1. SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY FIRE VERTICAL VENTILATION TECHNIQUES

2. OBJECTIVES PROVIDE STANDARD VERTICAL VENTILATION TECHNIQUES
ESTABLISH A REFERENCE
PROVIDE CUT SEQUENCES
PROVIDE MOST BENEFICIAL TECHNIQUES FOR ROOF PROVIDED

3. PATH OF TRAVEL Safest, most efficient path shall be used
Utilize Load Bearing walls, Ridge and other strong points
Roof Type and Access shall dictate path
Sounding shall always be utilized

4. RESIDENTIAL TECHNIQUES
FIELD CUT
Technique used in the field and not from the ridge or load bearing wall
RIDGE CUT
Technique used to cut from the ridge to overcome challenges of Field Cuts
ROOF LADDER
Technique when steep pitch requires the use of a Roof Ladder

5. FIELD CUTS 5 CUT CENTER RAFTER LOUVER (CRL) MULTI BAY LOUVER
DOUBLE 5 CUT
HEAD CUT AND DICE
J-HOOK

6. 5 CUT CENTER RAFTER LOUVER
Most basic of field Cuts
Advantageous when rafters are min 24’ OC
Provides quick larger louvers
Foot Placement shall remain on structural members
Most Common on lightweight Residential
Top of chainsaw bar may be used to find 1st rafter

7. 5 CUT CENTER RAFTER LOUVER2 1
FIRE 3 5 4
5 CUT CENTER RAFTER LOUVER

8. MULTI BAY LOUVER Good option for first field cut on Lightweight Roof
Provides hole slightly larger than 5 CUT CRL
Panels will be offset to aid hook to louver
Foot Placement shall remain on structural members when possible

9. 1 2 F I R E 7 5 3 6 4
Multi-Bay Louver

10. DOUBLE 5 CUT CRL Good option for first field cut on Lightweight Roof
Creates 2 5 CUT CRL combining the head cuts
Provides to large louvers with one technique
Foot Placement shall remain on structural members

11. 1 2 F I R E 3 8 6 5 4 7
DOUBLE 5 CUT

12. HEAD CUT AND DICE Good option for Rafter Spacing less than 24”
Allows each rafter the ability to louver or pull back
Works well on low pitch roofs where larger louvers do not have the space to fully louver
Bottom cut may not be needed if roof decking allows

13. 2 1 3 4 5 7 8 9 F I R E 6 10
BOTTOM CUT AS NEEDED
HEAD CUT AND DICE

14. J HOOK TECHNIQUE
Quick option for 1X decking that is laid perpendicular to supporting member(butted or skip)
Will not work with OSB, Plywood or diagonal sheathing
Does Not Require bottom Cut
Easily extended with construction

15. 2 1 4 3
FIRE 6 5
J HOOK

16. RIDGE CUT
Utilized when roof pitch is too steep or surface has poor footing and crew is already on the roof
Provides an option for steeper pitch roofs
Situation does not allow time to obtain a roof ladder
Holes will usually be smaller

17. FIRE RIDGE CUT HAND SWITCH2 1
FIRE 3 5 4
RIDGE BEAM
RIDGE CUT HAND SWITCH

18. RIDGE CUT SINGLE HEAD CUT1 2
FIRE 3 5 4
RIDGE BEAM
RIDGE CUT SINGLE HEAD CUT

19. ROOF LADDER TECHNIQUES
Used when roof pitch requires a roof ladder for footing
Roof ladder will NOT eliminate sounding or diagnostics
Techniques include 5 Cut CRL with footing tool and a single bay cut

20. 5 CUT CRL FROM ROOF LADDER
RIDGE 2 1 F I R E 5 3 4
WITH FOOTING TOOL
5 CUT CRL FROM ROOF LADDER

21. SINGLE BAY DROP FROM ROOF LADDER
RIDGE 1 F I R E 4 2 3
SINGLE BAY DROP FROM ROOF LADDER

22. COMMERCIAL TECHNIQUES
HEAT HOLES
Louvering
Self Louvering
Pull Back Method
Head Cut and Dice
J-Hook
STRIP/TRENCH
Head Cut 3-4-5
Louvering and Self Louvering
Corral Cut
Drop Cut
Pull Back

