High-Rise Office Buildings

Chapter 15

Objectives

• Define high-rise office buildings• Describe various construction methods• Describe hazards associated with these

structures

Objectives (continued)

• Describe the building systems present in high-rise buildings that can be of use to firefighters

• Describe the strategic goals and tactical objectives related to high-rise building fires

Case Study

• One New York Plaza• New York City• Fifty-story high-rise office tower

– Fire on thirty-third floor• Several deaths• Two floors severely burned• Local law 5 in New York City

Special Note

• September 11, 2001• Claimed lives of 343 firefighters• Questioning tactics of command post in

lobby– Necessary to control elevators, HVAC, and

communications systems

Introduction

• High-rise building– Highest floor beyond reach of available

ground or aerial ladders• Heavy emphasis on utilizing building

systems and resources• Full commitment of resources• Most challenging fires

Construction

• Good size-up required to determine construction features

• Older buildings– Steel enclosed in concrete walls– Concrete floors– Windows can be opened from inside– Lack of central air conditioning or plenums– Compartmentalization

Older High Rise Construction

Figure 15-2. An example of older high-rise construction.

Construction (continued)

• Newer buildings– Steel-and-glass– Central HVAC systems– Plenums– Large, uncompartmented spaces– Central (or center) core construction– Windows fixed and inoperable

Central Core Floor Plan

Figure 15-4 An example of a central core floor plan.

Building Systems

• Standpipes• Sprinklers• Heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning

systems• Elevators

• Fire command station• Communications systems• Fire pumps

Hazards Encountered

• Sheer size of building• Number of building occupants• Building features

Strategic Goals and Tactical Objectives

• Seek out fire safety director, building maintenance person, or building manager

• Establish lobby command post• Verify fire floor• Use separate stair for evacuation• Establish forward staging area

Firefighter Safety• Elevator use

– May be necessary– Firefighter service features

• Communication systems– Interior building systems– Radios

• Firefighter fatigue• Accountability

Communication Systems

Figure 15-7. A communications hook-up in a building’s stairwell at the standpipe.

Search and Rescue

• Assign sector officer– Evacuate two floors above fire through rest of

height of building• Floor-by-floor search of building

– Bring extra SCBA bottles– Start on fire floor

• Elevator should not be left unattended

Search and Rescue (continued)

Figure 15-10. Firefighters searching floors above the fire without hose lines should use a rope for safety purposes.

Evacuation

• Initial evacuation – Fire floor and floor above

• Evacuation stairwell– Secured – Free from smoke

Exposure Protection

• Internal– Protect unburned areas from extension– Watch for autoextension

• External– Difficult due to elevation– Advance hoseline into exposed building and

operating them onto fire building

Confinement

• Performed by effective, timely extinguishment

• Accomplished by– Advancing interior hose lines to fire area – Attacking from unburned side

• Know paths of fire extension

Extinguishment• First engine

– Initiate fire attack– Supply both standpipe and sprinkler systems

• Second engine– Relieve first engine on handline

• Third and fourth engine– Operate second handline

• Defensive attack

Ventilation

• Extremely important• Stack effect and stratification

Figure 15-12. Anexample ofstratification.

Figure 15-13. Anexample of stackeffect.

Overhaul

• Labor-intensive• Preincident plan important• False ceilings

Salvage

• Commercial office buildings• Residential buildings• Redirection of water from upper floors

– Use of water chutes, salvage covers

Summary

• Sector officers – Responsible for own distinct parts of

operation• Use and knowledge of building systems• Understand theories behind smoke

movement• More than sufficient help needed