the pressure exceeds 150psi.
Name two symptoms of a defective temperature - pressure valve. 1. ____________ 2. ______________.
- Steam or hot water discharging from the temp - pressure valve.
- Steam coming from the faucet.
Name two symptoms of a defective low-water cutoff. 1. _______, 2. __________.
- Red hot water heater,
2. Smell of hot metal.
When the homeowner reports having heard a loud whooshing sound prior to noticing fire near the gas water heater, what problem is usually indicated? ____________
Delayed ignition (Puff back)
The natural gas intended for domestic use contain 70 to 90 percent ________, with _______making up most of the remainder.
methane, with ethane
Although natural gas is non-toxic, it can cause death by ________.
asphyxiation.
Typically, the odorant added to natural gas is ________.
Mercaptan.
Natural gas is about ___ as dense as air.
2/3
High-pressure gas transmission lines can be pressurized to as much as _______.
350 PSI.
Each end-user has a gas regulator installed to lower the pressure down to a usable pressure of about ___ PSI.
1/4 PSI.
The main danger of having water in a gas line is that he can cause ________in the same way that an air slug would.
flameout
For every increase in temperature of 4590F, the volume of air ________.
doubles.
To some extent, odorants can be absorbed by iron gas pipe, but only when the pipe is ____.
new.
What device enables you to determine not only that natural gas is present, but also its concentration and whether or not it is within its flammable range?
Digital flammable gas detectors
name the two probable results of excessive gas flow to an appliance. 1. ________ 2. _____________.
- Blowout
2. Flame may grow too high.
Blocked burner ports, accumulated dirt, and low gas pressure can all result in _____________.
delayed ignition.
Don’t extinguish a gas fire until you ________________.
shut off the escaping gas.
Could keying the mic on a portable radio be enough to set off an explosion at a response to an interior gas leak?
Yes
when responding to an interior gas leak, you should position apparatus defensively against _______and ____________.
explosion and structural collapse.
True or false: the hazards associated with a propane gas leak are different from those of a natural gas leak.
True
in the case of a slight leak, is a gas indicator likely to give accurate results if you slip the probe underneath the door of a locked apartment? Why?
No, gas accumulates near the ceiling.
The shutoff found on the supply side of a gas meter is known as a _________________
meter 1/4 turn wingcock.
True or false: since metal pipe is conductive, and gas leaking from a metal pipe poses a static electricity hazard.
False (Plastic pipe is nonconductive and static can build up).
It is possible to stop the flow of gas from a small plastic pipe by folding the pipe over on itself? ______________________.
Yes, but you must consider static electricity
Fresh water weighs approximately ____ pounds per cubic foot at 40 degrees F.
62.4
By weight, how much water will be on a 30X45 foot roof if the water level is 3” deep?
1,350 sqft X 0.25’ = 21,060 pounds
when siphoning water off a roof, the author recommends that you use a length or two of one inch rubber booster lines since it will _______.
resist kinking.
