22 preincident planning. 2 objectives conduct a preincident survey. prepare an accurate sketch or...

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Preincident Planning

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Objectives

• Conduct a preincident survey.

• Prepare an accurate sketch or diagram.

• Obtain the required occupancy information.

• Note any items of concern regarding occupancy.

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Introduction

• Preincident planning:– Promotes more effective fire fighting– Provides fingertip access to critical information– Includes electronic and/or paper formats– Improves command decision effectiveness– Gathers and evaluates information before needed– Alerts you to potential hazards, hidden dangers

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Preincident Plan

• Developed under direction of fire officer

• Available to all responding units

• Helps IC make informed decisions

• Specific to property size, complexity, risks

• Technology affords portability and accessibility.

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Plan Components (1 of 2)

• Detail diagrams for location, arrangement• Access and exit routes• Building points of entry• Exposures• Hydrants, water supply• Special hazards• Building size

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Plan Components (2 of 2)

• Type of construction

• Nature of occupancy

• Contents

• Interior floor plan

• Stairway/elevator locations

• Utility shut-offs

• Fire protection systems

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Target Hazards (1 of 2)

• Large occupancies and/or unusual risks

• Increased life safety hazard properties– for occupants– for responding fire fighters

• High possibility for conflagration

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Target Hazards (2 of 2)

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Developing a Preincident Plan

• Preincident survey:– Performed by response

crew– Compiled using standard

format– Filed by property address

• Stored in electronic and/or paper format

• Copies sent to crews and communications center

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Electronic Format Advantages

• Direct access through computers

• Automatic transmission to dispatch terminals

• Easy updates• Accessible to

everyone

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Conducting a Preincident Survey (1 of 2)

• Conduct with property owner knowledge.

• Appointment confirms and clarifies expectations.

• Team members should dress and act professionally.

• Property representative should accompany survey crew.

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Conducting a Preincident Survey (2 of 2)

• Systematic approach– Begin with building exterior.– Survey each interior area.– Take notes, make sketches.

• Return visit may be necessary for large properties.

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Preincident Planning forResponse and Access

• Establish the most efficient routes.

• Confirm street address visibility.

• Note water sources.

• Identify multiple entry access points.

• Indicate access-blocking barriers.

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Critical Questions: Exterior (1 of 2)

• What roads lead to the building?

• Where are the hydrants and fire department connections?

• Are there security barriers?

• Are there fire lanes?

• Are there obstructions limiting access?

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Critical Questions: Exterior (2 of 2)

• Is there enough support for the weight of the apparatus?

• Are keys or codes required for entry?

• Are there any natural or topographical barriers limiting access?

• Does landscaping or snow prevent access?

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Critical Questions: Interior

• Is the lock box operational and accessible?

• Are key codes required?

• Does the building have security guards?

• Is the key holder available?

• Where is the fire alarm panel, and is it properly programmed?

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Preincident Planning forScene Size-Up (1 of 2)

• Essential information for size-up:– Building construction, height, area, use,

and occupancy– Hazardous materials and other risk factors– Location of other structures jeopardized by

a fire

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Preincident Planning forScene Size-Up (2 of 2)

• Fire protection system information– Automatic sprinklers, standpipes, and

firewalls– Protected and unprotected areas

• Other building features– Overhead passages and conveyor systems– Common attics and unprotected openings

between floors

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Types of Building Construction (1 of 2)

Type I: Fire Resistive Type II: Noncombustible Type III: Ordinary

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Type IV: Heavy Timber Type V: Wood Frame

Types of Building Construction (2 of 2)

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Size-Up: Lightweight Construction

• Uses assemblies of small components

• Found in newer buildings and old remodeled buildings

• Not readily visible• Failure, collapse

hazard

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Size-Up: Remodeled Buildings

• Can remove original fire protection

• May create new hazards

• Try to conduct survey during construction or remodeling.

• Unfinished construction vulnerable to fire

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Size-Up: Building Use (1 of 2)

• Usage determines hazards.• Major use groups include:

– Public Assembly– Institutional– Commercial– Industrial

• Building may contain multiple occupancies.• Occupancy may change over time.

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Size-Up: Building Use (2 of 2)

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Size-Up: Exposures

• Other building(s)• Vehicles• Outside storage• Survey to identify potential exposures

– Size– Construction– Fire load– Distance to exposure– Ease of ignition

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Size-Up: Built-In Fire Protection Systems• Automatic sprinkler systems

• Standpipe systems

• Fire alarm and detection systems

• Special extinguishing systems

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Automatic Sprinkler Systems

• Effective if properly designed and maintained• Determine system presence and area(s)

covered.• Note interior or exterior water control valves.• Record location of nearby water supply.• Note area(s) served by fire department

connection.

