ARLINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
INTRODUCTION
ARLINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
HIGH RISE PROCEDURES
The City of Arlington occupies 98.77 square
miles. In 1998 the population was 297,848 and
there were 181,264 rounds of golf played. In the
fiscal year 1997-1998 the Arlington Fire
Department responded to 21,458 calls for fire,
rescue and emergency medical service, from 16
fire districts.
ARLINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
HIGH RISE PROCEDURES
SINCE 1991, THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY,
ELEVEN FIREFIGHTERS HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES
IN VARIOUS HIGH-RISE FIRES. WE MUST
PREPARE FOR HIGH-RISE OPERATIONS BECAUSE
IT MAY OCCUR ANYTIME, AND ANYWHERE. THESE
OPERATIONS REQUIRE A HIGHER LEVEL OF
TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT THAN OUR
TYPICAL OPERATIONS
ARLINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
HIGH RISE PROCEDURES
This program has been developed to review the
Department’s High-Rise procedures. It provides
information regarding building IAP, initial company
assignments, tactics, Incident Command, hose lays,
standpipe systems, accountability, safety, and the
applicable building and fire codes.
ARLINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
HIGH RISE PROCEDURES
Since the high-rise PITP and Drill in October, 1992,
personnel changes have occurred due to promotions,
reassignments, and the hiring of 53 new personnel.
Changes have occurred in equipment ,apparatus and
buildings. We will address these issues in this program.
HIGH RISE PROCEDURES
INITIAL COMPANY ASSIGNMENTS
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
• Be able to identify and define high-rise structures as it
relates to the City of Arlington ( A total of fifty eight )
• Be able to explain the Regulations applicable to
high-rise structures
HIGH RISE PROCEDURES
INITIAL COMPANY ASSIGNMENTS
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
• Be able to describe the Standard Operating Procedures
to be used in above-ground fire operations
• Be able to identify and discuss common above-ground
construction techniques and their effects on the fire
behavior factors
HIGH RISE PROCEDURES
INITIAL COMPANY ASSIGNMENTS
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
• Be able to identify and explain the difficulties
experienced in above-ground fire operations
• Be able to explain the Initial Assignments of the
first five companies on a high-rise incident
ARLINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
HIGH RISE PROCEDURES
REGULATIONS OR STANDARDS
APPLICABLE TO HIGH RISE
STRUCTURES
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1997 Uniform Building Code ( current )
1997 Uniform Fire Code ( current )
The Arlington Fire Department
Standard Operating Procedures
ARLINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
HIGH RISE PROCEDURES
DEFINITION OF HIGH RISE BUILDINGS
Uniform Building Code
A building having floors used for human occupancy
located more than (75) seventy five feet above the
lowest level of Fire Department access.
ARLINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
HIGH RISE BUILDINGS
The following structures meet the definition and height
requirement as defined in the Building Code for highrise buildings: ( A total of eleven structures )
BUILDINGS
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ADDRESS
FLOORS
First City Tower
201 E. Abram
8+P
Chase Bank Tower 500 E. Border
12+P
Arlington Wyndham 1500 Convention 19
Skymark Tower
1521 N. Cooper 8+P
YEAR BLDG
CONST CODE
1980 1976
1982 1979
1984 1982
1984 1982
ARLINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
HIGH RISE BUILDINGS
BUILDINGS
ADDRESS
FLOORS YEAR BLDG
CONST CODE
• Copeland Tower
1250 E. Copeland
12
1986
1982
• Raddison Suites Hotel 700 Avenue H
8
1985
1982
• Bank of America
2000 E. Lamar
7+P
1984
1982
• Brookhollow II
2221 E. Lamar
9
1983
1982
• Hilton Hotel
2401 E. Lamar
15
1983
1982
• Reflection Bay Condos 2120 Reflection Bay 8
1985
1982
• Harris Methodist Tower 611 Ryan Plaza Dr. 14
1968
N/A
ARLINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
HIGH RISE BUILDINGS
ARLINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
HIGH RISE BUILDINGS
ARLINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
HIGH RISE BUILDINGS
ARLINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
HIGH RISE BUILDINGS
ARLINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
HIGH RISE BUILDINGS
ARLINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
HIGH RISE BUILDINGS
ARLINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
HIGH RISE BUILDINGS
ARLINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
HIGH RISE BUILDINGS
ARLINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
HIGH RISE BUILDINGS
ARLINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
HIGH RISE BUILDINGS
ARLINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
HIGH RISE BUILDINGS
ARLINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
HIGH RISE BUILDINGS
ARLINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
HIGH RISE PROCEDURES
DEFINITION OF HIGH RISE BUILDINGS
Arlington Fire Department
A building having floors used for human occupancy
located four stories or more above the lowest level of
Fire Department access.
ARLINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
HIGH RISE BUILDINGS
The following structures are considered high-rise
buildings by general consensus of the fire department
and the physical configuration of the structure ( four or
more stories ): ( A total of forty seven structures )
BUILDINGS
• Bank One Center
• One Arlington Center
ADDRESS
1301 S. Bowen Rd.
1112 E. Copeland Rd.
FLOORS
4
5
ARLINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
HIGH RISE BUILDINGS
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BUILDINGS
ADDRESS
Stadium Place
R Way Inn
Graywood Development
National Security Building
AMPI Building
Brookhollow I
Medical Center of Arlington
Enterprize Center
1200 E. Copeland
2001 E. Copeland
700 Highlander
701 Highlander
1600 E. Lamar
2301 E. Lamar
3301 Matlock
690 E. Lamar
FLOORS
5
5
5
5
4
6
4
5
ARLINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
HIGH RISE BUILDINGS
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BUILDINGS
ADDRESS
Arlington Towers
Arlington Downs Tower
Centerpoint IV
Arlington Memorial Hospital
Centerpoint III
Woodmont Building
Holiday Inn
Howard Johnson’s
1600 E. Pioneer
2225 E. Randol Mill
2401 E. Randol Mill
800 W. Randol Mill
600 Six Flags Drive
100 E. South Street
1507 N. Watson Rd.
117 S. Watson Rd.
FLOORS
5
5
6
4
6
5+P
5
6
ARLINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
HIGH RISE BUILDINGS
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BUILDINGS
ADDRESS
Park Springs Place
Days Inn Motel
Baymont Inn
Amerisuites
The Ballpark
First Place Office Building
Texas Cancer Center
Centerpoint II
4025 Woodland Park
930 N. Collins St.
2401 Diplomacy Dr.
2380 E. Rd. to Six Flags
1000 Ball Park
301 S. Center
515 W. Mayfield Rd.
616 Six Flags Drive
FLOORS
6
4
4
6
5
5
4
4
ARLINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
HIGH RISE BUILDINGS
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BUILDINGS
ADDRESS
Sleep Inn
Vandergriff Prof.. Bldg.
LaQuinta
Wingate Inn
Candlewood Suites
UTA Davis Hall
UTA University Hall
UTA Life Science
750 Six Flags Drive
1001 N. Waldrop
4001 Scots Legacy Dr.
1050 Brookhollow Plaza
2221 Brookhollow Plaza
701 S. Nedderman
601 S. Nedderman
501 S. Nedderman
FLOORS
4
8
5
4
4
4
6
6
ARLINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
HIGH RISE BUILDINGS
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BUILDINGS
ADDRESS
UTA Pickard Hall
UTA College of Business
UTA Thermal Energy
UTA Carlisle Hall
UTA Needermen Hall
UTA Hammond Hall
UTA Library
UTA Brazos Hall
411 S. Nedderman
701 S. West Street
301 W. Third Street
503 W. Third Street
416 Yates Street
701 S. College Street
702 S. College Street
601 S. West Street
FLOORS
6
6
4
7
6
5
6
4
ARLINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
HIGH RISE BUILDINGS
BUILDINGS
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ADDRESS
UTA Science Hall
502 Yates Street
UTA Wolf Hall
500 W. First Street
UTA Fine Arts
700 W. Second Street
UTA Stadium
1307 W. Mitchell Street
6
UTA Engineering Building
417 S. Cooper Street
FLOORS
4
4
4
6
UNIFORM BUILDING CODE
When a high-rise building is constructed, it must comply
with the adopted codes at the time of construction. Most
of the UBC defined high-rise buildings in Arlington comply
with the 1982 UBC.
The Uniform Building Code prescribes the Fire and Life
Safety features required for high-rise buildings. The 1982
Edition, Section 1807 show those features as :
UNIFORM BUILDING CODE
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Automatic Sprinkler System
Smoke Detection System
Alarm and Communication System
Central Control Station (Fire Control Room)
Smoke Control
Elevators
Standby Power, Light and Emergency Systems
Exits
UNIFORM BUILDING CODE
FIRE CONTROL ROOM
The following controls, panels or items of equipment are
required to be in the Central Control Station (Fire
Control Room) in buildings above seventy five (75) feet
in height :
• Voice alarm and public address system panels
• Fire Department communication panel
FIRE CONTROL ROOM
PANELS AND CONTROLS
FIRE CONTROL ROOM
PANELS AND CONTROLS
• Fire Detection / Alarm
System enunciator
panel
FIRE CONTROL ROOM
PANELS AND CONTROLS
• HVAC System indicators
and controls
FIRE CONTROL ROOM
PANELS AND CONTROLS
• Elevator annunciator and
recall panel
FIRE CONTROL ROOM
PANELS AND CONTROLS
• Controls for unlocking stairway doors
• Sprinkler / Water flow detector display panels
• Emergency / Standby power controls
FIRE CONTROL ROOM
PANELS AND CONTROLS
• Fire Pump status
Indicator
FIRE CONTROL ROOM
PANELS AND CONTROLS
• Work table for Fire
Department use
• Telephone system for
Fire department use
FIRE CONTROL ROOM
PANELS AND CONTROLS
• Set of building plans indicating typical floor plan,
building core, exits / access, fire protection systems and
equipment
• Minimum dimensions of 96 Square feet in control room
to allow workspace for up to six people.
