F-02 Fire Guard for Shelter (Citywide) - Vocabulary

F-02 Fire Guard for Shelter (Citywide)

General Information

• All applicants must apply and pay for the exam online before arriving at the FDNY.

• F-02 Certificate of Fitness: Allows fire guard duties within a shelter, including F-01 duties in shelters only.

• Application Fee: $25, payable online via credit/debit card or in person via check/money order.

• Exam Format: 20 multiple-choice questions, 30-minute time limit, passing score of 70%.

• Renewal: FDNY recommends online renewal.

Introduction

• Fire guards patrol emergency shelters, monitor for fires, eliminate fire hazards, and assist in evacuations.

• Supervised by the impairment coordinator, Coordinator of Fire Safety & Alarm Systems, or Fire and Life Safety Director.

F-02 Certificate of Fitness Requirements

• F-02 holders perform hourly patrols and fire watch duties.

• Certificates are valid for three years; renewals are at the discretion of the commissioner.

Denial, Non-Renewal, Suspension, and Revocation of Certificates

• Misconduct, failure to fulfill duties, false statements, unauthorized certificate use, cheating, or compromising examination integrity can lead to penalties.

• Non-Fire Emergency: Biological, chemical, nuclear incidents, explosions, medical emergencies, natural disasters.

• Owner: Person/entity in control of the property.

Definitions

• Building Occupants: All persons in the shelter.

• Central Station Company: Facility receiving alarm signals and reporting to FDNY.

• Emergency Preparedness Plan: Procedures for fire/non-fire emergencies, including evacuation/relocation.

• Fire Alarm System: System to monitor and annunciate fire alarm status.

• Fire Guard: Certified person responsible for maintaining a fire watch.

• Fire Protection System: Systems used to detect, alarm, extinguish/control fires.

• Fire Watch: Temporary surveillance for identifying/controlling fire hazards.

• Impairment: Condition where a fire protection system cannot perform its function.

• Impairment Coordinator: Person responsible for safety precautions when systems are out of service.

• Two-Way Voice Communication: Transmission enabling both parties to transmit information

Fires in Homeless Shelters

• Fires in shelters highlight the need for proactive fire safety measures.

• Fire guards should identify potential fire safety violations and ensure resident and employee safety.

Fire Guard Responsibilities

• Familiarity with fire alarm systems and emergency preparedness plans.

• Continuous hourly patrols.

• Constant watch for fires in areas with out-of-service fire protection systems.

• Maintaining patrol records.

• Reporting fires and assisting with evacuations.

• Knowledge of portable fire extinguisher locations and usage.

Fire Guard Patrols

• Inspect exits, stairways, and hallways, ensuring they are free of obstructions.

• Examine doors, especially fire doors, for proper operation.

• Ensure exits are properly identified and paths of egress are clear.

• Check for potential ignition sources and enforce no-smoking regulations.

• Inspect for trash accumulation.

Fire Guards on Duty

• Fire watch patrols are required whenever the shelter is occupied.

• Recommended ratio: one fire guard per 250 occupants.

Out-of-Service Conditions

• If fire protection systems are out of service, fire watch must be consulted.

• The fire guard assigned to the affected area continues patrolling, paying special attention to fire hazards.

Fire Watch Patrol Record

• Maintain written records of fire watch patrols for a minimum of 3 years.

• Record the number of patrols, defects discovered, violations noticed, and the fire guard's details.

Typical Causes of Fire in Shelters

• Overloaded extension cords, unattended microwaves, misuse of portable heaters, unattended candles, etc.

Common Problems in Shelters

• Failure to maintain proper recordkeeping and assist in fire alarm system inspections.

• Improper storage of recyclables, trash, and personal items.

• Propped open fire-rated doors and malfunctioning hardware.

• Open flames, unauthorized use of portable heating appliances, and smoking.

• Malfunctioning emergency lighting.

Non-Fire Emergencies in Shelters

• Medical Emergencies: Call 911, provide location and condition details; assist trained employees.

• *Bomb Threats: Call 911, do not touch the suspicious article.

• Chemical Releases: Call 911 and follow instructions from first responders.

Emergency Reporting

• Report any fire or explosion to the department immediately.

• Post emergency contact information in a noticeable location.

• Use cell phones and fire alarm pull stations for notifications.

Fire Alarm Systems

• Fire alarm systems can be automatic, manually activated, or both.

• They warn occupants by activating sirens, bells, speakers, horns, and flashing lights.

• Report any issues to the impairment coordinator immediately; do not modify the system.

Types of Fire Alarm Initiating Devices

• Smoke Detectors: Detect visible or invisible particles of combustion; clean and maintain regularly.

• Heat Detectors: Detect abnormally high temperatures or rate of temperature rise.

• Manual Pull Stations: Located near exits; single or double action.

• Carbon Monoxide Devices: Detect carbon monoxide levels.

• Sprinkler Water Flow Detector: Initiates an alarm when water flows through the sprinkler system.

Audio and Visual Notification Devices

• Include bells, horns, speakers, lights, or text displays.

Communication System

• One-way voice communication systems (public address) are common in shelters.

• Two-way voice communication uses warden phones near exit stairways.

Sprinkler System

• Sprinkler systems are required in homeless shelters.

• Automatic systems release water automatically.

• Sprinkler heads must not be painted over.

Standpipe Systems

• Standpipe systems provide water for firefighters to manually discharge through hoses.

Portable Fire Extinguishers

• Fire guards must be familiar with extinguisher types and operation.

• Use the acronym P.A.S.S. (Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep).

• Class A: Ordinary combustibles.

• Class B: Flammable liquids and gases.

• Class C: Live electrical equipment.

• Class D: Combustible metals.

• Class K: Cooking media.

• ABC extinguishers are commonly used.

Portable Fire Extinguisher Labeling

• Extinguishers are labeled to identify the classes of fire they can extinguish.

Portable Fire Extinguisher Tags

• Installed fire extinguishers must have an FDNY standard tag.

Portable Fire Extinguisher Monthly Inspection

• Monthly quick check to ensure extinguishers are fully charged, in designated place, and not tampered with.

Tents

• Some shelter locations are using tent type structures

• All requirements for fire safety including fire extinguishers, exit signs, no smoking, etc… remain the same for tents as they do for permanent shelter structures.

Lithium-Ion Battery Safety

• Lithium-ion-powered devices need to follow safe practices for storage, charging and disposal to avoid fire incidents.