NFPA 1403 ARFFT References.doc

NFPA 1403, Standard on Live Fire Training Evolutions, 2007 Edition

IMPORTANT NOTE: This NFPA document is made available for use subject to important notices and legal disclaimers. These notices and disclaimers appear in all publications containing this document and may be found under the heading “Important Notices and Disclaimers Concerning NFPA Documents.” They can also be obtained on request from NFPA or viewed at www.nfpa.org/disclaimers.

NOTICE: An asterisk (*) following the number or letter designating a paragraph indicates that explanatory material on the paragraph can be found in Annex A.

A reference in brackets [ ] following a section or paragraph indicates material that has been extracted from another NFPA document. As an aid to the user, the complete title and edition of the source documents for extracts in mandatory sections of the document are given in Chapter 2 and those for extracts in informational sections are given in Annex E. Editorial changes to extracted material consist of revising references to an appropriate division in this document or the inclusion of the document number with the division number when the reference is to the original document. Requests for interpretations or revisions of extracted text shall be sent to the technical committee responsible for the source document.

Information on referenced publications can be found in Chapter 2 and Annex E.

Chapter 5 Gas-Fired Live Fire Training Structures

5.1 Student Prerequisites.

5.1.1* Prior to being permitted to participate in live fire training evolutions, the student shall have received training to meet the job performance requirements for Fire Fighter I in NFPA 1001, Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications, related to the following subjects:

· (1) Safety

· (2)

Fire behavior

· (3)

Portable extinguishers

· (4)

Personal protective equipment

· (5)

Ladders

· (6)

Fire hose, appliances, and streams

· (7)

Overhaul

· (8)

Water supply

· (9)

Ventilation

· (10)

Forcible entry

5.1.2* Students participating in a live fire training evolution who have received the required minimum basic training from other than the AHJ shall not be permitted to participate in any live fire training evolution without first presenting prior written evidence of having successfully completed the prescribed minimum training to the levels specified in 5.1.1.

5.2 Structures and Facilities.

5.2.1* Strict safety practices shall be applied to all structures selected for live fire training evolutions.

5.2.2* Live fire training structures shall be inspected visually for damage prior to live fire training evolutions.

5.2.2.1 Damage shall be documented.

5.2.2.2* The structural integrity of the live fire training structure shall be evaluated and documented periodically by a licensed professional engineer with live fire training structure experience and expertise.

5.2.2.3 The frequency of the structural evaluation shall be as follows:

· (1) Once per year for live fire training structures that support more than 60 days of live fire training per year (a day of live fire training is any day during which at least one live fire training evolution has been conducted)

· (2)

Once every two years for live fire training structures that support 31 to 60 days of live fire training per year

· (3)

Once every three years for live fire training structures that support 30 or fewer days of live fire training per year

· (4)

Immediately if visible structural defects have formed, such as cracks, spalls, or warps in structural floors, columns, beams, walls, metal panels, and so on

5.2.2.4* Part of the live fire training structure evaluation shall include, once every 5 years, the removal and reinstallation of a representative area of thermal linings (if any) to inspect the hidden conditions behind the linings.

5.2.2.4.1 This requirement shall be permitted to be waived under both of the following conditions:

The thermal lining has never had a break in any part of its thermal barrier (no cracks, holes, breaks, or insulation sags that could allow heat to pass through the lining system).

· (2)

Thermocouples between the thermal lining and the structural element indicate that temperatures have never exceeded 149°C (300°F) behind the lining.

5.2.2.4.2 If the requirement of 5.2.2.4 cannot be waived for a concrete structure, and if removal and reinstallation of thermal linings would be difficult or expensive due to the permanent nature of the lining system, then it shall be permitted to take concrete cores through the protected ceiling slab from the top surface of the slab in order to spot check conditions hidden by the thermal lining.

5.2.2.5 The engineer shall core solid structural concrete slabs and walls that have been exposed to temperatures in excess of 149°C (300°F) to check for hidden delamination and to test comprehensive strength once every 10 years for conventional (Portland) concrete and once every 3 years for refractory (calcium aluminate) concrete.

5.2.2.6 Where the live fire training structure damage is severe enough to affect the safety of the students, training shall not be permitted.

5.2.3 All doors, windows and window shutters, roof scuttles and automatic ventilators, mechanical equipment, lighting, manual or automatic sprinklers, and standpipes necessary for the live fire training evolution shall be checked and operated prior to any live fire training evolution to ensure they operate correctly.

