Finding III.D. - Hydrant Inspections, Sprinkler Systems flow testing, and fire protection stand pipe testing are incomplete.
Examples:
1. Hydrant inspection instruction requires several information entries that the inspection form does not list and is therefore the information is not documented.
2. Hydrant inspection form found to have areas crossed out and typographical errors (for example - one hydrant was listed twice, each carried as active - both received monthly inspections -one was a typographical error and did not actually exist).
3. Per Instruction 1, Fire Hydrants must be flushed in the spring and winterized in the winter - no records exist to verify that either item is performed.
4. There are no sprinkler flow test records since 10/28/84, therefore, there is no documentation that any flow test has been performed.
5. A cooling tower sprinkler system has been out of service since 1983 (Bldg. 34/35).
6. There are no records indicating that dry pipe sprinkler systems have been flow tested. The day shift
captain indicated that the systems were last flow tested 10/5/85.
7. Per IP Instruction 1. stand pipes are required to be flow tested annually - no flow testing has been performed.
8. Two different sprinkler system inspection forms are being used different information is required by each.
9. A main drain test on wet pipe sprinkler systems is required by NFPA - there is no evidence that such a test is performed.
Bldg. 83 - OSSY sprinkler valve is neither locked nor supervised.
Bldg. 18 - computer room - Ist floor - the only extinguishers available are pressurized water, halon should be installed for use on electronic data processing equipment.
Comments:
Incident Prevention instruction fire hydrant inspection records require several inspection items. Information that is maintained has several items crossed out (without explanation) and typographical errors.
Although fire hydrants are probably winterized for cold weather and flushed in the spring there are no records to verify as such. As a result, fire hydrants may be forgotten and freeze during cold weather.
There is no record of sprinkler system flow tests since 10/28/84. Problems may have developed and no corrective actions taken regarding the systems. Therefore, there may be inoperative systems. All sprinkle systems should be flow tested as soon as possible, properly documented, and deficiencies corrected as necessary.
The Bldg. 34/35 cooling tower sprinkler system has not been in operation since 1983. Cooling towers are considered a high fire hazard because of the structural designed. In addition, the controlling OSSY valve is rusted shut.
So that fire protection water mains are free from obstructions, a main drain test is required (NFPA). No such test is currently performed. Areas of the fire protection water supply main may be partially obstructed and as a result render the sprinkler system ineffective.
Recommendation:
1. Revise the hydrant inspection form to include all information required by Incident Prevention Instruction 1.
2. Ensure fire hydrants are flushed in the spring and winterized in the winter and properly documented.
3. Immediately flow test all sprinkler systems and properly document the tests.
4. Repair and restore the Bldg. 34/35 (cooling tower) sprinkler system as soon as possible.
5. Properly document dry pipe sprinkler system inspections.
6. Revise the sprinkler system inspection form so that data entries are consistent.
7. Ensure all OSSY valves are either locked or properly supervised.
B. Evaluate all computer operations on site and determine if portable fire extinguishers are proper for the protection of electronic data processing equipment.
9. Flow test and properly document the data regarding fire protection stand pipes.
Finding III. E. - Fire Hose Maintenance records are incomplete
Examples:
1. Records for individual hose lengths require the following information per IP instructions:
1. Part number
2. Length of hose
3. Type of hose
4. Construction of hose
5. Date hose was received
6. Acceptance test pressure
7. Record of hose repairs
8. Actual damage
9. Exposure to hazard (e.g., frozen)
10. Reasons removed from service
11. Reasons condemned
The record card has no place to enter the above required information.
2. Hydrostatic tests for several lengths of hose have not been performed since 1983.
3. Some hose record cards are blank.
4. Several lengths of hose require a 1985 test. The IP instruction requires that all hose be hydrostatically tested by 31 Oct. each year. The day shift captain indicated that the test will not be completed within the required time period.
Recommendations:
1. Review and revise PIV inspection forms
5. 3" hose on fire apparatus - there are no hose identification numbers visible. The record cards cannot be linked to individual hose lengths.
