BY FRANCIS L. BRANNIGAN,SFPE (FELLOW)
Editor’s note: For further reference, consult Building Construction for the Fire Service, Third Edition (BCFS3). Page numbers, where applicable, are included after the caption.
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This Roy Rogers building is being converted to a McDonald’s. Plywood will be nailed on a slope on these trusses. Working with ground ladders to open tough plywood can be dangerous. Use the safe platform of the tower ladder to open the wall. This gives the tower ladder stream access to the entire void.
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These gas lines in a garden apartment basement are poorly attached to the structure. A fire caused the line supports to fail. Fortunately, the firefighters were on the escape side of the pipes, which dropped to the floor and ruptured, releasing gas to intensify the fire. (BCFS3, 222-223)
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In earlier high-rise construction, concrete block curtain walls were erected on concrete floors, creating a good firestop. Today, preassembled units are attached to the building with firestopping of varying degrees of quality. Expect fire extension along the exterior wall of any modern high-rise, and you may be pleasantly surprised. If fire extension is occurring, use an old firefighter trick: Flood the floor. Do not worry about water damage; you are simply improvising what sprinklers would do. (BCFS3, 491 and index on page 355 for references for firestopping)
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An attractive wood-plank ceiling is subject to rapid flame spread over the entire surface. Plan for a heavy-caliber stream with open-bore tip to sweep the surface. Be sure the stream reaches the high ceiling. Flames will eat up a fog stream; little water will reach the surface. (BCFS3, 101)
FRANCIS L. BRANNIGAN, SFPE (Fellow), the recipient of Fire Engin-eering’s first Lifetime Achievement Award, has devoted more than half of his 59-year career to the safety of firefighters in building fires. He is well known as the author of Building Construction for the Fire Service, Third Edition (National Fire Protection Association, 1992), and for his lectures and videotapes. Bran-nigan is an editorial advisory board member of Fire Engineering.
