User:Rushthebeach/Draft Article on FFAS

A firefighter air system (FFAS) is a type of rigid air piping which is built vertically into multi-story buildings or horizonally in other mega structures, to which firefighters self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) can be connected, allowing firefighter to replenish their air supply within close proximity to the fire scene. In a fire emergency, firefighters can use FFAS to access air and refill their air canisters inside the building and closer to the seat of the fire without the need for extensive canister transport up and down stairs.

History
The FFAS was born out of the ashes of one of the worst high-rise fires in California history - the Los Angeles First Interstate Bank building fire of May 4, 1988. This 62-story structure was the tallest building west of Chicago when it opened in 1973, and was a landmark on the city's skyline. When a fire broke out on the 10th floor of the building, it took 383 firefighters from 64 companies to extinguish the blaze -- nearly half the force on duty for the entire city. They used more than 600 air cylinders, each one hand carried up and down 10 flights of stairs, to and from a mobile air truck located on the ground floor. The need for air was so acute that firefighters were breaking windows to get it - a dangerous and difficult act.

Within weeks of the event, fire service professionals from throughout California gathered in Los Angeles to gain insight into the causes of the fire and find ways to streamline future firefighting operations.

The group immediately identified the process of shuttling air bottles up and down the stairs as a major strain on manpower and a big impediment to efficiently fighting the fire. It was characterized as a misuse of highly trained, very capable firefighters.

These observations led to the concept of a standpipe for air that could be permanently installed inside a building, just as water standpipes are. Thus, the firefighter air system (FFAS) was born. One of the first buildings to be equipped with the system was the headquarters for software giant Oracle, a 15-story office building in Redwood Shores, CA.

To date, more than 300 FFAS have been installed in structures throughout the United States. FFAS has been utilized by some of the country's top developers, architects and engineers on such high profile projects as the Infinity Towers project in San Francisco, the Oracle headquarters and the Electronic Arts headquarters, both in Redwood Shores, CA, the San Jose Civic Center in San Jose, CA, the Department of Justice building in Sacramento, CA, the PeaceHealth Medical Center in Oregon, the Arizona Public Service headquarters in Phoenix, AZ and the Promenade project in Boynton Beach, FL.

In addition, FFAS have been integrated into the training facilities of a number of fire departments, including San Francisco and Phoenix.

Rescue Air Systems, Inc.
Anthony Turiello, founder and CEO of Rescue Air Systems, Inc. made that concept a reality. Since 1989, Turiello and his organization have pioneered and perfected the firefighter air system (FFAS) and in the process created an industry. They have continually refined the technology and streamlined the installation process, developing a portfolio of patented air replenishment systems and products that optimize the benefits of an air system while minimizing its cost. That action set Rescue Air Systems on a course of explosive growth, as 14 states and thousands of municipalities began requiring the system. To keep pace with demand, RescueAir built a network of certified installers and began licensing its technology.

Code Adoption
As word of the system spread across the country, jurisdiction after jurisdiction has amended its building code to require installation of the system in a wide array of buildings. In 2006, the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) amended its Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) to include a requirement for a firefighter breathing air replenishment system in buildings over 75 feet in height.

(IAPMO) UPC Appendix F. A portion of the code language appears below:

This chapter covers minimum requirements for installation of firefighter air systems. High rise buildings. Buildings greater than 75 feet in height where the building height is measured from the lowest level of fire department vehicle access to the floor of the highest occupiable story. System Components. Firefighter breathing air replenishment systems shall contain, as a minimum, the following components.

A.Exterior Fire Department Connection Panel

B.Interior Fire Department Air Fill Panel or Station

C.Interconnected Piping Distribution System

D.Pressure Monitoring Switch"

The Mechanics of FFAS
The mechanics of Firefighting Air Systems are relatively simple. They are described by many fire service experts as “standpipes for air.” Most of the system’s components mirror those of a standard cascade system that’s merely integrated into the building’s infrastructure. Its modular design allows for several variations to the two base models, enabling building owners and local fire departments to build systems that meet their operational needs.

The two base models consist of, the Rupture Containment System (RCS) and the Rapid Fill System (RFS). The RCS refills SCBA cylinders in the customary way, air cylinders are removed from the firefighters SCBA harness and refilled in a rupture containment chamber, or interior air fill station, that encapsulates the entire cylinder. The RFS refills SCBA air cylinders while they remain on the firefighters back utilizing an interior air fill panel.

