Ventilation Tools and Their Safe Operation
Course
Firefighter I
Unit X
Ventilation
Essential
Question
Why is it
important to
understand tool
selection and
tool safety when
conducting
ventilation at a
fire scene? How
important is
successful
ventilation to the
overall task of
fighting a fire?
TEKS
§130.299(c)
(17)(C)(18)(E)
Prior Student
Learning
The purposes
and maintenance
of various
firefighting tools;
NPFA 1500
(Firefighter
Health and
Safety) and
situational
awareness
related to safety
Estimated Time
5 hours
Rationale
Ventilation, by definition is a systematic removal of heated air, smoke, and fire
gases from a burning building and replacing them with cooler air (IFSTA).
When ventilation is done correctly it slows fire spreading; facilitates rescue;
reduces property damage, danger to firefighters, and building occupants; and
reduces the chance of flashover and backdraft. Ventilation is one of the most
crucial tactics utilized in successful firefighting operations. To effectively
ventilate, firefighters need to be familiar with the firefighter tools used to
ventilate and how to use them safely.
Objectives
The student will be able to:
1. Safely demonstrate the tools used for ventilation
2. Describe the procedures for safe operation of those tools at emergency
scenes
Engage
Use the following questions and topics for a class discussion about firefighter
safety in tool operation and effective use. The Discussion Rubric may be used
for assessment.
 What tools are used for ventilation?
 What are some specific examples of a tool’s use?
 Can tools be used for all types of ventilation or only for specific uses?
 What are the safe uses for each?
 What are the bad habits that firefighters might use if they become
complacent or too familiar with a tool’s use?
Key Points
I. Firefighting Tools Commonly Used For Ventilation Purposes
A. Turnout gear (protective clothing) – clothing firefighters must wear to
protect themselves while fighting fires (including ventilation), during
rescue operations, and on emergency medical calls
B. Cutting tools
1. Axes
a. Pick-head axe – 6- or 8-pound head, is a very versatile tool,
and is often used to open up roofs to create ventilation
openings. It can also be used to break windows for
ventilation
b. Flat-head axe – 6- or 8-pound head, can also be used to
open up roofs and create ventilation openings, but is not as
versatile as a pick-head axe
2. Power saws
a. Chain saws – commonly used during ventilation operations.
When equipped with a carbide tip they can rapidly cut
through many different types of roofing materials
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C.
D.
E.
F.
b. Rotary saws – have many uses, but if the blade is changed
to cut wood they are effective in ventilation operations
Pushing/pulling tools
1. Pike poles – used for pushing or pulling down ceilings in
ventilation operations to provide a path for smoke, heat, and fire
gases to exit the building through established ventilation
openings
2. Roofman’s Hooks – used to sound roofs and can be used to pry
roof shingles if necessary
Portable Fans
1. Blowers – used in positive pressure ventilation (PPV) where
firefighters create positive pressure within the structure. This
pressure is slightly higher than the outside atmospheric
pressure, and smoke, heat, and fire gases are forced through the
ventilation opening by mechanically blowing air into and through
the structure
2. Smoke ejectors – used in negative pressure ventilation (NPV) by
drawing smoke, heat, and gases to established ventilation
openings in the exterior of the structure
Nozzles
1. Combination nozzles – used in the wide fog pattern for hydraulic
ventilation. The nozzle is operated at 100 psi. The air movement
created from the fog stream helps push the smoke, heat, and fire
gases from the building. The fog stream is inside the structure
and placed so that 85 to 95 percent of the window or door
opening to the outside is covered by a wide fog pattern
2. Fog nozzles – used in a wide fog pattern in hydraulic ventilation
as well. The nozzle pressure is also set at 100 psi. The air
movement created from the fog stream helps push the smoke,
heat, and fire gases from the building. The fog stream is inside
the structure and placed so that 85 to 95 percent of the window
or door opening to the outside is covered by a wide fog pattern
Attack lines – to be in position before ventilation operations are begin
II. Tool Safety
A. Cutting tools
1. Make sure you have the correct tool for the job
2. Wear your personal protective equipment (PPE) while doing the
job. Gloves, eye protection, and hearing protection should all be