UNIFORM FIRE CODE
The Uniform Fire Code prescribes the specific installation
and maintenance requirements for the Fire and Life
Safety features for high-rise buildings. The 1997
requirements are as follows :
1997 UNIFORM FIRE CODE
• Automatic Sprinkler
System
• Corridor doors
• Corridor Openings
• Exit Stairways
• Exit Stairway Doors
• Exit Illumination
• Fire Drills
• Elevator Lobby
Separation
• Elevator Recall
• Fire Alarm System
• Fire Alarm Supervision
• Emergency Plan
• Posting of Emergency
Plan and Exit Plan
ARLINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES
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The following Standard Operating Procedures are
applicable to High Rise Operations and every fire
fighter should be very familiar with each procedure or
guideline.
201.10
Incident Command System
201.20
Size-Up
203.10
Incident Safety
203.11
Accountability (Passport System)
203.12
Rapid Intervention Crew
ARLINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES
• 203.13
• 203.30
• 203.31
• 203.40
• 204.10
• 204.30
Rescue - Missing, Lost or Trapped
Firefighters
Protective Clothing
Protective Hoods
Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus and
Personnel Distress Device
Communications - Terminology
Communications - General Procedures
ARLINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES
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251.10
251.21
251.40
252.05
252.10
252.90
254.10
Tactical Priorities
Emergency Incident Rehabilitation
Additional Resources
Fire Control
High-Rise Fires
Evacuation
EMS Responsibilities
ARLINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES
Throughout this program the procedures and guidelines
previously mentioned will be addressed, however, the
main emphasis will be placed on :
• INITIAL ACTION PLAN ( IAP )
• INITIAL COMPANY ASSIGNMENTS ( Tactics )
• SAFETY ( Accountability, RIC Crews, Rescue )
DIFFICULTIES IN ABOVE-GROUND
FIRE FIGHTING OPERATIONS
• Normally a high life hazard exists and may be
impractical to evacuate the entire building
• Increased set-up time for attacking the fire may allow
fire to impose onto structural members of building
• Immediate smoke problems due to common hallway
which may become severe
• Fires in center hallway occupancies create extreme
heat conditions and in center core occupancies the fire
can travel over, around or behind the attack team
HIGH RISE BUILDING
CONSTRUCTION FEATURES
• In discussing high-rise fire fighting tactics, there are two
main methods of construction which fire fighters should
be aware of.
• This type of construction has been used for hundreds of
years and is still cost effective today. It is used in
apartment houses, hotels and office buildings.
HIGH RISE BUILDING
CONSTRUCTION FEATURES
CENTER HALLWAY
Multiple story
buildings that use a
central corridor to
access individual
sleeping rooms,
apartments, or
offices.
COMMON PROBLEMS WITH
CENTER HALLWAY FIRES
• Center Hallways provide an excellent path for smoke
and heat travel.
• Firefighters must gain and maintain control of the
hallways, since this is the occupant’s primary ( at times,
only) exit.
• A trapped occupant can: 1) Jump, 2) Barricade inside
the room and wait for fire department, or 3) Depend on
fire department ladder rescue.
COMMON PROBLEMS WITH
CENTER HALLWAY FIRES
• Open fire doors can cause “Mushrooming” on floors other than
the fire floor.
• The conditions on those floors may equal those on the fire floor.
HIGH RISE BUILDING
CONSTRUCTION FEATURES
CENTER CORE
Multiple story
buildings that utilize a
central core for
elevators, stairwells
and utility shafts.
COMMON PROBLEMS WITH
CENTER CORE FIRES
• Elevators, stairways and utility shafts may allow the
vertical spread of smoke and heat.
• The “open” floor plan allows horizontal spread around
the core.
• Since the buildings have excellent thermal insulation, a
fire attack can push the fire around the core back to
your position.
COMMON PROBLEMS WITH
CENTER CORE FIRES
• The safest procedure to control smoke in a sealed office
building is to shut down the HVAC system, make a
ventilation assessment utilizing cross ventilation and or
shaft ventilation, and then bring the HVAC system
(exhaust mode only) back on line if you determine it can
help.
