Ch. 3 - Building Construction (NEW TEST) Flashcards
(Type I, Fire Resistive Structures) Structural members are of __________ or __________ materials with sufficient fire resistive ratings to withstand the effects of fire and its spread from story to story.
non-combustible limited combustible
(Type I, Fire Resistive Structures) Fire-resistive requirement for structure members is ________ hours depending on the specific structural member.
2-4
(Steel Protection) Steel structural columns are protected by one of three means: __________ __________ __________
Encasement Membrane Spray on coating
(Type II, Non-combustible) Structural elements have ___________ from fire and its effects. Structural elements _________ to the fire load. Exposed structural elements can ______ rapidly if directly impinged by flames.
Little or NO protection Do not add Fail
(Type III, Ordinary Construction) These structures have masonry _____________ that may help control extension of fire to other buildings (control horizontal fire spread).
Exterior bearing walls
(Type III, Ordinary Construction) Interior floors, walls, and ceilings are constructed of ________ and other _________ materials.
Wood Combustible
(Type III, Ordinary Construction) Floor joists are _________ to prevent exterior (bearing walls) walls from __________ inward when joists are burned through in a fire.
Fire cut Collapsing
(Type III, Ordinary Construction) Pre-1950 exterior walls are generally brick and/or block with ___________ connected by bond beams and/or king’s row every ________ course of brick.
2 withes 6th or 7th
Common firefighting problems for Type III structures -___________ -___________ Age of structure Voids and plenums Multiple use occupancies
Collapse Remodel-renovations Age of structure Voids and plenums Multiple use occupancies
What are the types of Masonry Collapse?
90 Degree-Angle Collapse Curtain-Fall Collapse Inward/Outward Collapse
(Type IV, Mill/Heavy Timber) Use solid or laminated wood members of ____________________________ for columns, beams, girders, trusses, arches, floors, and roofs.
Great dimension/mass for structural members
(Type IV, Mill/Heavy Timber) Heavy/Mill timber construction is ___________ due to the great mass of its structural elements and their low surface to mass ratio.
Long burning
Common firefighting problems with Type IV structures -High Temperatures while burning -Remodel/renovation -____________ -____________
Age of building Collapse
What are the three types of Type V construction? -Lightweight/wood frame -Balloon Frame construction _________________
Platform Frame Construction
(Type V, Lightweight/wood frame) There are three types of wood frame construction: -Post and beam -_______________ -_______________ -Lodge/Log
-Balloon frame -Platform
(Type V, Platform Frame Construction) Characterized by each level being built upon the floor/platform providing an effective ___________.
Fire stop
Common firefighting problems with Type V structures: -__________ -__________ -All structural elements add to the fire load -Void spaces -Fascias/Overhangs -Wood frame structures are often referred to as 20-minute structures
Collapse Rapid burn times
(Common firefighting problems with Type V structures) Wood frame structures are often referred to as 20-minute structures: “TJI” joist systems will often fail in _______ or less when directly impinged by flames.
3 minutes
(Common firefighting problems with Type V structures) Wood frame structures are often referred to as 20-minute structures: Lightweight wood and open web trusses often fail in __________ or less when directly impinged by flames.
5 minutes
(Modern Construction Types) While once used and moderately identifiable, the 5 classic construction types have given way to a hodgepodge of mixed construction styles. Modern construction principles are based on time and money rather than fire and/or life safety. While time to completion on modern buildings decreases and geometry/physics replaces mass to keep costs down, firefighters are losing one of their most valuable fireground assets, _____________.
TIME
Modern building construction can now be broken down into 2 categories:
Conventional Lightweight
(Conventional - can be used in all the classic types of construction) Load bearing characteristics based on ______ and ________ of structural members.
Size Quantity
(Conventional - can be used in all the classic types of construction) The larger a structural member is, the _____________ it is.
Stronger
(Conventional - can be used in all the classic types of construction) Each structural member’s strength is _______________ of each other member’s individual characteristics.
Independent
(Conventional - can be used in all the classic types of construction) Standard size of floor/roof support members: __________________
2x6” or greater
(Lightweight, can also be used in all the types of construction) Load bearing characteristics are based on ___________ rather than size.
Geometry/Physics
(Lightweight, can also be used in all the types of construction) Each member is ___________ on others for strengths.
Dependent
(Lightweight, can also be used in all the types of construction) Standard size of floor/roof support members: -_________________ -With 3/8” O.S.B. used as stems/webs
2x3 or 2x4”
What is an important aspect to understand about construction?
Mechanics of Construction
What type of load is applied?
Pic
(Wall Bearing Structures) Non-bearing/Partition Walls: Act to divide areas or rooms into smaller areas. Walls travel between floor and ceiling only These walls do not carry any ____________ and do not restrict horizontal fire travel _____________ the ceiling.
Loads Above
(Non-bearing/Partition Walls) Division Walls: Travel through ceilings and project above the roof __________. Wall is constructed of heavier materials than a party or partition wall and is an excellent fire barrier.
18-24”
(Non-bearing/Partition Walls) Party Walls: Normally used to______________ one occupancy from another in condominiums, townhouses, and twin homes
Separate
What are the two types of party wall?
Adjoining Walls Offset Walls
(Party Walls) Adjoining Walls: Tend to confine fire between the studs, thus limiting ______________ fire spread. Offset Walls: Walls are often separated by several inches and the studs are _______. Fire can extend ________ and ________ between the walls due to the space between walls and the staggering of the studs.
