industrial firefighting

[rollnrack]

What size LDH do industrial firefighters use on their rigs. 5 or 6? I am looking for some logistical info. Feel free to respond to me personally also, info@rollnrack.com. Thanks.

[oldandwise071]

5" is the norm that I have seen along the Houston Ship Channel but you have to remember that the apparatus they use have multiple intakes so they can move a lot of water. Shell has or had 10" LDH but I'm not sure if they still use it, they did have some problems with it holding together.

[Weruj1]

if you do some checking in the apparatus forum here it was discussed, there was a refinery I believe that was running 6 " hose.

[oldandwise071]

There is a large volunteer fire department north of Houston who carries all 6" supply hose. You don't want to be the last mutual aid company on scene to help pick up that heavy stuff.

[Flochief]

We have 500' of 5" hose on a UPF foam trailer. I would like to have an engine, but management would not go for it. We are the largest coal fired power plant in the Southern Co. electric system (3500 MW).

[EricCSU]

The power plant near here uses 5" but ridiculously high pressure, something like 145 psi.

Eric

[Flochief]

Our plant uses 150 psi, We have 4 fire pumps each rated at 2500 gpm. They are set with pressure switches when pressure falls another pump comes on.

[EricCSU]

Yeah, 5" @ 150 psi, you do the math. You could definitely kick some butt with that flow.

Eric

[ScottCook]

5" with 175psi hydrant head pressure here.

[Weruj1]

you almost dont need an engine do ya ?

[TC33FF]

Oldandwise,

Which Dept went to 6" up north? When I was up there (5 yrs ago) everyone had 5" in the area. Just wondering.
chris

[TC33FF]

All the plants in Texas City have 5" most have Industrial Pumpers(2500 gpm plus) with multiple inlets. Chris

[firespec35]

We're kinda industrial (About 120 buildings with 3 milion sq ft of area but, mostly vehicle garage workspace and office area), We use 4" at 150 psi (Don't ask me why 4") but we have 2 pumps at 2500 gpm set up with pressure switches too

[gordoffemt]

I'm a FF/EMT at a large chemical manufacturing plant in Carrollton, KY. We use 5" hose on our 2 engines. The first out carries 2000 gal AFFF concentrate and 1000 gal water, with a 2000 gpm pump. Second is 500/500, 1000 gpm. We have 2 electric and 4 diesel fire pumps with 2.5 million gal. dedicated fire water (1 mil tank, 1 mil pond, .5 mil tank). Hydrant pressures are consistently around 170 psi. Ninety percent of our hydrants have monitor nozzles on them, along with two 2 1/2" and a 5" connection. It's a very impressive system.

You can view our apparatus at http://www.cincyfirerigs.net/dowcorning.htm

[ScottCook]

Originally posted by Weruj1
you almost dont need an engine do ya ?

Almost...

We don't even have to set the pump when working off the hydrant, just hook up the LDH and gate down with the line valves.

We have had the occasional car fire in the parking lot where the 2001 E1 FL112 with a 500 gallon tank and 2500gpm pump would come in pretty handy. But we haven't had a car fire since we bought this engine. I think the cars are scared.

[Flochief]

In your industrial depts are the depts located close to a paid dept? Do the fire brigade members have other jobs? like operators, mechanics, electricians or are they full time firefighters? thanks

[Weruj1]

In our area most people are in the plant performing other jobs that you mentioned. They are notified by siren, radio, or whistle of the emergency. Also, they are mostly protected by POC departments that may have 1 FT person, but not always the case.

[ScottCook]

Originally posted by Flochief
In your industrial depts are the depts located close to a paid dept? Do the fire brigade members have other jobs? like operators, mechanics, electricians or are they full time firefighters? thanks

They have other jobs.

We used to have a contract paid staff during construction that handled industrial safety issues, rescues, EMS and fires outside of the physical plant.

[gordoffemt]

In the county in which we're located, all the surrounding departments are 100% volunteer. Unfortunately, like many mostly rural, small, underfunded counties, our ability to rely on these depts. for a strong mutual aid turnout is hit and miss, at best.

We have 3 FF/EMT's on site on day shift (0600-1800) and 2 on nights. Our on site fire brigade is made up of volunteers within the plant whose primary jobs are within the production areas. All production techs, fire brigade or not, are trained to HazMat Tech level, as are the 10 firefighters. As FF's, we're also trained in confined space rescue, high and low angle rope rescue, and some water rescue as we're located on the Ohio River. We're responsible for maintaining and inspecting the site's over 1000 fire extinguishers and all of our sprinkler systems.

It's a good job that pays great money. The only problem is that there aren't alot of "bells and smells." But in this place, that is definately a good thing!

[BurnCMSFD]

Up here in Prudhoe Bay Alaska we use 5inch lined with heat tracing tape so it wont freeze, works well just a pain to roll up and is a little heavier, and we have watch out for shock hazards.
Burn
Prudhoe Bay FD