Cobra Cold Cut System

Transcription

1 Cobra Cold Cut System D38 A Summary: This standard operating procedure concerns the use of the Cobra cold cut system within Avon Fire & Rescue. This piece of equipment will assist firefighters to attack compartment fires safely from outside of a compartment. AVON FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE CONTROLLED COPY B Authorised by: Area Manager Operational Response C Approved by: Group Manager Bristol D Issued by: Operational Intelligence Officer, Risk Planning Unit E Freedom of Information Act 2000 status: Open F Security classification:

2 SOP D38: Contents/2 Document history G Review date Version Summary of changes Jul 06 V1.0 Initial issue Distribution history H Date Name Version Jul 06 All registered SOP manual holders V1.0 I Document owner: Station Manager Stn. 06 Southmead J Next review date: July 2007 K Filename and path: G:\Users\Risk Planning Unit\SOPs\D38 Cobra cold cut system L Impact assessment: Risk: Equalities: G. Watson (31 Jul 06) M Plain English: P. Davis (31 Aug 06) Notes: A vertical bar in the right-hand margin indicates an amendment since the issue of the last version of this document. This is a controlled document and is designed for back-to-back printing in accordance with the principles outlined in the Government's Protective Marking System (see Service Orders, Vol. IV Technical, Part 6 Security Government Protective Marking System.) Reference in this document to the male person should be construed as applying, as appropriate, to the female person also.

3 SOP D38: Contents/3 Contents Supplementary i Contents ii Checklist of pages 1. Key Information 1.1 Cobra cold cut system 2. Primary Information 2.1 Generic arrangements 2.2 Mobilisation 2.3 Equipment availability 2.4 Equipment use 2.5 Training 2.6 Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) 3. Supporting Information 3.1 Storage, testing and maintenance 3.2 Defects or damage 3.3 Defective equipment 4. Appendices 4.1 Risk assessment Cobra CCS NO Risk assessment Cobra CCS NO2-06

4 SOP D38: Contents/4 Checklist of pages Page Date Page Date Page Date Contents Contents/1 Contents/2 Contents/3 Contents/4 Key Information 1/1 1/2 Primary Information 2/1 2/2 2/3 2/4 Supporting Information 3/1 3/2 3/3 3/4 Appendices 4/1 4/2 4/3 4/4 4/5 4/6 4/7 4/8

5 SOP D38: 1/1 1. Key Information 1.1 Cobra cold cut system The Cobra cold cut system has been designed in partnership with the Swedish fire and rescue agency to combine a powerful and efficient piercing / cutting tool with a more traditional water jet extinguisher. The system is capable of generating pressures of up to 300 bar (4350psi) which, when combined with the cutting granules, are capable of quickly piercing even the hardest of building materials such as steel and concrete. The high pressure and nozzle design ensure that the water is ejected at high speed and in the form of micro droplets. These micro droplets, if injected through the hole created into a sealed compartment, are capable of great heat absorption quickly suppressing the fire and cooling the compartment. Firefighters then using more traditional methods can safely enter the compartment without the risk of flashover or backdraught in order to extinguish the fire fully The Cobra system, although primarily designed to enable firefighters to enter compartments where backdraught conditions are suspected, will prove to be a very useful tool that can be called upon to help suppress fire spread in difficult to reach areas. Throughout the development of the Cobra system within Sweden, it has proved to be successful on the following types of fire: fires in domestic compartments; roof fires; high security buildings; basement fires; ship fires; and gaining access / cutting The advantages of the Cobra system over conventional firefighting techniques are: reduced water damage as amount of water used is only 50 litres / min and atomised water quickly turns to steam; fine mist will penetrate and travel better than hose jet; firefighters operate from outside the fire compartment hence less exposure to risk; compartment is cooled before entry is made; can be used to suppress fire spread; creates own hole for injection; and enables attack of a fire where access is limited or difficult The cutting extinguisher consists of the following parts: a high-pressure water pump unit with working pressure of 300 bar (4350psi) and a water flow of 50 litres / min; abrasive pressure cylinder of holding 20 litres, abrasive mixture approximately 4%; distribution panel for flow control;

6 SOP D38: 1/2 a lance for cutting and fire extinguishing; 60 metres of 12.5mm hose for water and abrasives from the pump to the lance; control panel; and radio control system, etc.

