The Standpipe Kit

photo source: highriseoperations.com

High-rise building fires can be the most challenging and dangerous operation for a firefighter. An important element for success in high-rise fire incidents is "the standpipe kit".  These kits include all the essential tools a crew may need to conduct standpipe operations. In the article titled, "The Standpipe Kit", published in WNYF (2nd/2015), describes the components that make up a functional kit. This article serves as a useful guide for creating or updating your department's own kit.

The basic standpipe kit should include:

• Door chocks and wedges (assorted)
• Spanner wrenches (2)
• Off-set pipe wrench (18" minimum) - to remove caps or operate stripped control valves
• Control valve wheels - various sizes, as needed for the response area
• Wire brush
• Pressure gauge or standpipe flowmeter 
• Nozzle (spare)
• Adapters and couplings (various)
• Gate valve

This list presents basic items that should be included in every kit.  Pre-fire planning for your response area must be conducted. Based on the pre-fire plans other adapters, thread types, sizes, or items may be needed and should be added to the kit. 

WNYF - Four Articles of Impact from 2017

WNYF - With New York Firefighters is the official training publication of the FDNY. This publication should be required reading for any fire service professionals that are serious about their job, careers, and professional development. The quality, relevance, and applicability of the articles is first-rate.  The magazine is zero advertising, no frills, all training content.  The featured fire calls, recurring columns, and FDNY section profiles, provide administrative and operational insight that can be applied to your own operation.

The magazine is published in digital and print formats. Two additional publications, ProEMS and ProFIT, address the EMS component of the FDNY and the fire department’s strict commitment to physical well being.  They also produce a podcast, films, and other books. At only $25 a year (4 quarterly issues), this is the most efficient cost to benefit expenditure that an individual or department can spend.  To subscribe or receive more information go to, FDNYpro.org.

4 Articles of Impact from 2017:

Manhole Fires by Asst. Chief Paul Cresci, Chief of Safety (WNYF 1st/2017)

A primary hazard with manhole fires can include active electricity, carbon monoxide, and natural gas. This article outlines the precautions to be taken, and guidance for incident stabilization and fire extinguishment. The FDNY utilizes the dry chemical agent, FireIce, at manhole fires involving electrical cables (Class C fires).

How the Safety Command Conducts Investigations, Part I and II by Batt. Chief Joseph McHugh (WNYF 2nd/2017 and 3rd/2017)

The Safety Command is tasked with conducting all investigations into major apparatus accidents and serious injury or fatality to a member. Part I of this article series outlines the four responsibilities of the Safety Command team in the event of an incident.  These responsibilities include: 1) preserving the scene, 2) preserving evidence, 3) conducting interviews, 4) writing the report. Part II of this series focuses on the specific aspects of an apparatus accident investigation.

Blue Roofs: Features and Collapse Risk at Fire Operations by Asst. Chief Ronald R. Spadafora, Chief of Fire Prevention (WNYF 3rd/2017)

Many firefighters may be familiar with green construction and green roofs, but less may be familiar with the blue roof.  The blue roof is a non-vegetated, sustainable system, designed to temporarily store rainfall in order to control and regulate drainage of water from a roof. This article identifies the components and construction features of these roof types and addresses response considerations and collapse concerns.

Roll Call: The Firefighters Competitive Advantage by Batt. Chief Frank Leeb (WNYF 4th/2017)

The roll call is the first meeting of the morning and provides the earliest and best opportunity to gain a competitive advantage. This is the time to honor the past, exchange information, and prepare for the shift ahead. This article serves as a reminder of the importance of being intentional during the roll call time, and its critical role in the shift day.

WNYF - 5 Take Aways from 1st/2016 Issue

WNYF - With New York Firefighters is the official training publication of the FDNY.  This publication should be required reading for any fire service professionals that are serious about their job, careers, and professional development. The quality, relevance, and applicability of the articles is first-rate.  The magazine is zero advertising, no frills, all training content.  The featured fire calls, recurring columns, and FDNY section profiles, provide administrative and operational insight that can be applied to your own operation. 