used
3. Maintain situation awareness
4. Keep unauthorized people out of the work area
B. Pushing and pulling tools
1. When pushing or pulling ceilings with a pike pole, be aware of
falling ceiling and roofing material
2. Do not use prying tools as pulling tools or pulling tools as prying
tools. Use tools for what they are intended
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3. Maintain tool handles to avoid splinters and other damage
C. Power saws
1. Make sure you have the correct tool for the job. Match the saw
and/or saw blade to the material you need to cut
2. Wear your PPE while doing the job. Gloves, eye protection, and
hearing protection should all be used
3. Inspect the saw before and after each use
4. Do not use a power saw if you are working in a flammable
atmosphere or near flammable liquids or gases
5. Keep unauthorized people out of the work area
6. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for saw operation
7. Keep the blades and/or chains well sharpened. Dull saws are
more likely to cause accidents and injuries
8. Start all cuts with the power saw at full throttle
D. Portable fans
1. Take advantage of prevailing wind conditions
2. When doing PPV, make sure that the cone of air covers the
entire entry opening
3. If using electrical cords and generators, make sure that they
don’t create a tripping hazard
4. When doing PPV, it will not be necessary to enter the building to
set it up
5. Make sure you are schooled in methods of creating ventilation
openings in all roof types. Flat and pitched roofs may have a
variety of different coverings
6. Be aware of backdraft situations
7. Avoid “churning” air when creating ventilation. Churning is the
recirculation of gases being drawn back into a room or structure
because the exit opening around the smoke ejector has not been
sealed
E. Fog nozzles
1. Maintain all nozzles according to the manufacturer’s
specifications
2. Check gaskets for damage and replace them if necessary
3. Check for external damage to the nozzle.
4. Check for internal damage to the nozzle and any debris inside
the nozzle. Clean according to the manufacturer’s specifications
F. Attack lines
1. Hoses should be washed, dried, and replaced according to the
department standard operating procedures (SOPs) and the
manufacturer’s specifications
2. Inspect hoses for damage and wear in accordance with the
department SOPs and the manufacturer’s specifications
3. Test hoses in accordance with the department SOPs and the
manufacturer’s specifications
III. Scene Safety/Life Safety Hazards Associated with Ventilation
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A. The first consideration is always life safety – both the lives of the
firefighters and the building occupants. Ask these questions:
1. Are the occupants awake or asleep?
2. Have the occupants become overcome by smoke and carbon
monoxide poisoning?
3. Are the building occupants alive or dead?
4. Are the building occupants lost, or have they found a safe area
of refuge within the building?
B. Timely ventilation can help mitigate most of the circumstances above.
Ask these questions:
1. Do you start ventilation before search and rescue operations?
2. Does the fire need to be attacked before beginning ventilation?
C. There are hazards that exist for firefighters. Ask these questions:
1. What type of structure is involved?
2. How old is the structure?
3. How and where will ventilation be facilitated?
4. Are there natural openings that could be used, or are you going
to have to create openings in the structure?
5. Hazards associated with the accumulation of heat, smoke, and
other fire gases include
a. Visual impairment
b. Toxic/flammable gases
c. Oxygen deficient atmospheres
d. Potential for backdraft
e. Potential for flashover
Activities
1. Have students complete some assigned reading from the text about
ventilation tools and tool safety. After reading the assignment, have
students describe the safe operations of at least 10 tools used at
emergency scenes. Use the Writing Rubric for assessment.
2. Have each student present a lesson demonstrating two tools used for
ventilation. Using computer-based presentation software is optional. The
lesson should include involving the other students in the safe use of each
tool. Use the Presentation Rubric for assessment.
3. Print the pages of the Tool Identification Activity computer-based
presentation and pass them out to students. There are 15 tools to identify
and a space next to each to write factual information. Students should be
allowed to use their textbook, the Internet, and personal resources to find
the information they need.
