Ch. 6: Reading Buildings Flashcards by FF Jonathan D. Sandoval (OmaF)

To say that a building collapses without warning is a flawed statement.

The ‘warning’ for structural collapse is in the ISOs ability to understand:

building construction
the effects of fire on the building.

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What type of explicit detail and their judgment must ISOs be able to give an incident commander?

Regarding the collapse potential** of a given building being **attacked by fire.

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What is imposed on building materials?

loads

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The imposition of a load causes stress on the materials called what?

force

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What is the direction or application of a load to a component?

The imposition of the load.

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What are the three types of load that can be transmitted through a structural member?

[ATE] >>> Load

Axial Load
Torsion Load
Eccentric Load

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3 ways loads are applied to a structural member?

Compression, tension, and shear forces [CTS]

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Mass is heat resistance, and heat resistance is _______.

time

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What are the four basic building material types?

Wood, steel, concrete, and masonry.

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What does it lead to when steel softens, elongates, and sags when heated?

collapse

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Cooling _________ _________ with fire streams is just as important as attacking the fire.

structural steel

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What has excellent tensile, shear, and compressive strength?

Steel

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High factory control; that is, it’s easy to change its shape, increase its strength, and manipulate it during production.

Steel

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What has excellent compressive strength when cured?

concrete

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A pocket of concrete that has crumbled into fine particles through exposure to heat.

spalling

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What can take away the critical mass of the concrete- that is, the mass used for strength?

spalling

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A lateral force that exceeds the compressive forces within a masonry wall causes its ______ ________.

quick collapse

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Brick, concrete block, and stone are general defined as this type of building material.

Masonry

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What is referred to as a combination of the four basic materials?

composite

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Lumber created by gluing and pressing together sheet veneers of wood (in the same grain direction)

laminated veneer lumber (lvl)

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A wood sheeting consisting of wood chips (strands oriented in multiple directions) and an emulsified glue.

oriented strand board (osb)

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What causes failure in “fake beams” aka composite trusses

Rapid heating of a composite truss can cause the metal to separate from the wood or glue adhesion to fail

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Building columns, beams, and connections used to assemble a building.

Structural elements

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To predict collapse.

The ISO must constantly evaluate structural elements to determine if they can still transfer the load as designed.

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Any structural component that transmits a compressive force parallel through its center is called a \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_.

column

A structural element that delivers loads perpendicularly to its imposed load is called a \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_.

beam

What structural component are subject to compressive forces? Examples.

columns Wall or a Post

What is the "weak link" in structural failure during fires?

the connection

What are the three general types of connections?

Rigid Pinned Gravity [RPG]

What are a series of columns and beams used to hold up a building often referred to as?

'skeletal frame' or 'post and beam'

Name this type of construction? 'Structural elements are of an approved noncombustible or limited combustible material with sufficient fire-resistive ratings to withstand the effect of fire and prevent its spread from story to story.'

Type I: Fire Resistive

What type is typical of concrete-encased steel, monolithic-poured cement, and steel with spray-on fire protection coatings?

Type I

What type of buildings are often steel and are susceptible to steel deformation and resulting collapse?

Type II

What type are buildings made of load-bearing brick or concrete block with wood roofs and floors?

Type III: Ordinary

What is one of the most common uses of Type III?

Strip mall with masonry walls and lightweight steel or wood trusses.

What are common problems associated with the Type III construction?

**Void spaces** allowing for rapid-fire extension and collapse of **lightweight structural elements**.

What is used to pull back into alignment the sagging or bowing load-bearing walls?

decorative stars/ornaments (spreaders)

What type of buildings have block or brick exterior load-bearing walls and interior structural members, roofs, and floors, and arches of solid or laminated wood (8") without concealed spaces?

Type IV: Heavy Timber

Where are heavy timber buildings mainly used for?

Warehouses, manufacturing buildings, and some older churches.

What can fire spread in a Heavy Timber building be fast due to?

*Wide-open areas* and *content exposure*.

What is the most common construction type?

Type V: Wood Framed - homes, new small businesses and chain hotels

What type of construction can fire enter the wall space and run straight to the attic?

Type V

Building analysis during any incident should be cyclic because it is...

.... performed on a regular basis as conditions change and time goes by.

What is the Five-Step process for predicting collapse?

1) *Classifying* the type of *Construction* 2) Determining structural *Involvement* 3) Visualizing and tracing *Loads* 4) *Evaluating* Time 5) Predicting and communicating the *Collapse Potential*

What are areas that are exposed to trauma, debris, and/or thrust of a collapse?

collapse zone

The failure of a roof assembly may impose weight on interior partition walls that were not designed for the load may also be know as...

... a "**loaded gun**," meaning that the slightest movement could cause an explosive release and collapse.

What should be the default for all construction site fires?