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Standpipe Systems

• Installed in high-rise buildings and some low-rise buildings

• Water supplied to fire outlets on each floor

• Attack lines connected near fire

• Water delivered by pumper to fire department connection outside building

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Fire Alarm and Fire Detection Systems

• Some connected directly to fire department

• Others monitored by alarm service

• Automatically or manually activated

• Annunciator panel indicates actual fire source

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Special Fire Extinguishing Systems (1 of 2)

• Protects where automatic sprinklers not suitable

• Required for most commercial kitchens and computer rooms

• Common in industrial buildings

• Identify system type and areas protected

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Special Fire Extinguishing Systems (2 of 2)

• Note locations of suppression systems for flammable liquid storage.

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Tactical Information

• Considerations for water supply

• Utilities

• Preincident planning for:– Search and rescue– Forcible entry– Ladder placement– Ventilation

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Considerations for Water Supply (1 of 3)

• Determine amount and identify source.• Locate closest hydrants.• Note static water supply sources.• Outline desired water delivery options.

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Considerations for Water Supply (2 of 3)

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Considerations for Water Supply (3 of 3)

• Include details for tanker shuttle water supply.

• Private water supply systems

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Utilities

• Determine all utility emergency shut-offs.

• Include contact for each utility company.

• List utility hazards.

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Preincident Planning forSearch and Rescue

• Identify location of occupants needing rescue or assistance.

• List all building entrances and exits.

• Obtain interior floor plan.

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Preincident Planning forForcible Entry

• Identify areas where forcible entry likely

• Note tools needed to gain entry.

• Note lock box location.– Instructions for obtaining keys

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Preincident Planning forLadder Placement

• Identify best locations for ground ladders or aerial apparatus.

• Note ladder length needed to reach roof or entry points.

• List overhead obstructions.

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Preincident Planning for Ventilation (1 of 2)

• Determine best means of ventilation.• Confirm operability of existing openings.• Note construction elements and multiple

ceilings.• Include instructions for controlling

HVAC system.• Evaluate roof construction and collapse

potential.

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Preincident Planning for Ventilation (2 of 2)

• Ventilation considerations– Are there suitable windows and doors?– Where can fans be placed?– Can the roof be opened for vertical

ventilation?– Can skylights and bulkhead doors be

easily removed?

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Occupancy Considerations

• High-rise buildings

• Assembly occupancies

• Health care facilities

• Detention and correctional facilities

• Residential occupancies

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High-Rise Buildings (1 of 2)

• Structures more than 75 ft. high (6 or 7 stories)

• Life safety and property conservation affected by:– Access to occupied areas– Large number of occupants

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High-Rise Buildings (2 of 2)

• Identify building construction and special features.

• Presence and function of all systems

• Determine existence of building emergency plan.

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Assembly Occupancies

• Emergency incidents can involve large numbers of people.

• May have complex emergency management systems

• Gaining access complicated by occupant evacuation

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Health Care Facilities (1 of 2)

• Special preincident planning needed for large, multi-area facilities

• Greatest challenge is protecting nonambulatory patients

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Health Care Facilities (2 of 2)

• Defend-in-place philosophy– Assumes need for patient escape

assistance– Assumes insufficient staff

• Horizontal evacuation– Move patients to safer areas on same floor– More efficient than stairway evacuation

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Detention and Correctional Facilities

• Need to move inmates from danger while protecting fire fighters

• Security practices may affect access to building and occupancy areas.

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Residential Occupancies

• Most plans cover multifamily residences.

• General neighborhood surveys are informative.

• Homeowners may request individual fire safety surveys.

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Locations RequiringSpecial Considerations

• Airports• Ground transit• Gas or liquid fuel

transmission lines• Electrical transmission

lines• Ships and waterways• Subways• Railroad lines

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Special Hazards

• Identify hazardous materials or chemical storage.

• Evaluate potential for building collapse.

• Review industrial processes.

• Conduct research or contact specialists if needed.

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Hazardous Materials (1 of 2)

• Inventory types, quantities, location, use, and storage

• List emergency steps for spills, leaks, fire, or other incidents.

• Determine if special permits are needed.

• Locate current MSDS for inventories.

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Hazardous Materials (2 of 2)

• Common locations include:– Chemical companies– Garden centers– Swimming pool suppliers– Hardware stores– Laboratories

• NFPA 704 signage may be required

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Summary (1 of 3)

• Preincident planning involves:– Conducting surveys to gather information– Developing plan documents with diagrams

• A preincident plan is a gathering and recording of information available to the fire department.

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Summary (2 of 3)

• Building characteristics

• Apparatus access• Entry and exit points• Fire protection and

alarm systems• Water supply

• Life hazards• Exposures• Hazardous materials• Utility shut-offs• Ventilation

The preincident survey gathers information on:

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Summary (3 of 3)

• Preincident planning considers the type of occupancy and concerns associated with each.

• Some locations, such as airports and tunnels, have special occupancy considerations.

• The preincident plan should always note complete descriptions of hazardous materials.

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