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Tactical Operational Guidance
Part One
Aide Memoire
of incident guidance
Part Two
Flowchart
of incident guidance
Part Three
Fire Industrial or Commercial Building
Document References
Relevant References
Technical References
Document Overview
Fire incidents in industrial and commercial buildings.
For escalating or protracted incidents also refer to:
Building Fires TOG
Page 1 of 7
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Fire Industrial or Commercial Building
Part One – Aide Memoire
1
Initial considerations
En route
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Apply generic guidance.
On arrival
 Gather initial information what has:
happened/happening/likely/ necessary?
o Are all persons accounted for?
o Where is the meter by-pass location?
o Where are the utilities isolation
points?
2
 Identify and address any immediate
risks
o Secure sustainable water supplies
o Smoke/fire behaviour
o Control on-site
processes/plant/machinery
 Balance risk against benefit
 Inform others
o Initial briefing – on-site staff and
multi-agency
Detailed information gathering
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Establish extent and overview
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Share and gain situational awareness with other responders, establish:
o
Nature of business/contents
o
On-site processes/plant/machinery
o
Fire loading
o
Utilities and back up supplies
o
Presence of pressurised systems
o
Presence of hot or cold surfaces/steam
o
Presence of dusts
o
Need for lift protocols
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Ensure all relevant risk information is communicated to FRS/others
3
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4
Consider multiple sources of information (360° survey with TIC/MDT/owner/
occupier/witnesses/SSRI/alarm panel)
Resource information
Apply generic guidance
Risk information to inform planning
Key hazards
Key control measures
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Hazmat
Hazardous processes
Dust explosion
Fire loading/stacked goods
Stored energy – hydraulic/ pneumatic
Electricity/generators
Insufficient flow rates
Page 2 of 7
SSRI
Minimum personnel in risk area
Cordon control
Hygiene procedures
Hazmat procedures
Decontamination procedures
HMEPA advice
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Fire Industrial or Commercial Building
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Lift failure
Pits, pools and tanks
Insulated composite panels
(sandwich/Large Insulated Sandwich
Panels (LISPs))
Large non-compartmented areas
Complex building layout/design
Undetected fire spread
Gas cylinders, tanks and bullets
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BA procedures
RPE
Communications
Firefighting/safety/cover jets
Damping down using sprays
Tactical ventilation
Lighting
Safety observer
Evacuation procedure
TIC
Water safety procedure
Electricity procedures
Pressurised systems procedures
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Correctly resourced
Communicated and understood
Flexible
Resilient e.g. ‘plan B’
Regularly reviewed
Be prepared to brief/hand over
Planning
Common prompts
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Clear plan, prioritised objectives
Based on relevant information
Follows a logical sequence
Appropriately delegated
Balances risks and benefits
Aligns to Tactical Mode
Incident specific prompts
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6
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Identify hazard zones and implement cordon control. Consider the need for local
evacuation, road closures, etc.
Fully brief FRS, other agencies and relevant on-site staff regarding on-site risks and
planned activity.
Use appropriate firefighting jets and establish safety jet(s) as soon as possible.
Protect surrounding risks.
Consider and request support from other agencies such as the police to manage
traffic, onlookers, evacuation, etc.
Early consideration and mitigation of environmental impact of incident and/or FRS
intervention. Consider Hazmats, smoke plume, fire water run-off, etc. Consider
approaching HMEPA/Environment Agency/Public Health England for advice.
Early consideration of salvage operations to remove and safely store goods.
Command and control
Apply generic guidance.
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7
Safety and welfare
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Minimum personnel within hazard areas.
Consider:
o
Necessary hygiene procedures
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Appointing Safety Observers/Officers
o
Crew welfare and the need for crew rotation, reliefs, hydration, rest facilities,
shelter, etc. at an early stage.
 Implement necessary hazard controls, consider supporting/additional information
below. Apply appropriate AHIS.
8
Communications
 Apply generic guidance.
9
Liaison
 Apply generic guidance.
10
Closing stages and post incident consideration
 Apply generic guidance.
Supporting/additional information
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Hazardous materials – may be present. Identify type and seek guidance from
HMEPA regarding HazMats and decontamination procedures to be implemented.
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Hazardous processes – appropriate isolation of some processes may be required.
Automatic shut offs or people switching machinery off as they evacuate a building
cannot be relied upon. Incorrect or unauthorised isolation could become a hazard.
Hot process work, like kilns or metal works, or cold processes will remain hot/cold
for a considerable amount of time once the equipment has been isolated.
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Dust explosion – fine airborne dust created by processes (saw mills, grain
production areas, flour mills, etc.) can cause a risk of explosions. This could be
exacerbated by the use of firefighting jets and ventilation which may cause dust
residues on surfaces to become airborne. Use of sprays to damp down may help to
mitigate this.
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Fire loading/stacked goods – Fire loading within the area may be affected by the
nature of the processes or materials used, presence of stacked goods, etc. Rapid fire
spread or collapse of goods could occur.
