United States Fire Administration Chief Officer Training Curriculum

United States Fire Administration Chief Officer Training Curriculum Operations Module 15: High-Rise Simulation Exercise

Objectives United States Fire Administration ¨ Identify critical cues at a high-rise incidents ¨ Establish incident objectives ¨ Select tactics ¨ Identify and request resources ¨ Select alternate solutions ¨ Establish an appropriate ICS organization to manage the incident 2

Overview United States Fire Administration ¨ High-rise: building 75 feet or greater in height ¨ Buildings less than 75 -feet height high may present similar difficulties ¨ If fire on top floors of four- or five-story building, treat as high-rise 3

Knowledge of Building United States Fire Administration ¨ “Old” or “new” style construction? ¨ Built-in life safety and fire protection— where and how do they operate? ¨ Current occupancy? ¨ Floors compartmented? ¨ Open space? 4

5 Old Style

Old-Style Characteristics United States Fire Administration ¨ Bearing wall—masonry ¨ Most reinforced concrete—some not ¨ Large mass (weight) ¨ Less likely to collapse ¨ Floors/walls—reinforced concrete ¨ Many have unreinforced masonry 6

7 New Style

New-Style Characteristics United States Fire Administration ¨ Core construction—but not all ¨ Steel skeleton—column, beam, and girder ¨ Elevators, stairs, utilities in core ¨ Center core construction ¨ Less mass (weight)—more vulnerable to heat 8

New-Style Characteristics (continued) United States Fire Administration ¨ Floors have been known to sag 2 feet ¨ Sprayed-on coating on steel ¨ Some new high-rises constructed without core – Stairs, elevators, and utilities at various places buildings—mainly on exterior walls 9

10 Core

Structural Framing Systems United States Fire Administration ¨ Skeleton of the building ¨ Both styles use interior and exterior columns 11

Exterior Walls—Both Styles United States Fire Administration ¨ Poured in-place concrete—old style ¨ Prefabricated—new style – Walls lighter weight than old style 12

Exterior Walls—New Style United States Fire Administration ¨ Bolts to structural frame or floor slab ¨ Leaves space between wall and floor ¨ Unless sealed, can lead to fire and smoke extension to floors above and water damage to floors below 13

14 Roof

Roofs—Both Styles United States Fire Administration ¨ 2 -hour fire-restrictive rating ¨ Know the: – Stair shaft exits – Obstructions on the roof 15

Interior Partition Construction and Compartmentation—Old Style United States Fire Administration ¨ Interior walls—poured concrete ¨ High level of compartmentation ¨ Walls usually go from floor to to floor 16

Interior Partition Construction and Compartmentation—New Style United States Fire Administration ¨ Interior partitions and walls usually drywall on a metal stud ¨ May or may not be high-level of compartmentation 17

Electrical Systems United States Fire Administration ¨ Systems extremely complex 18 and hazardous ¨ Chases one cause of vertical fire spread ¨ Main electrical usually located in basement ¨ Utility company or building engineer should shut down system

19 Elevator Lobby

Elevators United States Fire Administration ¨ Normal conditions—elevators only practical method of moving people ¨ Fire conditions—elevators become erratic and dangerous ¨ Many control features affected by smoke, moisture, and heat 20

Elevators—Safe Use United States Fire Administration ¨ Knowledge of how they work ¨ Maximum amount of people— 5 to 6 ¨ Possible malfunctions What malfunctions can occur? 21

Elevators—Hoistways United States Fire Administration ¨ Can be multiple elevators in hoistway ¨ Split-bank elevators—low, medium, high- rise 22

Elevators—Emergency Service Feature United States Fire Administration ¨ Moves cars to designated location ¨ May be activated by fire alarm system ¨ Manual recall may be done by switches in lobby, fire control room, or elevator 23

Elevators—Good Judgment United States Fire Administration ¨ Can speed up initial investigation and fire control ¨ Can malfunction and take you to the fire floor ¨ Using stairs is safest method ¨ Do not take elevator closer than five floors to the fire floor ¨ Be prepared to take defensive action 24

Smoke Control Systems United States Fire Administration ¨ Active systems prone to fail under fire conditions ¨ Dirt and dust damage systems ¨ If used for smoke removal, closely monitor the area ¨ Shut down system if notice any adverse affects 25