5.2.4 All safety devices, such as thermometers, oxygen and toxic and combustible gas monitors, evacuation alarms, and emergency shutdown switches, shall be checked prior to any live fire training evolutions to ensure they operate correctly.

5.2.5 For live fire training structures that contain gas-fueled training systems, the instructors shall run the system prior to exposing students to live flames in order to ensure the correct operation of devices such as the gas valves, flame safeguard units, agent sensors, combustion fans, and ventilation fans.

5.2.6 Live fire training structures shall be left in a safe condition upon completion of live fire training evolutions.

5.2.7 Debris hindering the access or egress of fire fighters shall be removed prior to the beginning of the next training exercises.

5.2.8 Fire lines shall be established to keep pedestrian traffic in the vicinity of the training site clear of the operations area of the live burn.

5.2.9 Awareness of weather conditions, wind velocity, and wind direction shall be maintained, including a final check for possible changes in weather conditions immediately before actual ignition.

5.2.10 The instructor-in-charge shall determine the rate and duration of waterflow necessary for each individual live fire training evolution, including the water necessary for control and extinguishment of the training fire, the supply necessary for backup lines to protect personnel, and any water needed to protect exposed property.

5.2.10.1 The minimum water supply and delivery for the live fire training evolutions shall meet the criteria identified in NFPA 1142, Standard on Water Supplies for Suburban and Rural Fire Fighting.

5.2.10.2 A minimum reserve of additional water in the amount of 50 percent of the fire flow demand determined in accordance with 5.2.10.1 shall be available to handle exposure protection or unforeseen situations.

5.2.10.3* Except under the conditions of 5.2.10.4, separate water sources shall be utilized for the supply of attack lines and backup lines in order to preclude the loss of both water supply sources at the same time.

5.2.10.4* A single water source shall be sufficient at a training center facility where the water system has been engineered to provide adequate volume for the evolutions conducted and a backup power source or backup pumps, or both, are in place to ensure an uninterrupted supply in the event of a power failure or malfunction.

5.2.11 Areas for the staging, operating, and parking of fire apparatus that are used in the live fire training evolution shall be designated.

5.2.11.1 An area for parking fire apparatus and vehicles that are not a part of the evolution shall be designated so as not to interfere with fireground operations.

5.2.11.2 If any of the apparatus described in 5.2.11.1 is in service to respond to an emergency, it shall be located in an area to facilitate a prompt response.

5.2.11.3 Where required or necessary, parking areas for police or press vehicles shall be designated.

5.2.11.4 A parking area for an ambulance or an emergency medical services vehicle shall be designated and located where it will facilitate a prompt response in the event of personal injury to participants in the evolution.

5.2.11.5 The parking area shall be located to facilitate prompt response in the event of personal injury to participants in the evolution.

5.2.11.6 Ingress and egress routes shall be designated, identified, and monitored during the training evolutions to ensure their availability in the event of an emergency.

5.2.12 Prior to the conduct of actual live fire training evolutions, a preburn briefing session shall be conducted for all participants.

5.2.12.1 All facets of each evolution to be conducted shall be discussed in the preburn briefing, and assignments shall be made for all crews participating in the training session.

5.2.12.2 The location of simulated victims shall not be required to be disclosed, provided that the possibility of victims is discussed during the preburn briefing.

5.2.12.3 A preburn plan shall be prepared and utilized during the preburn briefing sessions.

5.2.12.4 All features of the training areas and structure shall be indicated on the preburn plan.

5.2.13 Prior to the conduct of any live fire training, all participants shall be required to conduct a walk-through of the structure in order to have knowledge of and familiarity with the layout of the live fire training structure and to be able to facilitate any necessary evacuation of the live fire training structure.

5.2.14 All spectators shall be restricted to an area outside the operations area perimeter established by the safety officer.

5.2.14.1 Control measures such as ropes, signs, and fire line markings shall be used to indicate the perimeter of the operations area.

5.2.14.2 Visitors who are allowed within the operations area perimeter shall be escorted at all times.

5.2.14.3 Visitors who are allowed within the operations area perimeter shall be equipped with and shall wear complete protective clothing in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions and in accordance with 5.4.17.1 through 5.4.17.7.

5.2.15 All possible sources of ignition, other than those that are under the direct supervision of the person responsible for the start of the training fire, shall be removed from the operations area.

5.2.16 There shall be ample room provided around all props such that there is space for all attack lines as well as backup lines to operate freely.

5.3 Fuel Materials.

5.3.1 The fuels that are utilized in live fire training evolutions shall have known burning characteristics that are as controllable as possible.

