Most communities have at least one, if not many, high-rise structures, defined by the NFPA as “buildings greater than 75 feet in height where the building height is measured from the lowest level of fire department vehicle access to the floor of the highest occupiable story.” As such, it is vital for firefighters and fire officers to be familiar with the tools necessary to tackle the challenges presented by high-rise fires.
The central tool: the high-rise standpipe kit. While most jurisdictions have added specific tools to these kits for the structures in their jurisdictions, there are key components of any standpipe kit, its “bones,” which we’ll review here. But first, some background.
NFPA standards outline press requirements
NFPA 1710: Standard for the Organization and Deployment of Fire Suppression Operations, Emergency Medical Operations, and Special Operations to the Public by Career Fire Departments provides minimum requirements for the gpm and hose needed in various occupancies. For apartment, single-family, commercial structure and high-rise buildings, the NFPA prescribes the following minimum guideline: High-Rise – Uninterrupted 500 gpm from two hoselines and establish a third on the floor above flowing a minimum of 250 gpm.
The high-rise standpipe kit should facilitate this.
NFPA 14: Standard for the Installation of Standpipes and Hose Systems details standpipe riser design: “The first standpipe riser must flow 500 gpm from the two most remote hose connections on that riser. Each additional riser must flow an additional 250 gpm.” This corresponds to the NFPA 1710 requirement for both apartments and high-rise fire operations.
Additionally, NFPA 14 provides the pressure requirements for firefighters operating fire streams: 100 psi minimum and 175 psi maximum. There are several other considerations, including buildings built under the pre-1993 edition of NFPA 14, which requires 65 psi minimum, not to exceed 100 psi.
These numbers become critical in setting up your high-rise standpipe kit to match your community’s needs.
Your organization’s maximum pumping capability is also a key consideration, as is understanding your organization’s capabilities and limitations. Your department’s selection of equipment must be appropriately curated to correctly address the efficient performance for the design pressures found in the high-rises in your area while ensuring the ability to meet the flow requirements found in NFPA 1710.
What does this all translate to for our firefighters and fire officers? In short, it means we need the right equipment for the right job.
When it comes to high-rise operations, half the battle is successfully making it to the fire floor(s) and setting up for a successful operation. With the knowledge of what equipment is needed and an understanding of the fire-flow necessary to affect successful outcomes, we can begin to assemble our kits.
Tools necessary for successful high-rise operation
What’s the first part of a standpipe kit you’ll see? The bag. This happens to be the last item we will need in the actual operation, so assemble the contents before selecting a bag. Firefighters are notorious for filling a 5-pound bag with 10 pounds of tools. The bag should be heavy-duty, well-constructed and able to be accessed with gloved hands. Bright colors and reflective tape patterns assist with locating the bag in low-light and low-visibility environments.
Working from the standpipe out, our kit should include a single-gated valve assembly. This ensures firefighters can directly control the pressure entering the fire-flow equation. Additionally, it allows the line to be easily and completely shut down. You’re going to hear this a lot: Depending on the age of the system, the valves and valve wheels may be difficult to operate. A single-gated valve assembly addresses this.
The second item in our kit should be either a digital or (my favorite) analog pressure gauge. This could very well be considered the heart of the standpipe kit and operation. Being able to correctly deliver the required/needed operating pressure to firefighting lines is critical to effective operations. In many cases, without using a pressure gauge, there may be the perception that you are producing an effective stream. However, without accurately measuring the pressure being delivered, you are merely guessing. This is a critical piece of information. As noted above, the NFPA outlines specific numbers related to effective fire flow. A pressure gauge ensures accurate accounting of this. Many add a 45-degree elbow with a drain to the pressure gauge. This all but eliminates the potential for kinks in the hoseline.
Even the best preplanned occupancies can present challenges to effectively making a standpipe connection. Removing as many of these potential pitfalls is one of the main purposes of this kit. Many times, these standpipes are broken or victim of vandalization. Plan accordingly. We should add 1¾ and 2½ caps (Class 2 outlets as defined by NFPA 14). Observe every floor on your way to the floor below and fire floor, and ensure outlets are capped. In addition, a replacement valve wheel should be in your kit, for the same reasons.
Pressure-regulating devices/valves (PRD or PRV) as defined in NFPA 14, “are designed to reduce, regulate, control, or restrict water pressure to limit standpipe system outlet pressure so that firefighters can safely and effectively operate handlines for manual firefighting.” Firefighters must be able to address these PRDs with the correct tools. There are several styles of PVD, including ZURN, Giacomini and Elkhart Brass’ URFA, so having multiple tools to address them is paramount. Some adjustment tools to include: a set of torque keys (with anti-tamper heads) and 12-inch adjustment rod, an 18-20-inch pipe wrench, and a deep head socket wrench with 11/16 socket.
Wedges and door straps take minimal space and are important for securing doors open to allow hoselines to move unobstructed through doorways. While wedges keep doors open, the door straps (commercially available or homemade) are designed to keep doors with locking mechanisms from latching closed. Door straps allow the door to be closed, but not locked. This simple step can address issues with flow-path and regulating fire floor access.
A matched set of spanner wrenches should be included as well. The spanners are used to open stubbornly corroded or seized caps and valves.
One of the most impressive innovations in the past decade has been lightweight portable monitors, like the Elkhart Brass RAM XD, TFT Blitzfire, Akron Brass Quick Attack and others. These devices can deliver 500 gpm at 80 psi. Whether they are used for defensive operations, fire attack or protecting routes of egress, they can provide an incredible volume of water. They are movable, unlike their heavy, clunky predecessors.
Another addition to our kit should be a small combination nozzle for salvage and overhaul operations. Considering the volume of water that may be flowing from a fire suppression system or our firefighting operations, the last thing we want to do is continue dumping more gpms onto the fire floor and void spaces. Aside from the residual damage, this is also increasing the potential for collapse. The small combination nozzle helps significantly with this.
Depending on your organization’s desired hose configuration, you may be using multiple 1¾ or 2½ hoselines. Have the correct hose appliances and hardware in your kit. This may include an additional 2½ smoothbore nozzle with 1⅛ tip and shut-off butt. A 2½ to 1¾ gated wye assembly is a worthy consideration for extending and splitting lines without compromising fire flow.
Those organizations that respond to and operate at high-rise and standpipe operations should be equipped with 2½ inch handlines and smoothbore nozzles. This is the most appropriate selection of equipment for operations in buildings that use PRDs, especially PRVs that cannot be adjusted by firefighters.
NFPA 14 indicates that fire departments use the 2½-inch hose with an 11/8-inch smoothbore nozzle for standpipe operations. For those organizations only using 1¾-inch hose and combination nozzles, specifically the automatic type, it’s important to take proactive steps to change their operational policy regarding standpipe operations. It may be costly, but the life and safety of firefighters and civilians are on the line.
Prep your kit and your team
High-rise operations are an infrequent occurrence; however, the potential for loss of life and property should place these target hazards at or near the top of our list of priorities. Have a plan, rehearse it. Know your equipment, its abilities, and weaknesses. Know your first due. Your community and crews that are sent into harm’s way are depending on you, whether you’re a firefighter or the fire chief. There are no do-overs when the tones drop.
Editor’s note: What other tools are in your high-rise standpipe kit? Share in the comments below.
