APF Issue 14

68
APF ON-LINE www.apfmag.com An MDM PUBLICATION Issue 14 – June 2005 ASIA PACIFIC FIRE MAGAZINE REPORTING TO THE ASIA PACIFIC FIRE PROTECTION AND FIRE SERVICE INDUSTRY

description

Reporting to the Asia Pacific Fire Protection and Fire Service Industry

Transcript of APF Issue 14

Page 1: APF Issue 14

APF ON-LINE

www.apfmag.com

An MDM PUBLICATIONIssue 14 – June 2005

ASIA PACIFIC FIRE MAGAZINE

REPORTING TO THE ASIA PACIFIC FIRE PROTECTION AND FIRE SERVICE INDUSTRY

OFC Issue 14 17/11/06 9:07 am Page ofc1

Page 2: APF Issue 14

TASK FORCE TIPS, INC.

2800 East Evans Avenue, Valparaiso, IN 46383-6940 USA

International +1.219.548.4000 • www.tft.com • [email protected]

For excellent quality fire fighting equipment visit www.tft.com and call your local distributor for a demonstration. Display equipment, literature and digital data can be obtained by contacting your trained TFT distributor.

Stainless Steel Fog TeethFog Teeth made from 316 stainless steel offer enhanced resistance to damage and increased corrosion resistance.

Strong equipment designed to last a long time in harsh environments.

Stainless Steel Fog Teeth

Questions and Answers

Questions about anything manufactured by TFT? Locate the serial number, contact your distributor and don’t worry about it.

We can track: the manufacturing date, who it

was sent to, warranty (5-year warranty), provide spare parts,

maintenance instructions, exploded view documents, etc…

QuadraFog Nozzle

NFPA 1964

Compliant

Top Quality MaterialWith one heavy duty Stainless Steel ball valve to shutoff the nozzle you get a 100% reliable and low maintenance unit.

Top Quality Material

Foam Solutions Package

INCLUDES:Your choice of Eductor; 230, 360 or 475 l/min Your choice of PRO/pak Your choice of Master Foam Aluminum Nozzle

LOCAL DEALERS

AUSTRALIAGaam Emergency Products-AUPhone : 61394661244Fax : [email protected]

CHINAPolyM ShanghaiPhone: 862164690107Fax: [email protected]

HONG KONGUniversal Cars LimitedPhone: 85224140231Fax: 85224136063andrewplh@simedarby.com.hkwww.mitsubishi-motors.com.hk

INDONESIAPt Palmas EntracoPhone: 6221384 1681Fax: 6221380 [email protected]

JAPANYone CorporationPhone: 81758211185Fax: [email protected]

MALAYSIACME Technologies SDN BHDPhone: 60356331188Fax: [email protected]

NEW ZEALANDGaam Emergency Products-NZPhone: 6498270859Fax: [email protected]

PHILIPPINESAlliance Industrial SalesPhone: 6328908818Fax: [email protected]

SINGAPORES.K. Fire Pte. Ltd.Phone: 6568623155Fax : [email protected]

SOUTH KOREAShilla Fire Co., Ltd.Phone: 820236659011Fax: [email protected]

TAIWANYoung Ararat Enterprise Co. LtdPhone: 886 2 2772 3121Fax: 886 2 2721 9775

THAILANDAnti-Fire Co, Ltd.Phone: 6622596899Fax: [email protected]

®

APF14 IFC 17/11/06 9:19 am Page 1

Page 3: APF Issue 14

3 NFPA Foreword

5-8 Understanding Fire Hazardsin Computer Rooms andData Centres

11-16 Positive PressureVentilation in Firefighting

19-22 Initial Actions at a Haz-MatResponse

25-30 Aircraft Rescue Firefighting

31 Draeger Safety – ProductProfile

33-36 Choosing the CorrectApparatus Monitor

39-43 Large-Scale Storage TankFirefighting

44 GB Solo – Product Profile

46-49 Evacuation Plan for HighRise Buildings

50-53 Respiratory ProtectionExplained

54-56 Training Centres

58 FSI North America – ProductProfile

60-61 FM Approvals Readies All-Encompassing Water-MistStandard

62-63 Product Update

64 Advertisers’ Index

ASIA PACIFIC FIREwww.apfmag.com

1

Front cover picture: Picture courtesy ofFirepix International

PublishersMark Seton & David Staddon

Editorial ContributorsKai Foo Chan, Paul Grimwood, ChristopherBrennan, Kenneth D. Honig EMT-P CEN,Don Sjolin, Mike Willson, John Ng, KeithGillespie

APF is published quarterly by:MDM Publishing Ltd 18a, St James Street, South Petherton, Somerset TA13 5BWUnited KingdomTel: +44 (0) 1460 249199Fax: +44 (0) 1460 249292 e-mail: [email protected]: www.apfmag.com

©All rights reserved

Periodical Postage paid at Charnplain NewYork and additional officesPOSTMASTER: Send address changes toIMS of New York, P 0 Box 1518 Champlain NY 12919-1518USAUSPS No. (To be confirmed)

Subscription RatesSterling – £35.00 AUS Dollars – $100.00US Dollars – $70.00 (Prices include Postage and Packing)ISSN – 1476-1386

DISCLAIMER:The views and opinions expressed in ASIA PACIFIC FIREMAGAZINE are not necessarily those of MDM PublishingLtd. The magazine and publishers are in no way responsibleor legally liable for any errors or anomalies made within theeditorial by our authors. All articles are protected bycopyright and written permission must be sought from thepublishers for reprinting or any form of duplication of anyof the magazines content. Any queries should be addressedin writing to the publishers.Reprints of articles are available on request. Prices onapplication to the Publishers.

Page design by Dorchester Typesetting Group LtdPrinted by The Friary Press Ltd

APF ON-LINE

www.apfmag.com

An MDM PUBLICATION

Issue 14 – June 2005

ASIA PACIFIC FIRE MAGAZINE

REPORTING TO THE ASIA PACIFIC FIRE PROTECTION AND FIRE SERVICE INDUSTRY

June 2005 Issue 14

Contents

P. 1-3 17/11/06 9:15 am Page 1

Page 4: APF Issue 14

IR FLAME DETECTORRIV-601/F

WATERTIGHTIP 65 ENCLOSURE

For industrial applications indoorsor outdoors where fire can spread out rapidly due to the presence of

highly inflammable materials,and where vast premises need an optical

detector with a great sensitivityand large field of view.

CONTROL LOGICIR FLAME DETECTOR

the fastest and most effective fire alarm devicefor industrial applications

BETTER TO KNOW IT BEFOREEye is faster than nose.

In the event of live fire the IR FLAME DETECTOR

responds immediately

Also forRS485 two-wire serial line

Sparks flyat high speed.

They travel at a hundred kilometresper hour along the ducts of the dustcollection system and reach the silo

in less than three seconds

The CONTROL LOGICSPARK DETECTOR

is faster thanthe sparks themselves.

It detects them with its highlysensitive infrared sensor,

intercepts and extinguishesthem in a flash.

It needs no periodic inspection.

The CONTROL LOGIC system is designed for “total supervision”.

It verifies that sparks have been extinguished, gives prompt warning of

any malfunction and, if needed, cuts off the duct and stops the fan.

CONTROL LOGICSparkdetector

designed fordust collectionsystemsto protectstorage silosfrom the riskof fire.

20137 Milano - Via Ennio, 25 - ItalyTel.: + 39 02 5410 0818 - Fax + 39 02 5410 0764E-mail: [email protected] - Web: www.controllogic.it CONTROL LOGIC s.r.l.

ISO 9001

20137 Milano - Via Ennio, 25 - ItalyTel.: + 39 02 5410 0818 - Fax + 39 02 5410 0764E-mail: [email protected] - Web: www.controllogic.it CONTROL LOGIC s.r.l.

ISO 9001

IR FLAME DETECTORRIV-601/FAEXPLOSIONPROOFENCLOSURE

For industrial applications indoorsor outdoors where is a risk of explosionand where the explosionproof protection is required.One detector can monitor a vast areaand responds immediately to the fire, yet of small size.

APF14 p2 17/11/06 9:16 am Page 1

Page 5: APF Issue 14

The Problem Continues . . .Late last year the world had to confront the aftermath of a huge tragedy following thetsunami in south East Asia. At about the same time there were major fire incidents in SouthAmerica, which took hundreds of lives.

Understandably the news coverage of the fatal fires was overshadowed by the scale of the events unfolding in Asia but for the individuals involved the pain and suffering was thesame. Lives were lost, people were seriously injured and others lost their livelihood. The bigdifference is it is impossible to prevent a tsunami and very difficult to mitigate theoutcome. Of course this is not true of a building fire.

There are many actions that can be taken by building owners/occupiers to try andprevent fires and there is much that can be done to minimize the effect of a fire should itstart accidentally or deliberately.

Whilst I am not privy to the exact circumstances surrounding these latest fires I am surethat if staff were trained, fire extinguishing means were readily available (includingsprinklers) and all exits were indicated and accessible we could have anticipated a less tragicresult.

There is a tendency to view events in other countries as “their problem” rather than seethem as a wake up call for your own community without the consequences. I wouldguarantee that in many of the communities served by this journal that there are buildingswith all of the ingredients for an avoidable disaster just waiting to that small spark to createchaos. What will we do then? Wring our hands and ask how could such an event possiblyoccur and look for somebody to blame.

It just makes more sense to me to be proactive and deal with it before the event. I blamethose who are not prepared to do anything in the face of this knowledge.

Jeff GodfredsonNFPA’s Asia-Pacific Operations Director

ASIA PACIFIC FIREwww.apfmag.com

3

FOREWORDby Jeff GodfredsonNFPA’s Asia-Pacific Operations Director

P. 1-3 17/11/06 9:15 am Page 3

Page 6: APF Issue 14

APF14 p4 17/11/06 9:19 am Page 1

Page 7: APF Issue 14

Based on the loss experience atlocations insured by FM Global,there are various active and passive

measures that can be taken to ensureadequate, cost-effective protection forelectronic data processing (EDP) facili-ties. The focus here is on the protectionof mainframe computer systems, high-value minicomputer systems and majorindustrial process control systems fromfire and other major sources of loss.

The recommendations are based onthe application of an overall risk analysis.It’s a flexible approach that considersthe values at risk (i.e., the total potentialloss from physical damage and interrup-tion of operations) then examines thetraditional concerns of construction,occupancy, protection, and the humanelement. All of these factors have aninterrelated effect on the possibleeffects of a fire or other incident.

FIRE HAZARDS

Fuel inside a computer area –this is one of the first areas to considerwhen looking at fire hazards. The aim is

to reduce the amount of combustiblematerial to a bare minimum. Thatinvolves using non-combustible hous-ings for computer systems, reducing theamount of flammable media storagewithin the computer room — such asmagnetic tapes and disks — or storing itin protective storage and minimising theuse of combustible construction materi-als such as ductwork or insulation. Also,reducing the amount of flammablefurnishings and stationery kept in thecomputer room is recommended. Thiswill help reduce ignition sources and, ifa fire does break out, reduce the fuelload available to that fire.

Fuel outside the computer area– Shielding computer operations from afire outside the computer area is critical.In fact, loss history has shown thatcomputer rooms have been damagedmore often by fires originating outsidethe rooms than by fires originatingwithin them. Computer equipment canbe damaged from heat or smoke thattravels from the original fire area.

The causes of fire – FM Global lossexperience reveals that electricityaccounts for the highest number of fires and the greatest financial loss. A

ASIA PACIFIC FIREwww.apfmag.com

5

Picture courtesy of Firepix International

UnderstandingFire Hazards inComputerRooms andData Centres

By Kai Foo ChanChief Engineering Technical Specialist

FM Global – Global Services, Asia

COMPUTER SYSTEMS ARE NOW the backbone of almost all industrial andcommercial operations. The high values inherent in this complex equipment,combined with a company’s dependence on computers for continuity ofoperations, make loss prevention a high priority. Almost without exception,companies cannot afford to lose the use of their computer systems for anylength of time.

UnderstandingFire Hazards inComputerRooms andData Centres

© 2005 Factory Mutual Insurance Company.Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved.

P. 5-9 Understanding Fire 17/11/06 9:21 am Page 5

Page 8: APF Issue 14

computer facility includes a maze ofpower and signal wiring, and cablesassociated with both the equipment andbuilding services. In addition, within theimmediate surrounds of the computerarea you will often find various otherelectrical equipment that may present ahazard. An ignition in that equipmentcould create an exposure fire. Evenwhen the design and construction of afacility is to modern codes and stan-dards, failures involving electrical com-ponents that lead to faults and ignitiondo still occur. Research has shown thatenough heat may be generated by faultsin low-voltage wiring, such as signalwires, to generate damaging con-centrations of combustion products and ignition of adjacent combustiblematerial.

Non-thermal fire damage – FMGlobal loss data has also revealed a lessobvious side-effect of fire. Exposure ofelectronic equipment and wiring to evena small, smoldering fire may result inextensive non-thermal damage, i.e.,damage caused by factors other thanheat. The most significant agents ofdamage are the products of combustion,especially of burning plastics.

When many plastics burn — especiallypolyvinyl chloride (PVC), which is com-monly used to insulate wiring — acidicvapors are given off. When these com-bine with moisture and oxygen, metalsurfaces and electronic circuitry will cor-rode. In addition, particulate matter,such as soot, will coat components,causing them to fail.

Water allowed to dry on electroniccircuitry leaves residue that is likely tocause malfunction if the equipment isoperated (energized) without first wipingit clean. Water falling on energizedcircuits will cause short-circuiting and

irreparable damage to those circuits thatget wet. Another undesirable aspect ofleaving equipment energized during afire is that internal ventilating fans willcontinue to operate and spread contam-inants further within the equipment.

On the other hand, magnetic tapes anddisks exposed to products of combustionand water are usually not permanentlydamaged. Data is usually salvageable byprompt cleaning and drying.

USING AN OVERALL RISK ANALYSIS APPROACHThe choices facing risk managers andfacility planners considering the adequateprotection of their data processing oper-ations are complex. Whereas, in thepast, one would opt for either auto-matic sprinkler protection or a gaseousextinguishing system, regardless of theequipment or building construction anddesign, today’s approach is one of over-all risk analysis. This is an integratedapproach considering all relevant site-specific factors, including the values atrisk (how much equipment and how

much of the building is expected to bedamaged in a fire), construction, expo-sure from other areas or buildings, firedetection, smoke control, emergencyresponse, equipment maintenance, anddisaster recovery.

Duplication of records is a vital safe-guard for data that is critical to thecontinuation of operations. Duplicaterecords may be stored at another prop-erly protected location on your propertyor off premises. Alternative computerfacilities may also be desirable for manyoperations. Such facilities may havecompatible data processing systems inplace; or they may simply provide abasic properly ventilated and wiredbuilding into which data processingequipment can be moved.

Once the risk analysis has been done,protection should consist of a combina-tion of various safeguards, a discussionof which follows.

Construction – It is best to locate thecomputer center and associated mediastorage in a separate building of non-combustible construction, with adequateprotection from any exposure fromanother nearby building, and adequatesecurity measures to discourage un-authorized entry. If the computer roomshares a building with other operations,it should be separated by a wall that hasat least one-hour fire resistance and issmoke-tight.

Ventilation – Computer areas andrecords storage areas that share a build-ing with other operations should havetheir own ventilation systems. Computerrooms should be at an air pressureslightly higher than adjacent areas inorder to keep out damaging smoke andfumes. At existing locations, smokedetectors and smoke dampers should bearranged to keep smoke out of thecomputer room.

ASIA PACIFIC FIREwww.apfmag.com

6

© 2005 Factory Mutual Insurance Company. Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved.

Research has shown that enoughheat may be generated by faults inlow-voltage wiring, such as signalwires, to generate damagingconcentrations of combustionproducts and ignition of adjacentcombustible material.

P. 5-9 Understanding Fire 17/11/06 9:21 am Page 6

Page 9: APF Issue 14

APF14 p7 17/11/06 9:21 am Page 1

Page 10: APF Issue 14

Power Supplies – Electrical powerto computers and peripheral equipmentshould be designed with emergency shutoff switches located next to the exitdoors of the equipment room. Control,signal and power circuits should beinstalled in a manner to minimize thepossibility of damage from fire, impact,abrasion, released liquids and otherpotential hazards. Backup power andemergency standby power should alsobe provided.

Occupancy – Occupancy conditionsshould not present a hazardous environ-ment to computer systems. Preferably,keep paper supplies and records outsidethe rooms housing the computers andperipheral equipment. Also, limit theamount of furnishings in the computerroom and ensure that any necessaryfurniture is non-combustible.

FIRE DETECTIONSmoke detection systems are a basicrequirement for all computer and recordstorage areas. Where values are veryhigh, high-sensitivity systems are recom-mended. Detection systems may servemultiple functions: activate alarms at anattended location; shut off the com-puters and peripheral equipment;activate a smoke removal system; andactivate a fire suppression system(gaseous or sprinkler).

Detectors are spaced more closely incomputer facilities than in other occu-pancies. One reason is that ventilation isnormally quite strong in computer areasand tends to dilute the smoke quickly.Also, because of the damaging effectsof even small quantities of products ofcombustion from burning or even

heated plastics, it is important that the detectors sense the faintest trace of smoke in the earliest stages ofgeneration.

FIRE PROTECTION

For the computer room – A totalflooding gaseous extinguishing systemis recommended for computer roomswhere other fire damage mitigation,such as subdividing equipment intodifferent rooms, or providing smokecontrol systems, cannot be used to pre-vent a potentially costly loss. In somecases, discharging the agent directly inthe equipment’s enclosure is desirable.As with any gaseous agent, room con-struction should be tight to prevent anyagent leakage out of the room. Asmoke-activated gaseous extinguishingsystem is preferred over a heat-activatedautomatic sprinkler system because thelatter is slow to activate.

Automatic sprinkler protection isdesirable for all computer rooms.Gaseous extinguishing agents protectthe high-value electronic equipmentfrom damage, whereas sprinklers areneeded to extinguish fires in ordinarycombustible material or combustibleconstruction materials in a computerroom. Computer system equipmentshould be de-energized by a smokedetection system before sprinklers oper-ate to avoid electrical damage.

For cable spaces – Fire protectionfor noncombustible spaces containinggrouped cables should be provided. Inparticular, where loss potential from afire involving combustible cables is high, a gaseous extinguishing system is recommended. The extent of thehazard presented by grouped cables is

best discussed with loss preventionconsultants.

Manual protection – Portable extin-guishers should be provided at clearlymarked locations in computer roomsand related service areas. Select carbondioxide extinguishers when purchasingnew units. Water-type extinguishers willalso be needed, as well as fire hose lineswhere there are quantities of ordinarycombustible material.

Human Element – Your emergencyorganization is a key component in theoverall protection scheme. Personnelshould be trained to take the correctsteps without delay at times of emer-gency, such as shutting off power; usingportable extinguishers on incipient fires;ensuring extinguishing and detectionsystems are operating; and notifying thefire department and designated facilitypersonnel of the location and scale ofthe incident.

Having a salvage plan in place forimmediately after an incident hasoccurred is also a very important con-cern. After a fire, employees should takeappropriate action to minimize exposureof data processing systems to smokeand water. Cover equipment; removeportable equipment; install fans anddehumidifiers; and de-energize equip-ment. Where a gaseous extinguishingsystem is operating, personnel should besure the protected area remains closedto confine the agent.

A disaster recovery plan is vital wherecomputer operations are critical to anorganization’s survival. A major com-ponent of such a plan would bearrangements made with a restorationspecialist who should be on the scenewithin hours to take appropriate dam-age-limiting action. Prompt cleaningand decontamination can restore equip-ment in a cost-effective manner andhelp return data processing equipmentto normal operation.

ASIA PACIFIC FIREwww.apfmag.com

8

© 2005 Factory Mutual Insurance Company. Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved.

Implementing Overall RiskAnalysisAs the dependency on computersystems for business continuitygrows, it’s to your advantage tohave a keen understanding of theparticular risks that are specific to acomputer room and the practicalsteps you can take to mitigate theserisks. By taking these steps, you cansignificantly reduce the chances ofa serious fire and the consequentialcostly interruption to your businessoperations.