23. COMMERCIAL LOUVERING From a Purlin (Panelized) From a Beam (Panelized)
Joist/Rafter Louvering

24. 2 SAW TEAM OPPOSING PURLIN LOUVER
Use with modern and traditional panelized roofs
Fast efficient way to louver
Used when difficulties are found with self louvering techniques
Creates 4’ X 8’ Louvers

25. 2 TEAM OPOSSING PURLIN LOUVER1 3 1 3 F I R E 3 1 1 3 2 2
PURLIN
2 TEAM OPOSSING PURLIN LOUVER

26. LOUVER FROM A BEAM Use with modern and traditional panelized roofs
Fast efficient way to louver with construction
Requires a Beam to be near intended heat hole location
Quick method for a single saw team
Creates 4’ X 8’

27. SINGLE SAW TEAM FROM BEAM
PURLIN F I R E
PURLIN 1 2 3 5 4
BEAM
SINGLE SAW TEAM FROM BEAM

28. JOIST/RAFTER LOUVER
Used with Flat Roofs with conventional/lightweight construction and trussed systems 2’ and 4’ OC Construction
Techniques Applied
5 CUT CRL
Multi-Bay Louver

29. SELF LOUVERING Used on Traditional and Modern Panelized Roofs
Technique louvers itself limiting workload of Pullers
Requires clear space below to allow louver to fold in
Requires 2 saws operating
Methods Include
ROLL-CUT-BUMP
Smaller self louvering and starting point
ROLL-CUT-CUT
Larger Panels but the extra weight could pull louver in

30. SELF LOUVERING ROLL CUT BUMP
PURLIN 2 1 3 F I R E 3 1 2
PURLIN
SELF LOUVERING ROLL CUT BUMP

31. SELF LOUVERING ROLL CUT CUT
PURLIN 2 1 3 F I R E 3 1 2
PURLIN
SELF LOUVERING ROLL CUT CUT

32. PULLBACK Used on Traditional and Modern Panelized Roofs
Requires Coordination and labor intensive
Last Resort when other panelized methods do not work
Requires 2 saws teams min
Panels must be pulled out of the way of the Cut area

33. 2 TEAM PULL BACK PANELIZED
PURLIN 4 6 8 3 2 7 5 F I R E 1 9 1 2 9 5 7 3 4 6 8
PURLIN
Cuts 5,7 and 9 as Needed
2 TEAM PULL BACK PANELIZED

34. HEAD CUT AND DICE Used on roofs with rafters spaced less than 24”
Technique Same as Residential but incorporates a 2nd saw
May not need bottom cut depending on decking type
Preferred with older conventional roofs with decking such as 1X

35. HEAD CUT AND DICE 2 SAW TEAM1 3 4 5 F I R E 1 3 2 4
BOTTOM CUT AS NEEDED
HEAD CUT AND DICE 2 SAW TEAM

36. STRIP/TRENCH STRIP AND TRENCH are used Synonymously
Used in conjunction with Heat Holes
Requires close coordination with interior crews
Techniques
HEAD CUT 3-4-5
DROP CUT
CORRAL CUT
Louvering and Self Louvering
Head Cut and Dice
Pull Back

37. HEAD CUT 3-4-5 Works best on rafters spaced 24” OC or larger
Based on 5 Cut-CRL with Long Head Cut
Can be used with 1 saw or multiple saws

38. 2 1 3 5 3 5 3 5 F I R E 4 4 4
HEAD CUT 3-4-5

39. DROP CUT Used as a last resort to quickly drop roof panels
Can drop panels between rafters or trusses or drop panels between purlins by cutting through rafters
Not recommended as primary technique due to falling debris

40. CORRAL CUT
Strip techniques used to isolate or “Corral” a corner section of a building
Utilize choke points if the building provides
Technique used will depend on roof construction