HIGH RISE PROCEDURES
EXTERIOR LADDER PLACEMENT
HIGH RISE PROCEDURES
EXTERIOR LADDER PLACEMENT
COMMON PROBLEMS WITH
CENTER CORE FIRES
• Both exterior and interior attack methods may work, but
the odds of a successful attack are better from the
inside stair shafts, start attack from a safe refuge, utilize
standpipes, and push the fire from uninvolved to
involved area.
• This type occupancy may require hose lines to come
from two directions in order to prevent the fire from
circling around the central core. Fire attack teams must
understand and communicate what they are doing, and
try to push the fire against the outside wall.
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION FEATURES
THAT CONTRIBUTE TO FIRE PROBLEM
• High-rise buildings’ exterior walls are usually
constructed with glass or aggregate panels, called a
“Curtain Wall”. This curtain wall may allow smoke and
heat to travel vertically between the end of the floor
and the exterior wall.
• Stair shafts, utility, and elevator shafts may provide
channels for fire, heat and smoke to extend upward,
and must be checked.
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION FEATURES
THAT CONTRIBUTE TO FIRE PROBLEM
• Ventilation assessment usually will require shutting
down the HVAC system. Positive pressure, crossventilation, and vertical ventilation must be considered.
• Ventilation must be accomplished early in the incident
for fire fighter safety and to assist evacuation. First
truck company on should set fan at base of the
stairwell.
INITIAL ACTION PLANS
AND AFD PREPLANS
INITIAL ACTION PLANS
AND AFD PREPLANS
• The first five companies dispatched to a high-rise
incident must accomplish their assigned tasks and in
the order established in the Initial Action Plan. While
these procedures are “automatic”, we must still
communicate our actions within the Command System.
• NONE OF THE FIRST FIVE COMPANIES WILL
STAGE.
INITIAL ACTION PLANS
INITIAL COMPANY ASSIGNMENTS
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FIRST COMPANY
LOBBY CONTROL
• SECOND COMPANY
PRIMARY STAIRS / FIRE ATTACK
• THIRD COMPANY
SECONDARY STAIRS / FIRE ATTACK
AND WATER SUPPLY
• FOURTH COMPANY
STAGING
• FIFTH COMPANY
STAGING
INITIAL COMPANY ASSIGNMENTS
ENGINE DISMOUNT PROCEDURES
INITIAL COMPANY ASSIGNMENTS
TRUCK DISMOUNT PROCEDURES
INITIAL COMPANY ASSIGNMENTS
TRUCK DISMOUNT PROCEDURES
INITIAL COMPANY ASSIGNMENTS
LOBBY CONTROL
INITIAL COMPANY ASSIGNMENTS
LOBBY CONTROL
INITIAL COMPANY ASSIGNMENTS
ACCOUNTABILITY
INITIAL COMPANY ASSIGNMENTS
FIRE ATTACK TEAMS
INITIAL COMPANY ASSIGNMENTS
FIRE ATTACK TEAMS
INITIAL COMPANY ASSIGNMENTS
FIRE ATTACK TEAMS
INITIAL COMPANY ASSIGNMENTS
STAIRWELL IDENTIFICATION
INITIAL COMPANY ASSIGNMENTS
FIRE ATTACK TEAMS
INITIAL COMPANY ASSIGNMENTS
FIRE ATTACK TEAMS
INITIAL COMPANY ASSIGNMENTS
FIRE ATTACK TEAMS
INITIAL COMPANY ASSIGNMENTS
FIRE ATTACK TEAMS
INITIAL COMPANY ASSIGNMENTS
HOSE LINE TECHNIQUES
Fire Attack Tactics
INITIAL COMPANY ASSIGNMENTS
HOSE LINE TECHNIQUES
INITIAL COMPANY ASSIGNMENTS
STAIRWELL ROOF ACCESS
INITIAL COMPANY ASSIGNMENTS
WATER SUPPLY
INITIAL COMPANY ASSIGNMENTS
WATER SUPPLY
INITIAL COMPANY ASSIGNMENTS
STAGING
HIGH RISE PROCEDURES
INCIDENT COMMAND
INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM
INCIDENT COMMAND
PIO
SAFETY
CSO
LIASION
OPERATIONS
PLANNING
STAGING
BRANCH
DIVISION
GROUP
LOGISTICS
LOBBY
BRANCH
DIVISION
GROUP
BASE
FINANCE
HIGH RISE PROCEDURES
OPERATIONS
INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM
INCIDENT COMMAND
SAFETY
OPERATIONS
STAGING
8TH DIVISION
9TH DIVISION
VENTILATION
GROUP
FIRE ATTACK
GROUP
HIGH RISE PROCEDURES
BASE
I wish to acknowledge and show appreciation to
the following Fire Fighters at Task Force 8C who
assisted in the development of this program.
Dennis Ault
Tom Hixson
Pat Blair
Steve Eck
Cory Bearden
Joe McKenzie
Don Coker
Brent Shanklin