FLSD Safety Emergency Response 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The FLSD's role at the fire command station when FDNY arrives is best described as:
- Stepping back and allowing FDNY to take over all FCS operations
- Remaining at the FCS to assist FDNY with building systems, communications, and information (Correct answer)
- Transferring all FLSD authority to the FDNY battalion chief
- Recording FDNY actions for later report to building management
Correct answer: Remaining at the FCS to assist FDNY with building systems, communications, and information
The FLSD remains at the fire command station throughout the emergency, operating building systems under FDNY direction and providing essential building knowledge to the incident commander.
The FLSD serves as the critical link between FDNY incident command and the building's physical systems. At the fire command station, the FLSD: operates elevator controls (Phase I/II) at FDNY direction; uses the voice communication system to relay FDNY instructions to specific floors; provides floor plans and equipment locations; monitors floor evacuation status and communicates it to FDNY IC; operates HVAC controls as directed; and maintains communication with all floor wardens. FDNY has tactical command — the FLSD has building system knowledge and controls. The partnership between FDNY and FLSD at the FCS is a cornerstone of high-rise fire response.
Question 2: NYC Fire Code requires that the FLSD be present in the building during which hours?
- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- All hours the building is occupied, with a qualified deputy always on duty (Correct answer)
- Only during normal business hours (9 AM to 5 PM on weekdays)
- Only when there is a scheduled fire drill or FDNY inspection
Correct answer: All hours the building is occupied, with a qualified deputy always on duty
FDNY requires FLSD coverage during all hours the building is occupied — when the FLSD is unavailable, a qualified deputy FLSD with an F-58 certificate must be on duty.
NYC Fire Code Section 403.3 requires that a Fire Safety Director (or qualified deputy) be present whenever the building is occupied. For 24/7 occupied buildings, this means around-the-clock FLSD coverage across all shifts. The FLSD establishes a coverage schedule, ensures deputies are properly certified (F-58 certificate), and trains them to perform FLSD functions. Gaps in coverage — even brief ones — must be avoided. The FLSD documents coverage schedules and maintains records of who was on duty during any incidents or FDNY inspections.
Question 3: During a fire emergency, a floor warden reports that 40 people are using the stairwell and it is becoming dangerously congested. The FLSD should:
- Tell everyone to run faster to clear the congestion
- Announce via PA for occupants to hold at the next landing until congestion clears, or redirect to an alternate stairwell (Correct answer)
- Tell people to use the elevators to speed up evacuation
- Instruct the floor warden to physically push people through the stairwell
Correct answer: Announce via PA for occupants to hold at the next landing until congestion clears, or redirect to an alternate stairwell
Stairwell congestion must be managed via PA announcements — directing occupants to pause at landings, maintain single file, or use alternate stairwells to distribute the load.
Stairwell congestion during high-rise evacuation is a serious hazard — falls and crush injuries can occur. The FLSD manages congestion through the Class E voice communication system: (1) announce to specific floors to pause at a landing and wait before proceeding; (2) redirect some floors to alternate stairwells to distribute load; (3) direct floors closer to ground level to exit quickly while upper floors wait; (4) alert FDNY incident command to the congestion. The FLSD uses their knowledge of stairwell capacities and the real-time input from floor wardens to manage traffic flow, preventing dangerous crush conditions.
Question 4: What is the significance of the FDNY battalion chief designating a 'staging area' during a high-rise fire response?
- It is where all building occupants must assemble for accountability
- It is where FDNY positions equipment and personnel for deployment to the fire floor (Correct answer)
- It is the area where injured occupants receive first aid
- It is the location where the FLSD must go during FDNY operations
Correct answer: It is where FDNY positions equipment and personnel for deployment to the fire floor
The FDNY staging area is where firefighting equipment and personnel are staged for deployment — typically two floors below the fire — separate from occupant assembly areas.
FDNY typically establishes a staging area two floors below the fire floor in high-rise incidents. This location is: close enough for rapid deployment, below the fire so firefighters are not in the smoke plume, accessible via stairwell with standpipe connections, and outside the evacuation flow if possible. The FLSD must know that the staging area is for FDNY personnel only — not for building occupants. The FLSD ensures this floor is clear of occupants and accessible to FDNY, and coordinates with floor wardens to keep evacuating occupants moving past the staging floor.
Question 5: A deputy fire safety director is performing FLSD duties and encounters an emergency they are unsure how to handle. They should:
- Handle the situation as best they can without contacting the FLSD to avoid appearing incompetent
- Contact the FLSD immediately for guidance while continuing to take appropriate immediate actions (Correct answer)
- Evacuate the building and call 911 for any uncertain situation
- Wait for the FLSD to return before taking any action
Correct answer: Contact the FLSD immediately for guidance while continuing to take appropriate immediate actions
Deputies should contact the FLSD for guidance on complex situations while simultaneously taking appropriate immediate safety actions — no emergency should wait for the FLSD to physically arrive.
Deputies are trained for most scenarios but may encounter unusual situations. The correct approach: (1) take immediate required actions (acknowledge alarm, initiate PA, call FDNY if confirmed emergency — these cannot wait); (2) contact the FLSD via phone for guidance while managing the situation; (3) document all actions taken; (4) if the FLSD cannot be reached, proceed with training and judgment — uncertainty is not a reason for inaction. The FLSD establishes clear protocols for deputies and remains available by phone during off-duty hours when only deputies are present.
Question 6: The FLSD notices that a fire extinguisher has been partially discharged and its pressure gauge is in the 'recharge' zone. The FLSD should:
- Recharge the extinguisher using a CO2 cartridge from the maintenance room
- Tag the extinguisher as out of service and arrange immediate professional recharging or replacement (Correct answer)
- Leave the extinguisher in place until the annual inspection when it can be recharged
- Mark the extinguisher with tape to indicate it has been used and may be partially effective
Correct answer: Tag the extinguisher as out of service and arrange immediate professional recharging or replacement
A partially discharged extinguisher must be immediately taken out of service, tagged, and sent for professional recharging or replacement — a partially charged extinguisher may fail during a fire.
Fire extinguishers showing any discharge (pressure gauge in red/recharge zone, visible discharge residue, broken tamper seal) must be removed from service immediately. A partially charged extinguisher may have insufficient agent to extinguish a fire and gives a false sense of security. The FLSD: (1) removes the extinguisher from its mounting and tags it 'OUT OF SERVICE'; (2) arranges immediate professional recharging or replacement by a licensed service company; (3) replaces it with a fully charged extinguisher in the same location; (4) documents the event in the fire safety log. NEVER return a used extinguisher to service without professional maintenance.
FLSD Safety Emergency Response 2
The FLSD's role at the fire command station when FDNY arrives is best described as: