7.3 Preparing Preincident Surveys (JPR 5.5.3)

7.3 Preparing Preincident Surveys (JPR 5.5.3)

Quick Answer: NFPA 1001 JPR 5.5.3 tasks the Firefighter II with preparing a preincident survey using departmental forms and tools. The firefighter must record all required occupancy information, note items of concern, and prepare accurate sketches or diagrams showing building layout, fire protection systems, water supply, utilities, exposures, and special hazards.

A preincident survey — also called a preplan or target hazard inspection — transforms unknown buildings into mapped tactical resources before flames are showing. When the first-due engine officer can pull up a sketch showing FDC location, hydrant layout, and hazardous materials storage, critical seconds are saved and safer decisions are made. JPR 5.5.3 establishes the Firefighter II as a contributor to this intelligence-gathering process.

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Purpose and Operational Value

Preincident surveys answer questions that are difficult to answer during smoke-filled size-up:

• Where is the fire department connection (FDC) and is it accessible?
• What construction type determines collapse risk and ventilation strategy?
• Where are utility shutoffs (gas, electric, sprinkler)?
• What water supply is available and what flow can hydrants deliver?
• What hazards (chemical storage, solar panels, lightweight truss) affect tactics?
• What exposures threaten adjacent properties?

Survey data is worthless if filed and forgotten. Value is realized when information is entered into preplan binders, mobile data terminals, CAD annotations, and company drill reviews so every responding unit can access it.

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Required Occupancy Information

Departmental forms vary, but NFPA 1001-aligned surveys consistently capture:

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Water Supply Sources for Fire Protection

Document every available water source within practical reach of the occupancy:

Municipal Hydrants

• Location on sketch with distance from FDC and main entrances
• Type: wet barrel vs. dry barrel (climate-dependent)
• Steamer port size (typically 4½-inch or 5-inch)
• Flow class from last flow test (e.g., 1,000 GPM at 20 psi residual)
• Color coding per local AHJ (some jurisdictions paint bonnets by flow)

On-Site Private Systems

• Fire pump rated GPM and pressure; diesel vs. electric; auto-start
• Gravity tanks on roof or hillside
• Private hydrants on large campuses or industrial sites
• Drafting sources: ponds, rivers, swimming pools (note access and depth)

Static Sources and Shuttle Considerations

• When hydrants are distant or absent, note fill sites, tender access routes, and portable tank deployment areas

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Fire Suppression and Detection Systems Fundamentals

Automatic Sprinkler Systems

• Wet pipe: water-filled pipes; fastest response; vulnerable to freezing
• Dry pipe: pressurized air in pipes until activation; used in unheated spaces
• Preaction: requires detection plus sprinkler activation; protects high-value contents
• Deluge: all heads open; used for high-hazard industrial processes

Record: riser location, system type, coverage area, last inspection date, and sprinkler shutoff valve location with supervisory switch status.

Standpipe Systems

• Class I: 2½-inch connections for fire department use in stairwells
• Class II: 1½-inch hose cabinets for occupant use (older buildings)
• Class III: Combination of I and II

Note standpipe outlet locations on each floor and whether system is wet or dry.

Fire Department Connection (FDC)

The FDC allows the engine to pump supplemental water into the sprinkler or standpipe system. Verify and document:

• Physical location (street side, alley, recessed courtyard)
• Thread type and inlet count (single, Siamese dual)
• Cap and swivel condition; clapper function
• Signage and clearance for engine positioning
• Check valve direction (prevents backflow into street)

Fire Detection and Alarm

• Fire alarm control panel location and annunciator
• Manual pull station locations at exits
• Detection type: smoke, heat, beam, duct
• Monitoring company and automatic dispatch arrangement

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Common Preplan Symbols

Accurate sketches use standardized symbols so any firefighter can read the diagram. Common symbols taught in fire academy preplanning courses:

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                    COMMON PREINCIDENT SURVEY SYMBOLS                   |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
|  Hydrant ............... ⬡ (hexagon) or labeled "H"                  |
|  FDC ................... rectangle with "FDC" or twin circles        |
|  Standpipe outlet ...... "SP" in stairwell location                  |
|  Sprinkler riser ....... "SR" or triangle at riser room              |
|  Gas shutoff ............. "G" with valve symbol                     |
|  Electric shutoff ........ "E" at main panel                         |
|  Sprinkler shutoff ....... "SSV" at riser control valve              |
|  Knox box ................ "K" at entrance                             |
|  Hazardous materials ..... "HM" or flame in triangle (NFPA 704 area) |
|  Exposure building ....... dashed outline with label                   |
|  Apparatus staging ....... arrow showing recommended engine position |
|  Loading dock ............ rectangle at rear with height clearance   |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

Use a north arrow, scale bar or noted dimensions, and legend on every sketch. Label floor levels (B1, 1, 2, Roof) for multi-story occupancies.

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Sketching Site Plans and Building Diagrams

Site Plan (Bird's-Eye View)

• Property lines, building footprint, access roads, and gate locations
• Hydrant positions relative to FDC and entrances
• Exposure buildings with distances noted
• Apparatus staging and aerial device positioning areas
• Hazardous outdoor storage (propane cages, dumpster enclosures)

Floor Plans (Per Level)

• Stairwell and elevator shaft locations
• Standpipe and hose cabinet positions
• Sprinkler riser and shutoff valve rooms
• High-hazard areas (boiler room, chemical storage, commercial kitchen)
• Knox box and alarm panel locations

Accuracy Standards

• Measure or pace approximate dimensions; note "approx" when estimated
• Photograph FDC, riser rooms, and hazards; attach to preplan per SOP
• Update sketch after renovations, tenant change, or system modification
• Date every revision; destroy superseded versions to prevent confusion

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Identifying Items of Concern and Special Considerations

Flag conditions that alter standard tactics:

• Lightweight truss roof or floor assemblies (early collapse risk)
• Solar photovoltaic panels on roof (electrocution hazard, ventilation difficulty)
• Lithium-ion battery storage (thermal runaway, re-ignition)
• Substantial quantities of flammable liquids without proper storage
• Atrium or open mall design affecting smoke movement
• Fixed fire suppression other than sprinklers (kitchen hood systems, clean agent rooms)
• Security bars, roll-down shutters, or fortified doors impeding entry
• Marquee, billboard, or decorative facade collapse hazard

Each item of concern should include a brief tactical note: "Roof PV arrays — avoid cutting directly above panels; secure DC disconnect at inverter room (east wall)."

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Departmental Requirements and Form Completion

Follow assignment orders precisely:

1. Obtain forms, tools (measuring wheel, camera, clipboard), and PPE
2. Contact building representative; explain purpose and scope
3. Conduct systematic walk-through of interior and exterior
4. Complete all form fields; attach sketches and photos
5. Submit to company officer or prevention bureau within required timeframe
6. Enter data into CAD/preplan system per SOP

Incomplete surveys — missing FDC location, blank construction type, undated sketches — fail JPR 5.5.3 and provide false confidence to responding crews.

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Integration with Company Operations

Preincident survey value is maximized when:

• First-due companies drill on preplan contents quarterly
• Night-shift crews review preplans for target hazards in their district
• Dispatch pushes preplan alerts when alarm assigned to preplanned address
• Renovation permits trigger automatic survey update assignments

The Firefighter II who prepares accurate, accessible preincident surveys directly improves every subsequent response to that occupancy.