Chapter 16: Ventilation

52. What size opening should the exit be when using positive-pressure ventilation?

2 times the size of inlet

11. When vertical ventilation is conducted in conjunction with water application, what is the desired roof vent opening based on UL's Fire Safety Research Institution (FSRI)?

4 ft x 8 ft

71. You are part of the roof top vertical ventilation group. You cut the hole in the roof and are attempting to break through the ceiling below but it is hard and not breaking under the force of the pike pole no matter how hard you work. What is the most likely cause?

A new roof was built over an older one.

23. What device should you work from if vertically ventilating a Type II construction building?

Aerial device

29. A transitional attack was chosen for the suppression method. When is the appropriate time to complete ventilation for this incident?

After water is applied from the exterior but before entry is made

9. What location is most desirable for your ventilation opening?

As close to the fire as possible

31. When a backdraft situation is recognized, where should the vent opening be made to release the hot gases and smoke?

As high as possible within the building

44. When a ladder is used to break glass out of a window, where should the tip of the ladder be positioned before forcing the ladder through the glass?

At the top of the window pane

26. You are working to ventilate an older Type V construction home. The fire is on the first floor. When you ventilate, where should you check to be sure fire is not extending due to the balloon-frame construction?

Attic

45. Firefighters are using the back door (C side) of a residential structure. Where should the ventilation exit be located?

Away from the entry, not in between the fire and entry point

30. What can occur when a building is charged with superheated gases and most of the available oxygen has been consumed?

Backdraft

4. You see smoke coming out a window. The smoke only fills the upper half of the window. The bottom half appears to be drawing air in. What type of vent is the window?

Bidirectional

66. What can be done to ventilate a flat roof quickly?

Break out or remove vents, skylights, or scuttles.

22. What is the simplest way to vertically ventilate a Type I construction building?

Breaking out skylights or HVAC ducts

21. You are working to ventilate a Type I construction building. It is determined that the building systems (HVAC, smoke, and heat vents) will be used. Who is your best resource for operating the system?

Building engineer

41. When breaking a window for ventilation, what must be done to the window opening to complete the task?

Clear the entire opening.

8. You are part of the fire attack group. As you move through the structure what can you do to slow the fire growth and help control the flow path for ventilation?

Close doors.

28. You are assigned to the vent group. The fire was located on the first floor of a residential structure. The hose line is not in place yet. What should the vent group do?

Close openings to reduce air and coordinate with suppression when ready.

62. Roofs supported by trusses give little or no warning that they are about to do what?

Collapse

13. You are assigned to the ventilation group. While walking around the structure, you see smoke in a room and decide to break out the window to release the smoke. You have not notified anyone that you are doing this. What should you have done in this situation?

Contacted incident command for proper coordination

56. When performing vertical ventilation what causes the smoke and heat to rise?

Convective heat

57. Where should the exit opening be located for vertical ventilation?

Directly over the fire

6. You are part of the vent group. You see the fire attack group open the front door and make entry with no one else at the door. As part of the vent group, what suggestion should you make to control the flow path?

Door control

43. What type of ladder should be selected if the ladder will be used to break out a window on the third floor?

Extension ladder

32. Which of these describes the rapid transition from a fire that is growing by igniting one type of fuel to a fire where all of the exposed surfaces have ignited?

Flashover

10. If ventilation was accomplished but it was not coordinated with suppression efforts, what can we anticipate the fire doing?

Growing

47. In some buildings, what type of systems can be used to provide mechanical ventilation?

HVAC

64. In lightweight roof construction, what is used to connect components together?

Heavy-duty staples or gusset plates

37. You see the vent group put a positive-pressure fan at the open front door and open a back door to remove the heat and smoke from the building. What type of ventilation are they performing?

Horizontal

58. Vertical ventilation should only be conducted when which of these will not work for the situation?

Horizontal ventilation

73. You are working to ventilate a basement and the fire attack team is not in the basement. You have coordinated with incident command to take a small window out. What should be done immediately after the opening is made?

Hose stream quickly directed into the fire.

54. Which of these is accomplished by using a fog nozzle placed 2 to 4 ft from an open window on the inside of the structure to remove hot gases and smoke?

Hydraulic ventilation

55. You are on the attack team. You make a direct attack on the seat of the fire but the smoke is thick. Which type of ventilation would be best used to help control your environment and to clear the smoke so you can see to continue operations?

Hydraulic ventilation

25. Buildings of which construction type contain a large number of windows? A large fire in this type of construction often self-ventilates as the windows break from the heat of the fire.

IV

2. You have been assigned to the ventilation group. Everything has been done safely and coordinated with the fire attack group. What would you anticipate the interior conditions to be like?

Improved visibility

49. Where should a smoke ejector be located when doing negative-pressure ventilation?

In the vent opening

5. You find a window open on the second floor. Smoke is coming out of the window and filling it fully with no air being drawn back in (single-directional). What else would you anticipate finding with this condition?

Inlet somewhere at or below the height of the openings

39. When attempting natural horizontal ventilation, where should your fire opening be made?

Leeward side

7. If we limit air into the fire compartment what can we accomplish?

Limit the fire's ability to grow.

