What do you carry in addition to above photo? How do you justify using 1.75″ in standpipe operations? When can you hook up on the FIRE FLOOR? What door should you force other than the Fire Apartment? If you are over taken by a WIND DRIVEN FIRE; what direction should you evacuate? When should you take the Elevator? Why is an inline gauge so critical? Why do FDs that have 1.75″ as their Standpipe Attack System get away with it?
Standpipe Operations require proper training and equipment that will allow the standpipe system to offer the best results. Standpipe systems placed into service before 1993 only required 65 psi at the highest outlet. This requirement was built around a 50psi nozzle and 2.5″ hose that would have a 15psi friction loss from standpipe connection to nozzle “150 feet”. Standpipe systems placed in service after 1993 require 100 psi at the highest outlet. This gives the FD an additional 35 psi to work with. It is still highly recommended in all systems to use 2.5″ attack line with a 2.5″ smoothbore nozzle with no stream shaper. The stream shaper takes away one of the reasons for using a smoothbore and the ability to pass sediment/debris. In addition, understand what tips are on the end of this Attack Weapon. 1″ = 210 GPM, 1 1/8 = 265 GPM, 1.25″ = 325 GPM. The BIGGER tip is not always the answer. The GPM must also reach the desired point; the burning solid fuels. So pick the tip for reach that will also deliver the GPM required.
The ball valve is placed on SP connection before turning on; to allow control with a valve the FD brought with them. Some valves in very salty areas are very hard to operate and may cause additional problems without a ball valve. It is critical to place inline gauge on discaharge side of ball valve to control proper operating pressure.
Have you trained your crew, company, station, department on providing water to standpipe via first floor connection? What are some of the concerns?
—What do you carry in addition to above photo?
18 Bolt cutters, 1 30 degree elbow with the Elkhart 228A.
How do you justify using 1.75″ in standpipe operations?
Once the fire is knocked down for overhaul.
When can you hook up on the FIRE FLOOR?
As the intial time the only time I would do it is if their was a problem with the valve on the floor below and I could not make the fire by going to a lower valve.
What door should you force other than the Fire Apartment?
A room of refuge.
If you are over taken by a WIND DRIVEN FIRE; what direction should you evacuate?
A wind driven fire will make that choice for you, you won’t even have to think about it.
When should you take the Elevator?
Above 5 floors and this would be it’s own thread.
Why is an inline gauge so critical?
Misadjusted or incorrectly installed PRVs, detection of problems between the FDC and the outlet, and System malfunctions such as fire pump not coming on line. If you would not run a Engine without guages on the discharge, why go 30 floors up and do the same thing.
Why do FDs that have 1.75″ as their Standpipe Attack System get away with it?
Because they are either lucky, don’t go to highrise fires that are burning or really have not thought this one through and read the NIST reports on wind driven fires.
Good article. I will be dealing with a few of these
issues as well..