ARLINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT INTRODUCTION ARLINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT HIGH RISE PROCEDURES The City of Arlington occupies 98.77 square miles. In 1998.

ARLINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT

INTRODUCTION

ARLINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENTHIGH RISE PROCEDURES

The City of Arlington occupies 98.77 square miles. In 1998 the population was 297,848 and there were 181,264 rounds of golf played. In the fiscal year 1997-1998 the Arlington Fire Department responded to 21,458 calls for fire, rescue and emergency medical service, from 16 fire districts.


SINCE 1991, THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, ELEVEN FIREFIGHTERS HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES IN VARIOUS HIGH-RISE FIRES. WE MUST PREPARE FOR HIGH-RISE OPERATIONS BECAUSE IT MAY OCCUR ANYTIME, AND ANYWHERE. THESE OPERATIONS REQUIRE A HIGHER LEVEL OF TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT THAN OUR TYPICAL OPERATIONS


This program has been developed to review the Department’s High-Rise procedures. It provides information regarding building IAP, initial company assignments, tactics, Incident Command, hose lays, standpipe systems, accountability, safety, and the applicable building and fire codes.


Since the high-rise PITP and Drill in October, 1992, personnel changes have occurred due to promotions, reassignments, and the hiring of 53 new personnel. Changes have occurred in equipment ,apparatus and buildings. We will address these issues in this program.

HIGH RISE PROCEDURESINITIAL COMPANY ASSIGNMENTS

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

• Be able to identify and define high-rise structures as it relates to the City of Arlington ( A total of fifty eight )

• Be able to explain the Regulations applicable to high-rise structures


PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

• Be able to describe the Standard Operating Procedures to be used in above-ground fire operations

• Be able to identify and discuss common above-ground construction techniques and their effects on the fire behavior factors


PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

• Be able to identify and explain the difficulties experienced in above-ground fire operations

• Be able to explain the Initial Assignments of the first five companies on a high-rise incident


REGULATIONS OR STANDARDS APPLICABLE TO HIGH RISE STRUCTURES

• 1997 Uniform Building Code ( current )• 1997 Uniform Fire Code ( current )• The Arlington Fire Department Standard Operating Procedures


DEFINITION OF HIGH RISE BUILDINGS

Uniform Building Code

A building having floors used for human occupancy located more than (75) seventy five feet above the

lowest level of Fire Department access.

ARLINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENTHIGH RISE BUILDINGS

The following structures meet the definition and height requirement as defined in the Building Code for high-rise buildings: ( A total of eleven structures )

BUILDINGS ADDRESS FLOORS YEAR BLDG CONST CODE

• First City Tower 201 E. Abram 8+P 1980 1976 • Chase Bank Tower 500 E. Border 12+P 1982 1979• Arlington Wyndham 1500 Convention 19 1984 1982• Skymark Tower 1521 N. Cooper 8+P 1984 1982


BUILDINGS ADDRESS FLOORS YEAR BLDG CONST CODE

• Copeland Tower 1250 E. Copeland 12 1986 1982• Raddison Suites Hotel 700 Avenue H 8 1985 1982• Bank of America 2000 E. Lamar 7+P 1984 1982• Brookhollow II 2221 E. Lamar 9 1983 1982• Hilton Hotel 2401 E. Lamar 15 1983 1982• Reflection Bay Condos 2120 Reflection Bay 8 1985 1982• Harris Methodist Tower 611 Ryan Plaza Dr. 14 1968 N/A

ARLINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT HIGH RISE BUILDINGS













DEFINITION OF HIGH RISE BUILDINGS

Arlington Fire Department

A building having floors used for human occupancy located four stories or more above the lowest level of

Fire Department access.