P. 5-9 Understanding Fire 17/11/06 9:22 am Page 8

Page 11: APF Issue 14

ASIA PACIFIC FIREwww.apfmag.com

9

P. 5-9 Understanding Fire 17/11/06 9:22 am Page 9

Page 12: APF Issue 14

Hale Products EuropeA Unit of IDEX CorporationCharles Street, WarwickCV34 5LR England

Tel: +44 (0)1926 623600Fax: +44 (0)1926 623666Email: [email protected]

A solution for everyfire fighting need

IDEX CORPORATION

Hale Products EuropeA Unit of IDEX CorporationCharles Street, WarwickCV34 5LR England

Tel: +44 (0)1926 623600Fax: +44 (0)1926 623666Email: [email protected]

Powerflow2300/15transportablepump

World Seriesmulti-pressurevehicle pump

World Seriespump withintegrated CAFS

Trailermountedpump

MiniCAFS

Member Company

Positive PressureVentilation Fans

APF14 p10 17/11/06 9:23 am Page 1

Page 13: APF Issue 14

Amarket review in 1999 demonstrat-ed that 42 percent of UK firebrigades had purchased PPV blow-

ers and research suggested that this fig-ure was set to double by early 2001. Ofthe UK brigades already using PPV atthat time, 27 percent were planning itsuse in an aggressive pre-attack mode.Some ten years previous a similar surveyin the USA had suggested that up to 67percent of users were utilising PPV inpre-attack situations providing firefight-ers with a more comfortable and saferworking environment within a fireinvolved structure. This action alsoreportedly increased the chances of sur-vival amongst occupants that remainedtrapped therein. The concept of ‘blowing’air into a structure to remove smoke hasbeen practiced for many years and theScandinavians claim to have been thefirst to test the theory in the 1940s whilstin the 1950s, Fenno-Vent fans were usedfor such a purpose in Finland. Los Ange-les firefighters similarly claim to havebeen utilising this tactical approach instructure fires since 1961 whilst in the1950s it is reported that US firefightersused air blowers to control backfiringduring west coast forest fires. In 1960several large 72 inch air blowers were

effectively used against the Rothschildrefinery fire at Santa Fe Springs, Califor-nia, projecting water-fog for over 300feet through the convection column tocool and protect exposed tanks.

During the 1980s several fire depart-ments and fan manufacturers in the USAadvanced the concepts further still and theidea of a pre-attack application was devel-oped. This approach (since termed PositivePressure Attack (PPA)) was researched bythe Fire & Rescue Services Division of theNorth Carolina Department of Insurance in1988/9, focusing upon the use of PPV asa viable strategy in structural firefightingterms. The study addressed some highlyrelevant points, such as – Can PPV be usedas an attack tool during fire suppressiveefforts? Does PPV decrease the carbonmonoxide levels inside the structure?Should PPV be used before water isapplied to the fire?; Does PPV create asafer environment for firefighters and vic-tims?; and, Does PPV improve visibilitywithin a fire involved structure?. The teststook place in a two-storey purpose builtmasonry burn building specificallydesigned for ‘live’ fire training. The struc-ture was set up to resemble a dwellingwith two rooms on each level, totaling 119sq.metres of floor space. Several fires were

evaluated based upon three scenarios – (a)No PPV, (b) PPV prior to fire attack, (c)PPV used post-fire only. In each case,operations were effected two minutes afterthe temperature in the burn room reached260 deg.C. Carbon monoxide (CO) levelswithin the structure were measured at sixlocations, including the ground floor roomadjacent to the fire room (at 73.5 cen-timetres above floor level) and in anupstairs room serving as the furthest pointfrom the burn area.

The test results showed –

● CO levels on the fire floor wereincreasing from the moment the fireoriginated and peaked at three min-utes.

● CO levels on the floor above the firedid not register until almost twominutes after the fire had started.However, after four minutes the COlevels were higher at this location thanon the fire floor.

● The ability of PPV to reduce CO levelsthroughout the structure was out-standing, particularly in areas furthestfrom the fire. During the decadefollowing these tests there has beensimilar research carried out in manyother countries including the UK,France, Sweden and Finland and thefindings are jointly and conclusively insupport of PPV’s ability to rid fireinvolved structures of smoke andtoxic/flammable products within aneffectively reduced time frame.

ASIA PACIFIC FIREwww.apfmag.com

11

Picture courtesy of Russwurm

PositivePressureVentilationin FirefightingDESCRIBED AS THE ‘wave of the future’ in 1984; ‘a giant step forward infirefighter safety’; and, ‘the greatest innovation since the introduction ofbreathing apparatus’, it is certain that Positive Pressure Ventilation (PPV) madea big impression upon firefighters in the 1980s.

By Paul Grimwood

PositivePressureVentilationin Firefighting

P. 11-16 Positive Pressure 17/11/06 9:24 am Page 11

Page 14: APF Issue 14

GENERAL OPERATING PRINCIPLES As it applies to firefighting operations,the term tactical ventilation is a strategythat may be defined as – ‘an interventionby firefighters to open up a fire-involvedbuilding, releasing the products of com-bustion from within to gain tacticaladvantage during the overall approach tothe firefighting and rescue operation’. Itmay also refer to tactics used to ‘close-down’ a structure (anti-ventilation) in anattempt to control the ‘air-tracks’into/from the fire compartment. Suchstrategies should be employed with a spe-cific purpose or intent and should not berandomly utilised. Any such action shouldalso be pre-planned and clear guidelinesshould exist in the form of writtenStandard Operating Procedures (SOPs)forming a foundation for effective andsafe ventilation practice. This pre-planshould take into account the followingprinciples: any attempt to ventilate a fire-involved structure must be co-coordinatedwith interior attack and rescue teams.This requires an effective communicationlink between these crews and the fire-ground commander who is ultimatelyresponsible for ventilation actions. Anyopenings in the structure must be madewith precision to serve a specific pur-pose, ensuring they do not cause the fireto spread. An element of anticipation isnecessary in preparation of likely out-comes and any required actions, e.g.; acharged hoseline should be laid inadvance to cover openings made whereexposures may be at risk.

BASIC PRINCIPLES In its purest sense, the implementation ofPPV entails the sitting of a ‘fan’ (alsotermed smoke ejector or blower), or mul-tiple fans in various configurations, sothat the airflow created by the fans isdirected into the structure, creating apositive pressure therein. Important

features of the techniques are – (a) fancapability (b) fan placements and config-urations (c) discharge openings (size andlocation) (d) wind direction and effects(e) sequential ventilation.

WIND DIRECTION & EFFECTS Early research in the USA suggested thatwind speeds of 25 mph (40 kph) could beovercome by opposing PPV airflowswhere necessary. However, more recentresearch in the UK might suggest thatopposing head wind speeds as low as 6mph (10 kph) may serve to counter theeffects of PPV and create a situationwhere it is difficult to overcome the nat-ural airflow. In this case, exhaust pointsshould be smaller than air inlet points(i.e.; 2-1 inlet to outlet ratio) to assist thePPV airflow to gain momentum (velocity)against any head wind. Similarly, cross-winds may affect the stability of PPVairstreams causing the outputs of fans tobe disrupted. It is worthy of note that thehigh velocity airflows associated withturbo style fans are far less likely to beaffected by adverse wind effects. Theresearch also suggests that tail winds inexcess of 12.3 mph (20 kph) may not beassisted further in their natural ventila-tion capability when supported by con-ventional airflows from PPV blowers.Therefore, the wind strength and direc-tion should be noted and taken into con-sideration whenever PPV is utilised on thefireground.

SEQUENTIAL VENTILATION Where contaminated areas requiring ven-tilation form definite compartments with-in a structure, the process of sequentialventilation will achieve the best results.This entails providing the maximumamount of pressurised air from a blowerto ventilate each area in turn. Such aneffect is obtained by opening and closingdoors within, to direct the inflow of airtowards designated channels.

PPV – EXTREMELY VERSATILE The techniques associated with PPV havebecome extremely versatile and are notrestricted to clearing compartments ofsmoke. In addition to the applicationsalready discussed PPV may be used to:

1. Reduce levels of carbon monoxide,and other toxic and irritant gases,during the ‘overhaul’ (mop-up)phase of fireground operations.

2. Create pressurised stairways or clearsmoke in high-rise buildings to assistfirefighting efforts or persons escap-ing from the structure.

3. Clear the structure’s facade of smoketo assist exterior rescue operationsand enable the incident commanderto make a reliable assessment of thesituation.

4. To divert smoke away from firefight-ers during firefighting in the open –car fires etc.

5. Control and abate certain airbornecontaminants such as anhydrousammonia.

6. Confining the spread of fire in ‘defen-sive’ applications, for example, in‘strip’ shopping malls.

7. Controlling and assisting the extin-guishment of chimney fires.

8. Larger PPV units are available to con-trol and ease firefighting efforts intunnel fires.

REDUCING THE HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH AFTER-FIRE ‘OVERHAUL’ (MOP-UP) OPERATIONS Deborah Wallace detailed a large numberof cases in her book In the Mouth of theDragon (Avery Publishing NY.USA) anddeveloped upon the notion that modernplastics play a far bigger part in causingfire deaths than is currently realised. Aclose analysis of fires also suggested thatshort-term exposures to fire gases result-ed in long term effects for survivors. It iscommonplace for plastics to decomposein fires, discharging amounts of toxicgases, corrosive irritants, asphyxiants andorganic chemicals into the atmosphere.Those that are subjected to even smallamounts of such emissions may sufferdamage to internal organs such as theheart, brain, kidney and the liver, as wellas amounts of respiratory tissue death,lung edema and haemorrhage, chemicalpneumonia and bronchitis, susceptibilityto respiratory infections, permanentabnormal lung functions, skin scarringand sensitisation, eye damage, and neu-rological and vascular reactions. Organicchemicals usually affect the nervous sys-tem – Phthalates are heart poisons –Benzene causes blood cell abnormalitiesincluding leukemia, and many organicspoison the liver and may cause cancer . . .the list is endless! What is perhaps morerelevant is the fact that many of thesecontaminants are still present in danger-

ASIA PACIFIC FIREwww.apfmag.com

12

Picture courtesy of Tempest Technology

P. 11-16 Positive Pressure 17/11/06 9:24 am Page 12

Page 15: APF Issue 14

ASIA PACIFIC FIREwww.apfmag.com

13

Russwurm VentilatorenMade in Germany

...when mobile, compact but powerful fansare required.

Experienced in strongest fire and rescue situations. Used invehicles which have to be equipped for all incidents. For everyduty the right drive. All versions are available with certifiedexplosion-proofness. We offer a wide range of ATEX-certifiedfans for the zones 1, 2, 21 and 22 in axial and radial design.

If required, they can be customized to your

needs.

Detailed informations and PDF-filesfor downloads you can find atwww.ruwu.de or you simply call us.

Russwurm Ventilatoren GmbH | Ortsstrasse 25 | D-86405 Meitingen-OstendorfPhone: +49-8271-8175-0 | Fax: +49-8271-8175-40 | [email protected]: Martin Grant

s tungs- Ventilatoreni … and you have the air under control

Ho

ch le

P. 11-16 Positive Pressure 17/11/06 9:24 am Page 13

Page 16: APF Issue 14

ous amounts even after the fire has beenextinguished and firefighters are oftenstanding and working in what appear tobe ‘clear’ zones without the protection ofbreathing apparatus! It is commonplacefor firefighters to experience sore throats,tight chests with some pain, headaches,

nausea, irritated eyes and lung conges-tion following heavy ‘mop-up’ operationsat fires – it is part of the job – but is itnecessary?! Studies have suggested thatin certain cases there may be longer-termeffects – even cancer and heart disease.

The potential for PPV to clear stagnat-

ing fire gases and contaminants from acompartment during the ‘mop-up’ phaseis a well established and used techniqueand environmental monitoring is utilisedto record the reduction in air pollution.Some fire departments in the USA haveestablished a policy of removing breath-ing apparatus for interior ‘mop-up’ atrecorded levels of 35 ppm CO or below.In contrast, the Ottawa Fire Service inCanada has established 5 ppm as the safelimit.

The use of PPV during ‘mop-up’ alsoserves to assist firefighters by showing uphidden embers and areas that remainsmoldering. It is suggested that suchoperations are augmented by thermalimage cameras to locate hotspots safelyand effectively.

PPV AND THE HIGH-RISE FIRE SITUATION

The famous fire at the MGM Grand Hotelin Las Vegas clearly demonstrated thatthe movement of smoke and toxic gasesthroughout a high-rise building mayoften present a greater hazard to life andfirefighting efforts than the spread of fireitself. The problems associated with vent-ing smoke from tall buildings are uniqueand special attention should be paid tothe techniques utilised to achieve suchobjectives.

A symposium held in North Carolina,USA brought together PPV specialistsfrom all over the USA to present viewsand share experiences. The symposium

ASIA PACIFIC FIREwww.apfmag.com

14

.Super Vacuum Manufacturing Co. Inc., P.O. Box 87 , Loveland CO 80539 USA,Phone 970.667.5146 Fax 970.667.4296

SUPER VAC...MORE POWER...MORE SIZESFOR SMOKE VENTILATION.

Firefighters around the world have reliedon the quality and engineering excellenceof Super Vac Ventilators for 50 years.With sizes from 200 mm to 2 meters,power from 3 kW to 390 kW, and yourchoice of electricty,petrol, battery, or water power, you canmatch the ventilator precisely to your needs. No matter what the size,these ventilators are packed with design innovations that help you onthe fire scene including air tires, full width handles that flip up, and preciselever action tilt control. To exactly meet your PPV needs, contact Super Vac

www.supervac.com

Picture courtesy of Supervac

P. 11-16 Positive Pressure 17/11/06 9:25 am Page 14

Page 17: APF Issue 14

included live demonstrations of theeffectiveness of PPV in a 32-storey office tower under con-struction. The demonstrationsutilised a ground level corridor,the emergency stairwell andtwo floors (levels 20 and 28). Byusing a rooftop discharge open-ing it took natural air move-ments (stack action) 15 minutesto clear the 30-metre longground floor corridor of smokewhilst two PPV blowers (placedin-line) were able to achieve thesame in just seven minutes. Furthertests by the Charlotte Fire depart-ment involved smoke-logging upperfloor areas of 644 sq.metres and1,288 sq.metres respectively. Variousfan placements were evaluated to com-pare their effectiveness, including in-lineand parallel configurations forcing airinto the base of the emergency stairwell.During the course of one operation a fanwas sited at an upper level to boost theairflow. This arrangement led to a notice-able build-up of exhaust fumes on theinvolved floor although CO monitoringequipment was unable to detect anymeasurable amount. The various fanplacements all effected adequate smokeclearance times, forcing smoke to leavethe involved floors at an average rate of46 sq.metres per minute.

When smoke enters a stair shaft in a tallbuilding it will generally rise to the upperlevels and either mushroom at the top ofthe shaft, where it is unable to escapefrom the structure, or stratify at a mid-point within the shaft where the smokehas cooled. This straification generallyserves as a ‘lid’ for other products of com-bustion, which tend to bank down belowthe stratified layers. The principles of PPVmay be harnessed in several ways to assistfirefighters in the high-rise situation.Upper levels may be cross ventilated byvarious configurations of blowers sited atground level. Tests have shown this set-upto be effective generally up to 25 storeys.Above this level additional fans willnormally be needed to boost the airflowon the involved floors. Vertical ventilationmay also be effected within a stairshaft bymultiple fans configured at ground level.Where the intention is to prevent contami-nants from entering the stairshaft (pres-surisation) the operation will prove mosteffective with no openings at the top.However, where the objective is to clear asmoke logged shaft, the head of the stairswill require an opening to exhaust thecontaminants to the exterior. Many high-rise buildings already have pressurisedstairshafts built-in to maintain smoke freeescape routes. The same principles thatapply to the overall effectiveness of thesesystems also apply to PPV operations intall structures. The potential for success isdependant on restricting leakage pathsfrom the area to be pressurised.

Past experience has demonstrated justhow difficult it is to keep stairshafts

free of smoke where pressurisedventilation does not exist. As fire-fighters gain access to the firefloors and ‘lay-in’ hoselines fromrising main systems lobby doorsare often forced to remain open,allowing smoke to contaminatethe shaft. This creates difficultiesfor firefighters working on upperfloors and is particularly a hazardwhere occupants remain trappedabove the fire floor/s. The LosAngeles Fire Department experi-enced such problems during themassive fire at the Interstate Bankin 1988 and have since written theuse of PPV under such circum-

stances into their standard operat-ing procedures covering high-rise

firefighting. A recent FEU scientific (UK)report (11/97) suggested that it may bemore productive to open windows fromthe fire floor upwards while ascending

ASIA PACIFIC FIREwww.apfmag.com

15

Picture courtesy of Groupe-Leader

P. 11-16 Positive Pressure 17/11/06 9:26 am Page 15

Page 18: APF Issue 14

than by opening the highest vent onlywhere the aim was to clear a stairshaft ofsmoke. However, it should also be notedthat air-conditioned high-rise stairshaftsrarely have naturally opening windowsand any such ventilation openings wouldneed to be created through breakage.

THE USE OF PPV TO CLEAR SMOKE FROM A STRUCTURE’S FACADE On occasions, the responding fire force isfaced with large amounts of dark smokeissuing from openings on the structuralfacade as they arrive on scene. The trueextent of the situation as it is evolvingmay be masked by the quantity of smokeas trapped occupants cling to ledges sev-eral floors above ground. Overhead powerand telephone lines, street lighting andprojections from the structure may not beimmediately apparent to firefighters andthe entire situation may be hinderingprompt ladder placements enabling res-cuers to reach those in immediate peril.The use of PPV to create a false windacross the face of a structure may, if usedin this way, clear smoke from the facadeand allow lighting to facilitate priorityladder placements and assist the incidentcommander in making a reliable andaccurate assessment of the situation.

PPV IN A DEFENSIVE MODE The use of PPV fans to confine a fire hasbecome an established defensive strategywhereby compartments surrounding oraside of the fire compartment itself arepressurised with airflows to prevent fireand contaminants from spreading beyondthe compartment of origin.

PPV AND CHIMNEY FIRES Several fire authorities in the USA have developed techniques to assist

firefighters in extinguishing chimney fires that avoids the need for firefightersto operate from rooftops duringinclement weather conditions. Thesetechniques entail using a PPV fan run at1⁄2 to full RPM in unison with a dry chem-ical extinguisher discharged up into thechimney shaft in 1-2 second bursts. Athermal image camera should be used toassess the situation and prevent any fireextension into walls, flooring or roofvoids.

PRE-ATTACK PPV – OPERATING PRINCIPLES The basic principles for initiating andusing PPV have already been discussedand when used in the pre-attack modethe operating principles remain the same,with one or two minor adjustments.Much emphasis should be placed uponpromoting a general awareness of poten-tial shortfalls where incorrect applicationsmay be made.

● A pre-written document should existproviding guidelines on applicationtechnique in each fire authority areachoosing to adopt the strategy of PPV.

● Always create an exhaust point forsmoke and gases before directing thePPV airstream into the structure.

● Where fans are correctly sited (not tooclose to the entry point) any churningeffects of the smoke and gases shouldbe avoided and disruption of the ther-mal layers kept to a minimum.

● The application of PPV will most likelycause a compartment fire to burn withgreater intensity. There may even bean initial rise in compartmental tem-peratures. However, heat flux is mostlikely to reduce within the first fewseconds of application as cooler airenters the compartment.

● Where PPV is used to ventilate Tshaped compartments from the baseof the T a ‘swirling’ effect in thesmoke patterns has been noted thatreduces the effect of gases leaving thecompartment efficiently.

● As smoke gases and flames depart atthe exhaust point there is a dangerthat local exposures may becomeinvolved with fire. This hazard shouldbe anticipated and covered with hose-lines sited defensively.

● Where a fan is sited too close to thepoint of air entry and/or the exhaustpoint is unable to function to fullcapacity a ‘blowback’ of flame/gasesmay appear at the entry point. Tryeither moving the fan back; improvingthe exhaust action – or turn the fanoff.

● The immediate siting and operation ofa PPV fan prior to the entry pointbeing effected may serve to disguiseany indication of backdraft conditionswhere smoke might normally pulseback and forth under normal air entryconditions as opened.

● Any attempt to move smoulderingmattresses or chairs while PPV is inoperation may lead to an amount of‘flame-up’. It is essential not to getcaught without some extinguishingmedium on hand when doing so!

● Before initiating pre-attack PPV -(a) Know where the fire is located. (b) Lay hoselines in readiness. (c Ensure the fan is ready. (d) Create an exhaust point (near area

of involvement). ● Pre attack PPV should NOT be

initiated where – (a) Signs & Symptoms of backdraft are

apparent. (b) Where dusts or powders may be

disturbed. (c) Where the fire’s location has not

been established. (d) Points of fire exposure are not

covered by protective hoselines. (e) Where the fire is known to be

spreading beyond the compart-ment of origin.

(f) When it is recognised that internallayout is not suited to optimumairflows.

CONCLUSION With 90 percent of structure fires beingheld to the room of origin there is muchpotential for the concept of pre-attackPPV to flourish. However, the use of PPVis not solely restricted to pre-fire-attacksituations and the ever increasing scopeof operations that may be effected bysuch a strategy makes PPV a most versa-tile and effective technique in modernfirefighting terms.

ASIA PACIFIC FIREwww.apfmag.com

16

Throughout the 1980s London fire-fighter Paul Grimwood presentedseveral controversial papers andarticles, based mainly upon his ownoperational research and experi-ences as a firefighter both in the UKand the USA, that closely examinedstructural ventilation practices ascarried out by firefighters around theworld. His proposed concept of‘Tactical Ventilation’ – was toencourage an increased awarenessof ‘Tac-Vent’ Ops and PPV and pre-sent a safer and more effective tacti-cal process for the ventilation offire-involved structures by on-scenefirefighters, paying particular atten-tion to the influences of air dynamicsand fire gas formations. Followingwork with Warrington Fire ResearchConsultants (FRDG 6/94) his termi-nology and concepts were adoptedofficially by the UK fire service andare now referred to throughoutrevised Home Office trainingmanuals (1996-97).

