LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Clarification on “Elevator Use”
The following remarks concern the article entitled “Elevator Use” by Elmer F. Chapman that appeared in the November 1988 isssue of Fire Engineering. They are made in an effort to clarify— not confuse—the issue of elevator use in high-rise buildings. These comments are the consensus of Assistant Chief Bob Ramirez, Los Angeles City Fire Department, and Chief Jack Bennett, Menlo Park Fire Protection District. Both of us have had actual experience in high-rise fires and are currently teaching highrise operations for the state fire academy.
The use of elevators in high-rise buildings requires a comprehensive knowledge of each elevator system (there are many) as the first criteria. The only way this can be accomplished is for the firefighters, officers, and chiefs to study the elevator systems and their operation and then actually get into the buildings and use the elevators in the different modes. “Getting into” the building is perhaps the area where the fire service fails the most. Preplanning is directly related to our survival in the high-rise fire and all other type occupancies.
Our other major concern is that firefighters may ride the single-shaft elevator in a building where a fire is reported or confirmed, thinking that they can stop two floors below the fire. Actual experience tells us that the elevator may go directly to the fire floor, regardless of the Firemen Service mode.
Our rule is: Don’t use the elevator system until the fire location, intensity, and probability of spread into the elevator lobby or control room has been determined by fire personnel on the fire floors.
Firefighters should not place their lives in danger by riding the elevator just because of the logistics problems and the time it takes to walk the stairs to the fire floor and size up the situation. The spread of fire may be greater while the firefighters are walking the stairway, but the safety of firefighters can be assured. There is no amount of property damage that can equal the loss of one firefighter.
The following comments pertain to statements made by Mr. Chapman in his article that we think should also be clarified:
- Firefighters must try their portable radios in the elevators to be assured that they actually work. In some elevators, the radios do not work. The time to find out is before the fire.
- In the event the elevator car does not stop at the programmed floor, the use of a pry bar will stop the car, but then you have firefighters trapped in an elevator, possibly between floors. It has been our experience that smoke and heat will bank back down vertical shafts, and it is very possible that these firefighters will now be exposed to heat and smoke in addition to the fact that they are trapped in an elevator car somewhere in the building. If these firefighters are your initial attack team, then you will have to assign another team before you will really know your fire behavior factors.
- The position of the elevator relative to the location of the stairways must be made prior to ever entering the elevator. Counting on that first precautionary step is very dangerous.
- The assumption that the elevator will respond to your commands by pushing buttons is foolish. Our actual experience has proven this to be a fatal mistake. It contributed to the death of a fire captain in Los Angeles; Chicago firefighters found that using the elevator to the fire almost cost them their lives.
- As a general rule, when an elevator’s behavior becomes erratic, exiting the car at the nearest safe floor is good advice, except why be in the elevator in the first place? Again, firefighter survival is top priority.
In conclusion, elevator usage in multistory buildings, including high-rise buildings, can be very complex unless you know the system. You must have knowledge that the elevator lobbies and controls are not affected by the fire before firefighters use them as a means of ascent to upper floors.
You must convey to your firefighters that their safety is more important than the property loss that may occur.
Jack A. Bennett
Menlo Park Fire Protection District
Elmer Chapman responds:
The comments of Chiefs Bob Ramirez and Jack Ben nett are appreciated and welcome because they let me know that people are actually reading and analyzing what I have written.
The use of elevators to respond to high-rise fires in New York City is looked upon as an extension of the fire apparatus in the transportation of firefighters to the location of a fire. We do not walk to fires because there is a possibility of an apparatus accident en route. We observe all safety procedures to ensure our safe arrival. The same can also be applied to the use of elevators. Safety procedures must be known and observed to ensure the safe use of elevators to transport the firefighters to the location of a fire.
There are companies in midtown New York that may respond to as many as ten alarms a day in high-rise buildings. It would not be reasonable to expect these companies to walk up to each of these alarms. They must be trained in and observe all the safety procedures that have been outlined for operating at high-rise building fires. The major problem that this frequency rate causes in the use of elevators in high-rise buildings is complacency.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
The use of portable radios in highrise buildings is a problem that has not been successfully resolved.
The use of high-band, super-low hand (Figaro), and cross-hand repeaters have all been evaluated with limited success. Radiax antennas running throughout the building have been tried successfully, but the legislation requiring the installation has not been promulgated. The most promising means of portable communications at the present time is the use of cellular telephones.
The transmission and reception of the handie-talkie radio in elevators is marginal. This problem is mitigated in elevators because all elevators in New York City must have a two-way hardwired communications system installed between the car and the elevator control panel, which provides a communications system of greater reliability than handie-talkie radios.
The location of the elevator in relation to the fire stairs can not be observed on the lobby floor because the configuration at this location is rarely similar to the upper floors. It can and should be observed from the floor plan, which should be examined before leaving the command post. In fact, it is recommended that a copy of the typical poor plan be given to each unit going to upper floors, however, the master must not be removed from the command post.
The safe use of elevators in high-rise buildings is a necessity in today’s fire service, as is the use of fire apparatus.
The training of prefighters and their observance of all the safety procedures are necessary to prevent any injuries while responding to a fire via an elevator. The safety procedures outlined in my article are not cast in stone, but should be expanded upon by those who use them. As a result of the comments by Chiefs Ramirez and Ben- nett, I will add to the safety precaution list. Keep the comments coming.
A new look without losing the old message
Congratulations on your “new look” publication. After reading your November Editor’s Opinion column, “Thanks in November,” I feel that you have successfully achieved everything you set out to do.
The most important thing, though, is that you achieved the change without losing the “professional guts” of the magazine. Fire Engineering still manages to be just one of the ever increasing tools needed by today’s firefighter.
Once more, congratulations to you and your staff. Keep up the good work.
Mark Collins
Editor, Fire Australia
Australian Fire Protection Association
Readers are encouraged to become authors
I have often enjoyed your fine publication for several years. As a member of the Lansing Fire Department and a longstanding student of fire science, I have been involved in several projects that I feel your readers might find both interesting and informative. Do you accept articles for submission? I find nothing in the magazine to either encourage or discourage the budding author.
Joseph H. DeFors
Lansing (MI) Fire Department
Tom Brennan responds:
Thoughts, ideas, and experiences of our fire sendee are the “heart” of the editorial direction and presentations in this magazine. I would love to hear from any or all of you anytime by mail or phone.
Manuscripts on any relative topic can be submitted to this office—always. Just take the time to type it (double-spaced) and support it with photos and diagrams that will get your point across. Manuscripts can be sent to Fire Engineering, Attn. Tom Brennan, 250 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10001.
Hope to hear from you soon.
