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HomeMy WebLinkAbout313.007 - Change-Over from Tank to Hydrant TRAINING AND EQUIPMENT MANUAL DRIVER / OPERATOR SKILLS 313.007 CHANGE-OVER FROM TANK TO HYDRANT EFFECTIVE: DECEMBER 2015 Current Revision Date: 09/21/21 Next Revision Date: 09/21/23 Author’s Name/Rank: Robert J. Garcia, Engineer Review Level: 2 Administrative Support: Tammy Williams Management Analyst II ADA PURPOSE The purpose of this policy is to define a standard operating procedure for performing a change-over from a tank-supplied pumping operation to a hydrant-supplied operation. APPLICATION Apply appropriate process and considerations when making hydrant connections while flowing water from an engine. OPERATIONAL POLICY This section intentionally left blank. OPERATIONAL GUIDELINE The need for an external supply and how it will be accomplished must be determined during size-up. It is the responsibility of the driver/operator to anticipate and confirm plans for a supply with the company officer prior to assignments being given to incoming apparatus. A 2-1/2” hose lines should not be put into service for interior attack without an established exterior water supply. PROCESS 1. Spot apparatus and prepare for standard pump operations, Training and Equipment Manual, Section 313.005 Standard Pump Operation. Section 313.007 Page 1 of 7 2. Supply hand lines as needed, Training and Equipment Manual, Section 313.006 Supplying Small Handlines. 3. Assess water supply/update command, as needed. a. Constantly evaluate the current water tank level status. Report any potential risk of running out of water immediately to the company officer or the IC as necessary. i. It is a good practice to keep the IC/Operations apprised of the water supply status when at half a tank, depending on fire conditions, and beyond that, as often as needed. b. Extreme caution must be observed over the total GPM flowing as it relates to the apparatus water tank capacity. c. It is imperative to keep the company officer or the IC aware of supply limitations before firefighters are at risk of losing viable discharge pressure. 4. Make the LDH connection at the pump intake valve. a. If making your own connection to a hydrant, select and flake out enough LDH to reach the hydrant. b. Tighten with a spanner wrench to reduce or eliminate possible leaks. c. Whenever possible, the intake on the driver’s side should be used. This promotes tactile awareness of intake pressures within the LDH during pumping operations. 5. Open the intake bleeder/drain valve for the pump intake valve. a. Opening the bleeder/drain allows air to be removed from the hose supplying the apparatus. 6. Remove any significant kinks from the LDH. a. Kinks can cause a loss in available water supply to the engine. b. Use extreme caution as a kink can suddenly occur while moving charged LDH, pinching the hand. Using a hose strap to assist can help prevent injury to your hands and back. Section 313.007 Page 2 of 7 7. Secure water supply. a. Make visual or radio contact with the firefighter at the hydrant and call for water. b. If making your own supply, carry appropriate tools as you advance the female end of the LDH to the hydrant. Flush, connect to, and charge the hydrant. 8. Close bleeder/drain. a. Confirm a steady stream of water is coming from the intake bleeder/drain, no air is present. 9. Open the intake valve slowly, making a controlled changeover from tank supply to hydrant supply. a. Do not allow discharge pressure to fall below or exceed target pressure PDP by more than 30 psi. i. This causes an unsafe situation for firefighters on the hose lines if over pressurization or under pressurization occurs. 1. Over pressurization causes extreme nozzle reaction and the hose line could possibly be too difficult to handle. 2. Under pressurization causes a reduced amount of pressure and gallons per minute to the nozzle, creating a possible unsafe condition for firefighters depending on fire flow needs. b. Apparatus equipped with a Pump Boss. i. Pressure mode maintains a constant discharge pressure and adjusts the engine rpm automatically to compensate for variations in pressure. ii. In RPM mode the Pump Boss maintains a constant engine rpm and requires throttle adjustment to compensate for pressure variations. c. Apparatus equipped with a Pressure Control Valve “Relief Valve”, simultaneously adjust the throttle to compensate for incoming pressure. i. “Two hands on the panel at all times!” ii. Monitor the intake pressure gauge and the main pump discharge pressure (PDP) gauge simultaneously. As soon as the intake Section 313.007 Page 3 of 7 pressure begins to rise or water passing through the intake valve is heard or seen, look at the PDP gauge and anticipate throttling down to compensate for incoming pressure. With Fresno hydrants, expect to throttle down to compensate for approximately 50 psi. iii. Throttle down slowly as pressure begins to rise to maintain a constant PDP. iv. Open the pump intake all the way. 10. Take note of the intake hydrant pressure from the Master Intake Pressure Gauge for the purpose of calculating the “Water Remaining” if large volumes of water are needed. 