Picture courtesy of Unifire Power Blowers

P. 11-16 Positive Pressure 17/11/06 9:26 am Page 16

Page 19: APF Issue 14

It’s fast, easy, and convenient to order any

of the National Fire Codes® online! With

our PDF service, you can download vital

requirements right away. Simply log onto

www.nfpacatalog.org to select the

document(s) you need and

explore the full range of NFPA

products and services! Order

or join NFPA by credit card

over our secure server 24

hours a day.

National FireCodes® OnlineSubscriptionServiceThis revolutionary service allows

subscribers to reference the most timely NFPA

codes and standards, in addition to a wealth

of useful information including Reports on

Proposals and Reports on Comments, informing

you of proposed changes to the codes and

standards that directly affect

your work.

Other continuously updated

features include Formal

Interpretations and tentative

Interim Amendments. Online

access to the NFPA Directory

and NFPA News.

Subscribe Now! Your access

number is e-mailed within

minutes of registering!

www.nfpacatalog.org

Within minutesof registering,you can accessthe very latestNFPA codes andstandards.

www.nfpacatalog.org

Need It Now?Every NFPA code and standard is now available

in PDF format!

For information on your local distributor contact us at [email protected]

NFPA International • 1 Batterymarch Park • Quincy, MA 02269 • USATel +1-617-770-3000 • Fax +1-617-984-7777

Enquiry card no. 34

APF14 p17 17/11/06 9:27 am Page 1

Page 20: APF Issue 14

[email protected] East Asia +65-8125-8895International +1-403-248-9226

In times of uncertainty, you need EE times the protection.

f i v e - g a s d e t e c t o r

Breathe easy, knowing your life is protected withthe

• simultaneous display of up to five different gases: H2S, CO, O2, SO2, PH3, NH3, NO2, HCN, Cl2, ClO2, O3 and combustibles (LEL)• PID model available with photo-ionization detector for toxic volatile organic chemicals (VOCs)• integral pump option• triple alarms (visual, audible and vibrating) • integral concussion-proof boot• interchangeable rechargeable and alkaline battery packs• datalogging options• multi-language display and support

www.gasmonitors.com

APFUncertaintyFire.ai 5/4/2005 4:31:54 PMAPF14 p18 17/11/06 9:27 am Page 1

Page 21: APF Issue 14

The result of this focus on acts of terror is that we have, incertain cases, allowed our core

hazardous-materials response compet-encies to fall by the wayside among ourfrontline companies. Plain old Haz-Mataccidents continue to happen every dayand will continue to happen. We needto get back to the basics in Haz-Mat,just as we did with firefighting afterthe initial rush of technical rescue sev-eral years ago. We need to think aboutleaking MC-306/DOT-406 cargo tanktrucks and one-ton chlorine cylindersagain and set the attack with nerveagents on the back burner as we brushup on the basics. This back-to-basicsprogram will be most helpful forengine and truck company officers andfirefighters.

First-due fire companies will initiallyrecognize many Haz-Mat incidents.Your engine crew may be dispatched

for the “odour investigation,” forexample, and arrive at a constructionsite to find a drum leaking anunknown substance. Your truck crewmay be assigned to investigate an“unknown alarm” going off, called inby a cell phone caller, of course, andfind that it is a chlorine alarm at a localpool. It is the first-due company thatwill initiate the Haz-Mat ResponseTeam’s (HMRT) action and set thestage for the incident.

Members who aren’t certified Haz-Mat technicians sometimes feel thatthere is little they can do between call-ing for the response team and thatteam’s arrival. That is far from true.Taking small but crucial steps in thefirst minutes will dramatically improvethe course of the entire incident. What,then, can our first-due responders, ourawareness- and operations-trained per-sonnel, do to make this situation better

without exceeding the scope of theirtraining? They can keep themselves andthe local civilian population out of thehazardous area and establish the inci-dent management system (IMS).

From the dispatch of the first com-pany, the incident management processbegins. There are several variations onthe IMS, and each department shouldselect its own system. The IMS must beoutlined in department policies andprocedures; the department’s standardoperating guidelines (SOGs) shouldaddress the scope of implementing the system. The Illinois Fire ServiceInstitute’s (IFSI) five-step incidentmanagement process is particularlyuseful. In this model responders aretaught to do the following:

1. Isolate an incident.2. Identify the product and hazards. 3. Notify needed resources and

required agencies.4. Mitigate the hazard. 5. Terminate the incident.

The isolating, identifying, and notify-ing tasks may not necessarily beperformed in that order; steps are takenas needed according to the incident’sseverity and the incident commander’s

ASIA PACIFIC FIREwww.apfmag.com

19

Picture courtesy of Trelleborg Protective Products

InitialActions at

a Haz-MatResponse

DURING THE PAST FEW YEARS, the fire service has spent a lot of timediscussing weapons of mass destruction and developing a basicunderstanding of terrorism. This was an important step for our nation’s firstresponders to take and for our fire departments to invest time in. Butremember that training for terrorism is in many ways like training for trenchrescue: The training is necessary, but it is very unlikely that most responderswill actually confront such an incident.

By Christopher Brennan

InitialActions at

a Haz-MatResponse

P. 19-23 Initial Actions 17/11/06 9:28 am Page 19

Page 22: APF Issue 14

priorities. Specific tasks may be accom-plished early in an incident and laterrevisited or revised as the scene changes.We will discuss later specific tasks thatthe first-due company can performwithin the scope of its training, whichshould be at a minimum the operationslevel. This will set the stage for a suc-cessful incident conclusion using thefive-step incident management process.

Note that the HMRT will most likelyrevisit all of these steps on arrival andmay change the operational conceptthe first-due companies have imple-mented. These changes will be basedon more detailed science and research,monitoring, and the effects of theactions initially taken by the first-arriving companies.

ISOLATION

The first-arriving company will deter-mine how best to isolate the incidentin the early stages. Ideally, any incidentthat sounds like it may potentiallyinvolve a Haz-Mat release will promptthe company officer to request winddirection and speed from the fire alarmoffice and to instruct the apparatus dri-ver/operator to approach from an uphilland upwind direction. Additionally, theapparatus should be backed down tothe incident, if possible, to allow for aquick retreat if there is a suddenchange in conditions, or if the incidentis determined to be larger than initiallybelieved. These actions will have thegreatest positive effect on member safe-ty in the early stages and should be theprimary concern of the first-in officer.

IDENTIFICATION

On arrival at the scene, the companyshould use tools such as binoculars andthe North American Emergency

Response Guidebook (ERG) to identifythe product or products involved. Also,the company should request the assis-tance of anyone responsible for theproduct in obtaining material safetydata sheets (MSDSs), shipping papers,or other information that will assist indetermining the severity of the inci-dent. The first-responding fire companyshould attempt to gather knowledge-able people and keep them availablefor the Haz-Mat response team. TheHMRT would likely interview thesepeople to determine the cause of theleak or spill and what the hazards ofthe product are. These actions fallunder the “Identify” stage of the inci-dent management process but must beaccomplished before the isolation zonecan be more clearly defined.

Once container shape and size, plac-ards, labels, or shipping documents have

generally identified the product, the ini-tial hot zone can be modified as need-ed. This area should be large enough toensure that all companies upwind anddownwind are in a safe atmosphere andalso allow for any product movement asa result of environmental conditions oreven a catastrophic failure of the prod-uct’s container. The ERG provides agood deal of help in establishing initialisolation zones and should be consultedearly. Actions such as setting hot zonesare important defensive operations andrequire companies to trade space for thesafety of responders until the HMRTarrives.

NOTIFICATION

The process of notifications shouldbegin at the same time that the initialisolation and the identification of theproduct are occurring. It is imperativethat the company officer requests theHMRT as soon as there is reasonablesuspicion that you are dealing with aknown or potential Haz-Mat release.You then can continue to relay informa-tion as you develop it to the team whilethey are en route. In addition to theHMRT, the fire alarm office will have tobe notified of the resources needed (e.g.,police for isolation or evacuation, addi-tional alarms if the incident involvesserious fire or the threat of a fire, andEMS resources to treat any injuries). Inthe notification process, having a phone

ASIA PACIFIC FIREwww.apfmag.com

20

Picture courtesy of Hughes Safety Showers

Initial Actions at aHaz-Mat ResponseInitial Actions at aHaz-Mat Response

P. 19-23 Initial Actions 17/11/06 9:28 am Page 20

Page 23: APF Issue 14

ASIA PACIFIC FIREwww.apfmag.com

21

Argus®—Trademark licensed from Argus Industries Inc.

• 26 image captureand download

• choice of sensor cores (BST and ASi microbolometer)

• x2 digital zoom facility

• 8 screen colour settings - from monochrome to full colour

• integrated wirelessvideo output

• spot and ambient temperature measurement

Capture the imagewith Argus®3the world's most advanced thermal imaging camera:

t: +44 (0) 1245 453443e: [email protected]: www.argusdirect.com/apf1

Trelleborg Protective Products ABP.O. Box 1520,

SE-271 00 YstadPhone: +46 411 67940

Fax: +46 411 15285www.trelleborg.com/protective

[email protected]

Trelleborg S.E.A. Pte Ltd10 Toh Guan Road #03-06

International TradeparkSingapore 608838

Phone: +65 6 8989 332Fax: +65 6 8989 303

www.trelleborg.com/[email protected]

P. 19-23 Initial Actions 17/11/06 9:29 am Page 21

Page 24: APF Issue 14

line available to relay information is avery helpful tool. The process of readingand spelling out the name of a productover the radio is time-consuming, pre-venting other radio traffic from gettingout; it is prone to error because of traf-fic being stepped on by other units; itmay reveal to the general population,using scanners, more information thanyou would be ready to release. In thisage of inexpensive cell phones withwalkie-talkie features, the addition of aphone capability will potentially savemany headaches and create an environ-ment where operational security can bemore easily maintained.

Cell phones won’t prevent a dedicat-ed or devious individual from obtaininginformation about your operation.However, they can prevent the generalpopulation and the media from obtain-ing information you are not preparedto release.

MITIGATION

The first step in mitigation is establish-ing emergency decontamination. In thebeginning of an incident, emergencydecontamination can be establishedusing a 13⁄4-inch hoseline with a fognozzle and some means of containing

runoff. The containment system can beas simple as flushing contamination offan individual over a grassy area thatcan later be excavated by a cleanupcontractor if needed. Of course, thissystem of emergency decontaminationis the bare minimum that should beestablished. It is not sufficient forteams conducting reconnaissance orentry; it is established to handle a trueemergency only. Members assigned tooperate the emergency decontaminationsector should be in full turnout gear,with SCBA and hoods in place. As soonas is practical, a more formal emergencydecontamination system should beimplemented with a true containmentsystem and staffed by responders inchemical protective clothing.

Beyond establishing emergencydecontamination, the company officermust use SOGs and assess availableresources to determine if any other mit-igation steps can be accomplished. Forexample, shutting down a valve remotefrom a leak is a mitigation step that canbe accomplished from a defensive pos-ture, but only if the company officerhas such discretion to act according tothe department SOGs and after con-sultation with knowledgeable facility

representatives who can determine ifsuch action will increase the overallproblem by impacting other processes.

TERMINATION

Termination is the final step in thefive-step IMS. The first-in companieswill not engage in terminating an inci-dent if they have called for a HMRT orextra alarm companies. The responsibil-ity for terminating the incident will fallon the incident commander. The first-due company, however, can obtaininformation such as names, addresses,and phone numbers of responsible par-ties, shippers, and any witnesses thatcan be handed over to the incidentcommander to help terminate theincident. After the incident is handedover to a remediation contractor, thefirst-responding companies should par-ticipate in the post-incident debriefingand later critiques.

CONCLUSION

The engine and truck companies arethe backbone of the fire service andmust be prepared to respond to Haz-Mat incidents. Commonsense tells usthat these first responders, along withlocal law enforcement in many cases,will be responsible for recognizing thata hazardous condition exists andstarting the process of protecting thepopulation and environment from the effects of the hazard. They must betrained and have the appropriateequipment and personnel to bring aHaz-Mat incident under control byisolating the scene, identifying theproduct, and notifying the appropriateresources needed to mitigate theincident. The specific circumstances ofisolating and identifying materialsdescribed in this article should not beconsidered the only options; there aremany ways of accomplishing thesetasks, and companies will become pro-ficient in them only through training.

ASIA PACIFIC FIREwww.apfmag.com

22

It is imperative that fire companiesare trained to understand the scopeof the actions they can be expectedto handle and given the equipmentto accomplish those tasks. Propertraining, equipment, and personnelare needed to operate safely andeffectively.”

Beyond establishing emergencydecontamination, the companyofficer must use SOGs and assessavailable resources to determine ifany other mitigation steps can beaccomplished.

Initial Actions at aHaz-Mat ResponseInitial Actions at aHaz-Mat Response

P. 19-23 Initial Actions 17/11/06 9:29 am Page 22

Page 25: APF Issue 14

ASIA PACIFIC FIREwww.apfmag.com

23

Hughes Safety Showers Ltd.Whitefield Road Bredbury Stockport Cheshire SK6 2SS England

Telephone: +44 (0)161 430 6618 Fax: +44 (0)161 430 7928Email: [email protected] Web: www.hughes-safety-showers.co.uk

www.hughes-safety-showers.co.uk

Selected by HM Government as the frontline general purpose decontamination showerfor chemical spillages and accidents…also chosen for decontaminating the emergency services in case of CBRN incidents

• Designed for rapid deployment• Built to the highest standards• Robust and reliable• Proven track record

For effective and efficient decontaminationcall the experts now on:

+44(0)161 430 6618

Join

us

atIn

ters

hutz

Hall26

· Sta

nd D58

June 6th

-11th

P. 19-23 Initial Actions 17/11/06 9:30 am Page 23

Page 26: APF Issue 14

Fire fighting is a red-hot Job –only the best will do for you.

www.iveco-magirus.de

The name IVECO MAGIRUS represents excellence in fire fighting competence since decades. Based on MAGIRUS' over 140 years of tradition, today we are able to offer you the concentrated know how of three brands: MAGIRUS as full liner and world marketleader for turntable ladders up to 53 m, LOHR MAGIRUS as tailor-made-vehicle specialistand CAMIVA as specialist for fire fighting and special vehicles. In continuous dialogue withfire brigades, world wide, we develop solutions which again and again set standards.

APF14 p24 17/11/06 9:30 am Page 1

Page 27: APF Issue 14

AIRCRAFT RESCUE FIREFIGHTING

Aircraft rescue firefighting (ARFF)encompasses the techniques, tactics andskills utilized to maximize the numberof survivors of an aircraft crash. Thisinvolves the use of specialized andsophisticated equipment, and the imple-mentation of specific strategies andtactics, with priority being placed onrescuing the greatest number of victimsin the shortest period of time.

In order to certify them as airworthy,manufacturers of commercial jetlinersmust demonstrate that their aircrafts canbe evacuated of their full capacity inunder three minutes, utilizing only halfthe available exits.1,2 However, a jet air-craft can still be compared to a crowdedmovie theater with too few exits to passany building code in the country.

Due to the nature of the com-bustibles involved in an aircraft crash,the physical forces which are experi-enced and the potentially large numberof victims, strategic priorities differ fromother types of firefighting scenarios. InARFF, the emphasis is more heavilyweighted toward rescue than in struc-tural firefighting. With a potential 300+victims, many of whom will have suf-fered burns and/or traumatic injuriesand are in need of extrication, all avail-able resources must concentrate on therescue effort. This often involves thetactical decision to ignore a large bodyof fire until after rescue of the passen-gers and crew is accomplished.

The rule of thumb is initially to fightonly the fire that interferes with the res-cue. Once the rescue is completed,resources can then be redirected to

firefighting. This is in contrast to astructural fire response, where savingthe bedrooms from a kitchen fire is con-sidered a win. After all, you can’t savehalf an airplane!

ARFF TECHNIQUESTechniques initially employed in theresponse are geared toward extendingthe “escape window” to allow theevacuation of passengers and crew.

Aviation fuels burn at extremely hightemperatures, between 3,000°F-4,000°F.The environment inside an aircraft cabincan reach uninhabitable temperatureswithin two minutes. By employing the“area concept” technique of blanketingthe outside of the fuselage with over-lapping streams of firefighting productto draw off heat, escape time forpassengers can increase significantly.

Tests conducted at the Federal Avia-tion Administration’s (FAA) researchfacility at Atlantic City Airport in NewJersey demonstrate that a fuel fire inside an aircraft cabin can reach tem-peratures that lead to flash-over condi-tions in less than four minutes. Theimmediate application of massivequantities of cooling firefighting prod-uct to draw off this heat is the mosteffective technique for increasingsurvivability in a low-impact aircraftcrash fire incident.

When planning a fire attack, certainbasic principles should be employed.

ASIA PACIFIC FIREwww.apfmag.com

25

AircraftRescueFirefightingTHE CRASH OF A commercial jetliner raises the specter of such overwhelmingdeath and destruction that most people would rather not consider thepossibility. Unless a community is in close proximity to an airport, it is oftendifficult to get the commitment of resources to plan for such an event. However,it is the responsibility of emergency managers to plan for the unthinkable. Forthose individuals who insist that these types of incidents only occur “someplaceelse,” remember that to emergency managers in other municipalities, yourcommunity is somewhere else.

In this series of articles, we will consider the role of fire, law enforcementand EMS agencies when responding to an off-airport aircraft crash. In thisissue, we begin by reviewing aircraft rescue firefighting.

By Kenneth D. Honig,EMT-P, CEN

AircraftRescueFirefighting

P. 25-30 17/11/06 10:47 am Page 25

Page 28: APF Issue 14

The responding firefighting force shouldmake the initial attack from upwind ofthe fire. This allows nature to reduce theamount of heat and smoke these fire-fighters will encounter. Remember thatstructural firefighting protective cloth-ing provides inadequate protectionagainst extreme temperatures generatedby burning aviation fuels. Whenapproaching the scene, firefightersshould realize that due to their limitedinitial firefighting capacity, they shouldnot waste time or product extinguishingfires that do not involve passengerareas. Burning wings, engines andlanding gear do not normally containpassengers, and unless the fire isencroaching on passenger or otherinhabited areas, it should be ignoreduntil passenger rescue is complete.

The first priority is to create andmaintain a rescue/escape path forpassengers evacuating the aircraft.Secondly, product should be applied to cool the areas of fuselage whereradiant heat from a fire has begun toencroach. Finally, after the passengers’safety is established, and if sufficientquantities of firefighting product areavailable, mop up of other areas canbegin.

PREPARATION CONSIDERATIONSIn order to prepare for an aircraftemergency, agencies should becomefamiliar with how airports deal with on-site incidents.

The FAA has promulgated FederalAviation Regulations (FARs) on a varietyof subjects involving operations of air-craft and airports. FAR Part 139 [14CFRPart 139] deals with, among otherthings, aircraft rescue and firefighting.Part 139 details the required areas oftraining for aircraft rescue firefighters,and specifies the type and capacity ofequipment available to respond to suchincidents.

Aircraft rescue firefighting vehiclescan be categorized into four types:rapid intervention vehicles (RIV); largecapacity foam vehicles; tankers; andmiscellaneous ancillary vehicles.

Rapid intervention vehicles quicklydeliver a sufficient quantity of firefightingproduct to extinguish a small aircraftfuel fire or knock down a large fuel fire.Personnel on this equipment will alsomake the first evaluation of the incidentand begin rescue operations. These vehi-cles carry 100-1,000 gallons of waterand aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF),as well as a secondary extinguishingagent (Halon, carbon dioxide or drychemical powder). To meet FAA man-dated standards, this vehicle must beable to reach the midpoint of the fur-thest runway from the fire station andbegin firefighting operations in threeminutes or less from the initial alarm.

Large capacity foam vehicles carry upto 6,000 gallons of water and AFFF.They discharge firefighting foamthrough turrets at up to 1,200 gallonsper minute or more, as well as throughhand lines and under truck nozzles.They must be able to arrive at a scenewithin four minutes after an alarm issounded.

Tanker vehicles may be utilized totransport large quantities of water orfoam concentrate to the scene forreplenishment of ARFF vehicles.

Other vehicles in an ARFF fleet mayinclude command and communicationsvehicles, stair trucks, ambulances, MCIequipment carriers, hazardous materi-als/decontamination units, ladder andhose trucks.

The FAA makes yearly surprise testsof response time, equipment and train-ing records. Failure to meet mandatedstandards can result in hefty finesand/or loss of certification.

FIREFIGHTING PRODUCTSClass B firefighting foams are the prima-ry agent used for fighting aircraft fires.Foam is defined in NFPA Standard-11 as“a stable aggregation of small bubblesof lower density than oil or water, andshows tenacious qualities for coveringhorizontal surfaces.” Foam is made upof air, a foaming agent and water. It is

ASIA PACIFIC FIREwww.apfmag.com

26

Ph. 630.515.1800 Fax: 630.515.8866

2700 Wisconsin Ave. Downers Grove, IL 60515 USA

www.amkus.com email:[email protected]

Aircraft ResAircraft ResP. 25-30 17/11/06 10:47 am Page 26

Page 29: APF Issue 14

the air trapped in the bubbles that givesfoam its cooling ability.

