Photos courtesy of author.
By Dennis Walton
In a previous article, I reviewed some techniques and concerns while operating on a pitched residential roof. Since we respond to multiple building types, we should be aware of the challenges of a flat roof. Firefighters often feel more comfortable on a flat roof simply because its flat. Although most of the operations performed on a flat roof are similar to a pitched roof, flat roofs can hold their own challenges and dangers.
平坦的屋顶结构可以在操作中起主要因素及其在工作时的安全性。您可以在住宅结构上找到一个平坦的屋顶，该屋顶可以由两x六英寸木材制成，带有½英寸厚或更大的胶合板甲板，然后是橡胶或金属屋面材料。在较新的轻质结构中，您可以找到带有1/4英寸厚或更大胶合板的预织梁和桁架，然后是屋顶材料。在商业建筑物上，您可以找到带有钢“ Q”或金属甲板的钢托梁，然后是一层薄层的混凝土或纤维板，然后泡沫，然后泡沫范围从½到两英寸，然后是橡胶屋顶材料，甚至是石头上面的泡沫。
Some of the common roofing materials are the following:
建筑屋顶。The traditional hot tar-and-gravel roof is built from three or more plies of waterproof material alternated with hot tar and ballasted by a layer of smooth river stone. Once made of tar paper, these types of roofs gradually are using more advanced materials such as fiberglass membranes.
Rubber membrane。乙烯丙烯二烯单体（EPDM）是真正的橡胶。耐用的材料类似于内管，但设计用于抵抗阳光的伤害。EPDM可以用紧固件机械地锚定，并用石头压载或粘合。
有关的：Ricci on The Job: Working the Roof”麦克唐纳在三到六层公寓楼的平面大火上”Destefano在住宅屋顶运营中
太阳能镶板。这是最常见的“特殊使用屋顶”之一。如果您可以进入屋顶并注意太阳能电池板，请考虑第二种选择。如果您所在地区有太阳能电池板的多个物业，请考虑与安装它们的公司接触以接收有关正在安装系统的最新信息。特殊使用的屋顶可以容纳另一种危险。如今，建筑商使用可用的每个空间来充分利用建筑物。您可以找到屋顶甲板，起居区，酒吧，烤架和花园。这些都在原始屋顶结构的顶部建造，并增加了另一层。
Make the same considerations when you access a residential or pitched roof such as using standard ground ladders, an aerial device, the interior stairs of an attached structure, and walking the roofline. Commercial roofs often have interior or exterior fixed ladders and hatchways that you can use. However, reaching the roof is when things can change. Typical flat roofs will have some type of parapet wall (a low way around the roof). The parapet can range from a few inches to a few feet in height. This is where you may need a second ladder to access the roof. Some aerial devices feature attachments that allow you to securely mount a roof ladder to the end of an aerial to provide access down a parapet wall.
一旦进入屋顶，请考虑打开它的最有益的方法。如果有屋顶舱口或天窗可用，则使用这些舱口通常更容易，更安全，而不是切开新的开口。如果您唯一的选择是切割，请考虑要切割的材料。链条锯和圆锯在木结构上最有效。
平屋顶,考虑所有你goi层ng to cut. When cutting, equipment you could use includes a shovel to remove any stone that is protecting the rubber roofing material, a utility knife to cut the rubber, a larger blade knife or drywall saw to cut the foam insulation, an ax or sledgehammer to break through the concrete, or a metal or wood cutting saw to cut through the roof decking. Make the hole as large as possible, starting at the safest point ahead the fire, making sure you can finish the opening before the fire reaches your area. Once the hole is cut, you can now use a steel roof hook to push through the hole to clear away any drywall or interior ceiling materials. After you complete the ventilation process, exit the roof with all equipment.
No matter a building’s construction type, we always must remember we are there to do one job: to help move the chemicals, smoke, and heat out of the structure, making interior operations safer for firefighters; this buys precious moments for any victims that may still be trapped inside. As this is being done, the overall safety of operating on the roof will be compromised, and members should exit the roof as soon as possible.
Dennis Waltonis a career firefighter for the city of Allentown, Pennsylvania. He is also an instructor for On Scene Training Associates, LLC, a FDIC International H.O.T. instructor, and an a djunct instructor at the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy.
