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FIRE SERVICE AND GENERAL FIRE SAFETY TOPICS => Operational => Topic started by: Jonah on January 05, 2007, 07:57:44 AM
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This may seem a bit strange to ask, but can anyone direct me to an official publication, manual, operational note etc. that displays a definitive method for a BA crew to open the door to a compartment that is believed to be involved in a fire. Seems there are various ways and I am trying to nail it down.
Thanks
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There is NO standard door opening procedure. Each FRS has its own way of doing it. You will find that there will be some similarities between FRS but some will be completly different.
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When I was taught it was very much a guideline of what to do and was very much emphasied on communication between the guys in the BA crew and seeing how things developed!!
Having said that there is still a basic procedure to follow!
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Yes to some extent I agree with you Andy but if your FRS has a procedure you should follow it.
Having been involved with teaching BA and visiting FRS from across the country door procedure vary enormously. You would be surprised how different they are
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We had a method of crouching behind the door when opening outwards, and on a door opening inwards we are to use the wall on the handle side as cover. However we have now been told that it doesnt really matter where you stand, if the compartment backdraughts and you are behind the door you will suffer injury from the door. seems like its a case of making it up as you go along, i know id sooner be behind the door if it goes bang.
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Im looking at this issue at the moment in my brigade, i cant believe that there is no agreed 'best method' for entering compartment fires. As watch based BA trainer, i have FFs returning from Training section being told different methods from different instructors, i'm sure they are all safe but we rehearse whatever we can when it comes to our job and a door is a door, wherever it is.
What do you think?
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When I did CFBT, door procedures were part of the course. The instructors taught us to paint the door with a slightly cracked open branch. If the door is hot the water will steam off, plus it gives you an idea of where the neutral plain is. Once thats done, position your self to the safe side of the doorway, one person cracks the door, the other puts a cone of water spray into the fire gases then close the door, then crack door again, put another cone spray into the gases then if the team thinks the compartment looks ok, fully open the door and enter.
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I was always taught to use the side of my boot on the bottom of the door, this would stop an outwards opening door being blown open and stop an inward opening door hitting m. All this whilst my partener would be applying water through the crack.
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I agree with you both, thats pretty much what we teach but with slight variations. So, if its that uniform then why cant it be in black and white like a ladder drill? That way it could be taught safe in the knowledge it is acceptable. This might not be an issue in other brigades but it seems to bug me for some reason. We have SOPs for HFSVs, using the pole drop, working in a kitchen.......... but none for safely entering a door in BA, or moving up or down stairs in BA. Priorities?!