5.3.2 Unidentified materials, such as debris found in or around the structure that could burn in unanticipated ways, react violently, or create environmental or health hazards, shall not be used.

5.3.3* The use of flammable gas, such as propane and natural gas, shall be permitted only in live fire training structures specifically designed for their use.

5.3.4 Liquefied versions of the gases specified in 5.3.3 shall not be permitted inside the live fire training structure.

5.3.5* The instructor-in-charge shall assess the selected fire room environment for factors that can affect the growth, development, and spread of fire.

5.3.6* The training exercise shall be stopped immediately when the instructor-in-charge determines through ongoing assessment that the combustible nature of the environment represents a potential hazard.

5.3.7 An exercise stopped as a result of an assessed hazard according to 5.3.6 shall continue only when actions have been taken to reduce the hazard.

5.4 Safety.

5.4.1 A safety officer shall be appointed for all live fire training evolutions.

5.4.2* The safety officer shall have the authority, regardless of rank, to intervene and control any aspect of the operations when, in his or her judgment, a potential or actual danger, accident, or unsafe condition exists.

5.4.3 The responsibilities of the safety officer shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following:

· (1) Prevention of unsafe acts

Elimination of unsafe conditions

5.4.4 The safety officer shall provide for the safety of all persons on the scene including students, instructors, visitors, and spectators.

5.4.5 The safety officer shall not be assigned other duties that interfere with safety responsibilities.

5.4.6 The safety officer shall be knowledgeable in the operation and location of safety features available within the live fire training structure, such as emergency shutoff switches, gas shutoff valves, and evacuation alarms.

5.4.7* The instructor-in-charge of the live fire training evolutions shall determine, prior to each specific evolution, the number of training attack lines and backup lines that are necessary.

5.4.7.1 Each hose line shall be capable of delivering a minimum of 360 L/min (95 gpm).

5.4.7.2 Backup lines shall be provided to ensure protection for personnel on training attack lines.

5.4.7.3 The instructor-in-charge shall assign the following personnel:

· (1) One instructor to each functional crew, which shall not exceed five students

· (2)

One instructor to each backup line

· (3)

Additional personnel to backup lines to provide mobility

One additional instructor for each additional functional assignment

5.4.8* Additional safety personnel, as deemed necessary by the safety officer, shall be located strategically within the structure to react to any unplanned or threatening situation or condition.

5.4.9 A method of fireground communications shall be established to enable coordination among the incident commander, the interior and exterior sectors, the safety officer, and external requests for assistance.

5.4.10* A building evacuation plan shall be established, including an evacuation signal to be demonstrated to all participants in an interior live fire training evolution.

5.4.11 Emergency medical services shall be available on site to handle injuries.

5.4.12 Written reports shall be filled out and submitted on all injuries and on all medical aid rendered.

5.4.13 A search of the structure shall be conducted to ensure that no unauthorized persons, animals, or objects are in the live fire training structure immediately prior to ignition.

5.4.14 No person(s) shall play the role of a victim inside the live fire training structure.

5.4.15 Fires shall not be located in any designated exit paths.

5.4.16 The training session shall be curtailed, postponed, or canceled, as necessary, to reduce the risk of injury or illness caused by extreme weather conditions.

5.4.17 Each participant shall be equipped with full protective clothing and SCBA.

5.4.17.1 All participants shall be inspected by the safety officer prior to entry into a live fire training evolution to ensure that the protective clothing and SCBA are being worn according to manufacturer’s instructions and are in serviceable condition.

5.4.17.2 Protective coats, trousers, hoods, footwear, helmets, and gloves shall have been manufactured to meet the requirements of NFPA 1971, Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting.

5.4.17.3 SCBA shall have been manufactured to meet the requirements of NFPA 1981, Standard on Open-Circuit Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) for Emergency Services.

5.4.17.4* Where station or work uniforms are worn by any participant, the station or work uniform shall have been manufactured to meet the requirements of NFPA 1975, Standard on Station/Work Uniforms for Fire and Emergency Services.

5.4.17.5 Personal alarm devices shall have been manufactured to meet the requirements of NFPA 1982, Standard on Personal Alert Safety Systems (PASS).

5.4.17.6 All students, instructors, safety personnel, and other personnel shall wear all protective clothing and equipment specified in this chapter according to manufacturer’s instructions whenever they are involved in any evolution or fire suppression operation during the live fire training evolution.

