Water Mapping for Less Fatigue + More Knock | Connecticut | Fully Involved Ep. 10

Comments · 22

• JE

  @JerryHughes-u2f · 11 months ago (edited)

  Water mapping only indicates where the water lands. It doesn’t say how much of the water actually stays where the water lands (maps). This whole “water mapping” thing is a carry over from fire sprinkler system water mapping used by UL to determine fire sprinkler head coverage area. Chicago FD calls it “Scrub Area” referring to stream reach and how much water coverage a Tower Ladder nozzle could cover with the ladder fully extended. UL is comparing the water coverage of a Standard Sprinkler Pendant (SSP) that &nbsp;covers approximately 225 square feet in a 15’ x 15’ area to an nozzle on an 1-3/4” hose line. Why UL decided to apply the same water application method to calculate Hand held fire steams as fire sprinkler heads is anyone’s guess. For example the fuel loads are not the same. UL adjusts the fuel package up or down (eg 165°F - 1500° F) based on the temperature calibration of the fusible link in the sprinkler head. This is done to estimate as best as possible how much water flow it takes to extinguish a known fuel load burning in a specific occupancy type. This water mapping method becomes arbitrary when you apply it to interior fire stream applications where fuel loads are unknown. Further, you can’t estimate with much accuracy how much water is actually landing on the surface of burning materials due to obstructions like doors, walls, ceilings and floors that prevent water flow from a fixed position in a hallway. If you want to map something that puts the fire out and prevents it from spreading (rekindling) try adding about an ounce of Class A foam concentrate to your water. Instead of only 5% to 10% of each gallon of water causing extinguishment you’ll get 30% to 50% extinguishment from each gallon of water + wetting agent foam. Yeah it costs about .25 cents per gallon of wetting agent, but you’ll put the fire out with less water and cause less Fire and Water damage in the process. You might even save a life that plain, untreated water can’t.<br>Chief Hughes<br>Battalion 1 (retired)<br>Chicago FD

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• JE

  @JerryHughes-u2f · 11 months ago

  Regardless of what your water map shows, 90% to 95% of every drop falls to the floor and contributes Zero to fire extinguishment per UL FSRI.

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• RE

  @Rescue-mt7fl · 11 months ago

  What we keep showing in this is a residential second floor. &nbsp;We have made several statements about reflex time and low staffing. &nbsp;We are talking about saving lives. The name of the game for aggressively saving lives and putting the fire out, is water application from the fastest route possible. This is 9 out of 10 times, resetting from the exterior. Knocking that fire down from the exterior immediately manages the environment for our victims and buys you tons of time for your stairway stretch. <br>Certainly in a multi story structure above the reach of your stream, you have to get in and get it. &nbsp;In most structures up to 3-4 stories we can hit most every compartment from the exterior within 1-2 minutes of arrival vs 6-10 minutes to make the stairs with only 2 guys on the line. &nbsp;Use the same water mapping techniques to bank that water to the interior hallways and fire room. &nbsp;Maximize that knockdown then get your tail in gear and get in. It’s about being aggressive and saving lives.

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