BY JOHN “SKIP” COLEMAN
Things were simpler a long time ago. Only wood and other common combustibles burned. Buildings were generally built with real “dimension” lumber. Today, buildings are built differently. Some are so large and the air-handling systems so complicated that they are run by computer and have engineers on duty 24 hours a day to tend to them. Windows in most modern high-rise buildings cannot be opened so they do not overrun or contradict what the computer wants to do with the air. (Please indulge me on this very simplistic description.)
I thank the respondents for their honesty. Eight of the 15 respondents said they did not feel they had adequate training in these systems. Only two [one from the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) and one from Oregon] said they believed they were adequately trained in these systems. Four didn’t really answer the question but provided information about these systems. One respondent said there were no high-rises in his jurisdiction. Some comments follow.
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