5.4.17.7* All students, instructors, safety personnel, and other personnel participating in any evolution or operation of fire suppression during the live fire training evolution shall breathe from an SCBA air supply whenever operating under one or more of the following conditions:

· (1) In an atmosphere that is oxygen deficient or contaminated by products of combustion, or both

· (2)

In an atmosphere that is suspected of being oxygen deficient or contaminated by products of combustion, or both

· (3)

In any atmosphere that can become oxygen deficient or contaminated, or both

Below ground level

5.4.18* The decision to ignite a training fire shall be made by the instructor-in-charge in coordination with the safety officer.

5.4.19 Fires shall not be ignited without an instructor visually confirming that the flame area is clear of personnel.

5.4.20 Flammable gas fires shall not be ignited manually.

5.5 Instructors.

5.5.1 All instructors shall be qualified by the AHJ to deliver fire fighter training.

5.5.2* The participating student-to-instructor ratio shall not be greater than 5 to 1.

5.5.3 Additional instructors shall be designated when factors such as extreme temperatures or large groups are present, and classes of long duration are planned.

5.5.4 The instructor-in-charge shall be responsible for full compliance with this standard.

5.5.5 Prior to the ignition of any fire, instructors shall ensure that all protective clothing and equipment specified in this chapter are being worn according to manufacturer’s instructions.

5.5.6 Instructors shall take a head count when participants are entering and exiting the live fire training structure during an actual attack evolution conducted in accordance with this standard.

5.5.7 Instructors shall monitor and supervise all assigned students during the live fire training evolution.

5.5.8 The instructor-in-charge shall provide for rest and rehabilitation of members operating at the scene, including any necessary medical evaluation and treatment, food and fluid replenishment, and relief from climatic conditions. (See Annex D.)

5.5.9 Instructors responsible for conducting live fire training evolutions with a gas-fueled training system shall be trained in the complete operation of the system.

5.5.10 The training of instructors shall be performed by an individual authorized by the gas-fueled training system manufacturer or others qualified to perform this type of training.

5.5.11 Where concurrent, multiple, live fire training evolutions are being conducted in a specifically designed live fire training structure, the identity of the instructor-in-charge of the evolutions shall be clear to all participants.

5.5.12 It shall be the responsibility of the instructor-in-charge to coordinate overall live fire training structure fireground activities to ensure correct levels of safety.

Top Chapter 6 Non-Gas-Fired Live Fire Training Structures

6.1 Student Prerequisites.

6.1.1* Prior to being permitted to participate in live fire training evolutions, the student shall have received training to meet the job performance requirements for Fire Fighter I in NFPA 1001, Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications, related to the following subjects:

Safety

· (2)

Fire behavior

· (3)

Portable extinguishers

· (4)

Personal protective equipment

· (5)

Ladders

· (6)

Fire hose, appliances, and streams

· (7)

Overhaul

· (8)

Water supply

· (9)

Ventilation

· (10)

Forcible entry

Chapter 6 Non-Gas-Fired Live Fire Training Structures

6.1.2* Students participating in a live fire training evolution who have received the required minimum basic training from other than the AHJ shall not be permitted to participate in any live fire training evolution without first presenting prior written evidence of having successfully completed the prescribed minimum training to the levels specified in 6.1.1.

6.2 Structures and Facilities.

6.2.1* Strict safety practices shall be applied to all structures selected for live fire training evolutions.

6.2.2* Live fire training structures shall be inspected visually for damage prior to live fire training evolutions.

6.2.2.1 Damage shall be documented.

6.2.2.2* The structural integrity of the live fire training structure shall be evaluated and documented periodically by a licensed professional engineer with live fire training structure experience and expertise.

6.2.2.3 The structural evaluation shall be conducted with the following frequency:

Once per year for live fire training structures that support more than 60 days of live fire training per year (a day of live fire training is any day during which at least one live fire training evolution has been conducted)

· (2)

Once every two years for live fire training structures that support 31 days to 60 days of live fire training per year

· (3)

Once every three years for live fire training structures that support 30 or fewer days of live fire training per year

Immediately if visible structural defects have formed, such as cracks, spalls, or warps in structural floors, columns, beams, walls, metal panels, and so on

6.2.2.4* Part of the live fire training structure evaluation shall include, once every five years, the removal and reinstallation of a representative area of thermal linings (if any) to inspect the hidden conditions behind the linings.

6.2.2.4.1 The requirement of 6.2.2.4 shall be permitted to be waived under the following conditions:

The thermal lining has never had a break in any part of its thermal barrier (no cracks, holes, breaks, or insulation sags that could allow heat to pass through the lining system).

