Building Construction Flashcards
Single family homes built in the 1920s were provided with ___ amp electrical service; ___ amp service is typical.
30, 200
The useful life span of a building can range from ___ to ___ years or more.
25 to 100
The ___ of a building is not in itself a hazard, but age is often an indication of potential hazards.
age
The process of restoring rundown or deteriorated properties by more affluent people, often displacing poorer residents:
Gentrification
An ____, especially an automatic sprinkler system, is the first line of defense in a building.
automatic fire protection system
The ____ of a building often affects the ways in which building components behave under fire conditions.
occupancy
Amount of fuel present expressed quantitatively in terms of weight of fuel per unit area:
Fule loading
Nothing is more fundamental to building than the materials from which it is constructed.
True
The traditional construction classifications were as follows:
- Fire Resistive
- Noncombustible
- Masonry or Ordinary
- Heavy Timber
- Wood Frame
Contemporary building codes use numerical designations for construction types as follows:
Type I - Fire Resistive Type II - Noncombustible Type III - Exterior Protected Type IV - Heavy Timber Type V - Wood Frame
The ____ of a building refers to its general shape or layout.
configuration
An ____ building is a building threatened by fire.
exposed
___ occurred when fires communicated from building to building.
Conflagrations
Transfer of heat by the movement of heated fluids or gases, usually in a upward direction:
Convection
Communication of fire from building to building occurs by ____ or ____.
convection or radiation
Fire spread is often the result of ____ heat.
radiant
This law states that the intensity of thermal radiation is a function of the fourth power of the absolute temperature of the thermal radiation source:
Stefan-Blotzman
Thermal radiation is a function of the 4th power of the absolute temperature.
True
NFPA 80A, Recommended Practice for Protection from Exterior Fire Exposures, describes three levels of exposure:
- Light
- Moderate
- Severe
The levels of severity for exposures are based on the ____ load and the ____ spread rating of the wall and ceiling finishes of the exposing building.
fire, flame
Potential sources of building failure under fire conditions can include some or all of the following:
- Structural interigrity
- Building systems
- Design deficiencies
____ materials possess the ability to maintain structural integrity.
Fire-resistive
One very basic aspect of building safety is the provision of an adequate number of _____.
exists
Which architect called buildings “machines for living”:
Frank Lloyd Wright
Which architect stated “form follows function”:
Louis A. Sullivan
That does not mean that ___ and ___ are the most prominent design considerations when owners and designers plan their projects:
Fire and life safety
The ___ of a building often conveys its intended use:
appearance
Branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of beauty, art, and taste:
Aesthetics
Currently the most widely used model building code in the US is the _______.
International Building Code (IBC)
The building code and fire codes complement each other and are intended to be used together.
True
___ can create a negative pressure on the roof and downwind side of the building
Wind
Three earlier model building codes:
- Uniform Building Code (UBC)
- Standard Building Code
- BOCA National Building Code
The following impairments qualify as disabilities under the ADA:
- Vision impairments
- Hearing impairments
- Learning
- Speech
- Neuromuscular impairments
- Mental illness
To provide accessibility for persons with impairments, the ADA requires the removal of _____.
architectural barriers
Manual fire alarm stations must be not more the ___ feet and not less than ____ feet above the floor level so they can be reached from a wheelchair.
4 1/2 , 3 1/2
Areas of refuge may not be required in buildings equipped with an ______ sprinkler system.
automatic
Availability of ____ is a basic consideration in the design of fire protection systems.
water
Soil strength, strain resistance, and stability are properties of importance in ______.
foundation design
The major technical specialties and their functions include the following:
- Civil Engineering
- Structural Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Fire Protection Engineering
- Architecture
Functions of Civil Engineering are as follows:
- Water supply
- Sanitary sewers
- Surveying
- Site preparation and excavation
- Roadways
- Storm water drainage
The finishing touch in the design process is _____.
landscaping
Group of people, usually five to seven, with experience in fire prevention, building construction, and/or code enforcement legally constituted to arbitrate differences of opinion between fire inspectors and building officials, property owners, occupants or builders:
Board of Appeals
One method of managing a construction project is a technique known as _____.
fast tracking
In a ____ project, the design and construction phases overlap.
fast track
Building construction is a dynamic process.
True
The ____ is usually involved in the testing of the fire protection systems in new construction.
Fire Department
The primary role of the _____ is to ensure proper installation and operation of the fire protection systems.
fire inspector
It should be noted that the role of the fire inspector is to _____ system tests, NOT to actually perform the tests.
witness
Documentation of fire protection system test results should be maintained by the _____.
fire prevention bureau
____ is a valuable tool in accomplishing control of emergencies in individual buildings.
Preincident planning
The act of preparing to handle an incident at a particular location or a particular type of incident before the an incident occurs:
Preincident Planning
All building codes classify buildings by construction type.
True
The building classifications are based on two attributes of building construction:
- Fire resistance
2. Combustability
____ buildings also provide an increased degree of occupant safety.
Fire-resistive
From a fire protection standpoint, one of the most basic properties of building materials is their degree of ____.
fire resistance
The fire resistance of structural components can be evaluated quantitatively and is known as the ______.
fire resistance rating
Fire resistance ratings are expressed in ____ and fractions of hours.
hours
A building code will typically require that columns supporting the floors in a fire-resistive building have a fire resistance rating of ____ hours.
3
The walls enclosing an exit stairwell typically have a fire resistive rating of ___ or ___ hours to protect the stairwell.
