FIRE ENGINEERING
February 1986
Volume 139 No. 2
DEPARTMENTS
EDITORIAL 6
VOLUNTEERS CORNER 8
Controlling pesticide incidents, Part 1
TRAINING NOTEBOOK 10
Forcing padlocks—an innovation
DISPATCHES 17
UL materials standards/extinguisher certification requirements
Dump tubes facilitate discharging water from pumper to portable tank
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 15
COMPANY NEWS 61
APPARATUS DELIVERIES 62
EQUIPMENT DIGEST 63
CLASSIFIEDS 65
TRAINING AIDS 66
READER SERVICE CARD 67
FEATURES
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
“BUILT LIKE A BRICK OUTHOUSE”—OR IS IT? 19
The old adage that things aren’t what they appear to be can be deathly true for firefighters. Structures that look identical from the exterior may have completely different construction—and fatally different fire problems. BY FRANCIS L. BRANNIGAN
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL PROTECTIVE CLOTHING 28
Many firefighters erroneously equate chemical suits with Superman’s cape. This article explains what chemical protective clothing actually is, the various levels of protection, and how cost need not prevent a department from purchasing adequate protective garments.
BY KENNETH J. YORK and GERALD L. GREY
LET’S LEARN FROM BHOPAL 51
Would you know how and/or be equipped to respond to an incident like the one in Bhopal? What’s more, would you know if such an incident is potentially possible in your response district? Firefighters must be better equipped, trained, and prepared for today’s hazards—and be constantly aware of their neighbors’ welfare. BY HUGH J. CAULFIELD
TRAINING
INTERNATIONAL HAZ-MAT TRAINING 36
The very real possibility of a disaster occurring on the Blue Water Bridge, an international port of entry into the United States and Canada, prompted fire departments to conduct an intensive training drill. With more than 130 placarded trucks crossing this bridge in an eight-hour period, preplanning and awareness on everyone’s part is essential.
BY DEBORAH RIETZLER-WAGNER
EXTINGUISHING AGENTS
FIREFIGHTING FOAMS 44
A research project, sponsored by the American Petroleum Institute (API), intended to evaluate the effectiveness of currently available firefighting foam concentrates in controlling and extinguishing fires involving gasoline blended with polar solvents, is presented here. BY GREG NOLL
