Truck Co. Std 3 -Commercial Vent 3 Person Louver In Lieu of Pullback
ROHNERT PARK FIRE DIVISION
TRUCK COMPANY STANDARDS
Title: VERTICAL VENTILATION (COMMERCIAL) 3 PERSON LOUVER IN LIEU OF
PULLBACK
Standard Number: 3 Time Standard: N/A
TOPIC: Vertical Ventilation (Commercial) 3 Person Louver /Flat Panelized Roof
GIVEN: Truck Company, extension ladder, 2 axes in belts, 1 rubbish hook, and 2
chain saws or rotary saws
PERFORMANCE: Cut (3) four foot by eight foot vent holes on a flat roof
STANDARD: Using the proper cut sequence in a safe manner
REFERENCES: Truck Company Operations, John Mittendorf; Orange County
Fire Authority, Truck Company Operations
MATERIALS: Roof prop, PPE (including SCBA) extension ladder, axes in belts,
rubbish hook, chain saws and/or rotary saws.
PREPARATION: Commercial vent is essential to safe and effective interior fire
attack. Having consistency and proficiency in this performance is essential to
maintaining a professional workforce.
PRESENTATION
OPERATION: KEY POINTS:
1. Starting from the truck, ladder the 1a. Wearing all PPE
building 1b. Either utilizing the truck or ground
ladders
1c. Place secondary ladder
2. Retrieve tools needed to perform vent 2a. 2 chain saws or 2 rotary saws, 1 rubbish
hook, axes in belts
3. Sounds roof 3a. Before getting onto roof to ensure
structural stability
4. Crew walks along structurally stable 4a. Top plates, Valleys, Beams, Purlins,
elements of the roof Ridges
5. Sawyer cuts 3’ x 3’ Inspection hole 5a. Triangle
5b. First cut 45 degrees away from the corner
of the walls
5c. Second cut parallel to a wall
5d. Third cut perpendicular to a wall
5e. ID direction of roof structural members
6. Sawyers cut smoke indicator holes as 6a. Small triangular hole cut through the roof
needed decking and parapet
6b. Every 10 feet to 20 feet
6b. Assessing smoke and fire conditions
7. Sounders identify structural members 7a. Locate main beam and 2 Purlins close to
location of fire
8. Split crew 8a. Last sawyer in the line walks onto the
first purlin located
8b. Hook and first sawyer continue to and
walk on the second purlin, make a tool swap
9. Sawyer furthest from egress make ID 9a. Standing on purlin reach out and make
cut and is lead saw ID cut parallel to purlin to locate a rafter and
establish vent hole starting point
10. Sawyers make a head cut 10a. Standing on purlin reach out and make
cut parallel to ID rafter towards purlin sawyer
is standing on
10b. Stop cut 6” from purlin to avoid cutting
into joist hanger
11. Sawyers make down cuts parallel to 11a. Work towards means of egress
nd
purlin 11b. Roll 1 rafter and stop at the 2
nd
12. Sawyers make bottom cut 12a. Again reach out and cut parallel to 2
rafter toward purlin sawyer is on, completing
louver hole.
12b. Completes first 4’x8’ hole
13. Sawyers repeat this series of cuts to 13a. Move along purlins toward means of
create two more holes egress
13b. Create two more 4’x8’ holes
14. Crew on second louvers three holes 14a. Crew swaps saw and hook
14b. Hook louvers first hole cut
14c. Hook louvers second hole cut
14d. Hook lovers third hole cut
15. Crew falls back a bay and repeats cut 15a. If fire conditions require additional holes
sequence for three more holes 15b. Working toward means of egress
16. Once sufficient holes have been cut, 16a. With or against construction
crew cuts defensive strip
17. Exit Roof 17a. Crew sounds roof for structural stability,
while walking on structural members
17b. To egress ladder