Tactical Operations Manual #04: Elevator Use During Fire Emergencies

General Objective and Administrative Information

• Subject: Elevator Use During Fire Emergencies

• S.O.P. #: Tactical Operations Manual #04

• Division: Emergency Operations

• Department: Baltimore County Fire Department

• Revision Date: 5/9/16

• Primary Objective: To assist Emergency Operations personnel in determining the appropriateness of elevator use during fire emergencies, outlining necessary safety measures, and explaining the operation of elevators using the ‐Firefighters Operation‐ feature.

Section 1: Determining Elevator Usage During Fire Emergencies

• Safety Overview: While built-in safety features mean complete cable failure is unlikely to cause a car to crash, the presence of fire, smoke, and/or water makes elevators a high-risk option. Fire Officers must collect specific information before deciding to use an elevator.

• Presence of ‐Fireman’s Operation‐ Feature:

  • This feature allows firefighters to take manual control of the elevator using a specific key.

  • Firefighters should avoid elevator use during fires if they cannot override the controls.

  • Elevators with strictly automatic controls must be avoided.

  • If crews are unfamiliar with specific firefighter operations for a building, they must take the stairs.

• Location of the Fire:

  • Elevators are only to be utilized for fires located on the $5^{th}$ floor or higher.

  • Personnel should identify the fire location and designate an attack stairway, as using these stairs is often faster.

• Extent of the Fire:

  • Personnel must use the designated stairway if there is any concern that fire has spread to the elevator control systems or components.

  • If fire has reached or originated in the machinery room, elevator controls are likely compromised.

Section 2: Safety Precautions for Elevator Usage

• Mandatory Feature: Never use an elevator that lacks the ‐Firefighter’s Operation‐ feature.

• Verification: Attempt to verify the exact location of the fire before taking control of the elevator.

• Shaft Inspection:

  • Prior to entering and periodically during use, the elevator shaft must be inspected for smoke, fire, or water.

  • Crews must stop the car no less than every $5$ floors to evaluate shaft conditions.

  • If fire, smoke, or water are detected, personnel must notify Lobby Control and immediately discontinue use.

• Escape Route Knowledge: Before entering, firefighters must note the location of attack and evacuation stairs to ensure they know which way to escape if the car opens on the fire floor.

• Occupancy Limit: Only one crew is permitted in a car at a time. This provides room to force an exit or use an emergency exit if the car stalls.

• PPE and Equipment Requirements:

  • Every Member: Must be in full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) with Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) and the face piece ready for donning.

  • Elevator Operator: Must be in full PPE and SCBA (face piece ready) and must carry a set of irons, a fire extinguisher, a radio, and a flashlight.

• Floor Selection Rules:

  • Prohibition on Fire Floor: NEVER go directly to the fire floor. Stop a minimum of $2$ floors below the Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH) atmosphere.

  • Exit Procedure: Exit at the designated floor and proceed to the ‐attack‐ stairwell to initiate fire attack (referencing Tactical #10).

  • Prohibition on Passing the Fire Floor: NEVER pass the fire floor. This creates a hazard where crews could be trapped in the chimney effect above the fire.

  • Basement Usage: NEVER use elevators to reach basement levels. Stairways must be used for incidents in the basement or sub-basement.

Section 3: Firefighter’s Operation ‐ Phases and Procedures

• Definition and Purpose: ‐Firefighter’s Operation‐ (also known as ‐Fireman’s Service‐) is designed to prevent occupant use and ensure personnel control. It allows emergency responders to gain control in the lobby or car, taking elevators out of automatic operation to increase the safety margin.

• Phase I (Recall Phase):

  • Controls are usually located in the building lobby on the ground floor.

  • Elevators are recalled non-stop to the primary recall floor when the fire alarm activates, smoke is detected in the lobby, hoistway, or machine room, or when firefighters use a key-activated switch.

• Phase II (Operational Phase):

  • Activated via a key switch in the ‐ON‐ position after Phase I is initiated.

  • Makes the elevator car operable only by the person inside the car.

• Phase III:

  • Triggered by an alarm from a first-floor/lobby smoke or heat detector.

  • Cars are recalled to a pre-designated floor (usually the $2^{nd}$ floor) rather than the lobby. Firefighters must go to this designated floor to board.

• Bypass:

  • Allows normal operations during system activation.

  • Used only when the building is deemed safe but enough smoke remains to actuate the alarm.

• Operational Steps for Personnel:

  1. The Lobby Control officer takes control and designates one person per elevator bank.

  2. Activate Phase I by turning the Elevator Recall key switch to ‐ON‐.

  3. Remove the key while leaving the switch in the ‐ON‐ position.

  4. Inspect the shaft for fire, smoke, or water.

  5. Identify proximity to stairwells.

  6. Inside the car, turn the Phase II switch to ‐ON‐.

  7. Press and hold ‐Door Close‐ until the doors close completely. Note: ‐Door Close‐ and ‐Door Open‐ buttons must be held manually in Phase II; they do not operate automatically.

  8. Press ‐Call Cancel‐ to clear previous floor selections.

  9. Select the floor button (specifically $2$ floors below the IDLH).

  10. Stop every $5$ floors to inspect the shaft. If conditions are hazardous, notify Command and exit via the tactical stairway.

  11. Press and hold ‐Door Open‐ until doors fully open.

  12. Initial Operations: If a dedicated operator is not yet assigned, turn the Phase II key to ‐OFF‐ and leave the key in place. This returns the car to the lobby for other crews.

  13. Hold Position: Turning the Phase II switch to ‐HOLD‐ keeps the car at the floor. Notify Lobby Control if using this mode.

  14. Fire Helmet Indicator: If the fire helmet lamp in the car flashes, it indicates smoke or fire in the hoistway or machine room. Notify Command and stop using the elevator immediately.

Section 4: Returning to Normal Operations

1. Return the elevator car to the lobby or designated recall area.

2. Turn the Phase II switch inside the car to the ‐OFF‐ position.

3. Turn off Phase I by turning the key to ‐Bypass‐ and then to the ‐OFF‐ position.

4. Confirm that the elevators have successfully returned to normal operations.

Section 5: Training

• Personnel and crews must familiarize themselves with buildings in their response areas and the specific elevator types within them.

• Subtle differences exist between manufacturers' ‐Firefighter’s Operation‐ panels and buttons.

• Mastery of these controls is critical, as a lack of knowledge can severely impact fireground operations, whether assigned to an initial attack crew or Lobby Control.