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Stored energy – Hydraulic/Pneumatic – hydraulic or pneumatic pressure
systems may be used in many processes. Noise-induced hearing loss from the
failure of a pneumatic source and hydraulic injection injury from the failure of or
damage to hydraulic equipment or hoses could occur.
o
Hydraulic systems – force applied at one point is transmitted to another point
using an incompressible liquid. They can be found in pistons, lifting equipment,
cutting equipment
o
Pneumatic systems – force applied at one point is transmitted to another
point using a gas, e.g. air tools
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Other stored energy sources:
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Batteries – may explode, are corrosive on contact and produce toxic vapours
o
Electromagnetic – e.g. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanners at
hospitals
o
Steam – e.g. degreasing works, laundries
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Electricity – many industrial machines or processes use higher than normal voltage
for power (multiphase). Power supplies may also be automatically backed up by
standby generators, etc. Apply Electrical Installations operational guidance.
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Insufficient flow rates – insufficient flow rates due to branch/hose size
combinations may occur whilst fighting fully developed fires and working at upper
floor levels.
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Lift failure – if a firefighters’ lift is not available, crews may become shut in lift due
to mechanical/electrical failure. Only use lifts for firefighting purposes once lift
protocols have been established. The protocols should include the appointment of lift
operatives when a lift is being used in this way.
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Pits, pools and tanks – inspection pits, pools and tanks may be present creating
water, slip, trip and fall hazards. Adequate lighting will help crews see these
hazards. Implement appropriate procedures such as working at height, water safety,
etc. to ensure crews maintain safe systems of work.
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Insulated composite panels (sandwich/LISPs) – combustible panels lead to
rapid fire spread and collapse. Non–combustible panels can lead to ultra–fast fire
development of combustible materials within a compartment due to the insulation
properties of the panels retaining heat.
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Large non compartmented areas – large non-compartmented areas can lead to
difficulty in searching, potential disorientation, rapid fire spread and increased travel
distances to scene of operations.
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Complex building layout/design – many industrial premises may have:
o
Mezzanine floors
o
Storage platforms
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Corridors with a large number of rooms off
o
Rooms within rooms
o
Access hatches
Crews should be briefed regarding the known presence of the building features
detailed above and appropriate controls should be implemented such as
maintenance of access/egress, use of confirmed evacuation signals, additional
lighting, implementation of working at height, BA procedures, etc.
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Undetected fire spread – risk may be increased due to the type of construction
and the presence of concealed voids.
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Gas cylinders, tanks and bullets – all cylinders, tanks and bullets in proximity to
a developing fire may explode. Apply relevant guidance.
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Part Two - Flowchart
Incident info
 Establish extent and
overview
 Consider multiple
sources of information
(360° survey with TIC/
MDT/owner/ occupier
/witnesses /SSRI/
alarm panel)
 What’s: happened/
happening/likely/
necessary
o All persons accounted
for?
o Meter by-pass
location?
o Utilities isolation
points?
 Share and gain
situational awareness
with other responders
o Nature of
business/contents
o On-site processes/
plant/machinery
o Fire loading
o Utilities and back up
supplies
o Presence of
pressurised systems
o Presence of hot or
cold surfaces/ steam
o Presence of dusts
o Need for lift protocols
 Ensure all relevant risk
information is
communicated
Consider
 In-cab information
 Local evacuation, road
closure?
 Media message
 Support/advice from
others – Police/EA/
Public Health England/
HMEPA
 Environmental impact
 Salvage activity
Page 6 of 7
En route brief
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On arrival
 Start risk assessment
 Gather information
 Identify initial incident
priorities
o Rescues required
o Secure water supplies
o Smoke/fire behaviour
o Processes/plant/
machinery
o Surrounding risks
 Cordon control
 Initiate actions towards
objectives
 Inform others – on-site
staff and agencies
Safety critical actions
 Appropriate main/safety
jets.
 Implement hazard
controls (see additional
information)
 Minimum personnel
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As incident develops
 Crew rotation
 Welfare/hygiene
Closing Stages
 Apply generic guidance
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Resources info
PDA/ETA
Make up required
Return resources not
required
Other agencies – in
attendance/required
Safe access/egress
RVP/marshalling
Deployment site plan
Key hazards
Hazardous materials
Hazardous processes
Dust explosion
Fire loading/stacked
goods
Stored energy –
hydraulic/pneumatic
Electricity/generators
Insufficient flow rates
Lift failure
Pits, pools and tanks
Insulated composite
panels (sandwich/ Large
Insulated Sandwich
Panels (LISPs))
Large noncompartmented areas
Complex building
layout/design
Undetected fire spread
Gas cylinders, tanks and
bullets
Consider
 Welfare/hygiene
 Safety Observers
 Crew rotation
Fire Industrial or Commercial Building
Part Three – Document References
1.
Relevant references
This incident type is potentially linked to the following other operational guidance
documents:
Document name
Link to document
To be populated.
2.
Technical references

GRA 3.1 –Firefighting in buildings – CLG/CFRA – March 2011
Ref no:
Date of issue:
Version no:
Page 7 of 7
F1.0.0
04/06/2014
1
Lead FRS:
Review date:
Protective
marking:
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Wiltshire
03/06/2017
None