1 or 2
The most commonly used method of determining fire resistance is by _____ test.
laboratory
A temperature of 1,000 F is reached at ____ minutes.
5
A temperature of 1,550 F is reached after ___ minutes.
30
At one hour the temperature is ____ F.
1,700
The earliest know fire tests on building materials were conducted in ____ in 1884-86.
Germany
The ____ test is the only method currently universally accepted by building codes.
E-119
The primary points of failure for the fire resistance test are as follows:
- Failure to support an applied load
- Temp increase on the unexposed side of wall, floor, and roof assemblies of 250 F above ambient temperatures
- Passage of heat or flame through the assembly sufficient to ignite cotton waste
- Excess temperature on steel members
The test furnace used by Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL) for the testing beams, floor, and roof assemblies has approximate plan dimensions of __ x __ feet.
14 x 17
Joint systems for floor-to-wall and wall-to-wall connections are tested in accordance with UL Standard 2079.
True
Probably the best known of the laboratories is the ___.
Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL)
Fire walls need to be kept ____ if they are to serve as a barrier.
intact
Directory that lists building assemblies that have been tested and given fire-resistive ratings:
Fire Resistance Directory
Fire resistance ratings for test specimens, are expressed in standard intervals such as:
15 min 30 min 45 min 1 hour 1 1/2 hours 2 hours 3 hours 4 hours
Basic Building Classifications:
Type I - Fire Resistive Type II - Noncombustible or protected combustible Type III - Exterior Protected (masonry) Type IV - Heavy Timber Type V - Wood frame
With the exception of ______ the major classification are further divided into two or three subclassifications:
Type IV - Heavy Timber
Designated by a three digit number code, Type I construction can either be ___ or ___.
4-4-2 or 3-3-2
The first digit refers to the fire resistance rating (in hours) of _____.
exterior bearing walls
The second digit refers to the fire resistance rating of _____ or columns and girders that support loads of more then one floor.
structural frames
The third digit refers to the fire resistance rating of the ____ construction.
floor
The highest requirements for fire resistance are for Type ___ construction, with lesser requirements for other types of construction.
I
Type I construction is divided into two subclassifications:
I-A
I-B
Some building codes contain a provision to omit the fire-resistive rating for a roof construction for some occupancies when the roof is more than ___ feet above the floor.
20
Generally, bearing walls, columns, and beams are required to have a fire resistance of ___ to ___ hours.
2 to 4
Floor construction is required to have a fire resistance of ___ to ___ hours.
two to three
The roof deck construction supporting the roof must have a fire resistance of ___ to ___ hours.
one to two
Interior partitions enclosing stairwells and corridors are required to be fire-resistive usually ___ or ___ hours.
one or two
The two most common methods of construction Type I buildings are by using ____ or a ____.
reinforced concrete or protected steel frame
In a Type ___ structure, firefighters are able to launch an interior attack with greater confidence than they are in a building that is not of fire-resistive construction:
I
Type II construction (noncombustible) can be either ____ or ____.
protected or unprotected
In II-A construction the structural components are required to have ___ hour fire resistance.
one
The use of _____ steel is the most common characteristic of unprotected, noncombustible construction.
unprotected
The point at which unprotected members will fail, depends on the following factors:
- Ceiling height of the building
- Size of the unprotected steel members
- Intensity and duration of the exposing fire
Type ___ construction has been commonly referred to as “ordinary construction.”
III
A fundamental fire concern with Type ____ construction is the combustible concealed spaces that are created between floor and ceiling joists and between studs in partition walls when they are covered with interior finish materials.
III
Type III construction has two subclassifications:
Type III A
Type III B
In Type III construction it would not be uncommon to use nominal __ x __ inch joists for floor construction.
2 x 10
In Type IV construction, the minimum dimensions would be nominal __ x __ inch for floor construction.
6 x 10
In Type ___ construction concealed spaces are not permuted between structural members.
IV
Type __ is commonly known as heavy-timer or “mill” construction.
IV
There are two important distinctions between Type III and Type IV construction:
- In Type IV, the beams, columns, floors, and roofs are made of solid or laminated wood with dimensions greater than in Type III.
- Concealed spaces are NOT permitted between structural members in Type IV.
The primary fire hazard associated with Type IV construction is the massive amount of ___ presented by the large structural members in addition to the building contents.
fuel
Many Type V structures are required to have a ___ hour fire resistance for the structural members. This is typically accomplished by protecting the combustible frame members with ____ or fire rated ____.
1
plaster or fire rated gypsum board
In some jurisdictions, it is permissible to have Type V construction over Type I construction up to a heigh of ___ feet.
70
The fire load is typically expressed in terms of pounds per square foot.
True
Building codes classify buildings according to their occupancy as well as their ______.
construction type
The International Building Code (IBC) contains a total of ___ subgroups within the 10 major occupancy.
26
The IBC contains ten major occupancy classifications:
- Assembly - Group A
- Business - Group B
- Educational - Group E
- Factories - Group F
- High Hazard - Group H
- Institutional - Group I
- Mercantile - Group M
- Residential - Group R
- Storage - Group S
- Utility and Miscellaneous - Group U
R-1 are occupancies with primarily TRANSIENT occupants including hotels and motels.
True
R-2 are occupancies with primarily PERMANENT occupants and more than two dwelling units.
True
R-3 occupancies are with primarily PERMANENT occupants and NOT MORE than two dwelling units.
True
R-4 occupancies used as assisted living facilities with 5 to 16 occupants.
True
A ___ is defined as any effect (or force) that a structure must resist.
load
Gravity creates a force on a building through the weight of the building components and all of its contents.