The following structures are considered high-rise buildings by general consensus of the fire department and the physical configuration of the structure ( four or more stories ): ( A total of forty seven structures )

BUILDINGS ADDRESSFLOORS

• Bank One Center 1301 S. Bowen Rd. 4• One Arlington Center 1112 E. Copeland Rd. 5



• Stadium Place 1200 E. Copeland 5• R Way Inn 2001 E. Copeland 5• Graywood Development 700 Highlander 5• National Security Building 701 Highlander 5• AMPI Building 1600 E. Lamar 4• Brookhollow I 2301 E. Lamar 6• Medical Center of Arlington 3301 Matlock 4• Enterprize Center 690 E. Lamar 5


BUILDINGS ADDRESS FLOORS• Arlington Towers 1600 E. Pioneer 5• Arlington Downs Tower 2225 E. Randol Mill 5• Centerpoint IV 2401 E. Randol Mill 6• Arlington Memorial Hospital 800 W. Randol Mill 4• Centerpoint III 600 Six Flags Drive 6• Woodmont Building 100 E. South Street 5+P• Holiday Inn 1507 N. Watson Rd. 5• Howard Johnson’s 117 S. Watson Rd. 6



• Park Springs Place 4025 Woodland Park 6• Days Inn Motel 930 N. Collins St. 4• Baymont Inn 2401 Diplomacy Dr. 4• Amerisuites 2380 E. Rd. to Six Flags 6• The Ballpark 1000 Ball Park 5• First Place Office Building 301 S. Center 5• Texas Cancer Center 515 W. Mayfield Rd. 4• Centerpoint II 616 Six Flags Drive 4



• Sleep Inn 750 Six Flags Drive 4• Vandergriff Prof.. Bldg. 1001 N. Waldrop 8• LaQuinta 4001 Scots Legacy Dr. 5• Wingate Inn 1050 Brookhollow Plaza 4• Candlewood Suites 2221 Brookhollow Plaza 4• UTA Davis Hall 701 S. Nedderman 4• UTA University Hall 601 S. Nedderman 6• UTA Life Science 501 S. Nedderman 6



• UTA Pickard Hall 411 S. Nedderman 6• UTA College of Business 701 S. West Street 6• UTA Thermal Energy 301 W. Third Street 4• UTA Carlisle Hall 503 W. Third Street 7• UTA Needermen Hall 416 Yates Street 6• UTA Hammond Hall 701 S. College Street 5• UTA Library 702 S. College Street 6• UTA Brazos Hall 601 S. West Street 4



• UTA Science Hall 502 Yates Street 4• UTA Wolf Hall 500 W. First Street 4• UTA Fine Arts 700 W. Second Street 4• UTA Stadium 1307 W. Mitchell Street 6• UTA Engineering Building 417 S. Cooper Street 6

UNIFORM BUILDING CODE

When a high-rise building is constructed, it must comply with the adopted codes at the time of construction. Most of the UBC defined high-rise buildings in Arlington comply with the 1982 UBC.

The Uniform Building Code prescribes the Fire and Life Safety features required for high-rise buildings. The 1982 Edition, Section 1807 show those features as :

UNIFORM BUILDING CODE

• Automatic Sprinkler System• Smoke Detection System• Alarm and Communication System• Central Control Station (Fire Control Room)• Smoke Control• Elevators• Standby Power, Light and Emergency Systems• Exits

UNIFORM BUILDING CODEFIRE CONTROL ROOM

The following controls, panels or items of equipment are required to be in the Central Control Station (Fire Control Room) in buildings above seventy five (75) feet in height :

• Voice alarm and public address system panels• Fire Department communication panel

FIRE CONTROL ROOM PANELS AND CONTROLS

FIRE CONTROL ROOMPANELS AND CONTROLS

• Fire Detection / Alarm System enunciator panel


• HVAC System indicators and controls


• Elevator annunciator and recall panel


• Controls for unlocking stairway doors

• Sprinkler / Water flow detector display panels

• Emergency / Standby power controls


• Fire Pump status Indicator


• Work table for Fire Department use

• Telephone system for Fire department use


• Set of building plans indicating typical floor plan, building core, exits / access, fire protection systems and equipment

• Minimum dimensions of 96 Square feet in control room to allow workspace for up to six people.

