Water emergency (fire brigade)

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As water shortages in the technical language of fire and some aid agencies are emergencies designated by the unintended flow of water (for example from defective pipelines) a non-causing self draining, possibly damage accumulation of water cause. Since water emergencies cause considerable damage to property and can also create further danger spots, they are often fought as part of the emergency response by the fire brigade or the THW .

A dangerous water shortage is also referred to as a water emergency.

causes

Defective fitting

Water emergencies can have a variety of triggers, but most of the time they are caused by:

• Burst water pipe
• Consequences of severe weather (e.g. roof damage, torrential rain)
• Flood / high water
• Defective fittings
• Improperly installed or maintained water pipes
• Intentional property damage

hazards

In the event of a water emergency, the fire brigade usually moves out with the same haste as it does with a fire. This is because water damage often outweighs economic losses caused by fire damage. In addition, in addition to the direct property damage, affected buildings can be severely impaired in their statics due to the absorption of water by the building fabric , and in the worst case this can lead to buildings collapsing or to break-ins in traffic routes due to undercutting, which is a considerable hazard represents for the environment. Another notable source of danger in the case of water damage is also caused by electrical systems that generate an invisible flow of electrical current under water and can thus cause further property damage or an electrical accident .

Combating water shortages in buildings

To combat water emergencies caused by defective pipes or fittings, the fire brigade usually first blocks the water supply to the affected building. Then the water that accumulates at the lowest point, i.e. mostly in the basement, is pumped out of the building with a submersible pump or with the use of a suction line and centrifugal fire pump . The water is directed to a point where the water can flow away unhindered. If available, z. B. a basement suction basket can be used. The last slight accumulations of water can then be picked up with wet vacuum cleaners .

After successfully combating the water emergency, the affected building and especially the masonry there must be dried by specialists. However, due to the high costs of drying the building and removing further water damage, demolition of the damaged building is often preferable to restoration for economic reasons.