7 SOP D38: 2/1 2. Primary Information 2.1 Generic arrangements The Cobra cold cut system is permanently fitted to appliance fleet number 51/05 sited at Stn. 06 Southmead. 2.2 Mobilisation The Cobra cold cut system will be mobilised as per our standard dynamic procedures. Incident Commanders may request the Cobra unit to assist in reaching difficult seats of fire or in situations where they deem it unsafe for firefighters to enter a fire compartment. As the experience of the equipment s use increases, it may be advisable to mobilise the equipment to a number of preset incidents, such as roof fires (such cases will be approved by the Area Manager Operational Response). Whenever the Cobra unit is brought into action, it must be used within an agreed safe system of work. 2.3 Equipment availability The officer-in-charge of each Watch at Stn. 06 Southmead will advise Service Control as to the daily availability of the equipment, having taken into account the serviceability of the equipment and the number of trained operatives on duty. 2.4 Equipment use The decision to utilise the Cobra cutting system will be made by the Incident Commander having taking advice from the Cobra trained operators as to its suitability and its likely effectiveness A message to Service Control stating Cobra in use should be sent Before Cobra is used the Incident Commander and Sector Commanders should warn others of the impending use of Cobra In all cases, the Cobra equipment will be used in conjunction with all manufacturer s safety instructions, and in accordance with the operator s manual Only Cobra trained personnel will be allowed to operate the Cobra lance or pump and all will be undertaken under careful observation from a safety operator / officer. 2.5 Training Only trained personnel will be allowed to operate the cutting equipment. Initial training for the safe operation of the Cobra cold cut system should be conducted by a suitably experienced operator / instructor. Training will include:

8 SOP D38: 2/2 equipment description; safety precautions; fire behaviour training; equipment demonstration; practical use; and first aid specific to Cobra A register of trained operatives will be held at Stn. 06 Southmead Continuation training will be co-ordinated and recorded by the Watch Managers at Stn. 06 Southmead A number of awareness training sessions will be arranged to familiarise Service personnel as to the benefits of using the Cobra system and to cover generic safety precautions The Station Manager at Stn. 06 Southmead will audit training records at least quarterly. 2.6 Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) It must be emphasised that the Cobra cutting jet can cause damage to unprotected skin at distances up to five metres; therefore, it is essential that any person that operates within 10 metres of the cutting lance wear the minimum level of PPE The minimum level of PPE is: full fire kit; helmet (visor down); fire hood providing chin cover; fire gloves; and fire boots It must be emphasised that PPE will not afford protection from direct contact with the cutting jet. 2.7 Risk assessment Sections 4.1 and 4.2 contain the equipment risk assessments.

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11 SOP D38: 3/1 3. Supporting Information 3.1 Storage, testing and maintenance Trained Cobra operators will be responsible for routine testing and inspections of the equipment as per manufacturer s recommendations / operator manual. Standard test results will be recorded in the standard test register. Service workshops will be responsible for the annual inspection in accordance with manufacturer s recommendations. 3.2 Defects or damage The Cobra equipment is designed and manufactured to very precise standards. Any defects, however minor, must be referred to the Service workshops. Under no circumstances should station personnel attempt to rectify the faults. 3.3 Defective equipment When any item of the Cobra system is found or suspected of being defective, the equipment must be immediately taken off the run The battery in the radio transmitter should be removed and placed in safe storage Service Control should be informed as to the equipment non-availability and repair organised with Service workshops.

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15 SOP D38: 4/1 4. Appendices 4.1 Risk assessment Cobra CCS NO1-06

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18 SOP D38: 4/4 4.2 Risk assessment Cobra CCS NO2-06

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