Engine Essentials: The Adjacent Apartment Alternative

Many jurisdictions are experiencing a growth in construction of large apartment complexes. These buildings present unique challenges to responding engine companies. Long hose stretches and advancements from remote stairwells can deplete air supplies rapidly if the fire floor hallway is contaminated with smoke. Responding companies must not only have the ability to stretch hoselines long distances into these buildings but also must consider alternatives that are more efficient and effective for rapidly getting water on the fire.

The building problem

Apartment buildings can be massive. They often span an entire city block, which can make hose stretches an arduous task.

The height of the buildings might not meet the definition of a high-rise as defined by NFPA 1: Fire Code and NFPA 101: Life Safety Code—“buildings where the floor of an occupiable story is greater than 75 feet above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access.” In such non-high-rise cases, the installation of a standpipe isn’t required. That said, new construction often is subject to more strict standpipe installation requirements. NFPA 1 requires standpipes in new buildings that meet the criteria of “more than three stories above grade where the building is protected by an approved automatic sprinkler system” or “more than two stories above grade where the building is not protected by an approved automatic sprinkler system.”

Regardless of whether a building is standpipe-equipped, companies can expect lengthy hose stretches.

Long stretches can be challenging for any company, particularly ones that have minimal staffing. The task becomes even more taxing when the incident requires the hoseline to be charged in the stairwell and advanced down the hallway to the fire apartment. A heavily smoke-charged hallway usually is an indication that the apartment door was left, or became stuck, in the open position. Instances in which the building lacks fire doors in the hallway or in which the fire doors were chocked open can make ascertaining the fire apartment and selecting the proper stairwell from which to stretch difficult. Even when the proper stairwell is selected, charged hoseline advances can exceed 200 feet from the stairwell or standpipe by building code or fire protection standards.

The fire protection systems that are in these buildings often are engineered around the International Building Code (IBC), the International Fire Code (IFC) and/or NFPA standards, depending on the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ). It’s important to understand the difference between a code and a standard as well as to understand what your particular AHJ requires.

A code often is described as a set of recommended rules that are developed by a knowledgeable body. In itself, a code isn’t law, but it can be adopted as law. For example, many municipalities adopt the IBC and/or IFC in its/their entirety as law, making compliance with the code legally enforceable.

A standard, as described by NFPA, is “a detailed elaboration” or “the nuts and bolts of meeting the code.” A standard isn’t enforceable as law. As a note, many consider NFPA solely as standards; however, some municipalities adopt NFPA 1 and NFPA 101 model codes as law.

Although there are differences between codes and standards, the IBC and NFPA 14: Standard for the Installation of Standpipe and Hose Systems mostly agree on the distances to standpipes. IBC Section 905.4(6) states, “Where the most remote portion of a nonsprinklered floor or story is more than 150 feet from a hose connection or the most remote portion of a sprinklered floor or story is more than 200 feet from a hose connection, the fire code official is authorized to require that additional hose connections be provided in approved locations.” NFPA 14 Section 7.3.2.2.1.1 states that the travel distance “shall be 200 feet for sprinklered buildings” and Section 7.3.2.2.1.2 states that the travel distance “shall be 130 feet for nonsprinklered buildings.”

Although the IBC and NFPA vary 20 feet on nonsprinklered buildings, they agree on a 200-foot distance for sprinklered buildings. In addition, if the distance to the hose connection is greater than that which is listed in 905.4(6), the IBC authorizes the AHJ to require “additional hose connections … in approved locations.” Assuming that responding companies will use the standpipe system, the problem becomes that these “approved locations” might not subscribe to commonly accepted best practices of making the standpipe connection on the floor below. This can result in standpipe outlets being in elevator lobbies that don’t have stairwells that are nearby to them or in seemingly random cabinets in hallways. Standpipe outlets in these locations shouldn’t be used, because they don’t lead members to the relative safety of a stairwell or an area of refuge.

Use of the adjacent unit

Companies must develop alternative tactics for large apartment buildings (which can be employed at smaller buildings if desired). One of the most efficient ways to get water on the fire is by stretching through an adjacent apartment. This tactic affords the ability to get a hoseline stretched and in operation quickly as well as provides a means of rapid egress for department members or victims.

To utilize this tactic, a thorough size-up of the structure should be performed. If possible, have a company proceed to the interior of the structure to conduct reconnaissance on the fire floor. If the crew reports heavy smoke conditions in the hallway with an unknown fire apartment, the incident is an ideal candidate for this tactic—unless it’s on an upper floor at a high-rise building. From the exterior of the structure, conduct a 360-degree walkaround, looking for smoke conditions that emanate from a particular apartment.

When the fire apartment is located, an adjacent apartment on either side of the fire apartment should be selected for entry. If possible, the adjacent apartment on the upwind side should be utilized, to minimize smoke travel. If it’s difficult to determine the apartment that’s immediately adjacent to the fire apartment, select the next clearly defined apartment, to avoid directly entering the fire apartment.

Once the adjacent apartment is selected, if necessary, ladder a window or balcony. If a ladder is placed, it should remain in position for the remainder of the incident to provide an immediate means of egress for operating members. It’s desirable to use ground ladders for this operation, to reserve aerials for victim rescues or other tasks on the fireground. A member should proceed up the ladder, break the window and fully clear the opening of glass as well as of the sash. It’s critical to meticulously clear all glass shards from the lower portion of the window frame, because the hoseline will come into contact with this area.

Members should enter the adjacent apartment through the window and proceed directly to the door to the common hallway to ensure that it’s closed. The IBC and NFPA 80: Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives require that the door that leads to the corridor be fire-rated for at least 20 minutes. Although this amount of time is less than the 90-minute fire rating for stairwell doors, it still affords members a degree of protection while they are stretching and charging the hoseline.

Once members ensure that the door is shut, they should perform a thorough primary search of the entire adjacent apartment to ensure that any occupants won’t be exposed to smoke conditions once the door is opened. This search should take little time to complete with no smoke condition in the apartment. If any occupants are located, assist them down the ladder that’s in place at the window or balcony.

Members should bring the preferred hoseline up through the window of the adjacent apartment to ensure that there’s enough working line to make it to and to cover the entire fire apartment. This can be accomplished easily by carrying up a bundle or hoisting up the appropriate amount of hose. Flake out the working line in the adjacent apartment in such a fashion that it’s perpendicular to the hallway door for easy advancement. Once the hoseline is flaked out, tie off the hoseline to a tool spanning the corner of the window, thus ensuring that the hoseline will stay in place when charged. Avoid tying the hoseline to the ladder in case the ladder must be repositioned in an emergency. After the hoseline is secured, charge and bleed the line in the apartment.

Members should don all appropriate PPE and prepare to enter the immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH) environment in the hallway. As soon as all members are ready, open the door and proceed with the charged hoseline down the hallway to the fire apartment. Members should advance into the fire apartment and direct the stream as appropriate for extinguishment.

As always, members on the hoseline should be alert for victims who might have been overcome by smoke. It’s extremely common to find victims at or just inside of the doorway to the fire apartment. Often, victims can be the cause of the smoke condition in the hallway as they block the apartment doors from closing.

If a victim is located, bring that individual back to the adjacent apartment and down the ladder. If victim removal will delay extinguishment, members should close the door to the fire apartment in an attempt to confine the fire.

Thoroughness

It’s important to reach out to code enforcement officials to learn the applicable codes and standards that were adopted by the AHJ. A thorough understanding of these requirements will greatly aid in preplanning and developing alternative fire attack tactics. As always, it’s vital that engine companies get out in their district and carefully vet these tactics in training prior to implementation on the fireground.