Thermocouples between the thermal lining and the structural element indicate that temperatures have never exceeded 149°C (300°F) behind the lining.

6.2.2.4.2 If the requirement of 6.2.2.4 cannot be waived for a concrete structure, and if removal and reinstallation of thermal linings would be difficult or expensive due to the permanent nature of the lining system, then it shall be permitted to take concrete cores through the protected ceiling slab from the top surface of the slab in order to spot check conditions hidden by the thermal lining.

6.2.2.5 The engineer shall core solid structural concrete slabs and walls that have been exposed to temperatures in excess of 149°C (300°F) to check for hidden delaminations and to test compressive strength once every 10 years for conventional (Portland) concrete and once every 3 years for refractory (calcium aluminate) concrete.

6.2.2.6 Where the live fire training structure damage is severe enough to affect the safety of the students, training shall not be permitted.

6.2.3 All doors, windows and window shutters, roof scuttles and automatic ventilators, mechanical equipment, lighting, manual or automatic sprinklers, and standpipes necessary for the live fire training evolution shall be checked and operated prior to any live fire training evolution to ensure they operate correctly.

6.2.4 All safety devices, such as thermometers, oxygen and toxic and combustible gas monitors, evacuation alarms, and emergency shutdown switches, shall be checked prior to any live fire training evolutions to ensure they operate correctly.

6.2.5 Live fire training structures shall be left in a safe condition upon completion of live fire training evolutions.

6.2.6 Debris hindering the access or egress of fire fighters shall be removed prior to the beginning of the next training exercises.

6.2.7 In preparation for live fire training, an inspection of the structure shall be made to determine that the floors, walls, stairs, and other structural components are capable of withstanding the weight of contents, participants, and accumulated water.

6.2.8 Property adjacent to the training site that could be affected by the smoke from the live fire training evolution, such as railroads, airports or heliports, and nursing homes, hospitals, or other similar facilities, shall be identified.

6.2.9 The persons in charge of the properties described in 6.2.8 shall be informed of the date and time of the evolution.

6.2.10* Streets or highways in the vicinity of the training site shall be surveyed for potential effects from live fire training evolutions, and safeguards shall be taken to eliminate any possible hazard to motorists.

6.2.11 Fire lines shall be established to keep pedestrian traffic in the vicinity of the training site clear of the operations area of the live burn.

6.2.12 Awareness of weather conditions, wind velocity, and wind direction shall be maintained, including a final check for possible changes in weather conditions immediately before actual ignition.

6.2.13 The instructor-in-charge shall determine the rate and duration of waterflow necessary for each individual live fire training evolution, including the water necessary for control and extinguishment of the training fire, the supply necessary for backup lines to protect personnel, and any water needed to protect exposed property.

6.2.13.1 The minimum water supply and delivery for live fire training evolutions shall meet the criteria identified in NFPA 1142, Standard on Water Supplies for Suburban and Rural Fire Fighting.

6.2.13.2 A minimum reserve of additional water in the amount of 50 percent of the fire flow demand determined in accordance with 6.2.13.1 shall be available to handle exposure protection or unforeseen situations.

6.2.13.3* Except under the conditions of 6.2.13.4, separate sources shall be utilized for the supply of attack lines and backup lines in order to preclude the loss of both water supply sources at the same time.

6.2.13.4* A single water source shall be sufficient at a training center facility where the water system has been engineered to provide adequate volume for the evolutions conducted and a backup power source or backup pumps, or both, are in place to ensure an uninterrupted supply in the event of a power failure or malfunction.

6.2.14 Areas for the staging, operating, and parking of fire apparatus that are used in the live fire training evolution shall be designated.

6.2.14.1 An area for parking fire apparatus and vehicles that are not a part of the evolution shall be designated so as not to interfere with fireground operations.

6.2.14.2 If any of the apparatus described in 6.2.14.1 is in service to respond to an emergency, it shall be located in an area to facilitate a prompt response.

6.2.14.3 Where required or necessary, parking areas for police vehicles or for the press shall be designated.

6.2.14.4 A parking area for an ambulance or an emergency medical services vehicle shall be designated and located where it will facilitate a prompt response in the event of personal injury to participants in the evolution.

6.2.14.5 The parking area shall be located to facilitate prompt response in the event of a personal injury to participants in the evolution.

6.2.14.6 Ingress and egress routes shall be designated, identified, and monitored during the training evolutions to ensure their availability in the event of an emergency.

6.2.15 Prior to the conduct of actual live fire training evolutions, a preburn briefing session shall be conducted for all participants.