There are seven different components to FFAS; the exterior mobile air connection panels (EMAC), the interior air fill station, the interior air fill panel, the air storage system, the air monitoring system, the system isolation valve and the piping distribution system. Systems are generally designed with either air fill stations or air fill panels. A more specific description of each component is as follows:

The Exterior Mobile Air Connection Panel
Consists of a locked box mounted on the exterior of the building or on a remote monument. The fire department mobile air unit connects to the FFAS using a high-pressure air hose providing the building with a continuous supply of air. Both moisture and CO levels as well as the system’s pressure can be monitored from this panel.

The Interior Air Fill Station (Chamber)
Consists of a stationary air unit that allows for refilling of SCBA air cylinders in a rupture containment chamber. The interior air fill station includes an air control panel in addition to a quick fill connection. Interior air fill stations are placed in fire rated locations, such as cache rooms, every three to five floors.

The Interior Air Fill Panel
Consists of a locked box mounted in the stairwell on every other floor. The box includes an air control panel and a quick fill connection. Rapid refilling of SCBA air cylinders is done while they are still on the firefighter’s back and if necessary still in use. The quick fill connection simply attaches to the RIC/UAC on their SCBA harness. Interior air fill panels allow for at least 2 air cylinders to be filling simultaneously.

The Air Storage System
Consists of a bank of large air cylinders and a booster pump much like any other cascade system. The bank supplies firefighters with a continuous delivery of air prior to the arrival of the fire department’s mobile air unit.

The Air Monitoring System
Primary function is to continuously monitor the FFAR pressure, moisture and carbon monoxide (CO) levels. If moisture or CO levels exceed the minimum acceptable levels, the system shows red flashing lights and digital readouts at key components. In addition, a supervisory signal is sent to the fire command center and an independent web monitoring station. In the event of an inadvertent over pressurization of the system, the air monitoring system also acts as a pressure relief.

The System Isolation Valve
Is placed alongside each interior air fill station and interior air fill panel. It provides the fire department with the ability to isolate the system. Isolating can be done manually or remotely from the fire command center.

The Piping Distribution System
Is permanently installed stainless tubing. The piping distribution system delivers the compressed air to all the building interior air fill stations and interior air fill panels. The stainless tubing also acts as a conduit in the interior of the building between the exterior connection panel and the air storage system. The entire piping distribution system is cross connected with the exterior connection panel(s).

Keys to both the Exterior Mobile Air Connection Panel and the Interior Air Fill Panel are kept by the fire department. Systems are generally charged to 4500-5000 psig and can contain enough air in the Piping Distribution System to fill several SCBA cylinders depending on the building size should owners elect not to add an Air Storage System. Friction loss plays a very minimal role; in systems with 5 miles of ½” piping it is virtually non-existent.

Noteable Examples
During the First Interstate Bank fire in Los Angeles, 383 firefighters from 64 companies used 600 air bottles in 3 hours and 39 minutes to bring the fire under control. The general consensus is FFAR brings a readily available supply of air within close proximity to the fire scene allowing for a safer and more efficient use of manpower. Coleman and Turiello are no exception, stating FFAR, “saves time, saves resources and saves lives. In the end, it reduces the loss of life and property,” eliminating the need to carry out this assignment frees resources for “fire attack, rescue operations, ventilation, evacuation, search and rescue, lobby control and other critical tasks.”

During the One Meridian Plaza fire in Philadelphia, approximately 100 firefighters were used for support operations including refilling SCBA cylinders. Three firefighters from Engine Company 11 died when they ran out of air on the 28th floor. The fire started on the 22nd floor of the 38-story building. The three firefighters who perished were attempting to ventilate the center stair tower when they became disoriented and exhausted their air supply before they could reach safety. The crew from Engine Company 11 was six floors above the fire, but heavy smoke conditions filled the upper floors. Eight members of a search team ran out of air on the 38th floor while trying to exit to the roof; they too had run out of air and became disoriented. Fortunately they were rescued by a crew that was helicoptered to the roof.

Rescue operations in high-rise buildings often take place several floors above the fire. FFAS rapid fill panels provide firefighters with the ability to refill their SCBA cylinders while on their backs and in operation even in toxic environments. Locating these panels in stairwells enables firefighters easy access to air whether remaining in operation or exiting the building through a hazardous atmosphere. In a scenario similar to the One Meridian Plaza, both fire teams would have had readily accessible air in the stairwells. Search and rescue teams as well as ventilation teams were as much as sixteen stories above the fire. This exemplifies the versatility of FFAS. It not only brings an air supply closer to the work area, it provides a ready source of air to trapped or evacuating firefighters.