6. Bldg. 83 - stand pipe hose is not hydrostatically tested tested - are no cards in the record system for such hose.
Comments:
The record keeping system regarding fire hose is lacking several items required by the governing Incident Prevention instruction. Because required data is not maintained, out of service hose (condemned for fire protection use) may be inadvertently returned to service.
Ultimate heat sink (UHS)** hose does not receive a hydrostatic test in accordance with NFPA requirements. Specifically, NFPA requires no more than 300 feet total length of each hose line to be tested. UHS hose is hydrostatic tested in lengths that exceed 6000 feet. Because ultimate heat sink hose is not considered fire hose, such hose is not required to comply with NFPA. However, inspection of the fire apparatus indicated that ultimate heat sink hose was placed on the apparatus and intended to be used for fire protection purposes.
Recommendations:
1. Records regarding fire hose should be revised to include information as required by Incident Prevention Instruction and NFPA.
2. Hydrostatically test all fire hose as required by the Incident Prevention Instruction and NFPA.
3. Revise the Incident Prevention hose test Instruction to not require that all fire protection hose be inspected by 31 October of each year or ensure that all fire hose is tested with the self Imposed time frame. NFPA requires only that fire hose be hydrostatically tested annually.
4. Ensure hose test records are properly maintained.
5. Hose used for ultimate heat sink purposes should be removed from the fire apparatus and all UHS hose labeled, as "NOT FOR FIRE PROTECTION PURPOSES."
Finding III. F. - Personal Qualification Records are not being maintained
1. Two individuals have lapsed EMT qualifications.
2. Newly hired persons must go through a qualification program, once in the job there is no annual refresher or re-qualification for IP operations.
3. Newly hired persons must obtain many signatures to be qualified, these signatures are recorded in a qualification sign-off manual. No such record of qualification exists for other IP personnel.
4. Ambulance drivers: Per site Instruction 4.0, the supervisor IP must post a list of qualified drivers in the firehouse and the badge house. There was no list in the badge house.
5. Ambulance driver qualifications - some areas on the qualification sheets are not checked, date of some qualification missing, and others have expired but are still considered active.
Comments:
The Incident Prevention qualification programs currently consists of a signature booklet. Many items in the booklet are not supported by an instruction or procedure to ensure training consistency and standards. Additionally, the signature booklets have several superfluous items.
Incident Prevention personnel do not receive annual re-qualification on internal instructions and procedures. Drills are or will be conducted to test fire fighting, medical, radiological, controls, and environmental hazards control abilities, according to-the newly developed Incident Prevention instruction. However, other aspects of the job such as sprinkler flow tests, fire hose hydrostatic testing, fir alarm system, etc. are not covered by the drill program. Additionally, only recently hired personnel (one person) have a record of qualification (signature booklet). No such record exists for other Incident Prevention personnel.
Recommendation:
1. Ensure all Incident Prevention qualifications are supported by an instruction or procedure.
2. Ensure all Incident Prevention personnel are trained to the requirements indicated in the signature booklet and document accordingly.
3. Post a list of qualified ambulance drivers in the badge house.
4. Ensure that ambulance driver qualifications are current and the record keeping system is properly maintained.
cc:
AE Kakretz Al/250
JA McHugh Al/250
PH Hancock - KSO
RW Winters CI/126
G. Winters KSO
NT Burak Z5
RM Crossman Z5
JS DeMatteo Z5
DJ Hamilla SNR
J. Cochran SNR
**For the uninitiated "UHS" hose stands for Ultimate Heat Sink hose. This is a fire hose that was originally stored behind the KAPL Ware house in Niskayuna, twenty miles from the KSO. The purpose of the UHS was to act as an Emergency Core Cooling system for the D1G Nuclear Power Plant. Presumably if the D1G Reactor had a lose of coolant accident, the hose was to be connected to the reactor and stretched, on the ground, into a stream a mile away from the plant, connected to a pump and water was than to be pumped into the melting reactor. This is an example of the Naval Reactor Program at it's more moronic stages. This "system" had been approved by Admiral Hyman G. Rickover, "The Father of the Nuclear Navy", and all of his replacements up until this very day. Anyone exposing this stupidity was to be dealt with in the harhest terms possible. Anyone who knew of or was responsible for making the decision for this gross stupidity was allowed to retire with gracious parties and plenty of applause.