11.Fill tank. a. Maintain discharge pressures +/-5 psi. b. Filling the tank can allow you some time to continue operations from your tank supply if your water supply becomes interrupted. i. If your water supply becomes interrupted, you should notify Command of the issue. c. Open the tank fill valve enough to slowly fill the tank, but not enough to adversely affect PDP. Visually ensure the tank is filling. i. If apparatus is equipped with a Pump Boss Pressure Governor: 1. The Pump Boss can maintain a constant discharge pressure and adjust the engine rpm automatically to compensate for variations in pressure. 2. In RPM mode the Pump Boss maintains a constant engine rpm and requires throttle adjustment to compensate for pressure variations. ii. If apparatus is equipped with a Relief Valve, adjust throttle simultaneously to compensate for lost PDP as necessary to maintain proper pressure in supplied discharges. Section 313.007 Page 4 of 7 12.Ensure the tank is full and close the tank-fill valve. i. If apparatus is equipped with a Pump Boss Pressure Governor: 1. The Pump Boss can maintain a constant discharge pressure and adjust the engine rpm automatically to compensate for variations in pressure. 2. In RPM mode the Pump Boss can maintain a constant engine rpm and needs the throttle adjusted to compensate for pressure variations. ii. For apparatus equipped with a relief valve, adjust throttle simultaneously to compensate for gained PDP as necessary. Keep one hand on the throttle to compensate for lost PDP as necessary. 13.Check undercarriage for leaks a. Water. i. Bleeders, drains, etc. b. Fluid. i. Oil, radiator, etc. 14.Recheck the LDH for kinks and make necessary adjustments to remove them. 15.Observe the following: a. Water tank level. b. Engine Temperature. c. Oil Pressure. 16.Note abnormal noises or concerns. a. Motor noises, pump noises, etc. Successfully completes tasks within six (6) minutes. o Time is for training purposes only. Additional notes Section 313.007 Page 5 of 7 o Safety Concerns. o Need for further training/improvement in specific areas of IPE. o Any notes additional notes the evaluator offers. 17. Discontinuing LDH supply and break-down: a. Return the throttle to an idle. b. Ensure all discharges are closed and the apparatus tank is full. i. A reel line can be left charged. c. Ensure the Tank-to-Pump valve has been left open or open it. d. Close the pump intake valve. e. If a reel line is kept in service, slowly close the pump intake valve while simultaneously throttling up to compensate for the loss of incoming pressure as necessary. f. Ensure the hydrant is shut off. g. Open the intake drain and disconnect the LDH. h. Close the intake drain. INFORMATION Extreme caution must be observed over the total GPM flowing as it relates to the apparatus water tank capacity. Apparatus tank capacity can range from 300/400 gallons with a truck or patrol, 500 gallons in a Brush Engine to 500/750 gallons in a pumper. Two (2) fog nozzles on reel lines flowing 30 GPM from a 300-gallon tank only lasts 5 minutes without an exterior supply. Two (2) 1-1/2” attack lines can flow up to 300 GPM. On a 750-gallon pumper that can last less than 2.5 minutes. On a 500-gallon pumper that can last slightly longer than 1.5 minutes. Section 313.007 Page 6 of 7 A 2-1/2” hose lines should not be put into service for interior attack without an exterior supply made or is imminent. A 2-1/2” hose flowing 250 GPM only gives you 2-3 minutes to get a supply. A 2-1/2” hose feeding a wye and one 1-3/4” line for interior attack may be supplied from initial tank water, provided only one 1-3/4” is being used. It is imperative to keep the company officer or the IC aware of supply limitations before firefighters are at risk of losing viable hose pressure. During extended operations, be aware of elevating pump water temperature, even with the Pump Cooler valve open. When supplied by hydrant pressure, “recirculating” water from the pump to the tank and back to the pump again, using the tank-fill valve is not possible. Because of hydrant pressure in the pump, water from the tank-fill can simply pass through the tank, out the overflow, and onto the ground. This effectively keeps the pump cool. If water / mud accumulation is a consideration: 1. Close the tank fill valve and open a discharge to a reel line pulled some distance from the apparatus; crack the bale on the nozzle. 2. If the tank-fill valve leaks, close the LDH intake and operate off tank water. Recirculate using the tank-fill until needing to top off the tank again. The Tank-to-Pump valve can be left open to assure an uninterrupted supply in case of a catastrophic failure with the LDH. DEFINITIONS This section intentionally left blank. CROSS REFERENCES Training and Equipment Manual Section 303.004, Pressure Control Valves Section 313.005, Standard Pump Operation Section 313.006, Supplying Small Handlines Section 313.007 Page 7 of 7