Horizontal Staggered Horizontally Vertically
(Common Building Materials, Steel) Steel is a mixture of carbon and iron ore heated and rolled into structural shapes that have excellent _________ and _________ strengths.
Tension Compressive
(Common Building Materials, Steel) Most steel __________ of its designed strength at temperatures of ___________.
Loses 50-55% 800-1100 degrees F
(Common Building Materials, Steel) As temperatures rise, steel members will _______________.
Expand or elongate
(Common Building Materials, Steel) Steel will expand _____ for every ________ at ___________.
1” 10’ of length 1000° F
(Common Building Materials, Steel) Steel is a great heat ___________.
conductor
(Key factors in Fire Performance of Steel) Loading conditions: -__________ changes -Environmental loads (High winds, excessive rain or snow) -__________ loads
Occupancy changes Undesigned loads
(Key factors in Fire Performance of Steel) Connections: -Welding -___________ -___________ -High-strength bolting
Riveting Ordinary bolting
(Key factors in Fire Performance of Steel) Fire Protection Methods: _______: Steel is surrounded by metal lath, plaster, concrete, gypsum, or drywall. _______: Suspended ceilings _______: Cementatious mixtures, mastic, or fiber spray
Encasement Membrane Spray-on coating
(Concrete) Concrete is often used as fire resistive protection for structural steel due to its ___________.
Density and mass
(Concrete) All concrete contains _________ and continues to absorb more as it ages.
Moisture
(Concrete) Spalling is a direct effect of __________ inside concrete due to increased heat.
Expanding moisture
(Concrete) Unlike steel, concrete is a __________, which means that it tends to absorb and contain heat rather than conduct it.
Heat sink
(Key factors in the Fire Performance of Concrete) Loading conditions: This is especially important when new. Concrete gains in __________ for the first several weeks
Strength
(Key factors in the Fire Performance of Concrete) Type of reinforcement: Pre-stressed tendons fail early and are a particular hazard when ________________.
Tension is released
(Key factors in the Fire Performance of Concrete) Amount of concrete: Mass _________ fire resistance.
Increases
(Key factors in the Fire Performance of Concrete) Connections: When connected with __________ connectors, the connectors may fail long before the concrete.
External
(Masonry) It may be used as either a ________ or as a ____________ wall.
Veneer Load-bearing
(Masonry) The weakest part of any masonry wall is the _________.
Mortar
(Wood) Wood ______, in which case the structure of the building is also part of the fire load. Wood is the __________ building material used today.
Burns Most common
(Key Factors in the Fire Performance of Wood) Age: New wood has a _______ moisture content that’s older wood and is not as ________.
Higher Strong
(Key Factors in the Fire Performance of Wood) Position: Vertical vs. Horizontal, direction of the ______.
Grain
Structural Element Names ________: a vertical support member ________: a horizontal support member ________: a rigid frame using geometry to gain strength ________: a framing member that supports floors or roofs
Column Beam Truss Joist
(Variables of Structural Elements in Fire Stability) Two types of column connections: ___________ (most secure) ___________ (moderately secure)
Bolted (most secure) Nailed/Screwed (moderately secure)
(Variables of Structural Elements in Fire Stability) Beam: Supports -Simple end supports -Continuous supports -__________ -__________ -__________
Cantilevered Propped Fixed
(Variables of Structural Elements in Fire Stability) Truss: -_____________ -Surface to mass ratio -Geometry -_________
Interdependency Physics
(Variables of Structural Elements in Fire Stability) Arch: -Loading -Ends -_____________ (Often the arches weakest point)
Connection points
(Roof Construction) Benefits of conventional construction: -____________ -Strength patterns (see roofs handout) -Predictable failure patterns -____________ -____________
Burn time Fails in sections rather than entirety TIME
(Roof Construction) Benefits of lightweight roofs: -__________ -__________ -__________
Cost Time to build Ability to span great distances
Hazards of lightweight roofs: -__________ size of structural members -Metal gusset plates/connectors _________. -Geometry replacing mass -__________ -__________ -Often fail in entirety rather that in sections -Surface to mass ratio -__________ without warning
Decreased 3/8” penetration DECREASED TIME Unpredictable Collapse
Basic roof styles: Two types of: Arch ________ ________
Bowstring Arched Truss
Roof Decking Materials: _________ _________ _________ _________ _________
Plywood OSB/Particleboard Metal Concrete Space sheathing
Roof Covering Materials: -__________ -__________ -__________ -Rolled roofing (asphalt, tar paper) -Slate, tile, concrete -Rubber -__________ -__________
Shingles Built up tar and gravel Membrane Metal Other
A collapse in a lightweight building can happen completely without _________.
Warning
To avoid being trapped in collapse conditions work within the buildings safer zones: -___________________ -Along substantial exterior/interior walls -Away from _______________. -Close to ________ in bearing/exterior walls. -At distances ________ farther away from the building than the buildings tallest wall.
Corners of buildings Fascias and overhangs Doorways 1 1/2 to 2 times
Building hazards with structures on fire: Collapse -Contractor _________________ -__________________
Mistakes or short cuts Lightweight construction
(Type V, Balloon Frame construction) Characterized by its ______________ channels that run from foundation to the roof square. Found in abundance in the Avenues of Salt Lake City.
Vertically uninterrupted
(Building Hazards Associated with Structures on Fire) -Occupancy -Collapse -LIGHTWEIGHT CONSTRUCTION -Unknown design errors -Contractor ____________ -Changes in occupancy -__________________
-Contractor mistakes or short cuts -Lightweight construction
What type of load is applied?
