6.2 Pre-Incident Planning and Site Assessment

6.2 Pre-Incident Planning and Site Assessment

Pre-Incident Planning vs. Inspections

It is critical for CFPS candidates to distinguish between facility fire inspections and pre-incident planning. While a fire inspection is a regulatory enforcement action designed to identify hazards, enforce compliance, and prevent fires from starting, a pre-incident plan is a tactical preparation document. Governed by NFPA 1620, Standard for Pre-Incident Planning, its primary purpose is to provide emergency responders (such as fire departments and hazardous materials teams) with the essential information required to make safe, efficient, and effective tactical decisions during an active emergency. Pre-incident planning does not focus on code violations; instead, it focuses on operational readiness, responder safety, and asset protection.

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Facility Layout Mapping

An accurate facility layout map is the cornerstone of any pre-incident plan. Responders need to quickly understand the physical environment they are entering, especially in low-visibility or high-stress situations. Pre-incident drawings must display:

• Building Footprint and Access Points: Clear markers indicating main entryways, emergency exit doors, roof access ladders, fire escapes, and internal stairwells.
• Structural Construction Types (NFPA 220): Identifying the building's structural composition allows incident commanders to predict fire spread and estimate the time to structural collapse. NFPA 220 defines five construction classifications:

• NFPA 220 Sub-classification Numbers: Candidate plans must record the three-digit sub-classification numbers (e.g., Type I [443] or Type II [111]). In order, these numbers represent the fire resistance rating (in hours) of:
  1. Exterior bearing walls.
  2. Columns, beams, and structural framing.
  3. Floor construction.

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Hazardous Materials Inventory

A major hazard for emergency responders is the presence of hazardous materials. A pre-incident plan must contain a comprehensive hazardous materials inventory, including the locations, quantities, and properties of all stored chemicals.

NFPA 704 Marking System

To provide immediate hazard information to responders, facilities must display NFPA 704 placards on the exterior walls, entry doors, and storage areas of hazardous materials. The placard is a color-coded diamond divided into four quadrants:

• Health Hazard (Left Quadrant, Blue): Rated from 0 (normal material) to 4 (very short exposure could cause death or major residual injury).
• Flammability (Top Quadrant, Red): Rated from 0 (will not burn) to 4 (rapidly or completely vaporizes at atmospheric pressure and normal ambient temperature, flashpoint below 73°F / 22.8°C).
• Instability/Reactivity (Right Quadrant, Yellow): Rated from 0 (normally stable) to 4 (readily capable of detonation or explosive decomposition at normal temperatures and pressures).
• Special Hazards (Bottom Quadrant, White): Officially recognizes only three symbols:
  • W with a horizontal slash: Reacts violently or explosively with water (critical for firefighters deciding whether to apply water).
  • OX: Strong oxidizer (increases the intensity of a fire).
  • SA: Simple asphyxiant gases (nitrogen, helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon).

Exam Trap: Symbols such as "ACID," "COR" (corrosive), or "POI" (poisonous) are often used informally but are not officially recognized or permitted under the NFPA 704 standard.

Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) and MAQs

The pre-incident plan must note the location of the master binder containing SDSs (typically in the security office or a Knox Box). Furthermore, the plan must detail whether chemical quantities exceed the Maximum Allowable Quantities (MAQs) per control area, which triggers additional fire barrier and sprinkler requirements under NFPA 1 and NFPA 400.

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Responder Access Routes

For fire apparatus to deploy effectively, the site design must accommodate large, heavy vehicles. Pre-incident plans must document access paths and potential bottlenecks:

• Designated Fire Lanes: NFPA 1 requires fire department access roads to have an unobstructed width of not less than 20 feet (6.1 m) and an unobstructed vertical clearance of not less than 13.5 feet (4.1 m).
• Turning Radii and Load Limits: Access roads must be designed with turning radii that accommodate the local jurisdiction's largest aerial ladder truck. The road surface must support the gross vehicle weight (often exceeding 80,000 lbs) of these apparatus, including outrigger pad pressures during aerial deployment.
• Key Boxes (Knox Boxes): To prevent destructive entry during an emergency, key boxes must be installed in approved locations (usually next to the main entrance). The box contains physical keys or electronic key cards for access gates, electrical rooms, elevator controls, and fire alarm panels.

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Water Supply Locations

During an incident, water supply is the primary tactical concern. The site assessment must map all available water sources, distinguishing between automatic municipal supplies and manual drafting sites:

1. Municipal Hydrants: Map the locations and calculate the distance of all hydrants within 1,000 feet of the facility. Note which hydrants are on different water mains to avoid depleting a single main.
2. Fire Department Connections (FDCs): Identify the locations of all FDCs. These connections allow fire engine pumpers to boost the pressure and volume of water in the building's automatic sprinkler and standpipe systems. FDCs must be clearly labeled (e.g., "Sprinkler," "Standpipe," or "Dry Chemical") and free of obstructions.
3. Static and Dry Hydrants: For rural or unhydranted areas, identify static water sources such as ponds, lakes, or cisterns. Document the location of dry hydrants (non-pressurized pipe systems permanently installed in static water supplies) and drafting sites where pumpers can draft water.