True
When air is in motion it possess ____ energy.
kinetic
Wind exerts the following basic forces on a building:
- Direct pressure
- Aerodynamic drag
- Negative pressure
Secondary effects that may be produced by wind are the following:
- Rocking effects
- Vibration
- Clean-off effect
The ____ effect is of particular concern where a building has projections such as canopies and parapets.
“clean-off effect”
Hurricane force winds of 100 mph can exert ____ lbs of force against a two-story wall.
30,720
In regards to earthquakes, the vibrational motion of the surface subjects buildings to forces known as ____ forces that can be very destructive.
seismic
____ forces are some of the most complex forces exerted on a building.
Seismic
____ forces are produced in a structural member when it is twisted.
Torsional
____ forces are movements of relatively large amplitude resulting from a small force applied at the natural frequency of a structure.
Resonant
Although the movement of the ground beneath a building can be three dimensional, the _____ motion is the most significant force.
horizontal
The tendency of a body to remain in motion or at rest until it is acted upon by force:
Inertia
Buildings with geometric irregularities are inherently more susceptible to damage from earthquakes than buildings having a symmetrical design.
True
Increasing the ____ of a building reduces its susceptibility to ground motions that have a relatively long (meaning slow) vibrational period.
stiffness
In a structure with REDUNDANT structural members, more members would have to fail for collapse to occur.
True
The basic concept of base isolation is to isolate the building from the ____ movement of the earth’s surface.
horizontal
Soil exerts a ____ pressure against a foundation.
horizontal
Structural element designed to control vibration:
Damping Mechanism
Two methods of base isolation:
- Elastomeric bearings
2. Sliding Systems
The pressure exerted by the soil against the foundation is known as the _____ soil pressure.
active
The force of the foundation against the soil is know as the ____ soil pressure.
passive
The forces on a building from gravity are classified into two types:
- Dead loads
2. Live loads
A ____ load is any load that is not fixed or permanent.
live
Force pulled upon a structure by the addition of people, objects, or weather:
Live load
A ____ load is one that is applied at one point or over a small area.
concentrated
The snow load, can vary visually none is southern states to ___ lbs per square foot in some areas.
60
Frequently, the snow load calculated for a roof may be on the order of ___ or ___ pounds per square foot.
20 or 30
A stream of water discharging 250 gpm introduces ____ pounds of water per minute.
2, 082 lbs
A water depth of 3 inches will impose a load of ___ pounds per square foot.
20.8
Loads that involve motion are:
dynamic loads
Dynamic loads also have the ability to cause failure after repeated cycles.
True
Condition in which the support provided by a structural system is equal to the applied loads:
Equilibrium
___ beams are often used to support balconies.
Cantilever
Those vertical or horizontal forces that tend to pull things apart:
Tension
The interior forces are classified according to the direction in which they occur in the material. They are:
- Tension
- Compression
- Shear (slide one plane past an adjacent plane)
The magnitude of the interior forces that occur in structural members is evaluated b a quantity known as ___.
stress
____ is a measurement of force intensity and is expressed as force units divided by the area over which the force is applied.
Stress
Point at which material ceases to perform satisfactorily.
Failure Point
An ____ load is a load applied to the center of the cross-section of a structural member and perpendicular to that cross section.
axial
An ____ load is a load that is perpendicular to the cross section of the structural member but does not pass through the center of the cross section.
eccentric
A ____ load is offset from the center of the cross section of the structural member and at an angle to or in the same plane as the cross section.
torsoinal
A ____ is a structural member that can carry loads perpendicular to its longitudinal dimension.
beam
A _____ beam is supported at each end and is free to rotate at the ends.
simply supported
Beams can be continuous across several supports or restrained at both ends.
True
The maximum compression and tension stresses in a beam occur in the ____ and ____ of the beam.
top and bottom
____ are structural members designed to support an axial compressive load.
Columns
The stresses created within a column are primarily compressive.
True
Arches produce inclined forces at their ____ supports.
end
A cable used to support loads over a distance will assume the shape of a ____.
parabola
The stresses in a cable are ____ stresses.
tension
_____ are framed structural units made up of a group of triangles in one plane.
Trusses
A true truss is made only of straight members.
True
See Figure 3.43 Common roof trusses. PG 96
Do it
The top members of a truss are called _____ and the bottom members are called ____.
top chords
bottom chords
Typical truss shapes are available to span distances of 22 to 70 feet but in todays construction truss spans in excess of ___ feet are not uncommon.
100
____ frames are truss structures that are developed in three dimension.
Space
Failure of a connector will result in failure of the truss.
True
_____ walls provide lateral support to the structure along the direction of the wall.
Bearing
Types of structural frame construction are:
- Steel stud wall framing
- Post and beam construction
- Rigid frames
- Truss frams
- Slab and column frames
Historically, stud wall frame construction has been associated with the use of ____ inch wood studs.
2 x 4
The most easily recognized rigid-frame structure is the _______ building.
single story, gabled-roof and rigid frame
When the joists between a column and a beam are reinforced so bending stresses can be transmitted through the joints, the structural system is known as a ____ frame.
rigid
The intersection between the slab and column is a region of high stress and usually is reinforced by additional material in the form or a ____ or a ____ panel.
capital or drop panel
Building codes typically address membrane structures with a life of ___ days or more.
180
Fire codes address those membrane structures to be used for less than ___ days.
180
Fabric roofs weigh only about ___ pounds per square foot.