The first chemical foams were devel-oped in England in the late 1870s. TheUnited States Army Air Corps beganusing chemical foams formed by reac-tions of such materials as aluminumsulfate or sodium bicarbonate andwater, in combination with foam-stabi-lizing agents, in the 1930s. In 1935, theArmy switched to mechanical foamswhere a liquid foaming agent is mixedwith water and air. Examples of thesemechanical foams include proteinfoams, which are albumin based, andfluoroprotein foams, in which glycolswere added to stabilize the foam.

In the 1960s, the United States Navy,along with 3M, developed Aqueous FilmForming Foam (AFFF). AFFF is totallysynthetic and contains fluorocarbonsurfactants which cause a thin aqueousfilm to drain from the foam bubbles andfloat on top of the liquid hydrocarbons.This traps the vapors and results in fireextinguishment by removing the fuelsource. In addition, the cooling actionof the bubbles removes the heat, result-ing in faster extinguishment.

Firefighting foams are generally avail-able in 1%, 3% and 6% concentrates.The percentage refers to the number ofgallons of concentrate to be mixed withwater to produce 100 gallons of fire-fighting product. For example, one gal-lon of 1% AFFF concentrate is mixedwith 99 gallons of water, three gallonsof 3% concentrate is mixed with 97gallons of water, or six gallons of 6%concentrate is mixed with 94 gallons ofwater to make 100 gallons of product.What comes out of the nozzle or turretis exactly the same. Since mobile pro-portioning systems cannot be accuratelycalibrated at the 1% level, these con-centrates are utilized only in fixed-baseoperations such as refineries and fuelstorage facilities and are not used forARFF.

VEHICLE ADAPTATIONMany municipal fire departments arenot financially able to purchase an ARFF

vehicle to stand by in the event a planecrashes in their community. Therefore,agencies must determine how to adaptexisting structural firefighting equip-ment for ARFF.

One of the simplest and least expen-sive methods is calculation of the boost-er tank foam recipe for your equipment.

This involves taking the capacity of theon-board water tank on the fire truck,calculating the amount of foam con-centrate needed, and then storing it onthe truck ready for use. For example, a500-gallon booster tank would require15 gallons or three 5-gallon buckets of3% AFFF concentrate. Placed in the

ASIA PACIFIC FIREwww.apfmag.com

27

escue Firefightingescue FirefightingP. 25-30 17/11/06 10:48 am Page 27

Page 30: APF Issue 14

hose bed near the tank fill, the foamconcentrate could be dumped into thetank before the apparatus departs. Thedrive to the scene would sufficiently mixthe water and concentrate to produce500 gallons of pre-mix. With a standardwater fog nozzle, this would producethe firefighting equivalent of 1,500-3,000 gallons of firefighting product. Ifan air aspirating nozzle was utilized,then the coverage would approximate1,500-7,500 gallons.3 Firefightersshould be familiar with, and have avail-able, foam eductors and a supply offoam concentrate at the scene tocontinue firefighting efforts.

Although it is possible, but not desir-able, to apply protein foams along withAFFF on the same fire, water shouldnever be applied to a foam blanket as itwill dilute and wash away the protec-tion. It is also important not to mix dif-ferent types of foam concentratestogether. To insure the safety of rescuersand to prevent possible reignition offuel vapors, when the foam blanket hasdissipated, it should be replenished. Avisible and complete foam blanket isnecessary to insure vapor suppression.

RESPONSE PLANNINGOff-airport aircraft emergencies fall intofour categories: low-impact crashes,high-impact crashes, mid-air break up

and crashes into water. In a low-impact crash, the pilot is

able to make a fairly controlled landingand the fuselage remains relativelyintact. There may be an associated fuelfire. Responders will treat a largenumber of survivors suffering from forceinjuries and burns. The local EMS sys-tem will be overloaded. A wide body jetmay carry up to 400 passengers, andappropriate hospital beds will have to belocated.

In a high-impact crash, the forcesinvolved are much greater and there willbe few, if any, survivors. The stress onresponders increases as it becomesapparent that few lives can be saved.The clean-up operation, body recoveryand identification process will tax thelocal medical examiner or coroner’sstaff.

If the aircraft breaks up in mid-airdue to an explosion or collision, aircraftwreckage and bodies may be spread overa wide area. If the aircraft lands inwater, reaching the fuselage, rescuingsurvivors and combating a fire will bedifficult. In these cases, even a shallowwater crash will have severeenvironmental consequences.

Response planning should includedesignation of primary and back-uplocations for triage and treatment ofvictims. Suddenly you are faced with325 victims with injuries ranging fromminor abrasions to fractures, burns andmajor trauma. Where will you treatthem? How many hospital beds are

available? How will you transportpatients?

Devise a plan and conduct a tabletopexercise to test it. Include neighboringfire, EMS and law enforcement agenciesin your exercise. Disaster drills and exer-cises are the time to work out mutualaid bugs. Also, contact the local funeralhome association to assist in planningfor a multiple fatalities incident. Con-tact state and federal agencies forpotential sources of assistance, fromFAA Planning Guides to DMAT Teams.

In any event, responders to an aircraftcrash will have to take special precau-tions to protect themselves. Beyond theobvious danger of fire, unburned jetfuel is a carcinogen that can beabsorbed through the skin; prolongedinhalation of vapors can lead to devel-opment of chemical pneumonia; andsome equipment can be permanentlycontaminated if it comes into contactwith fuel.

Aircraft fuselage may produce sharpedges that can easily tear throughbunker gear. Aircraft landing gears aremade of materials that will burn atextreme temperatures and react violentlyif extinguishment with water or foam isattempted. Aircraft engines may contin-ue to operate for some minutes after acrash, even if they have become dis-lodged. In an emergency landing or lowimpact crash, jet turbines may producesufficient thrust to overturn respondingapparatus and suck in loose equipmentor even personnel who get too close. Abump against a propeller can restart areciprocating engine if it has not beenproperly shut down. Pressurized linesand containers may contain fluids orgases at extremely high pressures. Someof the fluids may be flammable or toxic.In older aircraft, oxygen may be distrib-uted from central tanks through pres-surized lines. Surface control cables canbe under extreme tension, and if cut,may react with enough released energyto cause serious injury or death. Electri-cal lines may remain energized.

The new composite skin of modernaircraft is made up of materials that

ASIA PACIFIC FIREwww.apfmag.com

28

In a high-impact crash, the forcesinvolved are much greater andthere will be few, if any, survivors.The stress on responders increasesas it becomes apparent that fewlives can be saved.

Aircraft landing gears are made ofmaterials that will burn at extremetemperatures and react violently ifextinguishment with water orfoam is attempted.

AircraftRescueFirefighting

AircraftRescueFirefighting

P. 25-30 17/11/06 10:48 am Page 28

Page 31: APF Issue 14

APF14 p29 17/11/06 10:03 am Page 1

Page 32: APF Issue 14

when cut by a power saw can releasedangerous dust and micro fibers.Responders must also take care to avoidthe biohazard dangers presented bybody parts and fluids, and to avoidunnecessary contamination of equip-ment by carefully choosing equipmentstaging sites. A decontamination stationfor personnel and equipment should beestablished, and a perimeter establishedto prevent cross contamination.

During and following ARFF opera-tions, it is important to remember that aplane crash is a crime scene until provenotherwise. A number of local, state andfederal law enforcement agencies will beinvolved in the investigation into thecause of the crash. Responders shouldtake care not to unnecessarily disturbaircraft parts. If it is necessary to movesomething in order to accomplish rescueor fire extinguishment, then try toremember the original location or orien-tation of the part and convey thatinformation to investigators. Above all—no souvenir hunting! A perimeter shouldbe quickly established and only thosepersons actively involved in the opera-tion should be permitted access. Pre-venting unauthorized access is infinitelyeasier than clearing the area ofbystanders later.

Before recovery of bodies or bodyparts commences, photographs should

be taken to document their location in relation to the aircraft and surround-ing area. This documentation may assistin identification of parts and researchinto what steps can be taken to improvecrash survivability in the future.

All involved personnel should bestrongly encouraged, if not mandated,to participate in Post Incident StressDebriefing. This type of incident expos-es responders to a situation outside ofnormal human experience and long-term mental health dangers cannot beoverlooked. Recovery of the communityshould also be encouraged. As soon aspossible following the event and investi-gation, clean-up of the area andrestoration to pre-crash conditionsshould be accomplished. Residentsshould be offered counseling and beinvolved in the restoration in order torestore a sense of control.

An airplane crash is not simply a bigautomobile accident. The combinationof a massive, three-dimensional liquidhydrocarbon fire, a widespread traumaand burn MCI, and a high-profile media event makes this an extremelydifficult situation to prepare for.However, the careful planning andtraining you will do in order to dealeffectively with this type of event willalso improve your response to othertypes of emergencies.

REFERENCES1. Federal Aviation Regulations Part 23. Airwor-

thiness Standards: Normal, Utility, Acrobaticand Commuter Category Airplanes (14CFR23),Section 23.803(a) effective May 17, 1994.

2. Federal Aviation Regulations Part 25. Air-worthiness Standards: Transport CategoryAirplanes (14CFR25), Section 25.803(c) effec-tive July 20, 1990.

3. Fire Department Training Program Instructor’sGuide, 3M Light Water AFFF & AFFF/ATC,1987, St. Paul, MN, pg. 12.

ASIA PACIFIC FIREwww.apfmag.com

30

Kenneth D. Honig, CEM, EMT-P, isthe senior course coordinator forCritical Incident Management andTraining Associates (CIMAT) inNorth Bellmore, NY. CIMAT pro-vides training and emergencymanagement consulting services.Kenneth is a certified emergencymanager with more than 20 yearsof experience in EMS, law enforce-ment and firefighting. He has spentthe past 13 years as a police offi-cer, patrol supervisor and aircraftrescue firefighter. He’s also aneditorial advisory board memberfor EMS Rescue Technology.This article first appeared in AdvancedRescue Technology magazine and isreprinted with kind permission.

P. 25-30 17/11/06 9:37 am Page 30

Page 33: APF Issue 14

ASIA PACIFIC FIREwww.apfmag.com

31

Theory and dry training do not ade-quately prepare the emergencyresponder to be able to meet and

effectively deal with dangerous condi-tions, which occur during fire fightingoperations. During training, the traineesmust be exposed to live fire under safeand controlled conditions in order to gainthe required confidence and skills.

Dräger Safety is providing state-of-the-art training systems addressing allrelevant training objectives in hot firetraining: With these systems any kind offire can be replicated safely and realisti-cally, e.g. for applications in

● Structural Fire Fighting in buildings● Industrial Fire Fighting● Military Fire Fighting● Aircraft Fire Fighting● Crew Training● Special Applications like Tunnel Fires,

Forest Fires, Offshore platforms etc.

Both class a combustible materialfuelled and gas fuelled systems are

available, so far the systems are tailoredto whatever suits the client’s need best.

Dräger Safety’s training systems pro-vide a level of safety that far exceedspreviously experienced in fire training: a“state-of-the-art” PLC- or computerbased control systems, instructor pen-dants and a wide range of automatic andmanual safety features provide 100%safety and security at all times duringtraining.

Technical and safety features include:

● Full compliance with DIN 14097 part2, the world leading standard for gasfuelled, live and hot fire trainingsystems.

● Gas monitoring systems: for each burnroom with at least 2 redundantlyoperating gas sensors or gas samplingsystems providing full control of allgas and smoke production and theventilation system (for additionalsafety all adjacent rooms with at leastone gas sensor installed).

● Temperature monitoring systems toensure the trainees’ safety even in thecase of inconsiderate behaviour

● Pilot flame management systems foradditional safety

● Ventilation system designs with extracapacity for emergency situations

● Independent systems for Pilot GasSupply/Pilot Combustion Air Supplyfrom Main Gas Supply/Main Combus-tion Air supply.

● Smoke Production based on non-toxicand environmentally safe smoke fluids,which are also biologically degradablewhich minimize the interference withthe system’s operational parts.

● Emergency stop systems designed formaximum safety of trainees and train-ers, e.g. with optimized accessibility ofthe emergency stop buttons, set up of emergency reaction with regards ofthe gas/smoke supplies and theventilation system

● Burn room lining for optimum protec-tion of each burn room against heat,flames, and thermal shock (whenapplying cold water to the heated upsurfaces)

In summary: Dräger Safety provides hotlive fire training systems for effective train-ing of all relevant fire fighting scenarios.The objective, to provide realistic trainingconditions with maximum safety fortrainees and instructors, is realized byadvanced technical and safety features withthe set up and its components being certi-fied by internationally recognized testinginstitutes or laboratories, such as TÜV etc.

Optimum performance of the systemsis at all times ensured by proper trainingand trouble-shooting.

Whatever training scenario is requiredby the client, through it know how andexpertise Dräger Safety will be able toassist – from defining the appropriatetraining strategy to the set up andconstruction of the system itself, all thattailored to the specific need of therespective customer.

P R O D U C T P R O F I L E

For more information, pleasecontact:

DRAGER SAFETY ASIA PTE LTD.

67 Ayer Rajah Crescent #06-03Singapore 139950Tel: +65 6872 9288Fax: +65 6773 2033

Website: www.draeger-safety.com

Realistic and Safe Live FireTraining Systems by

DRÄGER SAFETY

P. 31 Draeger Product Profile 17/11/06 9:38 am Page 31

Page 34: APF Issue 14

VULCAN™ RF™

EXTENDER®

THE HIGHPERFORMANCECOMBINATION

+

In just 10 seconds, Extender raises the Vulcan RF remote-controlled monitor a full 45 cm to clear apparatus and other obstructions. The result is a superb combination of coverage, flexibility and performance. Installation is easy,too. Let's talk. Call +1.574.295.8330.

The Most Experienced Manufacturer of Fire Fighting EquipmentElkhart Brass Mfg. Co., Inc. | +1.574.295.8330 | www.elkhartbrass.com

APF14 p32 17/11/06 9:39 am Page 1

Page 35: APF Issue 14

From a general perspective, moni-tors can be categorized into twobroad application uses. The first

category is fixed mounted monitors,usually made of brass or stainless steel,for use in industrial fire protection sys-tems in such locations as oil and chem-ical processing facilities. The second,main category of monitors is for usewith fire apparatus vehicles or some-time referred to as fire appliances.These are constructed of lighter weightmaterials, normally aluminum alloys toaid in reducing overall vehicle weight. Itis this later category that will be thefocus of this article.

Within this general vehicle category,we can further divide monitors into fivesubgroups depending on intended use:

■ Aerial devices

■ Top mounted Deck Guns

■ Bumper/Turret mounted

■ Portable

■ Hybrid type

Weight considerations are extremelyimportant for monitors that are mount-ed at the end of aerial devices. They areused for pre-piped telescoping water-ways with typical flow rates of 1000 GPM (3,785 LPM) to 2000 GPM(7,570 LPM). Basically, these monitorsare used as the master stream device,flowing water rather than foam, in adefensive fire operation. Pump require-ments to provide adequate pressure at

the end of a long aerial are demanding,therefore the internal efficiency orfriction loss of the monitor should becarefully considered. Because of moni-tor location at the end of the ladder orbasket, multiple electronic controlcapability, from both the ladder andfrom the base of the pedestal on thevehicle, is very commonly accomplishedby hard wire electric cabling or radiofrequency wireless. Multiple travel stopsand the ability to stow to a presetposition are other common features ofaerial monitors.

The second, sub-group of monitorsare deck guns. Employed for quickknockdown or as a master stream indefensive roles, the typical flow rates ofthese monitors are from 500 GPM(1,892 LPM) to 2000 GPM (7,570 LPM).Both water and foam capabilities areneeded with foam being supplied by aninternal vehicle proportioning system orthrough a foam educting nozzle. Apopular component to a deck gun is anextension device to provide a means toextend the height of the gun above topof vehicle obstructions. While tradition-ally hand extended, electronic extendersare now available that raise the gun atthe push of a button.

Bumper or turret monitors are

ASIA PACIFIC FIREwww.apfmag.com

33

Picture courtesy of Elkhart Brass Mfg. Co., Inc.

Choosingthe CorrectApparatusMonitorNEGOTIATING ONE’S WAY THROUGH the path of choosing a monitor that iscorrect for one’s application can be somewhat confusing due to the manychoices. However, the process is simplified greatly with a general knowledgeof the possible categories of which monitors can be grouped. The purpose ofthis article is to provide a monitor overview to assist in the selection process.

Picture courtesy of Elkhart Brass Mfg. Co., Inc.

Choosingthe CorrectApparatusMonitor By Don Sjolin

of Elkhart Brass Mfg. Co., Inc.

P. 33-36 Choosing the correct 17/11/06 9:40 am Page 33

Page 36: APF Issue 14

identified by the fact that they are typ-ically operated from within the vehicle,often by the vehicle’s driver. Thesemonitors are normally electric con-trolled by either joysticks or toggleswitches with a manual override. Thebumper units are in fact mounted onthe bumper of the vehicles with typical

flows of 15 GPM (56LPM) to 500 GPM(1,892 LPM). Applications for thesemonitors vary significantly and includesuch areas as forestry/wild land. For avery specialized application, ARFF (Air-craft Rescue and Fire Fighting) vehiclesutilize turret mounted monitors, somewith hydraulic controls systems.

Increasingly gaining in number ofunits deployed, portable monitors allowhigh flows in areas not accessible to theapparatus deck gun. Lightweight offen-sive units are used for initial rapid attack,thus, issues such as weight and speed ofset-up are of utmost importance. Manytimes, these monitors are pre-connectedto hose lines for quick deployment.Lightweight monitors can even be uti-lized in interior attacks. Since these unitsare ground positioned, a wide footprintis essential to provide stability and safetyon uneven surfaces. Typical flow ratesare in the range of 500 GPM. Largerportable monitors take on more of adefensive role, handling exposure control

ASIA PACIFIC FIREwww.apfmag.com

34

Helmet Integrated Systems Ltd.Commerce Road · Stranraer · DG9 7DX Scotland.

Tel: +44 (0) 1776 704421 Fax: +44 (0) 1776 706342 E-mail: [email protected]

www.helmets.co.uk

CROMWELL®

HELMETS AND

COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS

Cromwell is a registered trademark of Helmet Integrated Systems Limited

Picture courtesy of Elkhart Brass Mfg. Co., Inc.

Picture courtesy of Elkhart Brass Mfg. Co., Inc.

P. 33-36 Choosing the correct 17/11/06 9:40 am Page 34

Page 37: APF Issue 14

with higher flow rates up to 1250 GPM.The last sub-group is a hybrid of the

deck gun and portable monitor. Thisversatile device functions as a deck gunthat can be detached and deployed alsoas a portable ground monitor. Thesecan be either manual, electronic orradio frequency wireless. Flow ratesvary from 350 GPM (1,325 LPM) to1250 GPM (4,731 LPM).

The subject of monitor controlsdeserves its own discussion. Controloptions are greater than ever andshould be considered not merely a mat-ter of personal preference but integralto a department’s operational goals forefficiency and safety.

Most are familiar with manual con-trol; however options and considera-tions still exist. The most important ofwhich is assuring ergonomic and safeoperating conditions. The inherentplacement of a monitor atop an appa-ratus creates the potential for pinchpoints as wells as falls. The two mostcommon manual monitor control con-figurations are 1) tiller and 2) gearedhand wheel. Tiller control allows themonitor to be positioned very quicklybut compared to hand wheel controlcan require greater operating force.Hand wheel controls generally remainstationary at the back of the monitorletting the operator remain in place asthe stream is directed while tiller con-trol requires the operator to move withthe monitor.

ASIA PACIFIC FIREwww.apfmag.com

35

An ISO 9001: 2000 Registered Company

We Invite You To Compare, Ask For A DEMO Today!We Invite You To Compare, Ask For A DEMO Today!

SaberJet™ NozzlesCombination Smooth Bore/Fog Nozzle

For Multi-Purpose Applications

TurboJet® NozzlesAdjustable Flow Fog Nozzle

For Flexibility & Flow Control

Assault™ NozzlesPrecision Fixed Flow Fog Nozzle

For Easy Durable Operation

THE BEST NOZZLE PERFORMANCE IN THE FIRE SERVICE

www.akronbrass.com© Copyright 2003 by Premier Farnell Corporation. All rights reserved. No portion of this can be reproduced without the express written consent of Premier Farnell Corporation. (12/03)

Call your local Authorized Akron Distributor or your Akron Sales Development ManagerIn U.S./International PH: +1.330.264.5678 | FAX: +1.330.264.2944

Picture courtesy of Elkhart Brass Mfg. Co., Inc.

Picture courtesy of Elkhart Brass Mfg. Co., Inc.