HVAC Systems United States Fire Administration ¨ Under fire conditions, can pump heat, smoke and toxins to other areas ¨ Best approach—Shut down system 26

HVAC Systems (continued) United States Fire Administration 27 ¨ Older buildings: – Close switches that control intake fans – Switches may be in Mechanical Equipment Room (MER) ¨ Newer buildings: – System may automatically shut down – Systems may provide exhaust on fire floor and pressurization of floors above and below – Best bet—Shut down HVAC and use for smoke removal after fire controlled

Water Supply United States Fire Administration ¨ Variety of water supply systems: – 1 1/2 -inch wet standpipe – 2 1/2 -inch dry standpipe – 2 1/2 -inch wet standpipe – Sprinkler systems 28

Water Supply-WARNING United States Fire Administration ¨ Know outlet pressure—type of hose and nozzle depends on this information: – Typical pressure about 65 psi – This pressure requires smoothbore tip or low pressure fog nozzle – Fog nozzles requiring 100 psi at nozzle produce ineffective streams 29

Water Supply Pressure Control Devices United States Fire Administration ¨ Minimum pressure must be available at top floor ¨ Pressure Relief Valves (PRV) often placed on lower floors to control head pressure ¨ NFPA Standards #14 and #25 changed since Meridian fire 30

Sprinkler Systems United States Fire Administration ¨ Required by codes in most states for new construction ¨ Many older buildings do not have sprinklers ¨ Preplanning—know zones the systems protect ¨ Most high-rises do not have sprinklers unless retrofit law 31

Portable Communications Equipment United States Fire Administration ¨ Can be ineffective at high-rise ¨ Places in building that prevent signal reception and transmission ¨ Radio frequency affects communications capability 32

Built-In Communications Systems United States Fire Administration ¨ Not found in old style ¨ Hard-wired system—sound- powered phones ¨ May exist in elevators ¨ Local codes should require hardwired ¨ Headsets should be kept at highrise ¨ Can reduce load on radio system 33

Smoke/Heat Detectors United States Fire Administration ¨ Floors may have them ¨ May or may not be connected to enunciator panel ¨ Smoke detectors may be part of HVAC ¨ Preplanning knowledge necessary for effective decision-making 34

Enunciator Panel United States Fire Administration ¨ Know the location ¨ Know how to read the panel 35

Fire Control Station/Room United States Fire Administration ¨ Should provide – Specific information on alarms – Fire protection systems status ¨ Often have building communications system to: – Warn occupants – Provide two-way communications with elevators, fire pump rooms, and MER 36 ¨ May be located in the basement

Fire Behavior and Fire Spread United States Fire Administration ¨ Elements that affect fire extension: – Stack effect – Negative stack effect – Vertical extension – Core construction – Fire loading – Heat build-up 37

ICS for High-Rise Incidents United States Fire Administration ¨ Staging area manager—located two to 38 three floors below fire floor ¨ Base manager—located where apparatus parked, usually 200+ feet from building ¨ Lobby control unit leader—organizes lobby for incoming resources, determines attack and evacuation stairs, and provides personnel to operate elevators

ICS for High-rise Incidents (continued) United States Fire Administration ¨ System unit leader—responsible for all building systems and their effective operation ¨ Ground support unit leader—provides for movement of supplies to staging by way of stair shaft 39

ICS - 8 th Floor Fire United States Fire Administration 40

Activity 15. 1: High-Rise Simulation Exercise United States Fire Administration 41

Sides A & B 42

Sides B & C 43

Side C 44

45 Lobby Elevators

46 Typical Floor

47

Typical Floor Tonnalee Apartments N BR Ba BR Ba 22 nd S t r e e t LR K Stair #1 LR K BR Ba Stair #2 LR K LR K E BR E LR LR K Ba K LR K BR Ba BR Ba LL Street 48

49

50

51

Module Summary United States Fire Administration 52 ¨ Pre-incident planning – Construction characteristics – Structural features—building systems and fire control rooms ¨ ICS functions for high-rise incidents – Staging area manager – Base manager – Lobby control unit leader – Systems unit leader – Ground support unit leader