ESCONDIDO FIRE DEPT TRAINING MANUAL Section Truck Module Page 1 of 10 Ventilation Commercial Operations Revised

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1 Truck Module Page 1 of 10 COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS VERTICAL Vertical ventilation for commercial application will involve a minimum of three personnel. There are three positions that shall be filled by ventilation team members. Delegation of these positions is up to the discretion of the company officer. Sounder- Aggressively sounds path of travel. Louvers hole and punches through ceiling. Sawyer- Operates saw and performs CRL Safety- Maintains situational awareness and watches for signs of structural instability. Communicates with interior crews and IC. The 5 Cut Center Rafter Louver is the preferred method and shall be used when construction features allow. Alternate methods for commercial vertical ventilation i.e.: dicing should be utilized when construction features make louvering difficult or impossible. Effective vertical ventilation decreases the likelihood of hostile fire events such as flashover, backdrafts and smoke explosions. It increases survivability of potential victims and aids interior attack crews with locating and extinguishing the fire. A minimum of two ladders shall be raised (as soon as operationally possible) on the structure and ventilation team members shall go on air prior to reaching the area of involvement. The minimum size hole for a commercial roof is 4x8.The hole shall be located as close to the fire as safely possible. Companies cutting a CRL shall notify the interior crews prior to punching through the ceiling. The North Zone performs the 5 Cut Center Rafter Louver in a C your way out fashion. It was designed for speed and safety. When performed correctly the economy of motion minimizes the need for changing your grips on the saw and footing. The first 4 cuts in the 5 Cut CRL should result in the sawyer standing on the non-fireside of a large 4x4 C. In commercial applications against construction two 4X4 holes will need to be performed to accomplish a 4X8 hole. Order of Operations The Safety Officer is the first team member on the roof and will sound out a safe area for the other team members. A hazard assessment shall be performed and a determination of whether or not it is safe to proceed shall be made. The Sawyer is the next team member on the roof and should perform an inspection cut at the discretion of the company officer.

2 Truck Module Page 2 of 10 The Sounder is the next team member on the roof. After the roof construction type and layout has been identified and a plan of action is in place, the sounder will lead the team to the location of the heat hole. Sounders must sound the path of travel aggressively. 3 person team- 1 Saw Operation Sounder (hook), Sawyer, Safety (hook) 4 person team Sounder, Sawyer, Sounder 2/Safety, Sawyer 2 5 person team Sounder, Sawyer, Sounder 2, Sawyer 2, Safety SOUND YOUR PATH OF TRAVEL Sounding on a roof can be very difficult. It can be accomplished with either a rubbish hook or pike pole. The rubbish hook is a better choice due to its wider surface area to feel construction members. A rubbish hook should be used for sounding with the two prongs pointing upward striking the roof as you walk towards the objective. Safe areas to be are the perimeter of the building, purlins, laminated beams, and ridgepole. Safety Message- Do not leave a structural member unless it has been sounded first.

3 Truck Module Page 3 of 10 Diagnostic Cuts It is imperative that the roof construction and layout is identified prior to traversing the roof. Construction characteristics and fire extension will affect your path of travel, hole placement, cutting technique and time on roof. Inspection Hole An inspection cut is made through the roof decking only and at an angle of 45 degrees to any exterior wall. This will allow us to intercept a structural member. Once the saw makes contact with the structural member, roll the member and continue to cut approximately one foot. Finish the inspection hole by cutting two more cuts. With a pike pole or rubbish hook, pull off the decking and evaluate the following factors: type and thickness of the decking, what types of members are showing, and the direction of the rafters. If unable to determine the type of construction move to another location toward the area of operation and cut another inspection hole, while being mindful of your time on the roof. Smoke Indicator Holes Smoke Indicator Holes (SIH) should be placed every 8-10 ft. Sounder indicates placing a SIH by double tapping the roof with the handle side of the sounding tool. Sawyer places 3 quick intersecting cuts just large enough for a D handle to fit through. Safety Officer clears the hole of any insulation that may be tacked to the bottom of the decking and reads smoke conditions in attic.

4 Truck Module Page 4 of 10 Offensive Holes Panelized Roof CRL with Construction- 1 Saw Prior to the first cut the sounder and sawyer will need to swap positions with the sounder now being behind the sawyer. Do not leave a structural member unless the path of travel has been sounded first. Working from a beam, sawyer performs an ID cut to locate the closest purlin (1). While remaining on the beam, sawyer reaches out and begins the head cut from the previously identified purlin (2). Cut is parallel to the rafters and should extend to the next purlin. Next, tie into the head cut and roll one rafter while cutting toward the beam (3). Begin a bottom cut parallel to the beam back toward the purlin that you started at (4). This should result in a large C shaped cut. Last, tie back into your head cut and roll one rafter while cutting toward the beam (5). This will tie all the cuts together resulting in a louverable 4x8 heat hole.

5 Truck Module Page 5 of 10 CRL Against Construction- 1 Saw Prior to the first cut the sounder and sawyer will need to swap positions with the sounder now being behind the sawyer. Do not leave a structural member unles a path of travel has been sounded first. Working from a purlin, sawyer performs an ID cut to locate the closest rafter (1). While remaining on the purlin, sawyer reaches out and begins the head cut (2). Cut should begin at previously identified rafter #1. Sawyer rolls Rafters #2, and stops at rafter #3 (head cut). Next, tie into your head cut and perform your fire side parallel cut (3). This cut is made parallel to the rafter and should be approximately 4ft in length. Perform your bottom cut (4). Cut back toward the starting point rolling the center rafter and stopping at the next resulting in a large C shaped cut. Next tie back into your head cut and perform your non-fireside parallel cut (5). The cut is made parallel to the rafters and ties all the cuts together resulting in a louverable 4x4 heat hole. Reposition toward your egress and repeat the sequence of cuts. Cuts made against construction will result in 2 4x4 louvers rather than 1 4x8 louver.

6 Truck Module Page 6 of 10 2 Saw Offensive Louver Team 1 makes their way out the fireside purlin. Team 2 is positioned one purlin away toward egress. Prior to the first cut the sounder and sawyer will need to swap positions with the sounder now being behind the sawyer. Do not leave a structural member unless the path of travel has been sounded first. Saw 1 performs an ID cut to locate a rafter (1). Saw 1 reaches out and begins a head cut parallel to the previously identified rafter (2). Saw 2 ties into saw 1 head cut and mirrors the operation. Both saws tie into the head cut. Roll 1 rafter and stop at the next (3). It is important both saws stay coordinated to prevent binding. Lastly, saw 1 reaches out and begins a bottom cut (4). Saw 2 ties in and mirrors saw 1..

7 Truck Module Page 7 of 10 Non-Panelized Cut sequences on non-panelized roofs will closely resemble those of panelized roofs. The difference is what you are standing on. Think of non-panelized roofs as a residential roof but not pitched. Rafters may span from load bearing wall to load bearing wall or to a beam. Because there are not purlins in this type of construction, rafters will run perpendicular to beams. CRL With Construction ID a rafter to base your next cut off (1). Cut an 8 ft. head cut parallel to the rafter you identified (2). Next, tie into the head cut, roll one rafter and stop at the next (3). Begin a bottom cut parallel to the rafter back toward the where you started (4). This should result in a large C shaped cut. Last, tie back into your head cut, roll one rafter and stop at the next (5). This will tie all the cuts together resulting in a louverable 4x8 heat hole.

8 Truck Module Page 8 of 10 Center Rafter Louver Against Construction Sawyer performs an ID cut to locate the closest rafter (1). Perform a head cut (2). Cut should begin at previously identified rafter #1. Sawyer rolls Rafter #2, and stops at rafter #3. Next, tie into your head cut and perform your fire side parallel cut (3). This cut is made parallel to the rafter and should be approximately 4 in length. Perform a bottom cut (4). Cut back toward the starting point rolling the center rafter and stopping at the next resulting in a large C shaped cut. Next tie back into your head cut and perform your non-fireside parallel cut (5). The cut is made parallel to the rafters and ties all the cuts together resulting in a louverable 4x4 heat hole. Reposition toward your egress and repeat the sequence of cuts. Cuts made against construction will result in 2 4x4 louvers rather than 1 4x8 louver. DEFENSIVE OPENINGS Defensive holes shall be used when interior crews are not making progress, during an aggressive interior attack. Truck company officers should look for rapid horizontal fire spread and begin to evaluate the roof for a cut-off point such as a fire wall or natural break in the buildings construction. Defensive strips with/and against the construction are examples of defensive openings. They are used to stop horizontal fire spread and are generally three feet wide and as long as the width of the roof. Prior to the strip cut, an offensive hole should be placed. This will slow the lateral spread of fire and buy time needed for the defensive strip. A fire that has vented itself will be a big enough opening to be used as an offensive opening. Placement of smoke indicator holes between the heat hole and the location of the strip cut is useful for monitoring fire progression. Strip cuts are a two saw minimum operation due to work load and time required. Louvers should not be opened up until the entire strip is near completion to prevent prematurely drawing fire.

9 Truck Module Page 9 of 10 STRIP WITH THE CONSTRUCTION Panelized Two Saws Strip with Construction A strip cut with construction will result in a series of large louvers across the roof line. Saw #1 will begin the operation at an exterior wall and perform a head cut parallel to the rafter. The cut should extend from one purlin to the next. Next, tie into the head cut, roll one rafter and stop at the next. The cut at this point should resemble the shape of an "L". Continue this process across the entire width of the roof. Saw #2 will perform the other half of the "L". Begin by tying into the head cut, roll 1 rafter and stop at the next. Next, perform a bottom cut parallel to the rafter. The cut should extend from one purlin to the next completing the 4x8 louver. Continue this process the entire width of the roof. It is important to note that not all flat commercial roofs are panelized and may not have purlins. If performing a strip cut with construction on such a roof, Saw #1 should perform the head cut. Saw #2 should perform the bottom cut and dice the louver every 8'. Strip Cut Against Construction A strip cut against construction will result in a series of small louvers across the roof line. Saw #1 will begin the operation at an exterior wall and perform a head cut rolling one rafter and stopping at the next. Next, tie into your head cut and perform a parallel cut. The cut at this point should resemble the shape of an "L". Continue the process across the entire width of the roof.

10 Truck Module Page 10 of 10 Saw #2 will perform the second half of the "L". Begin by tying into the head cut and performing the other parallel cut. Next, perform a bottom cut rolling one rafter and stopping at the next. The cut will result in a 4x4 louver. Continue the process the entire width of the roof.