Assessments
Ventilation Tools Quiz and Key
Discussion Rubric
Presentation Rubric
4
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Writing Rubric
Materials
Ventilation Tools computer-based presentation
Tool Identification Activity computer-based presentation
Power tools: rotary saw and chain saw
Computer-based presentation software optional
Resources
0135151112, Essentials of Firefighting (5th Edition), International Fire Service
Training Association (IFSTA).
Accommodations for Learning Differences
For reinforcement, students will participate in peer teaching (mentoring) and
team learning, guided research and note taking (web-based), and keeping
journals (keywords and definitions).
For enrichment, students will participate in situational awareness exercises,
classroom discussions, and training exercises.
Note: instruction can be differentiated by use of oral exam, skill
demonstration, or written testing. When a student has met the minimum
standard to be considered competent in the didactic phase of instruction as
well as the tactile learning phase, it should be recorded.
State Education Standards
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Career and Technical Education
§130.299. Firefighter I (One to Two Credits).
(17) The student describes the handling of different types of
accidents and hazards. The student is expected to:
(C)
safely demonstrate ten types of tools used for forcible
entry, rescue, and ventilation;
(18) The student identifies safety procedures for ensuring a safe
environment. The student is expected to:
(E)
describe procedures for safe operation at emergency
scenes.
College and Career Readiness Standards
English/Language Arts Standards
II. Reading
B. Understand new vocabulary and concepts and use them accurately in
reading, speaking, and writing.
1. Identify new words and concepts acquired through study of their
relationships to other words and concepts.
3. Use reference guides to confirm the meanings of new words or
concepts.
5
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Name________________________________ Date__________________________
Ventilation Tools Quiz
1. _____ Axes used for ventilation have ____ to ____ pound heads.
a. 5-, 6b. 6-, 7c. 5-, 7d. 6-, 82. _____ Chain saws are commonly used during ventilation operations. When equipped
with a _____ they can cut rapidly through many different types of roofing materials.
a. Roof cutter
b. Carbide tip
c. All purpose tip
d. All of the above
3. _____Which of the following are used to sound roofs and can be used to pry roof
shingles if necessary?
a. Pike poles
b. Roofman’s Hooks
c. Halligan bars
d. None of the above
4. _____ Which of the following are used during positive pressure ventilation (PPV) where
firefighters create positive pressure within the structure?
a. Smoke ejectors
b. Circulating fans
c. Blowers
d. All of the above
5. _____ Which of the following are used during negative pressure ventilation (NPV) by
drawing smoke heat and gases to established ventilation openings in the exterior
of the structure?
a. Smoke ejectors
b. Circulating fans
c. Blowers
d. All of the above
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6. _____ Combination nozzles used for hydraulic ventilation are operated at __ psi.
a. 50
b. 80
c. 90
d. 100
7. _____ Fog nozzles used for hydraulic ventilation should be set for a ______fog.
a. Narrow angle
b. Straight stream
c. Wide angle
d. Solid stream
8. _____ Fog streams used inside a structure for hydraulic ventilation purposes should be
placed so that _____ percent of the window or door opening to the outside is
covered by a wide fog pattern.
a. 50 – 60
b. 50 – 75
c. 85 – 95
d. 95 – 100
9. _____ Attack lines should be
a. In position before ventilation operations are to begin
b. Placed at all entrances and entrances during ventilation operations
c. Able to flow 175 gpm or greater
d. All of the above
10. _____ When using power saws
a. Make sure you have the correct tool for the job
b. Match the saw and/or saw blade to the material needing to be cut
c. Wear your personal protective equipment (PPE) while doing the job. Gloves,
eye protection, and hearing protection should all be used
d. All of the above
7
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Ventilation Tools Quiz Key
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
D
B
B
C
A
D
C
C
A
D
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Tool Identification Activity Key
Slide 2: Flat Head Axe – 6- or 8-pound head, can also be used to open up roofs and create
ventilation openings but is not as versatile as a pick-head axe
Slide 3: Pick head axe – 6- or 8-pound head, a very versatile tool, often used in ventilation to
open up roofs to create ventilation openings. The pick of the axe can also be used to
break windows for ventilation
Slide 4: Chain saw – commonly used during ventilation operations. When equipped with a
carbide tip it can cut rapidly through many different types of roofing materials
Slide 5: Rotary saw – has many uses, but if the blade is changed to cut wood, it is effective in
ventilation operations
Slide 6: Hydraulic spreader – the first powered hydraulic tool made available to the fire service.