P. 33-36 Choosing the correct 17/11/06 9:41 am Page 35

Page 38: APF Issue 14

Electric controls offer a significantadvantage in regards to safety. Typical-ly the control point for an electricallyoperated monitor is at the pump panel.Employing electric control, the fire-fighter is not required to climb atop theapparatus to operate the monitor. TheUnited States’ National Fire ProtectionAssociation, in it’s guidelines for appa-ratus construction, recommends the useof remotely operated monitors “withoutthe need for a person to climb to thetop of the apparatus”. Electric controlalso allows control from multiplelocations around or on the apparatus.Multiple control points are most oftenspecified for aerials driven by the needto provide monitor control in the bucketas well as at the pump panel. Theactual operator interface for an electricmonitor can vary from simple toggleswitches to an integrated multi-function joystick. During specifi-cation, consideration should be givento the size of monitor required as wellas control locations to assure thevehicle’s electrical power and wiring

provisions can accommodate themonitor.

Hydraulic and pneu-matic controls offerlargely the samebenefits as

electric control and were really the ear-liest options fitted. With the everincreasing flexibility of electric controls,hydraulics and pneumatics offer littleto justify their cost and demandingmaintenance.

As with nearly everything else, firemonitors are now also available withwireless control. Wireless control essen-tially provides all the advantages of anelectric monitor while further allowingthe operator to be positioned awayfrom the apparatus altogether. Freedfrom his position at the apparatus, a

firefighter can better site the mon-itor stream, remain in a

safer less congested area,and perform other fireground tasks. Becausethey typically utilizemore advance con-

trols, wireless monitorsoften also provide

features such as automatic stow,programmable stops, multiple travel

speeds, and programmable oscillation.While the wireless technology requiredin firefighting monitors might not beconsidered leading edge by consumerelectronic standards, the application tofirefighting can be challenging.

ASIA PACIFIC FIREwww.apfmag.com

36

Apparatus specifications shoulddemand that the wireless systemhas been properly design and con-figured for use in firefighting. Inmany applications wireless controlcan actually be an economic deci-sion. In the case of aerials, wheremultiple control points and longcable runs can drive up the cost ofa traditional hardwired electricalcontrol system, wireless monitorsare often lest costly overall.

Picture courtesy of Elkhart Brass Mfg. Co., Inc.

Picture courtesy of Elkhart Brass Mfg. Co., Inc.

P. 33-36 Choosing the correct 17/11/06 9:41 am Page 36

Page 39: APF Issue 14

NEW

After more than 30 years

as a world leader in

supplying hydraulic rescue

tools WEBER-HYDRAULIK

expands its range and

introduces a complete

range of pneumatic rescue

equipment and environ-

mental protection

systems.

� Manufactured acc. ISO 9001 and ISO 14001

� Tested acc. prEN 13731:99

PR

OD

UC

T R

AN

GE

� Compatible withVETTER air bags

� High quality rubber materialswith ARAMID-reinforcement

� All products have to passstringent tests

> Air bags1 bar

> Air bags 8 bar

> Pipe sealingbags

> Mini leaksealing bags

> Leak sealingbags

> Containers

> Accessories

PNEUMATIC RESCUE EQUIPMENTPNEUMATIC RESCUE EQUIPMENT

> F O R T E C H N I C A L A S S I S T A N C E

Visit us at

Interschutz in

Hall 012Booth B 40

1974 I2004

I

Y E A R S

RESCUETOOLS

APF14 p37 17/11/06 9:42 am Page 1

Page 40: APF Issue 14

Foam fire fighting systems - we’ve got it covered

Skum 70 years of exceptional reliability

When quick reactions under extreme stress are needed, it

matters that the tools to deliver are both unquestionably

reliable and specifically designed for the task. If you fight fire

fast with the right combination of product and delivery system,

you can save lives, critical assets and scarce resources.

Skum brings over 70 years of invaluable expertise to fire

fighting. Backed by a programme of continuous research

and development, Skum has an enviable reputation at the

forefront of fire fighting technology and is renowned

worldwide for its quality and innovation. Innovations such

as Hot Foam™ systems for enclosed spaces or the unique

FJM corrosion free monitor.

In short, Skum has it covered.

Typical high risk applications

• Petro-chemicalOil terminal; Storage tank protection; Bund protection

• MarineTankers; Machinery spaces; Ferries; Offshore support and Fire fighting vessels

• AviationHangars; Helidecks; Crash vehicles

• Power Generating PlantsTransformers; Cable tunnels; Conveyors; Coal bunkers

• IndustrySprinkler systems; Foam spray deluge systems; Medium/high expansion foam systems

For further information, please contact:Tyco Safety Products,

Le Pooleweg 5, 2314 XT Leiden, Netherlands Tel: +31 (0)71 5419 415 Fax: +31 (0)71 5417 330Email: [email protected] Web: www.skum.com

HotFoam™ systems forenclosed areas Systems for high risk sitesSystems for aircraft hangars

Visit us at Interschutz - Hall 013, Stand B10

APF14 p38 17/11/06 9:42 am Page 1

Page 41: APF Issue 14

FIXED SYSTEMS PROVIDE SIMPLEST ANSWER

The easiest and most reliable way toprotect bulk storage tanks is with a welldesigned and properly maintained,fixed foam system that will take a pre-scribed course of action to quicklydeliver foam onto the tank. This can bethrough well designed top pouring,rimseal or base injection equipmentdepending on the contents and tankdesign. These systems can be auto-mated using linear heat detection oralternative heat sensing devices. Thesedetect the fire and automaticallyactivate the foam systems throughactuated valves and pipework systemsthat divert foam to the relevant tankfrom a centralised storage and propor-tioning system.

Whilst this is the preferred and mosteffective method of protecting bulkstorage tanks, there are many storagetanks where no such systems have beenfitted. Some systems can be retro-fittedto such tanks, but many installationsrely on mobile monitors to provide a

more flexible solution. These can be setup and used on any of the tanks in thetank farm or adjacent areas. While this

is often regarded as more cost-effective,it often requires more expertise tooperate effectively and more financialand time investment during the fire.

SURROUND AND DROWN METHOD OUTDATED

The old style “surround and drown”approach involves several small flowmonitors around the tank projectingfoam into the tank. This has beenshown to be outdated, labour intensiveand not as efficient as the modern andnow widely accepted large capacitymonitor strategy.

LARGE CAPACITY MONITORS ARE WAY FORWARD

Modern firefighters have shown thatone or two large capacity monitors oftypical capacity 15,000 litres/minutecapacity and upwards offer the bestanswer.

It works by delivering a locally highapplication rate of foam into the “windtunnel” around the periphery of thetank where air is drawn down onto thefuel surface to sustain the fire. This

ASIA PACIFIC FIREwww.apfmag.com

39

Foam blanket of Angus FP70 projectedonto the roof of a 20 metre high 65 mdia. open top floating roof tank by theirColossus 15,000 litre/minute monitorbased 50 metres away from base oftank

Large-ScaleStorageTank FireFighting

Large-ScaleStorageTank FireFighting By Mike Willson

of Angus Fire

BULK STORAGE TANK FIRES are amongst the most difficult flammableliquid fires that professional firefighters can face. Not only are theyhuge in area, but also very hot, often burning for hours or even daysbefore resources can be marshalled to launch a foam attack.

••••••••

••••••••

Large 400m2 fire quickly extinguishedby Angus Fire’s Colossus aspiratedcannon and FP70 foam

P. 39-43 Large-Scale Storage 17/11/06 9:47 am Page 39

Page 42: APF Issue 14

enables the foam to establish a bridge-head against the fire from which it canspread out and seal against the tankshell. The average size for bulk hydro-carbon storage tanks is about 60-75metres in diameter, with the biggestbeing a colossal 110m (360 ft) diameterwith a huge 9,500m2 surface area –more than two football pitches! Specialmeasures need to be taken to enablesuch monitors to tackle such a blaze.

FLUOROPROTEINS THE FOAM OF CHOICE

Modern high performance FluoroProteinfoams like FP70 Plus are the most costeffective answer for storage tank firefighting. This has been clearly demon-strated against the oil industry’s ownspecialised LASTFIRE test for thisapplication, often exceeding the per-formance of more expensive AR-AFFFtype foams.

LOGISTICS IS THE KEY

When large capacity monitors are beingused it is vitally important to ensurethe supply logistics are kept simple andquick. Fast response logistics is the keyto getting foam onto the tank quicklyand effectively.

High performance large diameter150, 200, 250 and 300mm (6�-12�)high volume (Hi-Vol) layflat hoses playa crucial role in minimising the numberof hose lays. These reduce time delays,pressure losses and the confusing“spaghetti effect” of using too manysmall diameter hoses.

ASIA PACIFIC FIREwww.apfmag.com

40

Thom

as G

aulk

e –

FIR

E F

oto

Ein umfassendes Programm leistungsstarker und umweltver-träglicher Schaumlöschmittel für den Brandschutzexperten, z.B:

alkoholbeständige MOUSSOL-APS LVUniversalschaummittel MOUSSOL-APS 3 %

MOUSSOL-APS f-15

wasserfilmbildende STHAMEX-AFFF 1 %, 3 %, 6 %Schaummittel

Wir haben immer etwasgegen Feuer…

every situation- Always prepared forFire

A DIN EN ISO

CertifiedCompany

Liebigstraße 5 · D-22113 HamburgTelefon +49 (0) 40-73 61 68-0Telefax +49 (0) 40-73 61 68-60E-Mail: [email protected] · www.sthamer.com

Niederlassung PirnaKönigsteiner Straße 5 · D-01796Telefon +49 (0) 35 01-46 44 84 Telefax +49 (0) 35 01-46 44 85

Dr.STHAMER HAMBURGMBURGLiebigstraße 5 · D-22113 HamburgTel: +49 (0)40-73 61 68-0Fax: +49 (0)40-73 61 68-60Email: [email protected]

Ask for more information

Branch Office: PirnaKönigsteiner Strasse 5 · D-01796 PirnaTel: +49 (0)35 01-46 44 84 +52 40 06Fax: +49 (0)35 01-46 44 85

We offer a complete range of highperformance and environmentally friendlyfoam liquids to the fire professional e.g.Alcohol resistant MOUSSOL – APS LVUniversal MOUSSOL – APS 3%AFFF foam liquids MOUSSOL – APS f-15Aqueous film forming

foam liquids STHAMEX – AFFF 1%, 3%, 6%Synthetic foam liquids STHAMEX f-6, f-15, f-20, f-25Protein foam liquids FOAMOUSSE 3%, 6%Fluor Protein foam

liquid FLUOR FOAMOUSSE 3%, 6%Training foams

15,000 litre/minute Colossus monitorfor tank firefighting

Large-scaleStorage TankFire Fighting

Large-scaleStorage TankFire Fighting

P. 39-43 Large-Scale Storage 1/1/04 12:44 AM Page 40

Page 43: APF Issue 14

Hi-Vol hose swells slightly whenpressurised. This minimises the pressurelosses from the ring main system to themonitor, crucial in achieving efficientand effective foam delivery onto thetank.

Adequate water pressure is one ofthe key elements that can make thedifference between success or failure ina monitor attack. Providing large diam-eter outlets from the ring main alsoavoids any restrictions before waterflows through the Hi-Vol hose systemto the large capacity monitor. This isessential in achieving an efficientsystems and increases your likelyhoodof success.

RAPID DEPLOYMENT AND EFFICIENT RETRIEVAL

Hi-Vol hose is heavy compared to regu-lar 52mm or 65mm dia. attack hoses soa simple, reliable and effective deploy-ment and retrieval system is required totake the back-ache out of handling it.Fast and Efficient Techniques forCollecting Hi-Vol (FETCH) are nowavailable as self contained moduleswith their own hydraulic power packs.They can be built-in to new fire truckbuilds or retro-fitted into existing vehi-cles for a more cost-effective solution.They also enable rapid retrieval of Hi-Vol hose, once an incident or trainingexercise is over – crucial for tiredfirefighters.

NOZZLE OR CANNON?

One dilemma facing firefighters iswhether to try and throw the foam asfar as possible accepting the foam qual-ity is not as good, or to use up morepressure to make a good quality foambut find it will not reach the tank.

The foam delivered must be suffi-ciently robust and stable to penetratethe flames, withstand the intenseradiant heat from the flaming surfaceand cherry red tank shell, yet pro-gressively control the fire. This means awell aspirated low expansion foamblanket.

Leading manufacturers are able tofind an effective compromise whereadequate foam quality and throw dis-tance are achieved either with a semi-aspirated nozzle or with an aspiratingcannon providing a more stable foamblanket.

ASIA PACIFIC FIREwww.apfmag.com

41

Fire protection is too serious a subject to be taken lightly. You don’t buysomething as vital as fire fighting foam hoping that it’ll work when and if it hasto. You have to be sure. Which means selecting high performance foamconcentrates from a specialist source – like Total Walther.

Reliable Total Walther products have been safeguarding life and property forover 100 years. Our complete range of environmentally sustainable, syntheticfire fighting foams is used worldwide, protecting critical assets in high-riskenvironments.

Part of the global family of Tyco Fire & Security foam agents, Total Walthersynthetic foams provide cost-effective, high performance solutions. Don’t playat fire protection. Choose Total Walther for total peace of mind. Weconcentrate on foam - so you don’t have to.

w w w. t w f l . c o m

For further information, please contact:Tyco Safety Products, Le Pooleweg 5, 2314 XT Leiden,Netherlands. Tel: +31 (0)71 5419 415 Fax: +31 (0)71 5417 330 E-mail [email protected]

Concentrate on foam; we do.

Synthetic Fire Fighting Foams

Visit us at Interschutz - Hall 013, Stand B10

Colossus monitor in action on hydrocarbon tank fire in Middle East

P. 39-43 Large-Scale Storage 1/1/04 12:45 AM Page 41

Page 44: APF Issue 14

Both nozzle types are represented inthe LASTFIRE test and both work well.However, foams produced using theaspirated cannon type nozzle usuallyexhibit better foam quality which helpsminimise plunging into the fuel. Thisreduces the fuel pick-up by the foamblanket, so the foam is more effectivewith less wastage. There is also less riskof flaring and flashover once the fire isextinguished that could be responsiblefor major re-involvement from hotmetal or incandescent seal materials.The synthetic detergent based foamsare more prone to this problem as theyemulsify more readily when mixed withhydrocarbon fuels.

SINGLE PROPORTIONING MORE EFFICIENT

Having a single jet pump inductor ordiesel driven foam pump hastensdeployment of the monitor and ensurefoam of the correct quality is produced.Trying to balance and bring on-streamseveral inductors or jet ratio controllersinevitably introduces delays andwastage of foam before any real impactcan be made on the tank fire.

ASIA PACIFIC FIREwww.apfmag.com

42

Contact us for more info: [email protected],or visit our website: www.angusfire.co.uk

Outstanding fire performance

Unrivalled post fire security

Exceptional environmentalperformance

Highly versatile in use

Top scores all 3 nozzles inLASTFIRE test

It’s Official!It’s Official!

Advanced Tankmasterfire fighting foam technology for

hydrocarbon and MTBE storage tanks

TMAdvanced Tankmaster

fire fighting foam technology forhydrocarbon and MTBE storage tanks

TM

Most cost-effective tank protectionMost cost-effective tank protection

40,000 litre/minute MEGA Colossusaspirating cannon monitor, capable ofdelivering a stable FP70 foam streamlong distances onto large diameterfloating roof tanks

Large-scaleStorage TankFire Fighting

Large-scaleStorage TankFire Fighting

P. 39-43 Large-Scale Storage 17/11/06 10:50 am Page 42

Page 45: APF Issue 14

CONCLUSIONS

Consideration should be given to fixedfoam systems to quickly take aprescribed course of action for rapidcontrol of tank fires. Where this isimpossible, well designed large capacitymonitors should be chosen. Indepen-dent fire tests have shown thataspirating cannons will provide foam ofa quality most likely to put the fire outand keep it out, especially when highperformance FluoroProtein foams areused with associated cost benefits.

The hose system configurationselected to connect these monitors tothe ring main or pumping systems iscrucial and could well determine suc-cess or failure of the foam attack.

ASIA PACIFIC FIREwww.apfmag.com

43

WEIGHS LESSTHAN 1.5lbs

•UNIQUE FACEMASK SEAL

ERGONOMICS•

RAYTHEONMICRO

BOLOMETERSENSOR

SOLOvision is a fully operational thermal imagingcamera with Virtual Reality Viewing Optics. The lightweight and unique ergonomic design enables ‘handsfree’ operation.

The image is picked up through a centrally mountedcamera. Even in the thickest smoke and with theface visor entirely covered, the image seen by thewearer remains undiminished in quality.

Thermal image is displayed to the wearer throughaugmented viewing lenses.

Suitable for use with all knownbreathing apparatus sets.

SOLOvision’s outer shell comes with a lifetimewarranty. Subject to terms and conditions.

Thermal Image displayed through VR Viewing optics Solotic Imaging Camera

For information on all our fire fighting products or to arrange a demonstration, visit:www.gbsolo.co.uk | www.gbsolo.com | Tel: +44 1609 881855 | Fax: +44 1609 881103 | Email: [email protected]

Hi-Vol avoids the problems off the spaghetti effect

Efficient and effective modular Hi-Vol deployment and retrievalsystems are necessary to providefast response to the incident andenable foam to be delivered quicklyonto the fire.Logistics of the entire large capacitymonitor package and regular train-ing to ensure everyone knows howit all works is your key to success.

P. 39-43 Large-Scale Storage 1/1/04 12:45 AM Page 43

Page 46: APF Issue 14

ASIA PACIFIC FIREwww.apfmag.com

44

The SOLO tic Thermal Imaging Cam-era is a result of the convergence ofan excellent technology with the

market leading dedication that broughtabout the Worlds first HANDS FREEcapability.

Thermal Imaging in the FireServiceThe history of TIC’s started with the hugeand cumbersome hand held tics, whichused a vacuum tube technology. Thistechnology blazed a path. It opened upthe possibility of giving back the firefighter the one thing he never had andalways needed, his sight in the dense

darkness of a fire. These hand heldcameras had their limitations. But the keydisadvantage was that it was hand heldand required the user to use his/her handsto operate the TIC. That disengaged theTIC user from the firefight and search &rescue rendering the user a “cameraman”.Not a truly tactical use of the technology.

Technology meets vision2005 marks the 10th anniversary of GBSOLO Ltd selling SOLOtic’s and unlike thehand held cameras, the SOLOtic has takenHANDS FREE technology further than ever.Now utilizing the latest micro bolometercamera L3 (Raytheon) has to offer, thisthird generation of SOLOtic offers the samecapabilities as its contemporaries withoptional spot temperature indication,colour overlay and wireless transmission.

Each SOLOtic is hand built to orderand each comes with a lifetime guaran-tee. All GB SOLO LTD ask is that once ayear GB SOLO LTD must perform itsannual service on the helmet.

The SOLOtic combines the use of twinelectronic earphone/microphone commu-nications which will connect to ANY radioset; it will connect to almost ANY SCBAset and utilizes a thermal display system

which even when the face mask is entirelycovered with smoke/debris or steam it willstill relay the information the camera isdetecting. This cannot be said abouthand held cameras, where the user willfrequently be required to wipe clean boththe camera LCD display and his/her facemask (using one hand to hold the cameraand the other hand to clean) leaving thefire fighter NO hands to deal with thesituation he/she has been trained for!

This third generation of SOLOtic islighter, lower in profile and more com-pact than its predecessor whilst actuallyallowing for greater user comfort due toredesigns on the forehead and chinsupport areas. More importantly thisSOLOtic maintains the capability to bedonned and completely functional withradio and SCBA hook up in less than 5seconds, a feature, which has won theSOLOtic customers around the Globe.

One of our main sales sectors for theSOLOtic is the cruise line industry, Naviesand commercial shipping companieswhere we supply SOLOtic’s workingalongside our SOLOunifit helmet. TheSOLOtic enables the user greater protec-tion and gives the capability to fight atthe seat of the blaze and to extinguishrather than contain and hold back. On aship this can often mean the differencebetween loosing the vessel or not.

The SOLOtic has played a significantrole in civilian fire brigades around theWorld and it is within these services thatGB SOLO will be pushing it greatestmarketing resources for the foreseeablefuture. This increased marketing allcoincides with GB SOLO LTD now beingconnected with some of the best distrib-ution partners and this has allowed thethought that the SOLOtic should be soldat a similar if not substantially lowerprice than most of it’s rivals. GB SOLOLtd’s marketing department has foundthrough research that whilst manybrigades/forces main target for acquisitionwas the SOLOtic only 25% could affordthe exclusive price tag. This is all set tochange from June 05 as the SOLOtic pricewill reflect the more cost effective meth-ods of production, so for the latest pricingcontact your agent or GB SOLO Ltd below.

P R O D U C T P R O F I L E

For more information, pleasecontact:

GB SOLO LIMITEDUnit 10, 20 Park Farm Road

Foxhills Industrial Park, ScunthorpeNorth Lincolnshire DN15 8QP

ENGLANDTel: +44 (0) 1609 881855Fax: +44 (0) 1609 881103Email: [email protected]

Website: www.gbsolo.co.uk

Welcome to the ‘Cost Effective’World of Hands Free

GB SOLO LIMITED

P. 44 GB Solo Product Profile 17/11/06 9:49 am Page 44

Page 47: APF Issue 14

APF14 p45 17/11/06 9:49 am Page 1

Page 48: APF Issue 14

WHAT IS A HIGH BUILDING?