UNIFORM FIRE CODE

The Uniform Fire Code prescribes the specific installation and maintenance requirements for the Fire and Life Safety features for high-rise buildings. The 1997 requirements are as follows :

1997 UNIFORM FIRE CODE

• Automatic Sprinkler System

• Corridor doors• Corridor Openings• Exit Stairways• Exit Stairway Doors• Exit Illumination• Fire Drills

• Elevator Lobby Separation

• Elevator Recall• Fire Alarm System• Fire Alarm Supervision• Emergency Plan• Posting of Emergency

Plan and Exit Plan

ARLINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES

The following Standard Operating Procedures are applicable to High Rise Operations and every fire fighter should be very familiar with each procedure or guideline.

• 201.10Incident Command System• 201.20Size-Up• 203.10 Incident Safety• 203.11Accountability (Passport System)• 203.12Rapid Intervention Crew

ARLINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENTSTANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES

• 203.13Rescue - Missing, Lost or Trapped Firefighters

• 203.30Protective Clothing• 203.31Protective Hoods• 203.40 Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus and

Personnel Distress Device• 204.10Communications - Terminology• 204.30Communications - General Procedures


• 251.10Tactical Priorities• 251.21Emergency Incident Rehabilitation• 251.40Additional Resources• 252.05Fire Control• 252.10High-Rise Fires• 252.90Evacuation• 254.10EMS Responsibilities


Throughout this program the procedures and guidelines previously mentioned will be addressed, however, the main emphasis will be placed on :

• INITIAL ACTION PLAN ( IAP )• INITIAL COMPANY ASSIGNMENTS ( Tactics )• SAFETY ( Accountability, RIC Crews, Rescue )

DIFFICULTIES IN ABOVE-GROUNDFIRE FIGHTING OPERATIONS

• Normally a high life hazard exists and may be impractical to evacuate the entire building

• Increased set-up time for attacking the fire may allow fire to impose onto structural members of building

• Immediate smoke problems due to common hallway which may become severe

• Fires in center hallway occupancies create extreme heat conditions and in center core occupancies the fire can travel over, around or behind the attack team

HIGH RISE BUILDINGCONSTRUCTION FEATURES

• In discussing high-rise fire fighting tactics, there are two main methods of construction which fire fighters should be aware of.

• This type of construction has been used for hundreds of years and is still cost effective today. It is used in apartment houses, hotels and office buildings.


CENTER HALLWAY Multiple story

buildings that use a central corridor to access individual sleeping rooms, apartments, or offices.

COMMON PROBLEMS WITH CENTER HALLWAY FIRES

• Center Hallways provide an excellent path for smoke and heat travel.

• Firefighters must gain and maintain control of the hallways, since this is the occupant’s primary ( at times, only) exit.

• A trapped occupant can: 1) Jump, 2) Barricade inside the room and wait for fire department, or 3) Depend on fire department ladder rescue.

COMMON PROBLEMS WITH CENTER HALLWAY FIRES

• Open fire doors can cause “Mushrooming” on floors other than the fire floor.

• The conditions on those floors may equal those on the fire floor.


CENTER CORE Multiple story

buildings that utilize a central core for elevators, stairwells and utility shafts.

COMMON PROBLEMS WITH CENTER CORE FIRES

• Elevators, stairways and utility shafts may allow the vertical spread of smoke and heat.

• The “open” floor plan allows horizontal spread around the core.

• Since the buildings have excellent thermal insulation, a fire attack can push the fire around the core back to your position.

COMMON PROBLEMS WITH CENTER CORE FIRES

• The safest procedure to control smoke in a sealed office building is to shut down the HVAC system, make a ventilation assessment utilizing cross ventilation and or shaft ventilation, and then bring the HVAC system (exhaust mode only) back on line if you determine it can help.

HIGH RISE PROCEDURESEXTERIOR LADDER PLACEMENT

HIGH RISE PROCEDURESEXTERIOR LADDER PLACEMENT

COMMON PROBLEMS WITHCENTER CORE FIRES

• Both exterior and interior attack methods may work, but the odds of a successful attack are better from the inside stair shafts, start attack from a safe refuge, utilize standpipes, and push the fire from uninvolved to involved area.

• This type occupancy may require hose lines to come from two directions in order to prevent the fire from circling around the central core. Fire attack teams must understand and communicate what they are doing, and try to push the fire against the outside wall.