Comes with chains and adaptors, and is capable of pushing and pulling. Tips of the
tool may spread as far as 32 inches apart
Slide 7: Fire hose – can be used to make attack lines that can be in position before ventilation
operations are begin. Comes in 50- and 100-foot sections
Slide 8: Fire hydrant – used to supply water to emergency units. Can be dry-barrel hydrants or
wet-barrel hydrants. Water from the hydrants can be used in conjunction with nozzles
for hydraulic ventilation
Slide 9: Turnout gear (protective clothing) – clothing firefighters must wear to protect
themselves while fighting fires (including ventilation), during rescue operations, and on
emergency medical calls
Slide 10: Engine company – used to lay hoselines for offensive and defensive fire attacks
Slide 11: Ladder company – used in forcible entry, search and rescue, ventilation, salvage and
overhaul, and for access to multi-floor structures
Slide 12: Pump panel – used by the apparatus operator to provide water at the proper pressure
to the fire ground. Located on as apparatus with a pump, and capable of delivering a
water supply
Slide 13: Pike pole – used for pushing or pulling down ceilings in ventilation operations to
provide a path for smoke, heat, and fire gases to exit the building through established
ventilation openings
Slide 14: Fire extinguisher – used to fight incipient fires. Depending on the type of extinguisher,
it can be used to extinguish small class A, B, or C fires
Slide 15: Fire stream – stream of water used to extinguish a fire after it leaves the fire hose and
the nozzle and reaches the fire. Water extinguishes fire by cooling the fuel
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Name_______________________________________
Date_______________________________
Discussion Rubric
Objectives
4 pts.
Excellent
3 pts.
Good
2 pts. Needs Some
Improvement
1 pt. Needs Much
Improvement
N/A
Pts.
Participates in group discussion
Encourages others to join the
conversation
Keeps the discussion progressing
to achieve goals
Shares thoughts actively while
offering helpful recommendations to
others
Gives credit to others for their ideas
Respects the opinions of others
Involves others by asking questions
or requesting input
Expresses thoughts and ideas
clearly and effectively
Total Points (32 pts.)
Comments:
10
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Name:____________________________________
Date:_____________________________
Presentation Rubric
4 pts.
Excellent
Objectives
3 pts.
Good
2 pts. Needs
Some
Improvement
1 pt. Needs
Much
Improvement
N/A
Pts.
Topic/Content
 Topic discussed completely and in-depth
 Includes properly cited sources (if used)
Creativity/Neatness
 Integrates a variety of multimedia
effects to create a professional
presentation (transition and graphics)
or appropriate visual aid used
 Title slide, table of contents,
bibliography are included, using
acceptable format
Mechanics
 Grammar, spelling, punctuation, and
capitalization are correct
 Image and font size are legible to the
entire audience
Oral Presentation
 Communicates with enthusiasm and eye
contact
 Voice delivery and projection are
dynamic and audible
Audience Interaction
 Presentation holds audience’s attention
and relates a clear message
 Clearly and effectively communicates the
content throughout the presentation
Total Points (20 pts.)
Comments:
11
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Name:____________________________________
Date:_____________________________
Writing Rubric
4 pts.
Excellent
Objectives
3 pts.
Good
2 pts. Needs Some
Improvement
1 pt. Needs Much
Improvement
N/A
Pts.
The writing has all required parts from
introduction to conclusion in smooth
transition.
The writing is interesting, supportive,
and complete.
The writing demonstrates that the
writer comprehends the writing
process.
Accurate spelling, grammar, and
punctuation
The content of paragraphs
emphasizes appropriate points.
The writer shows an understanding of
sentence structure, paragraphing, and
punctuation.
All sources and references are clearly
and accurately documented.
Total Points (28 pts.)
Comments:
12
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