Defensive operations

What is one of the important functions of an ISO?

To offer judgment about the collapse potential of buildings during incidents.

What is used for the top and bottom chord of the I beam?

Laminated veneer lumber (LVL)

Which type of connections use bolts and screws?

Pinned

What material rapidly stress separates at the intersection of the two materials under fire conditions when combining metal and wood to form a structural element?

Metal expands faster than the wood

Which type of buildings are most often large, multistoried structures with multiple exits?

Type I

Which causes fire spread to be rapid in the Type IV building?

Open spaces

What type of attack should be considered when firefighters must work within the established collapse zone area?

Flanking approach

Which is considered a fake beam due to its lightweight materials and use of geometric shapes?

truss

What are 4 ingredients for mortar?

Portland Cement Hydrated Lime Sand Water

How much can a 100-foot steel beam elongate at 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit?

10 inches

What accelerates the potential collapse time?

- High surface-to-mass ratio - An imposed overload - Higher BTU development (fire load) - Alterations (undesigned loading) - Age deterioration or lack of care/maintenace - Firefighting impact loads (fire stream force, accumulated water, forcible entry and ventilation efforts, weight of crews) - Breakdown or loss of fire-resistive barriers

How thick is the EPS sheet typically?

6 to 8 inches

What is FiRP made from?

Plastic

In which step does the ISO "undress" the building when predicting collapse?

What should be used to determine the structural involvement of a fire?

Smoke and flame

What do new lightweight steel homes resemble?

Wood frame homes

At what point did builders begin to use platform framing for wood frame buildings?

1950's

How are connections loaded for the most part?

In shear

Which is NOT an ingredient in concrete? Portland cement Lime Sand Gravel Water

Lime

What is the correct progression in the following assumptions?

Mass is heat resistance and heat resistance is time

Which type of load can occur in both directions?

Shear

What is used to protect structural members from fire in a wood frame building typically?

Gypsum board

'Masonry' is a common term that refers to

brick, concrete block, and stone

How many times the height of the building should the collapse zone be as a minimum?

1 1/2

What is the fire resistive device most often used to protect the roof structure of the Type II building?

Dropped-in ceiling

Which type of forces are relied upon to give the masonry wall its strength?

Compressive

In Type IV construction what is generally the minimum dimensions of the members?

8 inches

Out of the 4 building materials, which has marginal tensile strength?

wood

What are Type II buildings constructed from more often than not?

Steel

What must be used to most effectively predict building collapse?

Knowledge base

Which type of connections use reinforced concrete and welds to bond elements?

Rigid

What occurs to steel as it is exposed to fire?

Softens

Which type of load is imposed through the center of the structural member?

Axial

What influences fire spread in Type II buildings?

Contents

What color smoke does unfinished wood that is being rapidly heated emit?

Brown

Which truism about predicting collapse is correct?

The lighter the structural elements, the faster it comes down

Where must forces be delivered for a building to be structurally sound?

The ground

Concrete is a mixture of

Portland cement sand gravel water that cures into a solid mass.

What is a structural element that delivers loads perpendicularly to its imposed load?

Beam

What can be seen that will alert the firefighter to the fact that a load-bearing wall has been pulled back into alignment?

Decorative stars on the outside brick wall

Which is considered the most common type of construction? Examples?

Type V: Wood frame - Homes - small business - hotel chains

What is any 'structural' element that transmits a compressive force parallel through its center?

Column

What is the imposition of loads on building materials called?

Force

Which alternative construction type will be most likely to fail fastest under fire conditions?

ICF (insulated concrete forming) block

What is the first step for predicting collapse?

Classify the construction type

Which ratio determines the strength of concrete most?

Water to Portland cement

What is a series of beams placed perpendicularly to trusses to help support roof decking (longitudinal members)?

Perlin

Which type of beam spans an opening in a load-bearing masonry wall? - such as over a garage or door opening

Lintel (aka *Header*)

What is the extension of a wall past the roof?

Parapet wall

Which type of operation should be default at all construction site fires?

Defensive

Which type of beam supports other beams and typically the main horizontal support made of steel, wood, or reinforced concrete?

Girder

Which type of load tends to pull in opposite directions on the structural member?

Tension

What percentage of its strength does cold drawn steel lose at 800 degrees Fahrenheit?

55%

What are the 5 building types

1. Fire-Resistive 2. Non-Combustible 3. Ordinary 4. Heavy Timber 5. Wood-Frame

Structural Elements are considered | (three components)

Columns, Beams & Connections

**5** Step Process for Predicting Collapse

1: Classify *Construction* Type 2: Determine Structural *Involvement* (Read smoke & Flames) 3: Visualize and Trace *Loads* 4: *Evaluate* time (fire impingement time) 5: Predict and communicate *Collapse Potential* (collapse zoning) [CILECp]