6.2.15.1 All facets of each evolution to be conducted shall be discussed in the preburn briefing, and assignments shall be made for all crews participating in the training session.

6.2.15.2 The location of simulated victims shall not be required to be disclosed, provided that the possibility of victims is discussed during the preburn briefing.

6.2.15.3 A preburn plan shall be prepared and shall be utilized during the preburn briefing sessions.

6.2.15.4 All features of the training areas and structure shall be indicated on the preburn plan.

6.2.16 Prior to the conduct of any live fire training, all participants shall be required to conduct a walk-through of the structure in order to have knowledge of and familiarity with the layout of the live fire training structure and to facilitate any necessary evacuation of the live fire training structure.

6.2.17 All spectators shall be restricted to an area outside the operations area perimeter established by the safety officer.

6.2.17.1 Control measures such as ropes, signs, and fire line markings shall be posted to indicate the perimeter of the operations area.

6.2.17.2 Visitors who are allowed within the operations area perimeter shall be escorted at all times.

6.2.17.3 Visitors who are allowed within the operations area perimeter shall be equipped with and shall wear complete protective clothing in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions and in accordance with 6.4.17.1 through 6.4.17.7.

6.2.18 All possible sources of ignition, other than those that are under the direct supervision of the person responsible for the start of the training fire, shall be removed from the operations area.

6.3 Fuel Materials.

6.3.1 The fuels that are utilized in live fire training evolutions shall have known burning characteristics that are as controllable as possible.

6.3.2 Unidentified materials, such as debris found in or around the structure that could burn in unanticipated ways, react violently, or create environmental or health hazards, shall not be used.

6.3.3 Fuel materials shall be used only in the amounts necessary to create the desired fire size.

6.3.4* Pressure-treated wood, rubber, and plastic, and straw or hay treated with pesticides or harmful chemicals shall not be used.

6.3.5 The fuel load shall be limited to avoid conditions that could cause an uncontrolled flashover or backdraft.

6.3.6* Except under the conditions of 6.3.7, the use of flammable or combustible liquids, as defined in NFPA 30, Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code, shall not be used in live fire training evolutions in structures.

6.3.7 Limited quantities of combustible liquid with a flash point above 38°C (100°F) shall be permitted to be used in a live fire training structure that has been specifically engineered to accommodate this fuel.

6.3.8* The instructor-in-charge shall assess the selected fire room environment for factors that can affect the growth, development, and spread of the fire.

6.3.9* The instructor-in-charge shall document fuel loading, including all of the following:

Furnishings

· (2)

Wall and floor coverings and ceiling materials

· (3)

Type of construction of the structure, including type of roof and combustible void spaces

Dimensions of room

6.3.10* The training exercise shall be stopped immediately when the instructor-in-charge determines through ongoing assessment that the combustible nature of the environment represents a potential hazard.

6.3.11 An exercise stopped as a result of an assessed hazard according to 6.3.10 shall continue only when actions have been taken to reduce the hazard.

6.4 Safety.

6.4.1 A safety officer shall be appointed for all live fire training evolutions.

6.4.2* The safety officer shall have the authority, regardless of rank, to intervene and control any aspect of the operations when, in his or her judgment, a potential or actual danger, accident, or unsafe condition exists.

6.4.3 The responsibilities of the safety officer shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following:

Prevention of unsafe acts

Elimination of unsafe conditions

6.4.4 The safety officer shall provide for the safety of all persons on the scene including students, instructors, visitors, and spectators.

6.4.5 The safety officer shall not be assigned other duties that interfere with safety responsibilities.

6.4.6 The safety officer shall be knowledgeable in the operation and location of safety features available within the live fire training structure, such as emergency shutoff switches, gas shutoff valves, and evacuation alarms.

6.4.7* The instructor-in-charge of the live fire training evolutions shall determine, prior to each specific evolution, the number of training attack lines and backup lines that are necessary.

6.4.7.1 Backup lines shall be provided to ensure protection for personnel on training attack lines.

6.4.7.2 Each hose line shall be capable of delivering a minimum of 360 L/min (95 gpm).

6.4.7.3 The instructor-in-charge shall assign the following personnel:

One instructor to each functional crew, which shall not exceed five students

· (2)

One instructor to each backup line

· (3)

Additional personnel to backup lines to provide mobility

One additional instructor for each additional functional assignment

6.4.8* Additional safety personnel, as deemed necessary by the safety officer, shall be located strategically within the structure to react to any unplanned or threatening situation or condition.

