Fire safety at circuits and fire tenders.

[MSHUGHES]

Hello there, a long time forum lurker here.

My son is currently undertaking a school project on fire safety and he has elected to base it on fire safety at motor racing events. Given that everything else in his life is predicated on motor racing, this seems quite logical.....

I've managed to find out about onboard extinguishing equipment and the necessary stuff at various marshal points for him, however, I'm not too sure about who is responsible for providing the fire tenders at somewhere like Silverstone for an F1 type event.

Will a circuit like Silverstone have its own tenders that are crewed by folks like your good selves or will the circuit have to bring in the local fire service and firemen for an F1 type event? Is it the responsibility of the circuit to ensure that everything is up to scratch for a national event or the MSA?

I would be most grateful for any help that you might be able to provide. Thanks for your time.

[JimW]

Circuits will, in general, have their own fire tenders. But don't forget that these are back up and, in practice, it is the people on the bank with dry powder/foam hand held extinguishers who do the business.

Regards

Jim

[deley]

Track Licence will stipulate the siting of fire equipment and minimum provision.

MSA sanctioned events take place under an MSA Permit and the Stewards must satisfy themselves that the conditions of the Permit (and track licence if appropriate) are complied with.

The Clerk of the Course must ensure all necessary equipment is available. The Clerk is also to ensure that the conditions of any Permit and Track Licence have been fulfilled before the start of practice or competition.

So basically the circuit will already have numbers and locations of fire response vehicles stipulates as part of the Track Licence and the Clerk & Stewards have to be satisfied that those have been met in order for a meeting to proceed. It is usual for fixed (circuit) venues to provide those vehicles to an Organising Club as part of the circuit facilities.

Usually the venue will also provide some form of public-side fire coverage.

[EmileNaus]

There is a video on fire fighting on the https://www.youtube.com/user/MotorsportSafetyFund
video channel. Hope this is helpful.
Good luck with the project.

[Paul Newns]

If you have a circuit near to where you live perhaps the management may allow your son to take a look at their fire tenders and discuss them with the circuit.

[Shelagh]

You know you've been marshalling for too long when you automatically check the gauges on fire extinguishers in public places to make sure they are fully charged!

Remember the "old style" (can't remember what it was called) of fire-fighting where two bottles would be followed up by the other two (now, was it powder first?). A fire tender would only attend if that was insufficient. If only there were the numbers of marshals for that these days. (And you can tell I never really did "fire" but, then again, I could never pick up an extinguisher as they were a bit heavy.)

At some foreign circuits, the marshals on post are only really there to flag and sweep. It is the guys/gals in the vehicles who are meant to be first on scene.

Depending on the size of the project and time available, it might be worth looking into the different approaches to fire fighting around the world, or at least highlighting the differences. Only a thought which may not be relevant.

Good luck!

[SWCRacing]

Current (2014) regulation from the Blue Book Section E - Circuits and Venues

Fire Precautions and Equipment

7.1.

All fire extinguishers used at Race and Speed
Events must have a valid manufacturer’s (or agent’s)
certificate confirming they are in working order, issued
immediately prior to the start of each season’s racing.

7.1.1.

This certificate must be available for inspection by
Stewards (Q.4.1).

7.2.

At Race Meetings, manned Fire Posts (equipped as
required by 3.2.3.) must be located and clearly marked
at intervals round the circuit. Other acceptable
extinguishers may be deployed at unmanned posts or
by mobile units.

7.3.

Additional extinguishers should be located:

7.3.1.

At marked points in the paddock

7.3.2.

In the pit areas

7.3.3.

At the Scrutineering Bay

7.3.4.

In every medical room or centre.

7.4.

In events involving the refuelling of cars where
more than five gallons of fuel is held in any one pit,
there must be two fire tenders and crew in attendance,
appropriately equipped and with immediate access to
the pit area (Q.13.1).

7.5.

A Large Spill Kit is to be provided in all paddock

areas.