2
Rigid, three dimensional structure having an outer “skin” thickness that is small compared to other dimensions:
Shell Structure
Stairs that are not part of the means of egress are often referred to as ___ stairs.
convenience
Stairs that usually connect two floors in a multistory building:
convenience
In buildings ____ or more stories in height, one stairway is generally required to extend to the roof unless the slope of the roof is especially steep.
4
Vertical distance between the treads of a stariway or the height of the entire stairway:
Rise
The horizontal measurement of a stair tread or the distacne of the entire stair length:
Run
The six basic types of stairs:
- Straight-Run
- Return
- Scissor
- Ciruclar
- Folding
- Spiral
____ stairs extend in a straight line for their entire length.
Straight run
___ stairs have an intermediate landing between floors and reverse direction at that point.
Return
This type of stair design is common in modern construction:
Return
___ stairs are two separate sets of stairs constructed in a common shaft.
Scissor
The minimum width of the run in circular stairs is usally ___ inches.
10
A special requirement for circular stairs is that the small radius is not less than ___ the width of the stairway.
twice
___ stairs are typically found in dwellings where they are used to provide access to an attic space that does not have a permanent access stair.
Folding
Typically custom made, ____ stairs are not enclosed and are usually found in private homes.
spiral
Stair enclosures are considered to be a highly protected part of the means of egress because of their importance in overall building safety.
True
Building codes have traditionally required a minimum of one smokeproof stair enclosure for staris serving buildings five stories or higher, and more recently, stairs serving floor levels more than ___ feet below the level of exit discharge.
30
This type of stair enclosure is acessed by using a vestibule or an exterior balcony:
Passive Smokeproof Enclosures
Three methods of passive smoke containment are:
- Vestibule
- Balcony
- Smoke shaft
The two most common types of power for elevators are :
- hydraulic
2. electric
Most elevator regulations are based on ASME/ANSI A17.1, Safety Code for Elevators, published by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
True
Hydraulic elevators DO NOT have ____; cars are slowed and stopped by controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid back into the reservoir.
brakes
Electric elevators are subdivided into either ___ or ___ devices.
- drum
- traction
The elevator drum is located in a motor room directly over the ____.
hoistway
The most common type of elevator in buildings over six stories is the ____ elevator.
traction
Even though counterweights reduce the amount of energy needed to raise the elevators, the heights to which they operate may require them to have as much as a ____ volt power supply.
500
During normla operation, the brakes on traction elevators with ____ motors aid directly in stopping the car at the correct floor.
AC
A ____ device is an electric switch designed to stop the car by removing power before it reaches the upper or lower limits of the hoistway.
terminal
____ are large springs or hydraulic cylinders and pistons located at the bottom of the pit that act as shock absorbers should the terminal swith fail.
Buffers
Buffers CANNOT stop a free-falling car.
True
This switch slows the drive motor when an elevator starts to exceed a safe operation an is alos known as the speed governor.
speed reducing switch
This switch is activated if the speed reducing switch fails to slow the car sufficiently:
overspeed switch
____ are tapered sets of steel jaws that wedge against the gude rails and bring the elevator to a stop:
Car safeties
Elevator safties are designed to stop a free-falling car.
True
Elevator hoistway enclosures usually are required to be a fire-rated assembly with a ___ or ___ hour rating.
1 or 2
Common types of elevator hoistways:
- Single
- Multiple
- Blind
If a building contains __ or fewer elevators, the codes permit them to be placed in one hoistway.
3
When more than one hoistway is provided, up to ___ elevators may be located in one hoistway.
4
An elevator zone usually serves ___ to ___ floors.
15 to 20
___ hoistways are used for express elevators that serve the upper elevator zones in tall buildings.
Blind
If the elevator car is stopped in a blind hoistway, the emergency exits from the car must be used.
True
Older escalators usually operate at speeds of either 90 or 120 feet per minute however speeds now have been standardized at ___ feet per minute.
100
Typically, the vertical openings created by escalators need to be protected when serving more than ___ floors.
2
The most common method of protecting the vertical opening is to use closely spaced sprinklers in conjunction with ____ around the opening.
draft stops
A primary concern for conveyor penetrations during a fire is incomplete door or shutter closure.
True
Systems that make use of water as the heat transfer medium are known as ___ systems.
hydronic
Dampers are NOT usually required for nonrated partitions or for 1 hour rated walls.
True
NFPA 90A requires that the enclosure be 1-hour rated for buildings less than ___ stories in height and 2-hour fire rated for buildings ___ stories or greater.
4, 4
The advantage in placing an HVAC equipment room on the top floor is that it is easy to take in makeup air and eject exhaust air to the atmosphere.
True
Duct detectors are typically provided for fans with capacities exceeding ____ cubic feet per minute, to shut down these systems under fire conditions and minimize unwanted smoke movement.
2,000
The space between a suspended ceiling andthe roof deck:
interstitial spaces
Channel or enclosure, usually of sheet metal, used to move heating and cooling air through a building:
Duct
Simply breaking out windows to vent products of combustion must be carried out very carefully when the window is ___ stories above grade.
30
____ means the use of mechanical equipment to produce pressure differences across smoke barriers to inhibit smoke movement.
Smoke control
Engineered system designed to control smoke by using mechanical fans to produce airflows and pressure differences across smoke barriers to limit and direct smoke movement:
Smoke Control System
When a system has both automatic and maual capability for smoke control, the _____ shall take priority.
manual
Two methods that can be used to protect an enclosed stairwell from smoke:
- Smoke proof tower
2. Stairwell pressurization
NFPA 92A, Standard for Smoke-Control Systems Utilizing Barriers and Pressure Differnces, requires a minimum pressure difference of ___ inches, water gauge across a smoke barrier in a sprinklered building.
