STANDPIPE SYSTEM OPERATIONS: THE STANDPIPE KIT
BY ANDREW A. FREDERICKS
With the many problems inherent in operating from a building`s standpipe system, a properly equipped standpipe kit will go a long way in making a difficult job less stressful. By planning in advance, you can assemble a standpipe kit that will ensure that the necessary fittings, adapters, wrenches, and other tools are readily available at the standpipe outlet selected for use. In addition to the standpipe kit that facilitates handline operations, a second kit can be assembled for the engine company chauffeur. This second standpipe kit can prove invaluable when a siamese connection poses difficulty or a standpipe system must be supplied through a lower floor hose outlet. Let`s examine these standpipe kits, the various causes of standpipe water supply problems, and the critical role the engine company chauffeur plays in troubleshooting these problems. In "Standpipe System Operations: Engine Company Basics" (Fire Engineering, February 1996, p. 33),1 I listed some of the tools and equipment carried in a typical Fire Department of New York (FDNY) standpipe kit. Now we will discuss each item in the kit and how to overcome various difficulties at the standpipe outlet.
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