BY MICHAEL N. CIAMPO
Cutting an inspection hole on a flat roof is a basic skill most of us learned during our initial introduction class on roof ventilation. Inspection holes are a great source of information pertaining to the conditions under the roof covering. These conditions may include the nature of the smoke (i.e., color, volume, temperature, pushing under pressure); the volume of fire; the location of fire; the direction of fire travel; the type, size, and run of the structural elements; and the fire’s extension. Since most of these holes are so basic, quick, and easy to cut, not much is mentioned in the firefighting textbooks or manuals on the technique of cutting them. As with most procedures and tactics performed on the fireground, it’s always better to have some sort of game plan in your mind prior to attacking the situation at hand.
TYPES OF INSPECTION HOLES
The three most common types of inspection holes, which can be used on a variety of roof styles, are a punched hole, a kerf cut, and a triangle cut.
Punched Hole
It is relatively easy to make a punched hole in most roofs. Drive the sharp end of the pickhead ax, the pry bar end of a hook, or the point on the halligan tool through the roof covering. Next, pry the tool back out of its hole and read the conditions that come out of the hole. The major problem associated with this type of hole is that it is often difficult to pry the tool back out of the hole. In addition, since the hole is very small, it is possible to miscalculate the actual fire and smoke conditions under the roof covering.
However, the punched-hole tactic offers another benefit. As firefighters operate on the roof, they should get into the habit of walking cautiously with the hook’s butt or the hook’s head assembly striking downward onto the roof covering. In this way, it is possible that the hook may perforate the roof covering, which can alert the firefighter to a dangerous condition below. This tactic has made firefighters aware of the fact that a skylight had been removed and the area was covered over with a thin layer of building materials at the roof level.
This method is also very helpful for detecting weak and soft spots in the tar on the roof, which could indicate a good area for cutting the roof. Remember, if the smoke conditions cut off all visibility and the roof must be evacuated, get down on your knees and crawl. While crawling, probe in front of you with your tool. This will help reduce the chance that you’ll walk off the edge of the roof, into an open shaft, or into a ventilation hole.
Kerf Cut
This cut, sometimes referred to as a “plunge cut,” is a quick and easy inspection hole to use during roof operations. Using a flathead ax or a rotary or chain power saw, cut one blade’s width into the roofing material. As the blade is pulled out of the roofing material, it creates an opening the width of a single blade (known as the “kerf”), exposing the conditions below. The kerf cut is often used when a firefighter is quickly trying to determine the boundaries of the fire’s extension.
The downside of the kerf cut is, again, its small size, which doesn’t offer a good size-up of all the conditions below the roof covering. Another disadvantage of the kerf cut is that if used on thick tarred roofs, the layers of tar may melt as they are cut and close up the cut. Also, with today’s modern construction, we’re faced with many membrane or rubberized roofs (sometimes installed over old tar roofs), and the kerf cut has a tendency to close up if the materials have been subjected to heat.
 (1) This triangular inspection hole cut at a recent fire gave good indications of the heat and smoke levels in the cockloft. (Photo by Michael Schunk.) |
These two inspection holes may be useful in some other fireground situations. The kerf cut, for example, may be used for hardwood floors to define fire extension. The punch-hole technique may be useful for checking various ceiling bays for fire extension or making inspection holes in single-layer shingled roofs. Since they offer limited visibility into the attic or cockloft space, they aren’t the most reliable inspection holes during roof operations.
Triangle Cut
This cut, sometimes referred to as the “A-cut” because of its resemblance to the letter “A,” is far superior to the other two cuts because it gives better visibility into the attic/cockloft space and a true size-up of the fire and smoke conditions below (photo 1). Also, with today’s modern lightweight construction, it is very important to identify this type of construction early in the firefight; the triangle cut help us do that quickly.
 (3) The second cut is made down toward the middle of both legs. Do not attempt to cut a wide triangle or toward the left leg. |
The triangle cut has some minor disadvantages: It takes longer to make three cuts to form the triangle than making a single kerf cut, and the lines of the triangle cut must overlap to ensure that the triangular piece of roofing material can be removed or can fall into the cut hole.
Cutting a triangle seems to be very easy, basic, and even trivial to some. Yet, if you handed most firefighters a saw, almost every one of them would use a different technique to make the cut. Some firefighters will switch their hand positions on the saw up to three times while making the cut. Others have been seen walking around in a circle to make the three separate cuts of the triangle. Why do we want to walk around in circles while cutting a small hole in the first place? If the smoke or fire conditions were to rapidly change, you could suddenly find yourself in trouble. A firefighter looking downward, cutting, and spinning around in a circle with the saw may forget in which direction the ladder or means of egress is located. Perhaps a firefighter is operating behind you as a guide or other unsuspecting firefighters are working in close proximity to the saw operations. What are the odds of your accidentally lifting the saw up and out of the cut with the blade still spinning and striking one of them as you move around in your circle pattern?