0.05
Two general design methods for pressurized stairwells:
- Single injection method
2. Multiple injection system
In a ____ system an air supply shaft is run paralled to the stairwell from the supply fan.
multiple injection
The type of heat and smoke vents typically encountered are individual small area hatchways (a minimum of ___ feet in either direction is typical)
4
____ are used in conjuction with smoke vents to increase their effectiveness.
Curtain boards
The depth of a curtain board will vary depending on the nature of the hazards withing an occupancy, but should be not less than ___ percent of the ceiling height.
20
____ boards direct products of combustion to a vent.
Curtain
High voltage is defined as operating at ___ volts or higher; low voltage equipment operates at less than ____.
600, 600
Nonconductor of direct electric current:
dielectric
When transformers are inside, the transformer rooms or vaults are required by code to be enclosed in a ___ hour fire rated construction if not protected by automatic sprinklers or ___ hour fire rated construction if they are protected by sprinkles.
3, 1
An exception to the fuel storage separation is a day tank located in the same room or mounted directly on the generator. This tank is typically limited by fire codes to ___ gallons for diesel fuel.
60
Wood is stronger in a direction PARALLEL to the grain than against the grain.
True
The allowable tensile strength of wood is about ___ psi.
700
The strength of wood is also affected by its ___ content.
moisture
Most structural lumber has a moisture content of ___ percent or less.
19
Lengths of wood cut and prepared for use in construction:
lumber
Some specific forms of wood prodcuts available for use in construction are:
- Solid lumber
- Laminated wood members
- Structural Composite Lumber
- Panels
- Manufactured components
Solid lumber includes boards, dimenstion lumber, and timbers.
True
Boards have a nominal thickness of ___ inches.
2
Dimension lumber has a nominal thickness of __ to __ inches.
2 to 4
Timbers have a nominal thickness of ___ inches.
5
Dimension lumber is available in lengths from __ to __ feet in 2-foot increments.
8 to 18
Members for use as rafters can be supplied in lengths up to ___ feet.
24
The ACTUAL dimensions of finished piece of wood will be SMALLER than the nominal dimension.
True
Short for glue-laminated structural lumber.
Glulam
The thickness of the individual laminations varies from ___ inch to ___ inches.
3/4 to 2
Three types of joists used to join laminated members are:
- Butt joist
- Finger joist
- Scarf joist
Structural Composite Lumber (SCL) products allow the use of the outer fibers of a log as well as the inner portions traditionally used.
True
Products of SCL include:
- Laminated veneer lumber (LVL)
- Paralled strand lumber (PSL)
- Laminated strand lumber (LSL)
LVL finds applications in I-joists and beam sections ___ to ___ inches thick.
1 3/4 to 3 1/2
Surface layer of attractive materila laid over a base of common material:
veneer
PSL is the strongest of the three SCL products and can be used for heavily loaded columns and long spans.
True
Wood sheet product made from several thin veneer layers that are sliced from logs and glued together:
plywood
Plywood is produced in standard sheets measuring ___ feet by ___ feet.
4 x 8
Particleboard can be maufactured in sizes up to __ by __ feet.
8 by 40
___ is widely used for sheating and subflooring in wood-frame buildings:
OSB
Contruction material made of many small wooden pieces (strands) bonded together to form sheets, similar to plywood:
Oreinted Strand Board (OSB)
Light-frame tursses are made up of __ inch nominal members that are all in the same plane:
2
Heavy timber trusses are made up of member up to __ or __ inches.
8 or 10
One serious and fundamental drawback to wood as a building material is its ____.
combustability
Wood is affected by such variables:
- Density of wood
- Size and form of wood
- Moisture content
- Rate of heating
- Natrure of heating source
- Air supply
The thermal decomposition of wood and begins at a temperature somewhere below approximately 392 F:
Pyrolysis
The ___ of combustion of a fuel is the total amount of thermal energy that could be relaeased if the fuel were completely burned:
heat
The heat of combustion is measured in ___per pound or kilojoules per gram.
Btu
The rate at which a fuel is consumed and, therefore, the rate at which energy is released determines fire GROWTH rate and SEVERITY.
True
The ratio of the surface area of the fuel to the mass of the fuel:
Surface-To-Mass Ratio
A piece of wood with a high surface to mass ratio, would fail faster than a piece with a low surface to mass ratio given the same mass. (Page 209)
True
The two main methods of fire retardant treatment are pressure impregnation and surface coating.
True
Most fire retardant chemicals operate by accelerating the formation of charring in the wood when the wood is exposed to heat.
True
The fire-retardant treatment of wood will ____ its strength.
reduce
Thermoplastic compostie lumber is a combustible product with a flame spread rating of ___.
80
Heavy timber framing uses columns NOT LESS than __ x __ inches and the beams not less than ___ x ___ inches.
8 x 8
6 x 10
Factors that are unique to wood:
- Specific gravity of wood
- Shrinkage of the wood
- Position of fasteners
- Relative size of the wood members and fasteners
Projecting member in a piece of wood or other material for insertion into mortise to make a joint:
tenon
The posts in post and beam framing are usually __ x __ inches or __ x __ inches.
4 x 4
6 x 6
The posts are usually spaced __ to __ feet.
4 to 12
Post and beam framing is HEAVIER than light frame construction but SMALLER than heavier timber construction.