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION FEATURESTHAT CONTRIBUTE TO FIRE PROBLEM

• High-rise buildings’ exterior walls are usually constructed with glass or aggregate panels, called a “Curtain Wall”. This curtain wall may allow smoke and heat to travel vertically between the end of the floor and the exterior wall.

• Stair shafts, utility, and elevator shafts may provide channels for fire, heat and smoke to extend upward, and must be checked.

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION FEATURESTHAT CONTRIBUTE TO FIRE PROBLEM

• Ventilation assessment usually will require shutting down the HVAC system. Positive pressure, cross- ventilation, and vertical ventilation must be considered.

• Ventilation must be accomplished early in the incident for fire fighter safety and to assist evacuation. First truck company on should set fan at base of the stairwell.

INITIAL ACTION PLANSAND AFD PREPLANS

INITIAL ACTION PLANS AND AFD PREPLANS

• The first five companies dispatched to a high-rise incident must accomplish their assigned tasks and in the order established in the Initial Action Plan. While these procedures are “automatic”, we must still communicate our actions within the Command System.

• NONE OF THE FIRST FIVE COMPANIES WILL STAGE.

INITIAL ACTION PLANSINITIAL COMPANY ASSIGNMENTS

• FIRST COMPANY LOBBY CONTROL• SECOND COMPANYPRIMARY STAIRS / FIRE ATTACK• THIRD COMPANYSECONDARY STAIRS / FIRE ATTACK AND WATER SUPPLY• FOURTH COMPANY STAGING• FIFTH COMPANY STAGING

INITIAL COMPANY ASSIGNMENTSENGINE DISMOUNT PROCEDURES

INITIAL COMPANY ASSIGNMENTSTRUCK DISMOUNT PROCEDURES

INITIAL COMPANY ASSIGNMENTSTRUCK DISMOUNT PROCEDURES

INITIAL COMPANY ASSIGNMENTSLOBBY CONTROL

INITIAL COMPANY ASSIGNMENTSLOBBY CONTROL

INITIAL COMPANY ASSIGNMENTSACCOUNTABILITY

INITIAL COMPANY ASSIGNMENTSFIRE ATTACK TEAMS



INITIAL COMPANY ASSIGNMENTSSTAIRWELL IDENTIFICATION





INITIAL COMPANY ASSIGNMENTSHOSE LINE TECHNIQUES

Fire Attack Tactics

INITIAL COMPANY ASSIGNMENTSHOSE LINE TECHNIQUES

INITIAL COMPANY ASSIGNMENTSSTAIRWELL ROOF ACCESS

INITIAL COMPANY ASSIGNMENTSWATER SUPPLY

INITIAL COMPANY ASSIGNMENTSWATER SUPPLY

INITIAL COMPANY ASSIGNMENTSSTAGING

HIGH RISE PROCEDURESINCIDENT COMMAND

IN C ID E N T C O M M A N D S Y S TE M

P IO S A F E TY

C S O L IA S IO N

S TA G IN G

D IV IS IO N G R O U P

B R A N C H

D IV IS IO N G R O U P

B R A N C H

O P E R A TIO N S P L A N N IN G

B A S E

L O B B Y

L O G IS TIC S F IN A N C E

IN C ID E N T C O M M A N D

HIGH RISE PROCEDURESOPERATIONS

IN C ID E N T C O M M A N D S Y S TE M

S A F E TY

S TA G IN G

8 TH D IV IS IO N 9 TH D IV IS IO N V E N TIL A TIO NG R O U P

F IR E A TTA C KG R O U P

O P E R A TIO N S

IN C ID E N T C O M M A N D

HIGH RISE PROCEDURESBASE

I wish to acknowledge and show appreciation to the following Fire Fighters at Task Force 8C who assisted in the development of this program.

Dennis Ault Tom Hixson

Pat Blair Steve Eck

Cory Bearden Joe McKenzie

Don Coker Brent Shanklin

ARLINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT INTRODUCTION ARLINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT HIGH RISE PROCEDURES The City of Arlington occupies 98.77 square miles. In 1998.

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