DEPARTMENTAL GUIDELINES CHAPTER 6 TACTICAL OPERATIONS

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Beverley Hawkins
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1 Section Suppression Systems The purpose of this guide is to assist the Incident Commander (IC), Fire Officers and Firefighters with the planning of effective operations for supporting water-based suppression systems and the use of water-based suppression systems in buildings or facilities where fire can or has occurred General Water-based suppression systems technology has been very successful in the past and continues to be a proven, effective extinguishing system. However, in spite of the exceedingly successful performance record of water-based suppression systems, failures have occurred and have significant potential of future failures. Since 1897, reported fires in protected structures to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) the successful operation rate of water-based suppression systems is about 96%. Analysis of the remaining 4% of system failures provides significant insight into the mechanics of system failure. Reasons for system failure relates to 1) closed valves or premature closure of valves, 2) inadequate system design, installation or maintenance, 3) changes in hazard or commodity configuration and, 4) degradation of water supply. Effectiveness of water-based suppression systems is consistent over their history. The majority of system activation produces favorable results with the operation of one or two sprinkler heads, according to NFPA and Factory Mutual statistics. Systems are designed to control fires of 1500 to 5000 square feet in size. Early Suppression Fast Response (ESFR) technology exceeds its predecessor s performance and achieves fire extinguishment as a design parameter with an area of not more than 1200 square feet. Fire companies should be alert to changes or conditions that will affect the operation, effectiveness, and access to water-based suppression systems. It shall be the responsibility of the fire officer to refer these changes or conditions to the Fire Marshal s Office for determination of whether the water-based suppression system requires upgrading. Fire companies should recognize the following conditions as essential to successful waterbased suppression system operation: A. Systems must be properly designed, installed and maintained. B. Systems are not equally effective in their performance. 1

2 C. Water supply conditions change over time. D. New commodity/storage methods place greater emphasis on FD support of system. E. Design parameters of systems are based on system application, i.e. life safety, fire control, extinguishment First Due Fire Officer Should Know A. Occupancy(ies). B. Hazard classification(s) within area protected by water-base suppression system(s). C. Building construction and floor plan. D. Extent of protection. E. Type of water-based suppression system(s) protecting structure. F. Identify duration and type(s) of water supply(ies). G. Location of control valve(s). H. Function of each control valve. Consequences of shutting off valves. I. Location of Fire Department Connection (FDC). J. Specific company assignments have primary responsibility for charging the FDC. K. Location of water supply(ies) for handlines. (standpipes, fire hydrants). L. Alternate means for supplying water to the System in the event the FDC is inoperative. M. Location of spare or replacement sprinkler heads. N. Location of waterflow indicators and annunciator panels. O. Name of person responsible for the water-based suppression system. 2

3 Fire Ground Operations in Properties Protected with Water- Based Suppression Systems Size Up Accurate size-up can be hindered by low visibility from smoke resulting from downward air currents due to operating sprinkler heads. Do not shut down system to improve visibility FDC Operations A minimum, or equivalent, of two-(2) sprinkler supply lines should be connected to the FDC and should be supplemented according to fire conditions. The supply line should be pumped and the line charged to a pressure of 150 psi, unless the system is posted for a different pressure. Combination systems (sprinkler/standpipe) shall be calculated on the basis of the most demanding system. Once all water supply connections have been completed and the fire department connection has been charged, the Incident Commander should verify immediately that water is flowing into the sprinkler system. If no water is flowing, the IC should take action to verify that all accessible control valves are open. Large-Volume Fire Sprinkler Systems, e.g. large orifice sprinklers, Early Suppression Fast Response (ESFR), have system demands of gpm. FDC manifolds to these systems will have more than the standard two-(2) inlets or multiple FDC connections. Large-volume systems will require the maximum water delivery capacity of both the water supply and the pump apparatus Valves If a valve is found closed, IC should be informed immediately and the valve should be opened fully at the direction of the IC, unless the valve is tagged "Closed for Repairs". Valves found closed should be reported to the fire investigator after the incident Fire Pump If the system is supplied or augmented by a fire pump, the IC should assign a firefighter to verify that the pump is in operation. The IC should be aware of the system demand for Large-volume fire sprinkler systems and the FD s capacity to support the system. Early FD operation with Large-volume fire sprinkler systems must be of sufficient pressure and capacity to ensure that the designed performance parameters of the system are met. REMEMBER, Early Suppression Fast Response (ESFR) is designed to extinguish the fire, as compared to other systems that rely on FD support to extinguish the fire. Inappropriate intervention by the FD on ESFR systems may prevent fire extinguishment. Structures protected by ESFR systems that present a rapidly growing fire on arrival of FD suggest the system has failed to meet its performance parameter. It is unlikely that pump apparatus would have sufficient capacity to improve the performance of a failed 3