True
The most popular form of wood framing is known as ____ frame construction
light wood
The two basic types of light wood framing are ___ and ___ framing.
balloon
platform
The VERTICAL COMBUSTIBLE SPACES between the studs in balloon frame construction provide a channel for the rapid communication of fire from floor to floor.
True
In platform framing a.k.a. Western framing, the exterior wall vertical studs ARE NOT continuous to the second floor.
True
From a construction standpoint, platform-frame buildings are ___ to erect than balloon frame buildings.
easier
A few locations where firesopping is required include the following:
- Within stud walls at the ceiling and floor levels
- At the interconnections between vetical stud wall spaces and horizontal spaces created by floor joists or trusses
- Between stair stringers
- Behind soffits
The usual requirement is for the attic space to be subdivided into areas of ____ square feet.
3,000
The most common sheatings are ___, ___, or ____.
plywood
particle board
exterior gypsum sheating
The combustibility of a siding material can affect the fire behavior of a building in two ways:
- Through the exterior communication of fire from window and door openings.
- By being ignited by an exposing fire
Asbestos sidings wer commonly used from the 1930s until the 1970s.
True
The brick veneer adds little to structural support and must be tied to the wood frame wall at intervals of ___ inches.
16
One frequently used rule is that in a brick bearing wall every ___ coarse of brick is a HEADER course with the ends of the brick facing out.
sixth
The interior finish materials most commonly used are ___ or ___.
gypsum board or plaster
When the structural framing of a wood-frame building, including the floor and roof construction, is provided with protection to achieve a 1-hour resistance, the building can be classified as Type ___.
V-A
A code may permit elimination of the strutural fire resistance for roof members located more than ___ feet above floor level.
20
Where truss joists are used in floor construction it is possible for fire to spread in four directions; parallel to and perpendicular to the truss joists.
True
____ resistant construction is intended to decrease the vulnerability of structures to exposure from wildland fires.
Ignition
___ is one of the oldest and simplest building materials; its use dates back thousands of years.
Masonry
The firing process for bricks takes ___ to 150 hours.
40
For most brick sizes, three courses (horizontal layers) of brick plus the intervening mortar joints equals a height of ___ inches.
8
Concrete block’s most common size is the nominal 8 x 8 x 16 inch block.
True
The most common types of stone used in construction are ___, ___, ___, ___, and ___.
granite
limestone
sandstone
marble
Mortar is available in five basic types with strengths varying from as low as ___ psi to as high as ___ psi.
70
2,500
Compressive strength for Brick:
2,000 to 20,000 psi
Compressive strength for Granite:
15,600 to 30,800 psi
Densities of Brick:
100 to 140 lb/ cu ft
Density of Granite:
165 to 170 lb/cu ft
Most commonly used cement consisting chiefly of calcium and aluminum silicates:
Portland Cement
These walls provide the basic structural support for a building:
bearing walls
Nonreinforced masonry walls are usually limited to a maximum height of around ___ stroies.
six
Single vertical row of multiple rows of masonry units in a wall, usually brick:
wythe
Horizontal layer of individual masonry units:
course
The Monadnock building in Chicago has masonry bearing walls 6 feet thick at the base of the building.
True
By using reinforced masonry, it is possible to construct load-bearing masonry walls to a height of ten stories or more having a wall thickness of only ___ inches.
12
When bricks are placed end-to-end, they create a ___ course.
stretcher
If bricks are placed vertically on end, a ___ course is created.
soldier
Paralled wythes of brick can be bonded using a header course every ___ course.
6th
In an ordinary noreinforced wall, the strength and stability of the wall are derived from the weight of the masonry and horizontal bonding between adjacent wythes.
True
A ___ is a beam over an opening in a masonry wall.
lintel
___and, to a lesser extent arches, are the most common methods of supporting loads over openings in masonry walls.
Lintels
Prapets project from 1 to 3 feet or more above the roof, usually wihout ____ support.
lateral
___ is also known as “masonry, wood joisted” construction.
Ordinary
In traditional construction the masonry walls support wood floor and roof joists.
True
The purpose of a ___ cut is to allow the beam to fall away freely from a wall in the case of structural collapse without acting as a lever to push against the masonry.
fire
Collapsing interior floor or roof members can exert ____ forces against a wall and push the wall outward.
horizontal
Firefighters should always assume that if a wall collapses it will fall out from the building a distance at least ___ to the height of the wall.
equal
Because intersecting masonry walls tend to support each other, the corners of the building or other points of intersection, such as stairwells or elevator shafts, will the the strongest points in a masonry structure.
True
A masonry building is sometimes provided with a decorative false front or ___.
fascia
In mill construction, floors are required to be ___ inch tongue and groove with 1 inch nominal tongue and groove flooring
3
In mill construction, Roofs are required to be __ inch tongue and groove or 1 1/8’ structural panels or planks.
2
The absence of ___ spaces is a major advantage in mill construction from a fire fighting standpoint.
concealed
The basic properties of steel are as follows:
- Strongest of the building materials
- Non-rotting, resistant to aging and dimensionally stable
- Consistent quality due to controlled industrial process used in its manufacture
- Relatively expensive
The lower carbon content of steel compared to that of cast iron results in a material that is DUCTILE rather than brittle.
True
A very commonly used steel for structural purposes is designated ASTM A36.
True
When the “yield point stress” is reached (approximately ____ psi) the shell undergoes a pronounced deformation.
36,000
Steels for special application, such as those used in bridge strands, have strengths as high as ___ psi but have very little ductility.
300,000
Steel possesses two inherent disadvantages:
- Tendency to rust when exposed to ari and moisture
2. Loss of strength when exposed to the heat of a fire
The most significant characteristic of steel to the fire service, is the deterioration of its strength at elevated temperatures.