The magazine recently started publishing in a digital format, as well as, print. They also have started two additional publications, ProEMS and ProFIT.  To subscribe or receive more information go to, FDNYpro.org.


5 Takeaways from WNYF 1st/2016

1. This issues marks the 75th anniversary of the WNYF publication. The 1941 issues featured a story about FDNY firefighters sent to England to learn tactics from the London Fire Brigade as they were undergoing German airstrikes.  The FDNY was thinking ahead in a big way, to ensure that the citizens of New York City would receive the highest levels of protection.  What are our departments doing and learning from others around the world?  Are we taking all the steps necessary to provide our citizens the highest levels of care?

2.  There are three activities that FDNY firefighters engage in to ensure readiness and preparedness for fires in mega-high-rise structures: fire inspection data/information, 90-day familiarization drills, and multi-unit drills.

3.  Recommended resource for fire department response to building collapse, Collapse of Burning Buildings: A Guide to Fireground Safety, by Vincent Dunn.

4.  To prioritize and manage a collapse operation, the acronym SCLUFS can be used:

     S - signal - request all necessary resources and units

     C - command post - establish command

     L - life - account for all affected individuals

     U - utilities - shut down and control utilities

     F - front - manage street and apparatus placement and access

     S - sectoring - establish sectors and assign sector supervisors

5.  FDNY utilizes a 10-step plan for all technical rescues:

• Preparation
• Response
• Assessment
• Hazard control
• Support operations
• Gaining access
• Disentanglement
• Packaging
• Removal
• Termination

You can subscribe now and get instant access to the digital edition, and back issues at FDNYpro.org. 

Read other WNYF Takeaway posts --> WNYF - With New York Firefighters (3rd/2015)

     

WNYF - With New York Firefighters

WNYF - With New York Firefighters is the official training publication of the FDNY.  I recently became a subscriber to the quarterly magazine.  I am thoroughly impressed.  The quality, relevance, and applicability of the articles is first-rate.  The magazine is zero advertising, no frills, all training content.  It is the only fire service periodical that I read cover-to-cover.

The magazine features real, fire calls.  Each call is clearly described, and all actions taken on-scene are explained.  The incident articles end with a comprehensive list of lessons learned, and additional resources to consult.

The magazine features a profile of a specific section of the FDNY.  These provide administrative and operational insight that can be applied to your operation.

Recurring columns are Safety First, Learn from History, and Fire Prevention Matters. These address, respectively, functions of the incident safety officer, a historical New York City fire, and a hot topic in Fire Prevention.

At only $25 a year (4 quarterly issues), this is the most efficient cost to benefit expenditure that an individual or department can spend.  

5 Takeaways from WNYF 3rd/2015:

1. The FDNY and the US Army have a training agreement which allows members of both organizations to receive cross training in fire fighting (from FDNY) and leadership (US Army).  What training partnerships can we develop? How can these partnerships be mutually beneficial?
2. 'Taxpayer' definition (from the FDNY Probationary Firefighters Manual) - The term "Taxpayer" is not defined or recognized in the building code. The term originally referred to the practice of real estate investors who, while holding land for speculation, resorted to minimal investment in construction to produce income to offset the cost of taxes. These structures were usually of cheap and flimsy construction with little or no fire retarding features. Supermarkets and one story shopping centers of more recent construction do not fit the above description but contain many of the inherent hazards associated with taxpayers. A taxpayer building is commonly taken to mean a business structure one or two stories in height. Their areas vary from 20' x 50' to areas of whole city blocks, the most common size being approximately 100' x 100'. They can be built on one or more lots with adjoining structures of greater heights on three sides. These buildings are usually single structures commonly sheltering from one to as many as 15 different businesses with weak non-fire resistive partitions and no fire stops in the cocklofts.
3. www.disasterengineer.org - resource for urban search and rescue and shoring operations
4. KO Fire Curtain - tool developed by FDNY firefighters that allows personnel to control the effects of wind on and within a structure. www.kofirecurtain.com
5. Recommended resources for storage battery technology - Pv Magazine, Leveling Solar and Energy Storage: A Nontechnical Guide (book)

Get this resource.  You can subscribe at, www.FDNYFoundation.org.