 (5) The final cut of the triangle is made from the left to the right. |
As for changing hand positions on the saw, some of the saws on the market today have a lot of torque and, unfortunately, are not the most well-balanced tools while in operation. This can cause the saw to twist in the operator’s hand and point the saw’s blade in the direction of our body or legs. The spinning blade is a dangerous weapon. It could possibly grab onto a firefighter’s bunker gear and cause a severe injury. Remember, anytime the saw is pulled from a completed cut, stop the blade prior to moving with the saw. Also, changing hand positions adds more time to the overall time it takes to complete a cut, and there is always the possibility of striking or hitting one of the saw’s control buttons (i.e., cutoff switch) with your hands or bulky firefighting gloves during the repositioning process and shutting down the saw.
 (6) Remember, it may be necessary to flex and bend at the knees to ensure that all the cutting lines overlap. |
These scenarios might seem farfetched, but they are some of the things occurring on today’s firegrounds. The reason might be that a simple technique hasn’t been defined in the textbooks/manuals or in the hands-on portion of firefighting training. Hopefully, reviewing the following steps will assist in improving your saw operations and cutting inspection holes.
 (7) Prior to roof ventilation, the rubber roof membrane was removed, exposing the roof decking. This can make saw operations run more efficiently. (Photo by S. K. Willis.) |
The cutting technique: Developing an easy and simple technique for cutting the triangular inspection hole will improve overall saw operations. To begin the process, follow these two simple rules. First, maintain a good balanced body position with your feet spread open and aligned. Second, whenever using the saw, avoid the urge to overreach during any of the cuts. Overreaching leaves the operator in an unbalanced position while operating with the saw.
The first cut (the first leg of the triangle) is diagonal. Pick the center of your reach between the legs, and cut down and toward the right boot (photo 2). Stop just a few inches in front of the right boot. You should practice this method before using it on the fireground so you can adjust to your body style and reach. The second cut is an almost vertical one, from the top of the first cut down toward the middle of both legs (photo 3). The most important step to remember here is that all the cut lines must bisect or overlap when they meet so the roofing material can be cut all the way through. Normally, if these bisected lines don’t look like the form of the top of a tepee, the roof’s decking is not cut sufficiently.
Another important thing to mention here is that the farther the cut is made from the vertical position and toward the left, the more difficult it is to hold onto the saw without changing hands or repositioning the feet (photo 4). Overreaching during this cut can throw you off balance. In addition, the physical makeup of some saws and operators’ movements can make this a difficult cut if done too far to the left. Once again, the second cut/leg of the triangle is completed a few inches above the boots. While making the second cut, a simple glance over at the first cut will tell you how far down to make the second cut.
The final cut is a relatively easy cut if you made the other two cuts long enough. Simply bend and flex at your knees and run the saw from left to right, making the third and final leg of the triangle (photos 5, 6). Remember to overlap each of the cut lines at the start and finish of this cut.
Now the triangle is completed. The roofing material and decking can be removed by striking it downward or pulling it up and out of the hole. In some cases, the cut triangle will fall into the attic/cockloft space, and there is no need to pull or push it. Other times, however, the cut triangle may still be attached to the top of a roof joist. You will have to strike or pull it with a tool to open the cut. Use caution: This piece may hinge or snap and throw roofing materials your way.
LESSONS REINFORCED
• All legs of the triangle must overlap for the roof decking to be sufficiently cut and removed, allowing visibility into the attic/cockloft space.
• Maintaining the same operating position throughout the cut enables you to remember the position of the ladder or means of egress off the roof.
• The saw should contact the roofing material at full revolutions per minute to prevent it from stalling, binding, or pulling you into the cut. Also, resting your saw on its foot brace and lifting the throttle handle up create a pivot point that will help you to begin the initial roof cuts.
• The saw blade may have to be “buried” into the roof to ensure that the tar and decking are cut.
• Many membrane or rubberized roofs are now pitched with Styrofoam® insulation; it may take two cuts to reach the roof’s deck. If you encounter this situation, a quick solution is to cut the membrane with a sharp knife and peel it back. Next, cut and remove the Styrofoam®, and begin cutting the roof deck with the saw (photo 7).
• Always glance down and around the saw, watching the area and direction of the cut and the materials being discarded by the saw. Sawdust, roof tar, and metal shavings can tell the saw operator a lot of information.
• In today’s lightweight building construction, the use of gypsum roof systems is more prevalent. If you see a powdery white residue or grayish powder while cutting, immediately notify the incident commander, and be prepared to abandon all roof operations.
• Always use a tool to push down, pull up, or strike the cut triangle. Keep your face and hands out of the way. Fire, heat, smoke, or explosive gases could be exiting the hole and cause severe injury to an unsuspecting firefighter.
• Whenever a rotary saw is removed from a cut, stop the blade from spinning by placing it on the roof prior to lifting the saw up or traveling to another area. Push the saw like a wheelbarrow to the next location.
• • •
Cutting an inspection hole during roof operations can assist you in performing a variety of tasks while working at a structural fire. Having a preconceived plan of action and experience in the tactic may just make the job a little easier and safer. ■
■ MICHAEL N. CIAMPO is a 20-year fire service veteran and a lieutenant in the Fire Department of New York. Previously, he served with the District of Columbia Fire Department. He has a bachelor’s degree in fire science from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. He is the lead instructor for FDIC H.O.T. Ground Ladders and an editorial advisor to Fire Engineering.