True
At 1,200 F the yield point has dropped to approximately 10,000 psi - a loss in strength of approximately ___ percent.
72
The speed with which unprotected steel fails when it is exposed to a fire depends on several factors, including the following:
- Mass of the steel members
- Intensity of the exposing fire
- Load supported by the steel
- Type of connections used to join the steel members
- Type of steel
Steel has a density of around ___ pounds per cubic feet.
490
A beam of 20 feet long would weigh 1,480 lbs.
True
If an unrestrained steel beam 20 feet long were heated from 70 F to a uniform temp of 1,000 F, it would expand ___ inches.
1.4
Large, horizontal structural member used to support joists and beams at isolated points along their length:
girder
Beams and columns in steel frame buildings are connected by one of two methods:
- Bolting
2. Welding
Riveting beams and columns was used in the first half of the 20th century but is not practical to use today.
True
Beam and girder steel frames can be classified as :
- rigid
- simple
- semi rigid
When a framing system is classified as a ____ frame, the connections between the beams and the columns are designed to resist the bending forces resulting from the supported loads and lateral forces.
rigid
In the case of a simple frame, the joists are designed primarily to support a ___ force.
vertical
These trusses are frequently used in three-dimensional space frames, in which case they are known as delta trusses:
Steel trusses
Two commonly encountered applications of the basic steel truss are the open ___ joist and the joist ____.
web
girder
Open web joists are available with depths of up to __ feet and span up to ___ feet.
6
144
The bar joist is a common type of open web steel joist.
True
Steel rigid frames usually are used for spans from ___ to ___feet.
40 to 200
The top of the rigid frame is known as the ___ and the points where the inclined members intersect the vertical members are known as ___.
crown
knees
Steel arches can be constructed to span distances in excess of ___ feet.
300
Steel arches can be designed as either girder arches or trussed arches.
True
It is possible to produce wire for use in bridge cables with strengths as high as ____ psi.
300,000
A property of a given column, known as its ____, is used in in combination with the condition of the column end to determine the load that can be safely supported without buckling.
“slenderness ratio”
In general, columns for structural support in buildings should NOT have a slenderness ratio greater than ___.
120
A very common floor design in steel-frame buildings uses a lightweight concrete with a minimum thickness of __ inches supported by corrugated steel decking.
2
In gabled rigid frame structures the ___ joint between the roof and the wall will be the strongest part of the frame and the last part to fail.
knee
Metal or wooden plates used to connect and strengthen the intersections of metal or wooden truss components, etc.:
gusset plates
A steel column encased in 3 inches of concrete wit a siliceous aggregate would have a fire resistance of ___ hours.
four
Gypsum board is available as regular or type ___.
X
Type __ gypsum board contains additives to increase its fire resistance and is usually required where a specified fire resistance is desired.
X
Gypsum consists of approximately ___ percent entrapped water.
21
High density SFRMs that use magnesium oxychloride have densities ranging from __ to ___ lb/cu ft.
40 to 80
The cementitious materials have densities varying from __ to __ lb/cu ft.
15 to 50
Intumescent coating material will expand to ___ to ___ times its original volume.
15 to 30
Intumescent coatings have an applied thickness of 0.03 to 0.4 inches.
True
The most common membrane ceiling is to use ___ tiles in a steel framework suspended by wires.
mineral
Ceiling materials are never rated independently.
True
Because concrete is noncombustible, it is widely used in Type ___ construction.
I
Concrete is produced from Portland cement, coarse and fine aggregates, and water.
True
Gravel, stone, sand, or other inner materials used in concrete:
aggregate
The ____ make up a large percentage of the total volume.
aggregates
Maintaining conditions to achieve proper strength during the hardening of concrete:
curing
Hardening of concrete involves a chemical process known as ____.
hydration
Concrete must be ___ in order to reach its proper strength.
cured
Concrete that is curing must be maintained at the correct temperature, ideally between ___ to ___ F.
50 to 70
Properly cured concrete continues to harden indefinitely at a gradual rate however, normal design strength is reached after ___ days.
28
The primary function of placing reinforcing steel in concrete is to resist tensile forces.
True
Reinforcing steel in the concrete is tensioned after the concrete has hardened:
Post-tensioned reinforcing
Steel stands are stretched between anchors producing a tensile force in the steel. Concrete placed around the steel:
Pretensioned reinforcing
The single most important factor in determining the ultimate strength of concrete is the ___ to ___ ratio.
water to cement
Measuring the ___ of a sample of concrete gives and indication of the amount of moisture in the concrete mix.
slump
The __ test is used to check the moisture content of concrete by measuring the amount that a small, cone shaped sample of the concrete settles after it is removed from a standard sized test mold.
slump
The following are common cast - in - place structural systems:
- Flat slab
- Slab and beam
- Waffle construction
The slab in flat slab concrete frames varies in thickness from ___ to ___ inches.
6 to 12
Solid slabs are used for short spans up to approximately ___ feet while the tee slabs can be used for spans up to ___ feet.
30
120
A very common application of precast concrete is in the construction of parking garages.
True
The greater the depth of the cornet over the reinforcing steel, the GREATER it will protect the steel.
True
Concrete absorbs heat when it is exposed to a fire is called:
heat sink effect
From a fire fighting standpoint, the roofs of buildings can be classified into three styles:
- flat
- pitched
- curved
Low slope roofs have a slope of up to 3 to 12, meaning for each 12 units of horizontal dimension the roof slopes upward 3 units.