6.4.9 A method of fireground communications shall be established to enable coordination among the incident commander, the interior and exterior sectors, the safety officer, and external requests for assistance.

6.4.10* A building evacuation plan shall be established, including an evacuation signal to be demonstrated to all participants in an interior live fire training evolution.

6.4.11 Emergency medical services shall be available on site to handle injuries.

6.4.12 Written reports shall be filled out and submitted on all injuries and on all medical aid rendered.

6.4.13 A search of the structure shall be conducted to ensure that no unauthorized persons, animals, or objects are in the live fire training structure immediately prior to ignition.

6.4.14 No person(s) shall play the role of a victim inside the live fire training structure.

6.4.15 Fires shall not be located in any designated exit paths.

6.4.16 The training session shall be curtailed, postponed, or canceled, as necessary, to reduce the risk of injury or illness caused by extreme weather conditions.

6.4.17 Each participant shall be equipped with full protective clothing and SCBA.

6.4.17.1 All participants shall be inspected by the safety officer prior to entry into a live fire training evolution to ensure that the protective clothing and SCBA are being worn according to manufacturer’s instruction and are in serviceable condition.

6.4.17.2 Protective coats, trousers, hoods, footwear, helmets, and gloves shall have been manufactured to meet the requirements of NFPA 1971, Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting.

6.4.17.3 SCBA shall have been manufactured to meet the requirements of NFPA 1981, Standard on Open-Circuit Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) for Emergency Services.

6.4.17.4* Where station or work uniforms are worn by any participant, the station or work uniform shall have been manufactured to meet the requirements of NFPA 1975, Standard on Station/Work Uniforms for Fire and Emergency Services.

6.4.17.5 Personal alarm devices shall have been manufactured to meet the requirements of NFPA 1982, Standard on Personal Alert Safety Systems (PASS).

6.4.17.6 All students, instructors, safety personnel, and other personnel shall wear all protective clothing and equipment specified in this chapter according to manufacturer’s instructions whenever they are involved in any evolution or fire suppression operation during the live fire training evolution.

6.4.17.7* All students, instructors, safety personnel, and other personnel participating in any evolution or operation of fire suppression during the live fire training evolution shall breathe from an SCBA air supply whenever operating under one or more of the following conditions:

In an atmosphere that is oxygen deficient or contaminated by products of combustion, or both

· (2)

In an atmosphere that is suspected of being oxygen deficient or contaminated by products of combustion, or both

· (3)

In any atmosphere that can become oxygen deficient or contaminated, or both

Below ground level

6.4.18 One person who is not a student shall be designated as the “ignition officer” to control the materials being burned.

6.4.18.1 The ignition officer shall wear full protective clothing, including SCBA, as required in 6.4.17.1 through 6.4.17.7, when performing this control function.

6.4.18.2 A charged hose line shall accompany the ignition officer when he or she is igniting any fire.

6.4.18.3 The decision to ignite the training fire shall be made by the instructor-in-charge in coordination with the safety officer.

6.4.18.4 The fire shall be ignited by the ignition officer in the presence of and under the direct supervision of the safety officer.

6.5 Instructors.

6.5.1 All instructors shall be qualified by the AHJ to deliver fire fighter training.

6.5.2* The participating student-to-instructor ratio shall not be greater than 5 to 1.

6.5.3 Additional instructors shall be designated when factors such as extreme temperatures or large groups are present, and classes of long duration are planned.

6.5.4 The instructor-in-charge shall be responsible for full compliance with this standard.

6.5.5 Prior to the ignition of any fire, instructors shall ensure that all protective clothing and equipment specified in this chapter are being worn according to manufacturer’s instructions.

6.5.6 Instructors shall take a head count when participants are entering and exiting the live fire training structure during an actual attack evolution conducted in accordance with this standard.

6.5.7 Instructors shall monitor and supervise all assigned students during the live fire training evolution.

6.5.8 The instructor-in-charge shall provide for the rest and rehabilitation of members operating at the scene, including medical evaluation and treatment, food and fluid replenishment, and relief from climate conditions, in accordance with the circumstances of the training session. (See Annex D.)

6.5.9 Where concurrent, multiple, live fire training evolutions are being conducted in a specifically designed live fire training structure, the identity of the instructor-in-charge shall be clear to all participants.

6.5.10 It shall be the responsibility of the instructor-in-charge to coordinate overall live fire training structure fireground activities to ensure proper levels of safety.

Top Annex A Explanatory Material

Annex A is not a part of the requirements of this NFPA document but is included for informational purposes only. This annex contains explanatory material, numbered to correspond with the applicable text paragraphs.

