BUILDING MARKING SYSTEM

BY BOB PRESSLER, FIREFIGHTER, CITY OF NEW YORK (NY) FIRE DEPARTMENT

The article “Vacant Building Fires” (Fire Focus, January 1996) explained the vacant building marking system used by the City of New York (NY) Fire Department.

The Technical Services Division of the Indianapolis (IN) Fire Department has developed a different method of identifying vacant buildings and their hazards. A white, approximately nine-inch square placard with red lettering is used to show one of four classes of hazards:

A number 1 on the placard indicates that the building is too hazardous to mount an offensive interior attack and that imminent danger exists within.

A number 2 indicates some structural problems, and entry into the building should only be made if a person(s) is trapped within.

A number 3 indicates a building with minimal damage (at the time of inspection), and entry for interior operations should be dependent on fire conditions.

A number 4 indicates a building with no damage or known hazards at the time of inspection.

Placards usually are posted at the front of the building, at an area where entry can be expected to be made. If needed, more than one placard can be used (in another part of the building, for example).

An advantage of this system is that the placards are easily installed, with just a hammer and nails. The four-number rating system also gives the IC some leeway in his firefighting strategies. One disadvantage is that the signs, unlike the warning painted on the building used by FDNY, can be removed by vandals; also, their smaller size makes them easily obscured by smoke conditions.

As with all marking systems, the hazards identified were those present at inspection. Weather, later fires, and vandals can cause additional damage and render such markings obsolete. Districts with a vacant building problem should include vacant building inspections as part of their in-service inspections. n