True
Medium to high slope roofs have slopes of 4/12 to 12/12.
True
Some structures, such as certain churches or mansions, have roofs with slopes of ___ or greater.
18/12
The simplest pitched roof is the ___ roof that slopes in only one direction.
shed
The ___ roof is a very common roof style that consists of two inclined surfaces that meet at their high side to form a “ridge.”
gable
The ___ roof slopes in four directions and has a degree of slope similar to the gable roof.
hip
The ___ roof has the break in the slope of the roof on all four sides.
mansard
The ___ roof style slopes in two directions basically two shed roofs that meet at their low eaves.
butterfly
SEE PAGE 307 ROOF TYPES PICTURES!!
GO MALAKA…
A ___ roof is designed to provide light and ventilation.
monitor
___ roofs were also commonly used on industrial buildings for light and ventilation. Glass vertical sections.
Sawtooth
A ___ roof is designed to shed water and snow
pitched
The lamella arch is constructed from short pieces of wood known as ____.
lamellas
Lamellas vary from 2 x 8 inches to 3 x 16 inches and in lengths from 8 to 14 feet.
True
The curvature of the lamella arch results from the beveling (inclining) of the ends of the individual lamellas.
True
_____ domes are created using triangles.
Geodesic
____ are designed to create extra living space and allow additional light into a structure.
Dormers
In modern practice box beams and I-beams manufactured from plywood and wood truss joists are often used to support flat ____.
roofs
Fireproofing can be omitted from roof supports when the roof is located more than ___ feet above the floor in an assembly occupancy.
20
Inverted roofs differ from conventional roofs primarily in the location of their main ____ beams.
roof
____ are the inclined joists used to support some types of pitched roofs.
Rafters
Wood rafters can be spaced from ___ to ___ inches apart.
12 to 24
A Fink truss is common in residential type construction.
True
The ___ and ___ style trusses are the most common types used for pitched roofs.
Fink and Pratt
The components of roof decks include:
- sheathing
- roof planks
- purlins
Wood planks will have a minimum of __ inch nominal thickness.
1
Corrugated steel used in roof decking ranges from ___ gauge, the thinnest, to ___ gauge, the thickest.
29, 12
Watertight material used to prevent the passage of moisture or water vapor into and through walls or roofs, etc.
vapor barrier
A flat roof usually consists of several component layers that include the following: IN ORDER
- Vapor barrier
- Thermal insulation
- Roofing membrane
- Drainage layer
- Wear course
The ____ layer permits the free movement of rain water to the roof drains.
drainage
The ___ course protects the roof from mechanical abrasion
wear
Roof coverings used on pitched roofs are generally one of two broad categories:
- shingle or tile roofs
2. metal roofs
Asphalt shingles most common size is ___ x ___ inches.
12 x 36
Slate is a very durable material and can have a life expectancy of ___ years.
150
Slate weighs 8 to 36 lbs per square foot.
True
The ___ clay tiles are known as “mission” tiles and are used to create imitation Spanish style architecture
curved
The spacing between purlins can be from 2 to 6 feet.
True
A ___ is a building’s first line defense against the elements.
roof
There are six separate test procedures contained in NFPA 256:
- Intermittent flame exposure
-Burning brand test
-Flying brand test
-Raint test
-Weathering test
Spread of flame test
Class A roof coverings are effective against SEVERE fire exposure.
True
Class B roof coverings are effective against MODERATE fire exposure.
True
Class C roof coverings are effective against LIGHT fire exposure.
True
Building and fire codes typically require that standpipes be extended before the construction reaches ___ feet above the lowest lever of fire department access.
40
The initial products of pyrolysis are:
- The water that may still be retained in the wood
2. Carbon Dioxide
Horizontal communication of fire if mainly due to _____.
thermal radiation
Inspections are performed by the _____ and by the _____.
architect or architect’s rep
building department
____ provides the exterior cladding of a wood-frame building.
Siding
A ____ truss makes use of a short circular piece of steel within and between two adjacent wood members to transfer the load between the members.
split-ring
What is the main advantage of thermoplastic lumber?
resistance to weathering
In their structural application, masonry are used to support ____ loads.
compressive
When a beam transmits a large vertical load to a MASONRY wall, the wall may be increased in thickness at the point of support with a ____ to reduce the compressive stresses in the masonry.
pilaster
Spiral stairs may also be found in commercial occupancies for limited use.
True
Types of conveyers include:
- Belt
- Roller
- Chain
- Screw
- Bucket
- Pneumatic systems
It is not unusual to find “__________” provided to access mechanical spaces, roof hatches at the top of stairways, and between roof levels with portions at different elevations.
“ship’s ladders”
Typically, the vertical openings created by escalators need to be protected when serving more than two floors. The most common method of protecting the vertical openings is the use of closely spaced sprinklers in conjunction with what?
draft stops
What are vertical boards, fire resistive half walls, that extend down from the underside of the roof of some commercial buildings and are intended to limit the spread of fire, heat, smoke and fire gases?
curtain boards
5 structural elements building codes require for the fire resistance rating test:
- Beams
- Columns
- Walls and partitions
- Floor and ceiling assemblies
- Roof and ceiling assemblies
Fire-resistant granules of expanded volcanic glass and a binder pressed into a rigid board:
Perlite Board
Phases of Construction:
- Concept
- Design product
- Financing
- Documentation and permit
- Renovation and remodel
- Construction
- Inspection/testing
Which two professions must be joined to accomplish the end product in building design:
Architecture and Structural engineering
