Electricity

Question 1

What are the different sources of electricity?

Answer 1

1. Fossil/ Bio fuel
2. Nuclear reactors
3. Hydropower
4. Wind turbines
5. Solar power

Question 2

Explain the distribution of electricity

Answer 2

1. Power station
2. Substation (275/400,000V)
3. Primary substation (33/11,000V)
4. Secondary substations (400/230V)
   (5. Supply substations for electrical rail or industry at 33,000V)

Question 3

What are the voltages at domestic properties and industrial premises

Answer 3

230-400V

Question 4

What are the hazards of fires under, or in the vicinity of power lines and pylons?

Answer 4

1. Dense smoke which can act as a conductor
2. Jets act as a conductor
3. Pylons collapsing and falling
4. Electrical flashover

Question 5

What are the hazard zones for firefighters working at a fire under or near power lines?

Answer 5

1. 10m without operational hose
2. 20m with hand held hose
3. 30m with monitor
4. 10m with ALP (20m in training)

Question 6

What are power lines that are arranged horizontally?

Answer 6

High voltage

Question 7

What are power lines that are arranged vertically?

Answer 7

Low voltage

Question 8

What are the two types of substations?

Answer 8

1. Primary
2. Secondary

Question 9

What are the three rules for substation rescues?

Answer 9

1. Do not enter unless isolated and earthed
2. May enter with permission of electricity board official to rescue casualty at GROUND LEVEL and not in contact with electrical apparatus
3. No firefighter or equipment should come within 5m of electrical equipment

Question 10

What are the hazards involved with transformers?

Answer 10

1. Have been known to explode
2. Release oil at high temperatures or on fire
3. High temperatures (100 degrees)
4. Ionisation
5. Oil filled switchgear
6. Polychlorinated Biphenyls
7. Residual charge
8. Hazardous gases

Question 11

What information must be provided to control when electrics are involved at an incident?

Answer 11

1. Internal or external
2. Overground or underground

Question 12

What are the two types of fuse board you may encounter in everyday premises?

Answer 12

1. Domestic
2. Commercial/ industrial

Question 13

What part of an electrical installation is the consumer responsible for?

Answer 13

Internal electrics- the consumer unit onwards

Question 14

Who is responsible for external electrics?

Answer 14

UK Power Network

Question 15

What are the risks associated with solar panels?

Answer 15

1. General flammability and toxicity
2. Panels can remain live after isolation
3. Pressurised hot water system
4. Electric shock
5. PV units falling
6. Structural integrity of roof compromised

Question 16

What are the different types of consumer installations?

Answer 16

1. Incandescent lighting (standard light bulbs)
2. Discharge lighting (neon lights)
3. Vapour lighting (street lights)

Question 17

What are the requirements for firefighter switches?

Answer 17

1. Out of reach of the public
2. Accessible to the Fire Service
3. On the fascia of the building
4. No more than 2.75m from the ground
5. Up is off

Question 18

What factors affect electric shock severity?

Answer 18

1. Voltage amount
2. Whether there is a path through the body to earth

Question 19

What voltage are electrical gloves tested to?

Answer 19

20,000V AC

Question 20

What voltage are our electrical gloves suitable for?

Answer 20

Low voltage domestic properties (<1000V) and hybrid vehicles

Question 21

How often must our electrical gloves be sent for testing?

Answer 21

6 monthly

Question 22

What are the two types of incidents that UK Power Networks respond to?

Answer 22

1. Potential risk of harm to anyone
2. At request of emergency services and other agencies

Question 23

What information should be provided to control when requesting attendance of UK Power Networks?

Answer 23

1. Nature and location of incident
2. Information from any ID plates
3. RVP/ marshalling areas (if any)

Question 24

What terminology is used by UK Power Networks?

Answer 24

1. Isolated (disconnected)
2. Dead (at or about zero voltage)
3. Earthed (residual energy discharged into earth)

Question 25

What is discharge lighting?

Answer 25

Neon lights Voltage applied across ends of gas filled tube

Question 26

What is incandescent lighting?

Answer 26

Standard lighting Current passes through a fine, high-resistance wire filament

Question 27

What is vapour lighting?

Answer 27

Street lights Small quantity of mercury or sodium in gas filled tube