.5.2.1 These practices vary greatly in the degree of application where comparing live fire training structures to acquired structures. By nature, live fire training structures have been designed specifically for the purpose of repeated live fire training evolutions and include safeguards that become unacceptably hazardous only through misuse or improper maintenance.

A.5.2.2 There should be ongoing concern for the progressive damage to live fire training structures associated with fire intensity during live fire training evolutions. Excessive fire intensity can result in accelerated destruction of the live fire training structure and can increase the risk to personnel to an unacceptable level.

A.5.2.2.2 Routine maintenance is important to providing a safe, durable live fire training structure for live fire training. Periodic engineering evaluations are one step in that process. Live fire training structures present unique engineering problems that are not taught to engineers in college or in their daily practice of engineering office buildings, schools, and fire stations. Before a registered (licensed) Professional Engineer (P.E.) understands “live fire training structure engineering,” it takes significant efforts on the part of the P.E. to learn how live fire training structures are used, how repetitive live fire training affects structural and nonstructural elements within the live fire training structure, and what materials have been proven to work (or not work) within such a harsh environment. This effort typically requires research and educational efforts and experience with live fire training structure projects.

Because the required evaluation is for structural integrity, the P.E. performing the evaluation should be a structural engineer or teamed with a structural engineer to perform the evaluation. Many states do not license P.E.s by discipline, meaning that “P.E.” could mean structural engineer or some other engineering discipline, such as electrical, mechanical, fire protection, or aeronautical. State laws require P.E.s to offer engineering services for only those branches of engineering for which they are qualified. Therefore, a P.E. who is an electrical engineer or fire protection engineer with no structural qualifications would not be allowed, under law, to evaluate the structural integrity of a live fire training structure.

Note that a P.E. with refractive materials experience and expertise, but not live fire training structure experience and expertise, might not have sufficient understanding of how refractory concrete performs in a live fire training structure environment. Many P.E.s with refractive materials experience have gained that experience working with industrial applications, where furnaces are heated and cooled slowly. Certain applications of refractory concrete work well under those furnace conditions. However, the same applications of refractory concrete at times work poorly in the live fire training structure environment, where rapid heating, cooling, and thermal shock deteriorate refractory concrete differently than a furnace application would. Many P.E.s with only refractive materials experience, but no live fire training structure experience, do not know this. As a result, the requirement for live fire training structure experience and expertise has been added to the standard. In many cases, the P.E. retained to evaluate the integrity can also, under the same contract, be required to make recommendations for how to repair, maintain, or improve the live fire training structure.

The phrase “with live fire training structure experience and expertise” must be interpreted by each entity following its own local and state laws and guidelines. The intent is for the P.E. to have performed at least one live fire training structure project previously, so that the entity hiring the P.E. will benefit from the educational and research efforts performed, and experience gained, by the P.E. for the previous live fire training structure project(s). This experience could include a previous live fire training structure evaluation, the repair or renovation to an existing live fire training structure, or the design of a new live fire training structure. In many cases, it would be acceptable for a P.E. without live fire training structure experience or expertise to perform the evaluation as long as he or she has teamed with a P.E. with live fire training structure experience or expertise.

Although the standard requires only the “structural integrity” to be evaluated annually, it is advisable to have the nonstructural elements evaluated at the same time. Illustrative examples include the following:

· (1) A spray-on refractory concrete thermal lining is not a structural element. It is a concrete material on the ceiling intended to protect the structural concrete. Exposure to live fire training can cause it to wear out over time. Portions of it can loosen and fall out, creating a safety concern for occupants. Even though it is not structural, it is good to have the P.E. evaluate the condition of the lining concrete and advise on its repairs and maintenance in order to enhance training safety.

· (2)

Doors in live fire training structures at times do not operate properly, sticking shut during training and creating safety problems relating to emergency egress. The P.E. could evaluate this and make recommendations for repairs.

· (3)

A rusted hinge at a second floor window shutter could cause the shutter to fall to the ground below. The P.E. could evaluate the live fire training structure shutters and make recommendations for necessary repairs to enhance safety and durability.

A.5.2.2.4 Heat can soak through thermal linings and reach the protected structure, especially if the linings are cracked or otherwise require maintenance when live fire training occurs. This heat could damage the structure, a hidden condition that would otherwise go undetected if the panels are not occasionally removed to expose the hidden conditions.

A.6.2.2 See A.5.2.2.

A.6.2.2.2 See A.5.2.2.2.