FIRE ENGINEERING

FIRE ENGINEERING

OCTOBER 1991 • VOL. 144 NO. 10

45 DRAFTING HYDRANTS FOR HIGH-CAPACITY WATER SUPPLY For those areas that cannot be reached by public water supply, drafting hydrants can provide needed flows. Here’s how two towns overcame problems of excessive lift and distance to supply adequate water. William F. Eckman

49 DPW: A VALUABLE RESOURCE A unit that has trained personnel, a full complement of rescue equipment and rigs, and a software link-up to the weather service for updates on changing conditions? Sounds too good to be true, but the department of public works can lend these valuable resources and more during a natural disaster. James It. Gargan

53 MANHOLES AND THEIR HAZARD POTENTIAL Manhole explosions and fires can be deadly. You must know the type of manhole involved, any hazardous materials or conditions present, and how to shut off power before attempting mitigation. John M. Moschella atui Donald J. Cassidy

64 HIGH-RISE FLOWS WITH PRVs: THE BOSTON TESTS Flit management of Boston’s Prudential Center, a complex that includes six high-rises, enlists the help of the Boston Fire Department to test its standpipe system—a project that provides the opportunity to analyze the performance of pressure-restricting devices under fireflow conditions. Walter A. Damon

68 DIVING IN CONTAMINATED WATERS: TECHNIQUES You know the risks. You know what equipment you’ll need. Part three of this series examines the members of the dive team and the important role each one plays in a contaminated-water diving operation. With a sidebar by Andrea Zaferes and Walt “Butch” Hendrick on additional safety tips. Steven M. Barsky

6 EDITOR’S OPINION

10 VOLUNTEERS CORNER

14 TRAINING NOTEBOOK

16 RESCUE COMPANY

24 NEWS IN BRIEF

30 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

36 CAPITOL CONNECTION

60 FIRE FOCUS

79 HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

83 APPARATUS DELIVERIES

84 EQUIPMENT DIGEST

88 MANUFACTURERS’ LITERATURE