What do you know about Parapet Roofs and Scuppers on the roofs of large retail stores?

Preplanning includes going on top of the building, figuring out how to gain access, learn the fire protection systems put into place including things like smoke vents... Can you imagine laddering a building for the first time in the dark, and very possible for a mutual aid run into another jurisdiction where it's a box store with a parapet wall.

Imagine laddering this building which does not have a height issue from the top of the parapet wall to the roof.

The big question then is how tall is the parapet wall?

Now imagine laddering this building... Without preplanning, you would have never known that there was such a drop distance to the roof and that you would need to bring a ladder with you to facilitate accessing the roof.

So, what you need here are some clues!

The only one that I know is 100% dependable is looking for the scuppers.

This is a good basic graphic description of scuppers and secondary scuppers. Know the difference...

This should give you a better idea as to what a parapet wall and the need for scuppers is all about... The key point with this graphic is showing the weight of water that can collect on top of a roof. This is one of the problems with the parapet wall design and why scuppers are built in, which obviously prevents the roof from collapsing. With this said, it's important to ensure that water does drain off the roof if you are in a situation where water is being put onto the roof.

Now that you know about scuppers and parapet walls, you can look at this picture and know what you are looking at from this photo, which was taken on top of one of these box stores.

TCSS, CBz

"Train as if your life depends on it... because it does!"

.

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Fireyladd - Retired Chief Sharp on January 18, 2010 at 7:08pm

More good information as to doing a 360 on arrival and better yet pre-planning. These types of buildings present obsticles that need to be assesed quickly. Know your District. Pre-Plan, Pre-Plan, Pre-Plan!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by FETC on January 18, 2010 at 8:34pm

We have some scruppers but most of the roofs have built in roof drains that run down on an 8 or 10" pipe without scruppers. Another thought from a truckie is the use of the roof ladder that is mounted in the top fly, to ladder (or lower the firefighters to the roof) from an elevated parapet wall, no need to take a big leap off the tip.

Preplanning the roof and trying the tactic is key before the fire occurs.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Oldman on January 18, 2010 at 9:18pm

Good stuff CB.

Out in the stix, we don't have any buildings with smoke vent, scuppers, or parapet to look at. I talk about them in building construction, but these refresh my memory.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd on January 19, 2010 at 12:11am

It would be cool to post a photo here of the ladder mounted on the top fly. Maybe somebody reading this might provide some assistance? CBz

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd on January 19, 2010 at 2:24am

It's one thing checking stuff out when you are doing a building pre-plan inspection but usually, it's so much information that I can only take in so much at one time. I've always made a habit of having a camera with me so I can take the time later to review and digest exactly what I had seen earlier. It also makes an easy but cool way to post things here on the FFN.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Paul Montpetit on January 19, 2010 at 6:46am

But Sir, if you preplan then you know what is up there because you have been up there...not only the parapit wall, but the load on the roof as well....many times the heating/airconditioning units are there...and they are HEAVY...nice to know if and where the vents are as well.....Paul

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd on January 19, 2010 at 3:04pm

Thank you for reinforcing the importance of Fire Department Pre-Planning and roof features for commercial structures.

From candid discussions with other firefighters here on the FFN, I learned that:

• not all fire departments make it a policy to ladder all commercial structures
• not everyone has taken the time to study building construction & fire protection systems

That's where experts such as yourself and contributors like FFsEnemy come in, filling in the blanks for folks. A recent post from FFsEnemy shared the below photograph that reinforces what you are stressing here Paul.

What do you know about Parapet Roofs and Scuppers on the roofs of large retail stores?

Replies to This Discussion

FireRescue Magazine

Find Members Fast