Most Building Code defines high build-ings as those buildings with buildingheight that are beyond the reach of thelocal aerial ladder fire truck. Generally,buildings of seven storeys or more inbuilding height are considered as highbuildings.

While high rise buildings are designedto be fire safe and are protected by thepassive and active fire protection sys-tem, yet, high rise fire-fighting generallyrequire more complicated operationalapproaches than most structure fires. It’sa manpower-intensive operation. Tasksthat are normally considered routine formost fire departments, such as locatingand attacking the fire, evacuating occu-pants, and performing ventilation canbecome very difficult in high rises.Operations are affected by severalspecific challenges:

● Access to floor levels that are beyondthe reach of aerial apparatus isgenerally limited to the interior stair-ways. The use of lifts is usuallyrestricted or prohibited because ofsafety concerns. If the lifts are out,that meant carrying gear up anddown flights of stairs and walking intoa cement-walled apartment that heatedup like “a furnace”, and firefightersliterally have to carry people who can’twalk down the stairways. Rooftophelicopter rescue is dangerous.

● Hundreds or even thousands ofoccupants may be exposed to theproducts of combustion while theyare evacuating or unable to descendpast a fire on a lower floor. Their exitsmay be limited to two narrow stair-ways, which are also the only accessfor firefighters coming up to assistwith evacuation and to fight the fire.

● The ability to contain and control thefire is increasingly dependent on the construction of the building andthe ability of sprinkler and/or stand-pipe systems to deliver water to thefire area.

● Ventilation can be much more com-plicated and critical in high-risesthan in other types of structures.Vertical ventilation is often limited tostairways or lifts shafts, both ofwhich may also have to be used toevacuate occupants. Horizontal ven-tilation, by breaking out windows,presents the risk of falling glass tothose outside the building. The stackeffect causes smoke to rise rapidlythrough the vertical passages andaccumulate on upper floors.

Realistically, the evacuation from highrise buildings in a major emergency canonly be effectively executed if there isan evacuation plan approved by the firedepartment to evacuate as many peopleas possible, as quickly and safely aspossible prior to the arrival of thefirefighters. The lack of plans andprocedures for evacuation can lead toconfusion among the occupants in theevent of a large-scale evacuation.

FACILITIES FOR AIDING BUILDING EVACUATION Evacuation preparedness activities areneeded when mitigation measures havenot prevented disasters or cannot pre-vent them. The preparedness phasedevelops plans to save lives and mini-mize casualties. Preparedness measuresalso attempts to tackle the perceiveddifficulties and problems of buildingevacuation and to assess the need toprovide adequate facilities to enhanceevacuation response operation.

For example, a person who has todecide how to get out of a burningbuilding is likely to be under significantpsychological and even physical stress ifhe/she cannot locate the escape routeswhen power blackout. For an escape

ASIA PACIFIC FIREwww.apfmag.com

46

Picture courtesy of Escape Consult Mobiltex (S) Pte Ltd

THE THREAT OF FIRE or other emergencies in high-rise buildings pose deadlyfire challenges to fire department. The large numbers of persons incommercial high rise buildings, the nature of the occupancy and typicalbuilding geometry that is considered by many fire professionals presents anunacceptable risk. In reality, the fire department does not have capabilities todo much of anything above the fire floors that is beyond the reach of theirsuper aerial ladder fire trucks. So, if a fire breaks out in a building taller thanthat, the consequences depend entirely on the in-built safety mechanisms. Oneof the in-built safety mechanisms is developing an evacuation plan.

By John NgEscape Consult

Mobiltex (S) Pte Ltd

Evacuation Plan For Evacuation Plan For P. 46-49 Evacuation Plan 17/11/06 9:50 am Page 46

Page 49: APF Issue 14

route to be effective and efficient, it isimportant that from anywhere in thebuilding occupants have sight of a sign,or series of signs, which leads them to aplace of safety even in complete dark-ness. Signs and stairways should beclearly identifiable and that each flooraccess is clearly numbered, and alsoindicating the nearest crossover floors, ifcertain floors are not accessible. Thevisibility of escape route signs will assistfirefighters and other rescue teams toevacuate occupied areas during emer-gency situations.

Some of the facilities for aidingbuilding evacuation that are available inthe market that the author has knowl-edge of when writing this article are:

● An audible and visual fire alarmsystem is to warn people of an emer-gency and provide a general-purposeevacuation warning.

● An adequate communication system(e.g., public address system, inter-com system, and lifts telephonesystem) is to minimize heavy con-gestion on stairways by directingevacuees to move to a less congestedstaircase, and to quickly rescue thosetrapped inside the lifts.

● Fire vents that open automatically inthe event of a fire, maximize fire con-tainment and life safety and minimizedamage and material loss. The ventshelp to improve visibility inside thebuilding to help occupants escape the fire and reduce the riskof smoke inhalation.

● Creating better and saferprotected stairwell design,such as: increasing numberof exits, the width ofdoors, width of stairs, addon anti-slip nosing onsteps of stairs, improvedemergency lighting andsigns, and smoke control instairways.

● The exterior fire escapestairs provide alternativeegress for occupants andcan also provide firefighterswith access to, and escaperoutes from, upper floor ofthe fire building, wheninterior stairs are sometimesuntenable or inadequate.

● Emergency escape lighting, signageand safety way-guidance system, allelectrically powered components withback-up power capable of being acti-vated as directional information inthe event of a power outage.

● The use of photoluminescence emer-gency signage and way-findingsystems intended to aid in evacuationfrom buildings in all risk situationswhere smoke is present and in theevent of failure of both the powerand back-up power to the lightingand illuminated exit signs. Thephotoluminescence egress systemrecommends these markings to beincluded throughout every stairwell,including around all landing peri-

meters, along the full length of everyhandrail, on each step, and aroundall obstacles to egress.

● Personal ‘escape smoke hood’ canprotect user for safe escape from smoke and fume during fireevacuation.

● Portable and lightweight evacuatingchairs enable trained helpers to movepeople with physical handicaps downa flight of stairs much easily thatmight not otherwise be possible.

● Ramps can be helpful for wheelchairusers in negotiating one or two steps.

● Only use the special designed‘evacuation-lift’ that is approved foruse in fire evacuation by the firedepartment.

● Only use escape chute thatis accessible and usable by the greatest number of people, regardless oftheir capabilities, and isapproved for permit safeevacuation in fire situationsby fire research-testinginstitute. If deployedstrategically inside or onthe exterior walls of highbuilding, allow peopletrapped in higher eleva-tions to bypass impassablefloors or blocked stairwaysto escape safely to thestreet, when buildingunder fire (or damaged byexplosions). This will giveevery person the ability ofself-reliant escape.

ASIA PACIFIC FIREwww.apfmag.com

47

Picture courtesy of Escape Consult Mobiltex (S) Pte Ltd

r High Rise Buildingr High Rise Building

Picture courtesy of Escape Consult Mobiltex (S) Pte Ltd

ACCESSIBLE MEANS OF ESCAPE(wheelchair spaces in protected stairways)

Escapeflow

Key:

Wheelchair

Occupied by escape flow

MultipleEscape chute

P. 46-49 Evacuation Plan 17/11/06 9:51 am Page 47

Page 50: APF Issue 14

The provision of appropriate facilitiesfor aiding evacuation provides betteropportunity for a safer, quicker andorderly evacuation. More importantly,reduce building evacuation hazards andmaximize the escape potential of peoplewith disabilities of getting out alive.

DEVELOPING EVACUATION PLANSEvacuation plans in general have alwaysbeen an important operating feature of abuilding. Given that buildings havedifferences in structure design, construc-tion, fire-resistant qualities, height, floorlayout, usage, occupancy load, eachbuilding presents unique problems inemergency evacuations. For this reason,the fire department acknowledges thatthere is not a single recipe for handlingevacuations for any one building, but thekey is communication between buildingoperators and firefighters.

A typical requirement of evacuationplans must account for a range ofevents and be robust enough to take alltypes of occupants into consideration:

● Plans should include procedures forreporting emergencies that spell outoccupant and staff response. Forexample, if people discover a fire,immediately activate red manual callpoint, leave the floor, and keep stair-well doors closed but unlocked at alltimes to preserve the safety of escapestairways.

● The building calling for an evacua-tion when there is a known event.Only properly trained buildingmanager or the chief engineer isauthorized to order an evacuation onoccasion when they have to make adecision ahead of the fire depart-ment. They should have the assignedauthority to order evacuation of a

given floor or several floors of thebuilding to a refuge location prior tothe arrival of the fire department.Additional floors, as well as totalevacuation, may be evacuated at thedirection of the local fire department.

● Plans for evacuation during ‘bomb-threat’ or ‘non-fire’ related emer-gencies should be controlled by jointdecision of the police and firedepartment in consultation withbuilding management and tenants’representatives.

● Plans should detail the type and cov-erage of a building’s fire protectionsystem and other items required bythe authority having jurisdiction. Ifadditional facilities such as equip-ment and escape devices that are

available for aiding evacuation andrescue, it should also be included inthe evacuation plan.

● Comprehensive floor plans and dia-grams for evacuation routes. Floorplans with detail reveal the numberof people who work in a specificoffice and whether or not that officehas someone with special needs. Suchfloor plans that are available to onscene commanders of the fire depart-ment would be an extraordinarilyvaluable tool for firefighters.

● Plans should include floor search tomake sure that every person on a flooris aware of an emergency evacuation.The orderly movement of personsrequires the utmost coordination ofassigned emergency evacuation floorteams and central evacuation control.They must be encompassing,amenable to change, and applicable toa range of occupants with disabilities.

● Building control will determine thesafest and most efficient means ofevacuation, depending on the natureof the emergency and scope of dam-age. For examples, Plan-1 evacuationshould be accomplished by means ofstairwell and make way down; theuse of lifts for ‘bomb threat’ emer-gency evacuation can also beconsidered, but never for fire andearthquake emergencies. Plan-2 ifevacuees encounter smoke whiledescending one stairwell, evacueescan cross over to the alternate stair-well that lead to other floors ortransfer corridors giving access toseparate buildings. Plan-3 for alter-native escape routes when particularcircumstances warrant rerouting ofoccupants to bypass impassablefloors or blocked stairways becauseof hazards, such as smoke, heat, andgasses in the evacuation route. Pro-cedures should advise skyscraperoccupants never to flee towards theroof in a fire emergency because hotgas and smoke rises. The only excep-tion to this rule is if the building hasmade provision of escape chute atthe rooftop as an alternative meansof escape route to the street.

● Evacuation planning should take intothe consideration of how people willrealistically react in an emergencysituation. Lives are often lost throughthe irrational behaviour of evacuees

ASIA PACIFIC FIREwww.apfmag.com

48

Picture courtesy of Escape Consult Mobiltex (S) Pte Ltd

Evacuation Plan For

Picture courtesy of Escape Consult Mobiltex (S)Pte Ltd

Evacuation Plan For

P. 46-49 Evacuation Plan 17/11/06 9:51 am Page 48

Page 51: APF Issue 14

triggered by panic. Because of this,proper education of occupants onabiding to evacuation procedures andescape routes during regular drillshopes to eliminate panic when peopleare ignorant during an emergencyevacuation.

Lastly, it is the building manage-ment’s responsibility and duty of care toensure that the building evacuationplans can evacuate as many occupantsincluding the less fortunate prior to thearrival of the fire department. If the sys-tem fails, the firefighters will then haveto come to do a search and rescue forthose left behind. From time to time, anevacuation plan shall be reviewed andupdated as required by the authorityhaving jurisdiction.

EVACUATION DRILLSThe purpose of an evacuation drill is nota test for egress efficiency but enablebuilding management to see how effec-tive the plans and fire training havebeen conducted, identify problem areasand highlights things that should bebetter.

An evacuation drill programme shouldbe established for periodic practice of‘progressive movement’ and ‘total move-ment’ of occupants under varyingconditions not restricted to fires. Chancesfor people with disability of getting outof high rise emergencies would begreater if evacuation plans is in placethat included them, and that are regu-larly practiced by using both announcedand unannounced drills for reviewingprocedures. Combine training with drillsallows occupants to become familiarwith the emergency procedures, andthat people with disabilities and activitylimitations not be excused from partici-pating. When drills are held, all occu-pants must know how to evacuate viaroutes that deviated from their normalpaths and actually entered their desig-nated stairwell. Such practices hope toeliminate panic when people areignorant during an emergency evacua-tion. For building staff and fire wardens,they must practice their duties to ensurean orderly evacuation in case of fire,panic, or other emergency. They shouldalso be taught how to use portable fireextinguishers, in-door fire-hoses, ‘egressfacilities’ if any, such as evacuationchairs and the escape chutes properly.

The myth of evacuation time taken toempty a tall building during a fire drillcannot be a determine factor of howlong it will take to evacuate the struc-ture under actual emergency situation.When the real emergency occurs, thespeed of egress can vary greatly depend-ing on many factors, including thenumber of occupants, their mobility,their reaction and behaviour, visibilityand accessibility of escape routes, situa-tional conditions and the distance theymust travel. Will the building staff andfire wardens know what to do and per-form their duties well? Are evacuationfacilities in good working conditions tofacilitate speedier evacuation?

CONCLUSIONEvacuation planning takes a ‘totalapproach’ at all levels: the individual,organizational, and building environ-mental. Preparedness in evacuation is aproactive and efficient state of readinessfor a full-scale total building evacua-tion. Pre-planning, adequate communi-cations capabilities, evacuation prioritiesand proper skill drills help eliminatemistakes and misunderstanding in co-ordination during actual emergencyevacuation. Adequate training in theproper use of equipment and facilitiesfor aiding evacuation should be incor-porated as part of the evacuation drills.

Lives are not saved by codes; they are

saved because people will have decided,with the help of codes, to assume respon-sibility for their own safety. For example,fire escape stairwells are legal in manyjurisdictions but cannot guarantee thateveryone can walk down the stairs quicklywithout injuries during emergency evacu-ation. In the context of the fire code, it isnot required to provide facilities in abuilding for escape or rescue purposes.But facilities such as escape chute couldhave save more lives in extreme emergen-cies if stakeholder chose to provide themto enable more people to get out quicklywhere they are not required by law.

ASIA PACIFIC FIREwww.apfmag.com

49

Measuring the success of a pre-ventive program is difficult. Never-theless, prevention and proactive isthe key objective, not reactive. Abuilding’s level of fire protectionand preparedness for evacuationholds the highest level of impor-tance for safety of the occupantsand property within. Voluntaryactions by stakeholders to enhancethe level of safety and responsibleactions taken by individuals to meetreal threats have always been thebest way to advance the cause of safety and preparedness forevacuation.

Picture courtesy of Escape Consult Mobiltex (S) Pte Ltd

r High Rise Buildingr High Rise Building

P. 46-49 Evacuation Plan 17/11/06 9:51 am Page 49

Page 52: APF Issue 14

Since fire services were first formedto protect small communities anddeveloping towns and then cities,

the situations and types of hazards thatthey face have changed as well. Aspeople have moved into larger urbancommunities and are living moredensely, buildings have increased inboth size and height. Populations havegrown with more people now living inrural areas where previously naturalfires could burn without needing to be checked. These fires now need to befought to protect human life andproperty. In recent years the threat ofterrorism has led to solutions whererespiratory protection may be requiredfor a prolonged period without thehazards of fire or oxygen deficiency.There is also an increased need forurban search and rescue operations.

At this point an explanation of thetypes of RPE available would assist firefighters in making the correct choicefor the situation at hand. So let’s startat the beginning.

RPE comprise two main types: ‘airsupplied’ and ‘air purifying’, both canbe ‘self contained’ and ‘non-self con-tained’, as shown in diagram 1.

Air-supplied RPE supply the user

with air from a source independent ofthe ambient atmosphere. Below is abrief description of the types detailedin the diagrams.

Self-contained RPE are made up ofeither ‘open-circuit’ or ‘closed-circuit’types. An open circuit apparatus releasesall exhaled air into the atmospherethrough an exhale valve in the facepiece and provides the user with cleanair to breathe via a filter or air suppliedunit. The closed-circuit system doesnot release the exhaled air, but recir-culates it through the apparatus andremoves CO2 from the exhaled air.Oxygen is then added back into thecircuit so the recycled air can be re-breathed. Open-circuit RPE are ofeither ‘filter’ or ‘compressed air breath-ing apparatus’ (CABA) types or ‘fresh airbreathing apparatus’ (FABA) varieties.CABA are what fire fighters use formost common applications.

Non-self contained RPE consist of anexternal air source, i.e., fresh air hose, orcompressed air being supplied fromcylinder(s), airline trolley or a compres-sor. Most fire fighters would previouslynot have considered this type of productas suitable for traditional applications.They are however ideal for the newest

scenarios of urban search and rescue,confined space entry, prolonged decon-tamination, ladder platform operations,and generally where conventional SCBAare not appropriate due to either size,duration or condition restrictions.

AIR PURIFYING RESPIRATORSAir purifying, as the name suggests is amethod of taking the ambient air andpurifying it so that it can be used forrespiration, it relies on a filtering mech-anism. These filters are used in personalprotection equipment (PPE) defined asnegative pressure and powered air puri-fying respirators (PAPR)

Filter technology is becoming moreadvanced but does have limitations,most notably, filters should not be usedin atmospheres that are suspected orcould be Immediately Dangerous toLife or Health (IDLH), oxygen deficient,where the ambient or contaminantconditions are unknown, or in confinedspaces such as sewers and tanks. Thereare however, many benefits like taskspecific head piece designs that arelightweight, durable, lower cost, com-pact, or require less maintenance.Therefore, it is worth recounting thetypes of filters.

Particle filters are approved to P1, P2or P3 categories, being a measure ofthe efficiency of the filter media, alsowith reference to the relative limitedcapability of the mask.

ASIA PACIFIC FIREwww.apfmag.com

50

By Keith Gillespie of Scott Health & Safety

SINCE THE ADVENT OF respiratory protection in the 1870s, when firefighters utilised a simple respirator and filter, today’s equipment has come touse high performance technology in demand valves, pressure reducers, facepieces and integrated electronics. The use of Self Contained BreathingApparatus (SCBA) is considered to be a basic tool for structural fire fighting,however there are other types of Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) thatcan be very relevant in today’s modern fire services and the challenges thatthey now face.

Respiratory Prote

RESPIRATORY PROTECTIONEQUIPMENT

SELF-CONTAINED NON-SELF-CONTAINED

CLOSEDCIRCUIT

OPEN CIRCUIT

FRESH AIRHOSE

COMPRESSEDAIRLINE

METHODS OF PROVIDINGPERSONAL RESPIRATORY

PROTECTION

PURIFIED ORFILTERED AIR

SUPPLIED AIR OR OXYGENFROM AN UNCONTAMINATED

SOURCE

P. 50-52 Respiratory Protection 17/11/06 9:52 am Page 50

Page 53: APF Issue 14

By definition P1 and P2 filter classi-fications account for the level efficien-cy associated with the face piece styleand filter media. For example, P1 andP2 are the highest ratings a half maskcan be given. P1 (solid particles of inertsubstances) relates to 80% efficiency,while P2 (solid and liquid particles oflow toxic substances) relates to 94%efficiency.

A P3 classification can only beachieved with full-face negative pres-sure face pieces and PAPR units, andrelates to 99.95% filtration success ofsolid and liquid particles of a toxic andhighly toxic substances, for example:smoke, off-gassing in wildfires,radioactive and toxic particles, as wellas micro-organisms such bacteria,viruses, and enzymes.

Gas filters are manufactured fromactivated carbon. The efficiency of agas filter is dependant upon the filter-ing surface, carbon volume, granule sizeand pores in the carbon, the physicaladsorption and the chemical absorp-tion. Specific filter are designed for par-ticular gases, eg organic, inorganic,acids and ammonia.

The gas life of a filter is often diffi-cult to determine. Factors such ashumidity, temperature, breathing rateand gas concentration will all affect fil-ter life. Caution should be used in tryingto calculate filter life as very oftenhalving the concentration will less thandouble the gas life. The filter should bereplaced BEFORE the filter life isexhausted to prevent any contaminantexposure to the wearer.

POWERED RESPIRATORSPAPR units essentially pull air throughthe filter media and deliver the purifiedair into the user’s mask or head cover-ing, at typically 120-200 litres perminute. Due to the benefits of positiveflow rates and lower breathing resis-tance, the availability of task designedhead-tops (forensic, laboratory, infec-tious disease and many more) andcompatibility with special apparel, thefuture will see more PAPR units used in

certain response scenarios, such asCBRN and spill containment.

These types of equipment however,can be suitable for decontaminationprocedures and for fire fighters who areworking in the warm and cool zones ofan area that have been subjected to a‘Chemical Biological RadioactiveNuclear’ (CBRN) attack. They could alsobe ideal for situations such as wildfires.Work-studies are ongoing to determinewhat gases are present during the burnand the effectiveness of various typesof RPE.