Current regulation from the FIA International Sporting Code appendix H

2.6 RESCUE SERVICES 2.6.1 Intervention vehicles Intervention vehicles are an essential part of circuit emergency equipment and their crews provide the specialised intervention that may be required at any accident on the track or in the pits and paddock area. 2.6.1.1 Duties a) Fire-fighting: To act as second intervention and to have the means to extinguish the fire completely. b) Medical: To be able to resuscitate and stabilise the condition of an injured driver. c) Disincarceration: To have the means and equipment to free a driver from a damaged car. d) Extrication (compulsory for certain events - see Article 2.7.3 and Supplement 7): To be able to remove an injured driver from his car in a condition of spinal immobility. Whether an individual vehicle has a sole duty or is intended to deal with a combination of these functions shall be at the discretion of the circuit and the ASN, provided always that the vehicles can reach any part of the circuit within appropriate times and that they carry the appropriate personnel and the equipment listed in Article 2.6.2 for fire-fighting, or Supplement 3 for medical rescue and/or disincarceration. It is considered essential that a medical vehicle should follow the field for the 1st lap of any race, as may a suitably fast fire/disincarceration vehicle. Should the speed of the vehicles or the length of the circuit make it impractical for them to cover an entire lap, they should follow the field as far as is practical and then take up their allotted positions. 2.6.2 Fire-fighting service 2.6.2.1 Mission This service is intended to combat fires resulting from incidents on the track or in the pits or paddock. For all other areas there will be an independent service established by the organisers in conformity with the prescriptions of the public authorities concerned. 2.6.2.2 Organisation Primarily, it must be remembered that the decisive factor in any fire-fighting operation is the personnel, and the importance of properly trained operators cannot be over-emphasised. Fire-fighting arrangements should fulfil two basic requirements: - to reach the fire and isolate the driver from it; - to have adequate and appropriate means to extinguish the fire completely. Past experience and tests have shown that initial intervention can be most efficiently and practically organised in two stages and, while the equipment and method may vary at different circuits, the criteria of the 1st and 2nd interventions should be satisfied
- 1st intervention: as soon as practicable following an incident, at any point on the circuit, fire-fighters with portable extinguishers should reach the scene and be capable of intervening with adequate means to clear the cockpit of the car of fire. - 2nd intervention: the planning of the emergency services should be calculated so that, ideally, within 60 seconds of an incident, the conditions for rescuing the driver may be established. - 3rd intervention: arrival of supplementary appliances, if necessary. It cannot be stressed too strongly that the 1st and 2nd interventions must be fully integrated, as the value of portable extinguishers on the 1st intervention may be limited. 2.6.2.3 Trackside equipment Portable extinguishers, each with a trained operator, should be placed in appropriate locations, at intervals not exceeding approximately 500 m, along both sides of the track. Should it be impossible or impractical to use both sides of the track, they may all be on one side. In this case, the maximum distance between operators shall be approximately 250 m. It is recommended to provide a portable extinguisher (without operator) approximately every 100 m. All of these extinguisher points should be indicated to drivers on the track by fluorescent orange panels (recommended colour reference: Pantone 15-1364 TC "Orange crush"), of minimum 25 cm x 25 cm, in clearly visible positions at right angles to the first line of protection and approximately 2 m from the ground. Reserve extinguishers should be available to replace those that have been used. Fast mobile appliances should also be provided, placed in protected areas along the course, each with at least two marshals trained in fire-fighting, so as to assure the 2nd intervention. They should be equipped to extinguish completely a running petrol fire of at least 40 gallons (this implies a continuous flow supply and should not only extinguish, but also seal against flash-back reignition).

It might be worthwhile contacting the MSA on 01753 765000 and seeing what info they could provide?

[The Fat Clerk]

John Symes from the MSA visits circuits be it Race, Kart, Speed etc and issues the Track licence.
If the Circuit wishes to make alterations such as moving Marshals posts, Armco etc it's john that has to approve it.

[PVDA]

Aussie Fire/Rescue Ute.

5.7 litre V8 All Wheel Drive General Motors Holden Cross8 ute.

[thepits!]

Racesafe = Bikes?

[JimW]

Originally Posted by thepits!

Racesafe = Bikes?

In the UK.

Jim

[thepits!]

Originally Posted by JimW

In the UK. Jim

Oh yes, that was Aussie, oops - a bit basic though?

UK 1990's style?

[PVDA]

RACESAFE "Australia" does Medical for Road Racing, Motocross as well as some 4 wheeled stuff in Australia and the occasional trip over to NZ.

We also provide the "Safety Team" (Fire/Rescue/Recovery/Clean up) at Winton Raceway.

There's the usual rescue gear hidden out of sight in the cupboards and there are three vehicles in the team and all three will attend anything big.

Those photo's are 9 years old although that ute and it's sister unit are still going strong.

[thepits!]

Thank you for the update.

Originally Posted by PVDA

Those photo's are 9 years old although that ute and it's sister unit are still going strong.

As is similar in the UK, passed down, and down, and then RIP?

[PVDA]

Neither unit leaves it's home base so they don't clock up a lot of miles but do tend to go through tyres and brake pads a bit