72. What challenge may you encounter when trying to ventilate a basement?

Limited openings

16. The ventilation size-up should include which of these?

Location, size, and stage of the fire

70. What type of cut is performed by making cuts parallel to the roof supports, approximately halfway between each pair of supports and using each roof support as a fulcrum until you have a louvered opening.

Louver

24. What aspect of a Type III construction roof makes it easier for ventilation?

Made of wood

18. What type of ventilation is often needed to clear cold smoke from a building?

Mechanical

36. What type of ventilation requires fans or other powered equipment to introduce clean air or to exhaust heat and smoke?

Mechanical

35. What type of ventilation depends on convection currents and other natural forces, such as the wind, to move heat and smoke out of a building and to allow clean air to enter?

Natural

38. You respond to a citizen's home where they had a small stove fire. The fire is out but there is light smoke in the home. What would be the most appropriate ventilation method?

Natural

48. Which type of ventilation pulls or draws smoke, heat, and air out through openings in a structure using a type of fan called a smoke ejector?

Negative-pressure

51. Which of these introduces clean air into a structure using a type of fan called a positive-pressure fan placed in an opening?

Positive-pressure ventilation

40. When breaking a window for ventilation, what must be done before the window is broken?

Radio the officer and ask permission to break the glass.

59. When conducting roof operations, it is necessary to work from which of these devices?

Roof ladder or aerial ladder

60. You have been assigned to the ventilation group. It was determined that vertical ventilation is necessary. You put up a ground ladder and roof ladder. You have your chain saw with you on the roof, a charged hose line is ready, you have a pike pole, pick-head ax, and Halligan. What else should be in place for your team's safety?

Second means of egress

69. Vertical ventilation was necessary on a fire scene. You are part of the team completing the ventilation. What sign is used to determine if the ventilation is working properly?

Smoke conditions are lifting and heat is reduced.

76. What effect is the vertical air flow within a building caused by temperature differences between the interior and the exterior of the building?

Stack

77. When fighting a high-rise fire, which two areas are the most important to keep ventilated?

Stairways and elevator shafts

65. When metal trusses are heated, what happens to them that causes them to lose strength?

They expand.

15. What needs to be done in order to develop proper ventilation tactics?

Thorough size-up.

33. When flashover conditions are recognized, which fire attack and ventilation method would be most appropriate.

Transitional attack

68. Ventilation operations must not be conducted in which type of locations?

Unsafe

42. What should the position of a ladder be to work from when breaking a window for ventilation?

Upwind side and the tip of the ladder should be even with the top of the window

74. When venting a concrete roof deck, what is usually the most effective method?

Use vents, skylights, and other roof penetrations.

1. Which of these describes the controlled and coordinated removal of heat and smoke from a structure?

Ventilation

3. Your officer has asked you to determine the type of fire situation found and to assist in determining ventilation needs. What are the two types of fire situations you are looking for?

Ventilation-limited and fuel-limited

46. What may be indicated by a rapid movement of air into the structure?

Ventilation-limited fire

20. What phenomenon can occur when the fire jumps from a lower floor to a higher floor through exterior windows?

Vertical fire extension

53. What is an area of a structure on which positive-pressure ventilation can have a negative effect and should be stopped if fire is found there?

Void spaces

12. Which of these describes a situation where a vent opening is made on the upwind side of the structure on a windy day and an unlimited amount of air under high pressure is introduced into the structure fire?

Wind-driven fire

78. What type of buildings are similar to basements in terms of the ventilation approach to be used?

Windowless

61. When the ventilation opening has been made on vertical ventilation and it is working properly, what should be your next step?

Withdraw to a safe location

50. Which of these scenarios are TRUE regarding the use of negative-pressure ventilation? - Small kitchen fire with light smoke - Warehouse fire with 50% involvement - During fire attack on a residential structure

a is true, b and c are false.

19. Which of the statements below is TRUE? - Ventilation is the same no matter the type of building construction. - Building construction will affect ventilation. - Newer construction with modern contents produces more and thicker smoke.

b and c are true, a is false.

27. Read the statements and choose which are correct. - You should go to the roof and vent Type V modern construction if the fire is in the attic. - You should use horizontal ventilation of a modern Type V construction if the fire is in the attic due to quick structural failure. - A fire in the attic space of a Type V modern construction cannot be vented until the fire is extinguished.

b is true, a and c are false.

67. Before starting any vertical ventilation operations, firefighters must make an initial assessment with direct ___ with incident command.

coordination

17. The color, location, movement, and amount of smoke can provide valuable clues about the fire's size, intensity, and:

fuel.

34. Two methods of removing the products of combustion and other airborne contaminants from a structure are ___ and ___ ventilation.

horizontal; vertical

75. Metal roof decking is often supported by ___ steel bar joists.

lightweight

80. It is important to read and follow the ___ instructions for maintaining power equipment at regular and properly documented intervals.

manufacturer's

63. All roofs have three components: the supporting structure, the ___ , and the ridged portion of the roof between the roof supports and the roof covering.

roof decking

79. If possible, firefighters should use interior walls and doors to create several ___ compartments in a large building, thereby limiting the spread of heat and smoke.

small

14. A transitional fire attack does not reduce the importance of proper:

ventilation.