SCBAWhen first used in the 1920s, CABAduration was approximately 20 min-utes. Since this time, major advanceshave taken place. Cylinder technologyhas developed from heavy steel to alloysteel, aluminium, glass-hoop wrappedaluminium and glass full-wrappedcylinders, to the current technology offully wrapped carbon fibre cylinderswith steel, alloy or plastic liners. Inmost cases, the maximum filling pres-sure is either 200 or 300 bar. As well ascylinder advances, CABA have movedfrom negative pressure to positivepressure via a manual switchingmechanism, to the current first breathactivated positive pressure systems.

Harnesses have also changed to bemuch more flame resistant, being man-ufactured from Kevlar material. Whendesigning an apparatus there is nowalso more emphasis on materials thatwill be resistant to the substances usedin a CBRN attack.

Mask design has also improved withthe utilisation of superior materials,enhanced visor profiles to increasevision, greatly improved speechdiaphragms, and voice amplifiers andcommunications devices that can beintegrated onto and into the mask.When speech enhancements such asamplifiers or communication devicesare utilised consideration should begiven to flame retardancy and intrinsicsafety. Many of the devices currentlyavailable offer apparent speechenhancement without any considera-tion to the flame testing requirementsof the mask and the environment it isused in, hence, loss of communicationcan occur in severe environments.

The introduction of ‘Integrated Elec-tronics and Information Systems’includes integrated ‘automatic distresssignal units’ (ADSU), otherwise knownas ‘personal alert safety system’ (PASS)devices; digital pressure gauges; tem-perature sensors (important as the lat-est personal protective equipment (PPE)

ASIA PACIFIC FIREwww.apfmag.com

51

tection Explained

Pic courtesy of Scott Health & Safety

P. 50-52 Respiratory Protection 17/11/06 9:52 am Page 51

Page 54: APF Issue 14

protects the fire fighter from the out-side environment to such an extentthat he does not know the heat he isactually in); automatic breathing dura-tion calculations (time to whistle); andspecified alarm points. These featuresare stand-alone on the SCBA.

Recently a major advance has been

the ability to transfer the data viatelemetry to a base station. The basestation provides the officer in charge orbreathing apparatus (BA) controllercritical information enabling him tomake informed decisions on the fireground or at an incident commandpost.

One of the major challenges formanufacturers is finding suitable bat-tery technology that performs in thefire fighter’s environment, while main-taining complete functionality. In orderto maintain the intrinsic safety require-ments, specific battery brands andmodels might be recommended. If notthe intrinsic safety approval may bereduced or not apparent. Even thoughelectronic interfaces provide desireddata, the essential function of the SCBAmust not be compromised. For example,should a battery be discharged forwhatever reason, the SCBA must still beable to function utilising its standardpneumatic systems, including analoguepressure gauges and low air warningdevices. When selecting telemetryequipment consideration should begiven to the availability of a suitableapproved frequency with the relevantlocal authorities

The future of telemetry informationsystems, team coordination, controllingcrews, communication, 3D mapping,and crews moving through an incidentare all ultimately guided by their true cost and how these funds aremade available from treasury. Thechallenge for fire fighters is to presentthe strongest possible case in order to access the latest in life savingtechnology.

AIR QUALITYTechnology has advanced considerablyover the last few years for RPE, howev-er, little attention has been given byfire departments when refilling orrecharging BA cylinders. At presentmany brigades test the air quality oftheir compressors after a certain timeperiod or number of hours the com-pressor has been used. Little has beendone to prevent the BA officer/techni-cian inadvertently filling a cylinder withpotentially contaminated. An air qualitycheck that may have been performedearlier that day, may be of a satisfacto-ry standard, however, the compressorcould be compromised later by manyfactors, including, the location of on-board compressors in relation to the

ASIA PACIFIC FIREwww.apfmag.com

52

Pic courtesy of Scott Health & Safety

P. 50-52 Respiratory Protection 17/11/06 9:53 am Page 52

Page 55: APF Issue 14

incident passing vehiclesexpelling exhaust fumes,or a compressor opera-tor who may haveunwittingly placed theintake in the vicinity offumes or exhaust. Thecompressor needs tohave a device whichconstantly monitors theair quality, and thatimmediately shuts itdown before any conta-minated air enters thecylinder.

Cylinder failure rarelyoccurs during recharg-ing, however, instanceshave occurred with cat-astrophic consequences.Many compressors arelocated outside a facility

and the recharging of cylinders undertaken inside sometimeswith the cylinder in a bath of water or behind a barrier, whichis usually un-engineered. Such equipment is unlikely to beavailable on mobile BA or Hazmat response vehicle. Currentbest practice is the utilisation of a containment facility thatprovides assured protection for personnel and plant. The ScottRevolveair is an example of what can be fitted to any brand ofcompressor.

CONCLUSIONUltimately fire fighters of today have never been better pro-tected against the external environment in terms of respiratoryprotection. Despite this, the introduction of new technology,including telemetry systems on SCBA, can sometimes confuseor be daunting to purchasers within fire brigades.

The primary purpose of breathing apparatus and other typesof respiratory protective equipment used in the fire service isclear – “to offer respiratory protection to the user and allowaccess to non-respirable or contaminated atmospheres for res-cue and fire fighting procedures”.

It is important to remember that this is the primary functionof the RPE, as over the years these types of equipment havehad new technologies introduced to them that appear to addmany extra features, some of which may or may not be rele-vant to all. Whilst it is not suggested for a minute that firebrigades shouldn’t utilise the latest technology to the fullest,they should also not forget the primary function of SCBA andother RPE or neglect back up mechanisms such as analoguegauges and pneumatic warning devices.

At the same time they should not lose sight of what tech-nology can do to enhance the SCBA or of the benefits that itcan bring.

ASIA PACIFIC FIREwww.apfmag.com

53

Keith Gillespie has worked in the fire and safety industryfor more than 20 years as an Aviation Fire Fighter, BAtechnician through to his current position as ProductSpecialist for air supplied respiratory products with ScottHealth & Safety. [email protected]

High performance protection,detection and communication

Thermal Imaging

Gas Detection

Air Supply

Compressors

Revolve Air

SCBA /Telemetry

Tyco/Scott Health & SafetyAustralia 131 772

International +61 2 8718 2200www.scottint.com

www.scotthealthsafety.com

Scott RevolveairPic courtesy of Scott Health & Safety

P. 50-52 Respiratory Protection 17/11/06 9:53 am Page 53

Page 56: APF Issue 14

CIVIL DEFENCE ACADEMY

SINGAPORE CIVIL DEFENCE FORCE

Officially opened on 26 Mar 1999, the 11hectare Civil Defence Academy (CDA) ofthe Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF)offers rescue and firefighting training ina realistic, yet safe learning environment.

At the heart of its training grounds isits 10-storey “Furnace” where a multi-tude of fire fighting and rescue trainingcan take place simultaneously. Built towithstand the burning heat of fires, up1,000 degrees Celsius, the Furnaceoffers a range of fire fighting environ-ments at the push of a button all underone roof. Fire and rescue trainees get tofight not only life-like simulated resi-dential apartment fires, but also a hostof many others including fiery blazes ina ship engine room, hotel room, HazMatstorage room and even a flash-over firein a Karaoke Lounge.

Through a centralized control system,instructors have full control of the fire,heat and smoke conditions in the build-ing. Trainees can also be monitored forsafety, via a network of closed-circuittelevisions and thermal image cameras.

The Academy also offers a host of otherstate-of-the-art training simulators whichprovide realistic scenario-based outdoortraining. This includes the Ship Simulator,Breathing Apparatus Maze, Oil StorageTank Simulator, 3-storey Industrial Com-plex Simulator, Industrial Rescue Tower,Car Fire Training Simulator, LPG BulletTank and Transformer Fire Simulator.

International Urban Search andRescue CourseThe Civil Defence Academy (CDA) con-ducted its 1st International Urban

Search and Rescue Course (IUSAR) inOct 1999. This first batch of 14 traineescame from Australia, Brunei and Thailand.This course has since trained close to400 participants from 44 countries.

The two-week course includes lec-tures on the concepts and principles inmanaging rescue operations in USARsettings, as well as physical exercises toimpart specialised rescue skills andtechniques, including shoring, debristunneling, search procedures withbreathing apparatus, collapsed buildingrescue, medical procedures and highangle rescue. The course includes ahigh-strung overnight exercise to test allthey have learnt during the training.

The CDA works closely with both localand overseas agencies to provide inter-national participants easy access to theIUSAR Course, including the Asian Disas-ter Reduction Centre (ADRC), Asian Net-work of Major Cities 21 (ANMC21), Fireand Emergency Services Authority ofAustralia (FESA), and Japan InternationalCooperation Agency (JICA).

If you wish to find out more aboutthe course, and other programmes thatare available, please feel free to contact

the Academy’s Corporate Affairs Branchat Tel: +65-6-794-5502 Fax: +65-6-794-5591 or direct your emails [email protected]

FIRE SAFETY ENGINEERING COLLEGE

HistoryThe first students enrolled at the FireSafety Engineering College on the 15thNovember 1997.

It was an extremely eventful day asthe first ‘breaking of ground’ took placeonly in August 1996 and the design,planning, construction and recruiting ofhigh level teaching staff was achieved inlittle more than twelve months.

By the time the Fire Safety Engineer-ing College had it’s special Preview Dayin December 1997 for potential cus-tomers, VIP’s and officials, the groundshad been landscaped, all the trainingrigs were ready, as was the paradeground, lagoon and motorway section.

About UsThe Fire Safety Engineering College isan exciting new institution. Unique inthis part of the world, the College offersstudents the opportunity to develop thepractical skills and knowledge requiredfor a career in Fire Safety Engineeringand Management or Well Engineering.Located on a 100-acre site close to SeebInternational Airport in Muscat, Sul-tanate of Oman, the College boastsstate-of-the-art training facilities. Allclassrooms are fitted with the latestaudio-visual aids and equipment andpresentations to students are deliveredvia the latest computerised technology.

The College also has a unique practi-cal fire and safety training ground. Itallows students the opportunity toexperience real life fire and emergencysituations, utilising a full size steelframed aircraft, a helicopter, a militaryjet, a breathing apparatus training facili-ty, a mini refinery with petrochemicaland liquified petroleum gas and liqui-fied natural gas training simulators. TheWell Engineering School has a 1200metre deep well, the TRAINWELL.

AccreditationThe College has a policy of obtainingthird party accreditation from professional

ASIA PACIFIC FIREwww.apfmag.com

54

High Angle Rescue Training

Training CentreTraining CentreP. 54-56 Training Centres 17/11/06 9:54 am Page 54

Page 57: APF Issue 14

institutions of national and/or interna-tional repute.

For further information, please contact:Mr. John WhiteheadSales, Marketing & BusinessDevelopment ManagerP O Box 2511, PC 111SeebSultanate of OmanTel: +968 521077 or +968 521256 Fax: +968 521355 or +968 521042E-mail: [email protected]: www.fsecoman.com

ICET

International Centre for Emergency Techniques

The International Centrefor Emergency techniques(ICET) is a specialist ofworld renown in thedevelopment of multi-

disciplinary rescue training and consul-tancy programmes. ICET created theSystematic Approach to Victim Entrap-ment Rescue, SAVER™. This method is atruly interactive and universal approachto this demanding form of rescue.

ICET ’s consultancy department hasassisted numerous local and nationalgovernments; as well NGO’s in develop-ing programmes to establish, supportand upgrade emergency response net-works. Under its RENU™ programmeICET has worked in countries as diverseas India, Argentina, Russian Federation,Belgium, the Netherlands and Turkey.

Recently, the SAVER Foundationincorporated the SAVER approach forfurther research and development.Emergency Medicine Prof. Dr. MarcSabbe (Brussels) is Chairman of theFoundation.

Today, ICET is an international providerof technical assistance and training andthe international representative of SAVER.In 2003, SAVER released a CD Rom whichcan be ordered at a pre-registration price of €48,50 less 20% at [email protected].

ICET most recently introduced train-ing course is called “Command andCoordination for incident commanders”.During this course both virtual (DiaboloVR) and realistic scenarios are used topresent the participant with a variety ofleadership challenges. The course wasrecently taken by senior officers fromthe Malaysian Fire and Rescue Depart-ment, with international fire and rescueveteran Joe Bishop, one of the groundlayers of the INSARAG guidelines, as acourse director.

For more information, please contact ICET International Centre for EmergencyTechniquesP.O. box 430 4940 AK RAAMSDONKSVEER, THE NETHERLANDSTel: + 31 (0) 162 51 70 80 Fax: + 31 (0) 162 51 65 60 E-mail: [email protected]: www.icet.nl

THE UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA, RENO FIRE SCIENCE ACADEMY IN

CARLIN, NEVADA, USA

Offering one of the finest emergencyresponse programs and training facilitiesin the world, the University of Nevada,Reno Fire Science Academy (FSA)includes a state-of-the-art trainingcampus in Carlin, Nevada, USA, as wellas specialized training programs that

can be conducted at the academy orcustomized and offered anywhere in theworld. The FSA’s facility and programsare designed to challenge experiencedand novice firefighters alike, servingprivate-sector industries includingpetrochemical, aviation, mining, tech-nology, transportation and hospitality aswell as agencies and governments.

Crisis and Emergency ManagementThe FSA trains for management of andrecovery from crises and emergencies, withfocus on incident simulations, commandsystems, strategies Fand management tac-tics for crises ranging from natural disastersto man-made emergencies and terrorism.

Courses and consulting include:

● Incident Command and EmergencyResponse

● Incident Command System (ICS) forEmergency Medical Services (EMS)

● Incident Safety Officer● Developing and Implementing Table-

tops, Drills and Exercises● Hazardous Materials On-Scene Incident

Commander

Hazardous Materials and HAZWOPERThe FSA trains with strenuous exercisesusing heavy, chemical-protective cloth-ing. Instruction emphasizes protectingpeople, property and the environment.

Courses and consulting include:

● HAZWOPER 24-Hour/HazardousMaterials First Responder Operations

● Hazardous Materials On-Scene Inci-dent Commander

● HAZWOPER 40-Hour/HazardousMaterials Technician

● HAZWOPER 8-Hour/Hazardous Materials Refresher

ASIA PACIFIC FIREwww.apfmag.com

55

ICET HQ

res Round Upres Round UpP. 54-56 Training Centres 17/11/06 9:54 am Page 55

Page 58: APF Issue 14

● Hazardous Materials AdvancedResponse

● Hazardous Materials Chemistry● Emergency Response Team (ERT) —

Comprehensive Refresher Training

Industrial Fire FightingThe FSA has received worldwide recogni-tion for its industrial curriculum, trainingprops, use of liquid petroleum fuels andits hands-on approach to instruction.FSA has trained firefighters from all 50states and nearly 40 countries.

Courses and consulting include:

● Entry Level Industrial Firefighter (alsoavailable in Spanish)

● Advanced Exterior Industrial Firefighter(also available in Spanish)

● Industrial Fire Brigade Leader (alsoavailable in Spanish)

● Industrial Firefighter Refresher● Emergency Response Team (ERT) —

Comprehensive Refresher Training● Industrial Firefighter Certificate Pro-

gram (also available in Spanish)

Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting(ARFF)The Fire Science Academy is one of onlya few in the world to offer aircraft firesimulation training with liquid petrol-eum fuel. Intense live-fire rescue simu-lations create real-world trainingscenarios enabling responders to achievesuperior levels of incident performance.

Courses and consulting include:

● ARFF FAA/CFR 139.319 Annual Live-Fire Refresher (also available in Spanish)

● ARFF 24-Hour Refresher (also availablein Spanish)

● ARFF 40-Hour CFR 139 (also availablein Spanish)

Rescue TrainingThe FSA’s capabilities in preparingrescuers for a demanding level of per-formance are second to none. Classroominstruction is reinforced with fieldpractice in safe, realistic and highlychallenging environments.

Courses and consulting include:

● Introduction to Trench and Excava-tion Rescue

● Rope Rescue● Confined Space Rescue● Advanced Rescue● Emergency Response Team (ERT) —

Comprehensive Refresher Training

Specialty Courses and CustomizedTraining ProgramsThe academy’s world-class facilities andinstructors are available to companiesand organizations that require special-ized incident-response training, tailoredto their particular operations and needs.The FSA can also bring its programsdirectly to the company or customer.

For more information, please contact:University of Nevada, RenoFire Science AcademyPO Box 877, 100 University AvenueCarlin, NV 89822 USATel: +1 775 754 6003 Fax: +1 775 754 6575E-mail: [email protected]: www.fireacademy.unr.edu

TEXAS ENGINEERING EXTENSION SERVICE

World renowned for its hands-on, cus-tomized training, the Texas EngineeringExtension Service offers a wide range oftechnical skills training programs aimedat employed workers and those enteringthe labour force. In 2004, TEEX trainedmore than 176,000 individuals from all50 states, six U.S. territories and 46countries through more than 8,800classes, which were conducted acrossthe nation and the world.

TEEX is a member of The Texas A&MUniversity System, one of the largestand most complex systems of highereducation in the United States. Througha statewide network of nine universitycampuses, seven state agencies and acomprehensive health science centre, theA&M System educates nearly 100,000students, conducts more than $500 mil-lion in research and reaches another 11million people through service each year.

Whether throughout Texas or across

the globe, TEEX can be counted on forthe excellent training and technicalexpertise of its nearly 1,000 employees,many of whom are the top experts intheir respective fields. Through contractsand agreements with governments andoverseas companies, TEEX provides itsunique, specialized training and techni-cal assistance to workers worldwide,ranging from the smallest volunteer firedepartments to some of the largestcompanies in the world.

For more than 80 years, TEEX’s goalshave included developing businesses andthe economy, protecting people and theenvironment, and building a safe, mod-ern infrastructure. The agency’s ongoingefforts have resulted in cleaner drinkingwater, better roads and infrastructure,improved workplace safety and enhancedpublic safety through the training of lawenforcement officers and firefighters.

Home to the National EmergencyResponse and Rescue Training Centre,TEEX has been at the forefront of prepar-ing emergency responders to combat ter-rorist incidents involving weapons of massdestruction prior to the events of 9/11.TEEX also led the initiative to form TexasTask Force 1, both a state and nationalurban search and rescue team, and estab-lished the first swift water rescue striketeam. Texas Task Force 1 has beenselected by the Federal Emergency Man-agement Agency as one of six teams inthe United States to respond to incidentsinvolving weapons of mass destruction.

MissionThe Texas Engineering Extension Servicedevelops a skilled and trained workforcethat enhances public safety, security andeconomic growth of the state and thenation through training, technical assis-tance and technology transfer.

VisionThe Texas Engineering Extension Servicewill be recognized as an agency thatimproves the lives of people by helpingprovide safe communities, economicopportunity, and an enriched quality oflife.

For further information, please contact:Emergency Services Training Institute301 TarrowCollege StationTX 77840-7896, USATel: +1 866 878 8900Website: www.teex.com/esti

ASIA PACIFIC FIREwww.apfmag.com

56

Training Centres Round UpTraining Centres Round Up

P. 54-56 Training Centres 17/11/06 9:55 am Page 56

Page 59: APF Issue 14

Hygood fire protection for high value assets

For further information, please contact:Tyco Safety Products, Burlingham House, Hewett Road,

Gapton Hall Industrial Estate, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk NR31 0NN.Tel: +44 (0)1493 417600 Fax: +44 (0)1493 417700

Email: [email protected] Web: www.macron-safety.com

Protect your high valueassets and your world

Fast acting

No environmental impact

Low life cycle cost

Electrically non-conductive

Zero breakdown products

No risk of consequential damage

Never under estimate the chance or the effects of fire. i3 inertgas systems provide the rapid, efficient response required toeffectively protect against virtually all combustible materialand flammable liquid fires.

Most importantly, i3 inert gas is entirely environmentallyfriendly as its component gases already circulate freely in theatmosphere And this agent has no impact of any kind onclimate change.

Breathe freely, protect your high value assets and enjoy yourplanet.

Visit us at Interschutz - Hall 013, Stand B10

APF14 p57 17/11/06 9:55 am Page 1

Page 60: APF Issue 14

ASIA PACIFIC FIREwww.apfmag.com

58

P R O D U C T P R O F I L E

FSI currently offers amongst theworld’s broadest range of portable,mobile and fixed emergency haz-

mat decon shower, and shelter systemsand accessories. FSI units range fromthe economy single first responder typeDAT®1010S units to the largestDAT®4099S 5 line 3/4 stage (undress/detergent shower/rinse shower/redress)mass casualty decon shower systemsthat can decon 10 ambulatory or 10non-ambulatory personnel or anycombination simultaneously.

But FSI is not content with resting onits’ laurels as it were. FSI is working hardto meet the increasingly sophisticated

demands of the market place— demands that today requirefully integrated systems andlarger and more personnelhandling capabilities.

And one such leadingedge product shown repre-sents the very future of decon— that being the F-MAP coldplasma ionization system.

Current technologylargely employs the use ofcopious quantities ofwater and/or detergent or

both to decontaminate vic-tims and first responders.

