Building Construction - Types of Construction

Question 1

Type I Construction

Answer 1

• Fire Resistive Construction
• Most fire-resistive type
• Used for buildings with large numbers of people, e.g. hospitals, schools
• All structural members/components made of noncombustible materials, steel, concrete, gypsum board
• Typically reinforced concrete and protected steel-frame construction
• Building should not provide fuel for serious fire, contents determine severity of fire

Question 2

Type II Construction

Answer 2

• Noncombustible
• Less strict requirements than Type I
• Most common in single story warehouses or factories where vertical fire spread is a non-issue
• Steel most common structural material, can be insulated
• Fire severity determined by building contents

Question 3

Type III Constuction

Answer 3

• Ordinary
• Usually no more than 4 stories, can be up to 7
• Masonry exterior walls support floors and roof structure
• Interior structural and non-structural members constructed of wood
• Fire-resistance requirements limited
• Two separate fire loads: Contents and combustible building materials used
• Void spaces allow fire to extend vertically and horizontally

Question 4

Type IV Construction

Answer 4

• Heavy Timber
• Masonry exterior walls
• Interior walls, columns, beams, floor assemblies, and roof structure made of wood
• Much heavier wood than Type III, more difficult to ignite, withstands fire longer, burns for many hours if ignited
• No concealed spaces or voids

Question 5

Type V Construction

Answer 5

• Wood Frame
• All major compents are constructed of wood
• Up to four stories
• Structural assemblies engineered to be just strong enough to carry required loads
• Little build-in safety margin
• Can collapse suddenly and completely during a fire