4 ESFR system, compared to a conventional sprinkler system. Full-scale fire testing of ESFR systems has achieved extinguishment in high-piled storage arrangements in times that would give the IC the expectation that the fire will be extinguished before FD arrival. Real time scenarios would suggest the ESFR protected fire will be extinguished before fire units are dispatched. Therefore, fire conditions on arrival may suggest system failure and the large-volume nature of the system may present water supply deficiencies. The IC may seek to terminate the fire pump and the system s water supply connection in favor of effective master stream operations Ladder Company Operations Ladder company functions should provide ventilation and salvage, as needed to avoid delay in advancing hose lines. Salvage covers should be spread over those items or areas likely to be affected by operating sprinklers or hose lines. Special attention should be given to areas on levels below the area of sprinkler operation Post-Fire Operations Water-based suppression systems should not be shut-off until the fire has been extinguished. The IC should assign a firefighter to remain at the valve until overhaul is completed. The firefighter shall remain there until given proper directions by the Incident Commander. The firefighter may be directed to open or close valves as needed. Orders should also be given to the fire apparatus operator to shut down the lines connected to the FDC as these by-pass the main sprinkler valve, water will flow until pump discharge gates are closed Limited Sprinkler Operation Where only a few sprinkler heads are operating, sprinkler tongs, tapered wooden wedges or dowels can be used to immediately stop the flow from the opened heads without shutting off the entire system. When overhauling is completed, the lines from the fire apparatus pump to the waterbased suppression system FDC should be ordered disconnected System Restoration When possible, the system should be restored to full operation as soon as possible. The owner/manager of the facility is responsible for ensuring the system is properly restored. The Fire Marshal s Office should be notified, by the Incident Commander, of ALL system activation or impairments, activated or impaired notification should be done through Communications. Fire Inspectors will assess the system s condition and will take enforcement action, in accordance with local code. 4

5 Fire Department Operations in Properties Protected with Outside Exposure Sprinklers Buildings or properties having a severe exposure problem are equipped with outside or external sprinkler system designed to provide a water curtain capable of shielding the property from fires in other buildings or in storage areas. Many of these systems are manually operated, some are thermostatically operated Pre-Planning Properties that are equipped with outside exposure sprinklers should have the following information included in pre-planning documents: A. Occupancy(ies). B. Hazard classification(s) within area protected by water-base suppression system(s). C. Building construction and floor plan. D. Extent of protection. E. Type of water-based suppression system(s) protecting structure. F. Identify duration and type(s) of water supply(ies). G. Location of control valve(s). H. Function of each control valve. Consequences of shutting off valves. I. Location of Fire Department Connection (FDC). J. The Incident Commander will assign a company with the primary responsibility for charging the FDC. K. Location of water supply(ies) for handlines. (standpipes, fire hydrants). L. Alternate means for supplying water to the System in the event the FDC is inoperative. M. Location of spare or replacement sprinkler heads. N. Location of water flow indicators and annunciator panels. O. Name of person responsible for the water-based suppression system. 5

6 The Incident Commander Should Consider Maintenance of the exterior integrity of exposure building(s) on each side of fire. Insure that all windows are closed and that fire has not extended into the exposure buildings. A. Severe exposures, attack lines should be set up in exposure buildings using standpipe system, if available B. The roof of exposure building(s) should be checked to make certain no part of the roof structure is in danger of ignition. C. Initiate salvage operations on exposure building(s). D. Termination of outside sprinklers is appropriate when the fire threat is no longer present. E. Initiate fire sprinkler system restoration procedures Fire Department Operations in Properties Protected with Standpipe Systems Buildings equipped with standpipe systems have areas because of remoteness or height which would make quick placement of fire streams untimely or impractical. The procedures to use a standpipe system are the same as for a fire sprinkler system Pre-Planning Properties that are equipped with standpipe systems should have the following information included in pre-planning documents: A. Occupancy(ies) B. Hazard classification(s) within area protected by standpipe system(s). C. Building construction and floor plan. D. Extent of protection E. Type of standpipe system(s) protecting structure. F. Identification of pressure-regulating devices (PRD). G. Identify duration and type(s) of water supply(ies). H. Location of standpipe outlets and control valve(s). 6

7 I. Function of each control valve. Consequences of shutting off valves. J. Location of Fire Department Connection (FDC). K. The Incident Commander will assign a company with the primary responsibility for charging the FDC. L. Location of water supply(ies). M. Alternate means for supplying water to the System in the event the FDC is inoperative. N. Name of person responsible for the standpipe system Fire Department Operations When pumping into the FDC the pump operator should consider the following when calculating the Pump Discharge Pressure (PDP): A. Friction loss in hose lines between pump and standpipe connection. B. Friction loss in the standpipe system C. Elevation of the nozzle(s) D. Number and size of attack lines operating from standpipe. E. Required nozzle pressure. PDP in excess of 200 psi should not be used unless the standpipe system has been designed and posted for higher pressures. A minimum, or equivalent, of two-(2) supply lines should be connected to the FDC and should be supplemented according to fire conditions. The supply line should be charged to a pressure as calculated above or if the system is posted for a specific pressure. Combination systems (sprinkler/standpipe) shall be calculated on the basis of the most demanding system. Fire attack is generally performed by connecting the attack line to the standpipe outlet a floor below the fire floor and advance the line up one flight of stairs. Private hose or house lines attached to Class II or III (occupant use hose) standpipe outlets are NOT to be used except in the case of extreme emergency. 7

Structural Firefighting Policy

Structural Firefighting Policy Section Policy Number Effective Date C C1 09/01/2015 Policy Issued As Reference Policy # B1-B4, B6, C2-C10, C12, D1, and TBD Subject Approval: Policy Donald Norman, Fire Chief PURPOSE The purpose of this