The FSI F-MAP cold plasmaionization system represents thefuture of Hazmat Decontamination.

The system — currently available inthis portable format only — works asfollows:

a. inject diluted liquid hydrogen perox-ide into the system, thus:

b. creating a hydrogen peroxide mist viathe use of a high speed nozzle inter-nally which then:

c. ionizes the mist by accelerating itthrough a cold plasma arc system ofceramics and metals which release:

d. ‘hydroxyls’ (the component in mistedhydrogen peroxide that actually killsbio/chem. ‘nasties’) and these:

e. short lived (10’s of seconds maxi-mum) ‘hydroxyls’ are then pushed athigh speed thru ducting into:

f. FSI shower/shelter systems wherepeople awaiting decontamination:

g. are misted thus killing on contacteven the very worst Vx nerve gas to5 log (99.999%) and bio. agents to 7 log (99.99999%).*

*For a human to survive Vx nerve gas expo-sure the ‘kill’ ratio must be in very shortorder from the time of exposure to at least5 logs of ‘kill’. To ensure no long termdamage the ‘kill’ ratio must be to 7 logson Anthrax, Small Pox and other BiologicalAgents. Lesser Bio. Chem. agents are killedto more than 7 logs. The F-MAP system willwork on all known Bio Chem. agents.

The F-MAP system represents years ofwork, research, and millions of dollarsspent by DOD and the US Army andclearly shows a finished, approved andviable product, available only fromFSI in this format.

In the future FSI decon showersystems may well increasingly employthis technology, and eventually waterdecontamination will become a thing ofthe past.

FSI North AmericaTM

A Division of Fire SafetyInternational, Inc.TM

311 Abbe RoadSheffield Lake OH USA 44054

Ph 440 949 2400Fax 440 949 2900

www.fsinorth.comFSI Three Line 3/4 stage mass casualty DAT®3060S

DAT®15T 2 line mobile decon showersystem

FSI F-MAP

FSI COLD PLASMA IONIZATION

P. 58 FSI Product Profile 1/1/04 12:48 AM Page 58

Page 61: APF Issue 14

APF14 p59 17/11/06 9:57 am Page 1

Page 62: APF Issue 14

Why is this standard so exten-sive? Because water-mist sys-tems are so new and each

water-mist system is so unique in itsoperation and design, approval islimited for now to specific occupanciesand applications that have been testedby FM Approvals. For this reason, the new standard must describe firetesting for each of these occupanciesand applications, as well as tests forthe components that comprise thesesystems.

WHY WATER MIST?

Water-mist fire protection systems offersome unique benefits that make themparticularly well suited for challengingenvironments. For instance, water-mistsystems not only can suppress orextinguish fires, but they also can havea cooling effect within the protectedspace that makes it easier for firefightersand others to enter and extinguish thefire. Water-mist systems also use farless water than conventional sprinklers,a tremendous advantage wherecontaminant runoff is a concern orrunoff collection is mandated. Otheradvantages include:

■ Prevents re-ignition. Because of its cooling effect androom-flooding ability, water-mistsystems are very good at preventingre-ignition, even from oil-bath firesand other pool fires.

■ Works well in high-heat-release fires in enclosureswhen total “flooding” protec-tion is used.As an enclosure is flooded withwater mist, the atomized dropletsare drawn to the base of the firealong with room air. The water mistinstantly flashes to steam, expand-ing in volume by about 1,700 fold,replacing the oxygen necessary forcombustion.

■ Works in partially ventilatedareas. The system is Approved with therequirement that doors to an enclo-sure be interlocked to close andventilation fans be interlocked toshut-off on system discharge.However, unlike CO2 or halon,water mist can work in areas wherea door does not close properly anddoes not pose a health risk likesome other gaseous agents.

ASIA PACIFIC FIREwww.apfmag.com

60

A water-mist nozzle undergoes “K” factor testing to determine flow characteristics

FM Approvals ReadieWater-Mist

By Kai Foo ChanChief EngineeringTechnical SpecialistFM Global – Global

Services, Asia

MORE THAN 10 YEARS in the making, the soon-to-be-released “ApprovalStandard for Water-Mist Systems” (5560), from FM Approvals, is big, notonly in size, but also in its potential impact on an industry that’s still in itsinfancy. Although water-mist fire extinguishing systems have been in use fordecades on ships and in other specialized applications, true commercialinterest didn’t take off until the 1993 ban on halon gas extinguishing agentsmade water mist a viable alternative.

FM Approvals ReadieWater-Mist

P. 60-61 FM Approvals 17/11/06 9:58 am Page 60

Page 63: APF Issue 14

■ Smoke-scrubbing qualities. Some smoke and toxic gases areabsorbed by the atomized waterspray. The effectiveness cannot bequantified and if smoke removal isneeded a properly designed smokeexhaust system should be installed.

WATER-MIST SYSTEM CASE STUDY

At a construction cost of approximatelyUS$1 million per engine test cell, andwith 36 cells to be built in the initialdevelopment phase, a large automotivegroup had a lot riding on its newresearch facility. Fire protection for theheavily instrumented engine test cellswas a key concern. With fuels andlubricants flowing through hoses to theengines at high pressure, spray andpool fires were a significant risk.

FM Global engineers reviewed theproposed fire protection plan for theengine test cells and grew concernedthat powerful ventilation and largeobstructions within the cells wouldimpede the water-mist protection sys-tem. Approved water mist systems forenclosure protection require ventilationbe interlocked to shut-off when thesystem activates. The fire protectionchallenge was further complicated by alarge sub-floor space housing ventila-tion ductwork and mechanical equip-ment, which had the potential to trapleaking or spilled fluids from the testcells located above the sub-floor.

To evaluate the proposed water-mistsystem, a full-scale mock-up of theengine test cell was built at the FMGlobal Research Campus in the USA.The research team developed a test pro-gramme to determine whether potentialfires could be extinguished or controlledby the proposed water-mist system.

The proposed water-mist designspecified that nozzles, equipped with

glass bulb thermal-link triggers, shouldbe located on the cell ceiling and insidethe engine ventilation ducts. Diesel androom temperature n-heptane were usedto simulate heated lubrication oil andgasoline.

Two types of detection/trigger mecha-nisms also were tested – UV/IR detectorsand glass-bulb links. Through this evalu-ation, it was determined that the originallayout of nozzles, located only at theceiling and in the engine ventilationducts, could not extinguish a 1m2

n-heptane pool fire, partially shieldedbelow the engine mock-up or locatedbelow the ceiling ventilation opening.(Note: Pool fires with n-heptane anddiesel located in other areas of the testcell could be extinguished with theoriginal layout of nozzles.)

To provide adequate protection, twoadditional water-mist deluge nozzleswere added to the sidewalls of theengine test cell, and linked to twoUV/IR detectors located diagonallyapart in the upper ceiling corners. Twoadditional ceiling nozzles also wereadded to address certain vulnerableareas. The original glass-bulb linknozzles located in the sub-floor area

were tested and found to provideadequate protection without modifica-tion. Since the completion of thisresearch, the company has built 36engine test cells at its new researchfacility, using the FM Approvals testedwater-mist protection system.

SETTING THE STANDARDApproval Standard 5560 from FMApprovals will provide the most com-prehensive single source of water-misttest requirements in the world for land-based applications. Manufacturers ofwater-mist systems and componentswill be able to quickly find fire andcomponent test requirements. This willsave both time and money by reducingerrors and helping manufacturers tomore accurately anticipate the testprogram required for approval.

ASIA PACIFIC FIREwww.apfmag.com

61

ies All-Encompassingst Standard

Approval Standard 5560 from FMApprovals will provide the mostcomprehensive single source ofwater-mist test requirements in theworld for land-based applications.Manufacturers of water-mistsystems and components will beable to quickly find fire andcomponent test requirements.

ies All-Encompassingst Standard

Following review, the final standardwill be released in late summer orearly autumn. FM Approvals hopethe new approval standard isadopted or used as a springboardfor international water-mist stan-dards for land based applications.

P. 60-61 FM Approvals 17/11/06 9:59 am Page 61

Page 64: APF Issue 14

ASIA PACIFIC FIREwww.apfmag.com

62

ABE CHINESE PARTNERSHIPThe Association of BuildingEngineers is proud to announceits partnership with Flaming 21Ltd, Hong Kong, andGuangzhou University in thePeople’s Republic of China inthe accreditation of top-updegrees delivered at theUniversity. David Gibson, ChiefExecutive, Chris Dawson,

President and Arwel Griffith, Immediate Past-President travelled toChina in March and met with representatives of Flaming 21 Ltdand the University to ratify the proposals.

The Association, working with Flaming 21 Limited, a training provider based in Hong Kong, formalised the trainingprogramme for the delivery, monitoring and accreditation of post-graduate diplomas in construction management and contractadministration.

The postgraduate diploma combines a mixture of assessed work,formal examination and interviews. Candidates successful in theprocess, may progress to membership of the Association of Build-ing Engineers. Candidates seeking to participate in the programmeare required to have a university degree in a construction-relatedsubject, be professionally qualified as a registered engineer andhave a minimum of three years’ relevant work experience.

A very well received positive development reinforcing theactivities of the Association and its global involvement.

GROUPE LEADER INTRODUCES THEVIBRAPHONE®ASB-8 AND THEVIBRASCOPE®BVA-6, TWO EFFICIENTEQUIPMENTS FOR SEARCH OPERATIONS!

Basically, the Vibraphone®ASB-8,electronic listening equipment,is known to rescue teamsthroughout the world, andenables people buried underrubble as a result of catas-trophes to be located. Theexceptional sensitivity of the Vibraphone®ASB8 enablesit to pick up the slightestsound made by disaster victims.It is also fitted with anadjustable filter, which deadens

the effect of dull noises like pneumatic drills, passing vehicles etc.A team of three people is necessary for the use of

Vibraphone®ASB-8: an operator, who listens thanks to a helmet,and the placing of two seismic microphones by his two team-mates. He co-ordinates positioning thus and listens to the soundsperceived by each of the two microphones. According to theperceived sounds, he indicates to his team-members the placementthat is as near as possible to the victim, until locating him exceptfor the meter.

The Vibrascope®BVA-6 enables disaster rubble to be searchedand for victims to be contacted via a microphone incorporated inthe camera. It comprises a telescopic pole at the end, which is aninfrared camera, which canrotate 360 degrees, togetherwith a portable screen monitor.This equipment makes it possi-ble to explore the debris andto speak to a possible victimvia a microphone incorporatedin the pole.

For example, at the time of

an earthquake, a person is buried, he manages to emit sounds butnobody succeeds to locate it. The team equipped with aVibrascope®BVA-6, works in binomial: The coordinator, who hasthe audio and video return of the pole, indicates to his team mateif he may advance or move back so as to position the pole untillocating as best as possible the victim. Once located, it is thenpossible to communicate with him, to know if he is wounded, toreassure him until the rescues succeed in releasing him from thedebris.

The range of uses for the Vibrascope®BVA6 vary from rescuingburied victims to surveillance and maintenance techniques forcustoms examinations, even archaeological investigations. . .

AMKUS RESCUE SYSTEMSAMKUS Rescue Systems isproud to introduce theirNEW ROPE RESCUE SYSTEM.The advanced design deploysin under two minutes, elimi-nating pulley systems andload-releasing hitches whilegreatly reducing the numberof rescuers needed topsidefrom 8-10 to just two! It iseasy to use, requiring lesstraining than traditional roperescue methods thanks tothe incredibly simple design.Unlike other belayingdevices, THE AMKUS ROPERESCUE SYSTEM passesknots with ease.

The AMKUS ROPE RESCUE SYSTEM is designed to improve thesafety of both rescuer and victim in dangerous high angle rescueoperations with a 1,000 lb. working capacity with a 10:1 safetymargin and an instant stop/zero shock loading system. It featuresa precise control, which allows the load to be raised or lowered bya fraction of an inch at a time for critical positioning. It alsocreates a more organized incident scene with fewer elements tocontend with and fewer technicians to coordinate.

AMKUS also manufactures a complete line of high performancehydraulic rescue tools and extrication equipment including:spreaders, cutters, combination tools, rams and power units.

ELKHART BRASS – OVER A CENTURY OFINNOVATION Elkhart Brass Mfg. Co, Elkhart, Indiana, USA, is the industry’s mostexperienced manufacturer of fire fighting and fire protectionequipment. Known worldwide for its commitment to quality, safetyand customer service, Elkhart Brass celebrated its 100th anni-versary in 2002. Intent on expanding its worldwide distributionnetwork, Dominick Monico, Vice President of Strategic BusinessDevelopment, heads the company’s international operations.

Throughout its history, Elkhart Brass has led the industry in thedevelopment of products that have changed the face of firefighting.Among the many industry firsts introduced by Elkhart Brass are:● The ball shut-off nozzle ● The peripheral jet fog Mystery® Nozzle ● Constant flow, selectable gallonage Select-O-Flow® Nozzles ● Select-O-Matic® Nozzles that operate automatically on

availability of water rather than on pressure

Product Update ● Product Update ● Product Update

For more information, please contact:Association of Building Engineers

Tel: +44 1604 404121 Email: [email protected]

For more information, please contact:AMKUS Rescue Systems

Email: [email protected]: www.amkus.com

For further information, please contact:Groupe Leader

Tel: +33 235 53 05 75 Email: [email protected]

P. 62-64 Product Update 17/11/06 9:59 am Page 62

Page 65: APF Issue 14

ASIA PACIFIC FIREwww.apfmag.com

63

The company’s most recent development is the industry’s firstW.E.T. (Wireless Electronic Technology) for radio remote controlledoperation of monitors from up to 1⁄4 mile away. Elkhart Brass iscommitted to embracing new technology that will continue toexpand its product range and worldwide market area.

Elkhart Brass manufactures over 2,000 products, many of whichbear internationally recognized safety certifications such as CE, ULand FM. Every piece of equipment is tested for performance andcompliance to high quality standards. The company is ISO 9001Certified. Fully integrated processes, including operation of its ownfoundry, allow Elkhart Brass to satisfy today’s quality demandswhile providing its customers with the utmost flexibility.

Now in its 4th generation of family management and owner-ship, Elkhart Brass continues to combine the reliability of itssuccessful past and solid high-performance products with top newpeople and cutting edge technology to meet the changing needsof the fire fighting and fire protection industries. The companylooks forward to a future built upon technology-driven productssuch as multiple monitor systems and advanced water deliverysystems for servicing a broad range of market applications includ-ing apparatus manufacturers, municipalities, marine, refineries andgeneral industry.

NEW VEHICLE DECONTAMINATION SYSTEMHughes Decon Sys-tems is working incollaboration withmilitary authorities inEurope to develop afast response vehicledecontamination sys-tem. A prototype unithas already beendelivered and is under-going evaluation trials.A production modelsis expected to be inservice by the end of the year and thesystem will then be

available to other military authorities and civil emergency servicesworldwide.

Effective vehicle decontamination is essential in a moderntheatre of operations to ensure that the full range of fighting andlogistical support equipment is always available to military units.The same principle applies to equipment used by units engaged incounter terrorist activities and in an emergency response role.

Civilian emergency services also depend on the availability ofvehicles and specialist equipment. Increasing demands on theirtime and resources means that contaminated vehicles need to beback in service as quickly as possible.

The new system addresses the specific concerns expressed by the military, vital issues that are equally relevant to civilianauthorities.

A fast response is critical in dealing with any decontaminationincident especially where personnel may be involved. This requiresa unit that can be easily transported to the scene of an incident. Itmust be compact, robust and easy to operate; and all this must beachieved without compromising performance.

The unit has evolved from the Hughes high pressure cleaner. Itincorporates a high-pressure chemical injection system and spraygun to quickly neutralize and remove contamination from vehicles.Mounted on a three-wheeled chassis the unit can be easily movedinto position then immobilised using a brake on the front wheel. Itis totally self-contained. The boiler can be powered by kerosene ordiesel and the pressure pumps are driven by a slow revving electricmotor. A low-level fuel cut-out is included with anti-leak detec-tion and auto time delay shut down at zero pressure which can

reduce maintenance costs by 75% while protecting the user.The vehicle decontamination unit has been designed to

compliment other systems within the Hughes range, includingportable shelters for decontaminating emergency service personneland members of the public as well as systems for treating personalprotective equipment.

NEW 30� PORTABLE FAN FOR LARGE AREAVENTILATION FROM SUPER VAC

Super Vac introduces thetotally redesigned 730G4-H,the largest portable fan inthe fire service. With apowerful 13 Hp Hondaengine and a precision castaluminum blade, this PositivePressure Fan can ventilatethe larger structures in yourresponse area, includingwarehouses, high-rise build-ings, and big box stores. Theframe and blade combina-tion have been beefed-up totake the beating of everydayuse. Call your dealer today toask about the Super Vac730G4-H.

FIND YOUR WAY INTO ANY RESCUE SCENETNT Rescue Systems, Inc., one ofthe industry leaders in innovativeextrication products, is proud toannounce the addition of a newtool to their growing product line– the Forcible Entry Tool, new in2005. The TNT Forcible EntryTool reduces the number of pinchpoints through its superiordesign. This TNT tool allows forquick operation with the includedhand pump. The design of this

new tool makes for manageable handling and a secure grip. As far as mechanical specifications are concerned, nothing beats

TNT’s Forcible Entry Tool. With an operating pressure of 10,500psi(724bar), this tool has the strength to force its way into anysituation. Once in place, the Forcible Entry Tool has a maximumspread force of 10,000 pounds (44.5 kN). A stroke of 5� (127mm)allows a wide enough spread to gain access into the desired space.

The durability of TNT tools is a top priority. We understand thatpurchasing tools is a significant investment for a department ofany size and want to ensure that our tools are made to last. Aswith all TNT Rescue Systems, Inc. tools, the Forcible Entry Toolcomes with our comprehensive lifetime warranty. Plus, TNT offersa 24-hour service guarantee to make sure you and yourdepartment always have the tools you need.

Product Update ● Product Update ● Product Update

For further information, please contact:TNT Rescue Systems, Inc.

Tel: +1 920 474 4101Website: www.tntrescue.com

For further information, please contact:Elkhart Brass Mfg. CoTel: +1 574 295 8330

Website: www.elkhartbrass.com

For further information, please contact:Hughes Safety Showers Ltd.

Email: [email protected]: www.hughes-safety-showers.co.uk

For further information, please contact:Super Vacuum Manufacturing Co. Inc.

Tel: +1 990 667 5146Website: www.supervac.com

P. 62-64 Product Update 17/11/06 10:00 am Page 63

Page 66: APF Issue 14

ASIA PACIFIC FIREwww.apfmag.com

64

Akron Brass Company, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35

Amkus Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Angus Fire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

Ansul, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IBC

Bacou-Dalloz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45

BW Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Chemetron Fire Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .04

Control Logic S.r.l. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .02

Dr. Sthamer Hamburg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40

E2V Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Elkhart Brass Mfg Co Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

GB Solo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

Groupe Leader France . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Hale Europe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Hanwei Electronics Co Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Haztech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

Helmet Integrated Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

Holmatro Industrial & Rescue Equipment . . . . . . . . . . .27

Hughes Safety Showers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Hygood Fire Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57

Iveco Magirus GmbH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

NFPA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Nordic Systems Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36

PPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Rae Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59

Russwurm Ventilatoren GmbH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Scott Health & Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53

Securiton AG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .09

Skum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38

Super Vac . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Task Force Tips, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IFC

Tempest Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Texas A & M Emergency Services Training Institute . . . .52

The Fire Shop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .09

TNT Rescue Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Total Walther Loschmittel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41

Trelleborg Protective Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Unifire Power Blowers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Vision Fire & Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .07

Weber Hydraulik GmbH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37

Williams Fire & Hazard Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .OBC

ASIA PACIFIC FIREMAGAZINE

GET YOUR SUBSCRIPTION NOW!!!

APF IS PUBLISHED 4 TIMES A YEAR – MARCH, JUNE, SEPTEMBER

AND DECEMBER

Name: ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Company/Organisation: –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Address: ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Telephone: ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Fax: ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

E-mail: –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Start Subscription from Issue: ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Subscription Rates: Sterling £35.00 AUS Dollars – $100.00US Dollars – $70.00

Back Issues: US $8.00 or £5.00 each inclusive of P&P(subject to availability)

METHODS OF PAYMENT:

Website Subscription: –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Cheque: –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Visa/Mastercard No: –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Expiry Date: ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

MDM Publishing Ltd.18a, St. James Street, South Petherton, Somerset, TA13 5BW, UK

ADVERTISERS’ INDEXSUBSCRIPTIONS

APF ON-LINE

www.apfmag.com

An MDM PUBLICATIONIssue 14 – June 2005

ASIA PACIFIC FIRE MAGAZINE

REPORTING TO THE ASIA PACIFIC FIRE PROTECTION AND FIRE SERVICE INDUSTRY

✂ ✂

www.apfmag.com

MDM Publishing Ltd.

P. 62-64 Product Update 17/11/06 10:00 am Page 64

Page 67: APF Issue 14

APF14 IBC 17/11/06 10:01 am Page 1

Page 68: APF Issue 14

APF14 OBC 17/11/06 10:02 am Page 1