Ch3 Building Construction

Question 1

This type of building is considered noncombustible or limited combustible materials with a high fire resistive rating, and has the highest level of protection from fire spread and collapse…

Answer 1

Type 1 (Fire Resistive)

Question 2

This type of building’s structural members are FIRE-RESISTIVE and do not contribute to fuel load…

Answer 2

Type 1 (Fire Resistive)

Question 3

This type of building can be expected to be structurally stable longer than other structures….

Answer 3

Type 1 (Fire Resistive)

Question 4

This type of building is considered non-combustible…

Answer 4

Type 2 (non-combustible)

Question 5

This type of building’s steel is not protected…

Answer 5

Type 2 (non-combustible)

Question 6

Type 3 construction is referred to as…

Answer 6

Ordinary Construction

Question 7

Heavy timber is used in what type of construction?

Answer 7

Type 4 (Heavy Timber)

Question 8

Structures made entirely out of wood with veneer of stucco, brick, and stone are what type?

Answer 8

Type 5 (Wood Frame)

Question 9

Structures with 2x4 or 2x6 walls are considered what type?

Answer 9

Type 5 (Wood Frame)

Question 10

True or False…
Manufactured homes are not required to conform to the model building codes. They are required to conform to a USA DOH standard that is similar to Type V (Wood Frame) construction.

Answer 10

True

Question 11

True or False…
When owners and contractors make unprotected penetrations through fire walls for pipes, wires, and ducting, the protection that fire walls provide can be reduced or eliminated. Heat, smoke, and flames can pass through these openings and spread the fire into other compartments.

Answer 11

True

Question 12

True or False…
Stairs in commercial and multifamily residential buildings that are part of the required means of egress, must provide protection for the occupants as they travel to safety.

Answer 12

True

Question 13

The primary function of the roof is to protect the structure and its contents from the effects of weather.

Answer 13

True

Question 14

The two general types of roof supports used in residential and commercial construction are beams and truss assemblies.

Answer 14

True

Question 15

Much like engineered box beams or I-beams, trusses created from engineered materials are also susceptible to early failure. Engineered construction systems are manufactured from smaller pieces of wood or light weight gauge steel to for trusses that weigh less than traditional systems.

Answer 15

True

Question 16

Photovoltaic systems generate electricity and present a significant hazard to firefighters. Even if power to the building is shutoff, the panels retain significant amounts of electricity even if a small amount of light is available.

Answer 16

True

Question 17

Horizontal sliding fire doors are often found in old industrial buildings, are usually held open by a fusible link, and slide into position along a track by gravity or counter weight.

Answer 17

True

Question 18

Security bars or grills have a negative effect on fire and life safety. They can prevent the escape of trapped occupants or firefighters and slow access time for firefighters. Security bars and grills must be removed or disabled when interior operations begin to ensure firefighter safety in case rapid egress is required.

Answer 18

True

Question 19

In Type V construction, modern siding such as vinyl adds another petroleum based fuel to the structural fuel load.

Answer 19

True

Question 20

Fire may spread more quickly in manufactured homes because of fewer internal walls to create compartments and interior finishes which add to the fuel load.

Answer 20

True.

Question 21

Stairs can provide a flow path for the movement of air, fire gases, and smoke throughout a structure.

Answer 21

True

Question 22

What type of stairs are part of the required means of egress and are critical components of a life safety system of a building?

Answer 22

Protected stairs.

Question 23

Multi-story buildings with flat roofs usually have the same structural system for the roof as the floors.

Answer 23

True

Question 24

Building codes require that glass doors be made of tempered glass that resists breakage.

Answer 24

True

Question 25

The ceilings in corridors that are designated as exit or egress passageways will have the same fire resistance rating as the walls in that corridor.

Answer 25

True

Question 26

What is known as ordinary construction; commonly found in mercantile, business and residential, and older schools...

Answer 26

Type III (ordinary construction)

Question 27

Known as fire resistive construction because structural members do not add to the fuel load...

Answer 27

Type I

Question 28

Composed of materials that will not contribute to fire development or spread; non combustible construction.

Answer 28

Type II

Question 29

What building class has exterior load bearing walls composed entirely of wood?

Answer 29

Type IV (heavy timber construction)

Question 30

What class of building has exterior walls and structural members that must be constructed of non combustible or limited combustible materials, but interior walls partially or completely constructed of wood.

Answer 30

Type III (ordinary construction)

Question 31

Structural members are made of large dimension lumber or laminated wood.

Answer 31

Type IV

Question 32

Interior building elements constructed of solid or laminated wood with no concealed spaces.

Answer 32

Type IV

Question 33

Commonly known as wood frame construction.

Answer 33

Type V

Question 34

Provides the highest level of fire protection and structural collapse.

Answer 34

Type I

Question 35

Most common style is elevated in the center along a ridge line with a roof deck that slopes down to the eaves along the roof edges...

Answer 35

Pitched roof

Question 36

Type of roof most commonly found on commercial, industrial, and multifamily residential...

Answer 36

Flat roof

Question 37

Type of roof that is ideal for occupancies that require a large open area that is not supported by columns or posts...

Answer 37

Arched roof

Question 38

Provides structural support for trusses; may fail as wood burns away during a fire...

Answer 38

Gusset plates

Question 39

Roof modification that can add a significant dead load to the structure and interfere with roof vent operations...

Answer 39

Green roof

Question 40

A structural support generally used to support flat roofs and floor assemblies...

Answer 40

Parallel chord trusses

Question 41

Roof support that can be expected to fail quickly in a fire if unprotected...

Answer 41

Light weight open web joists

Question 42

May close when activated by the melting of a fusible link...

Answer 42

Fire door

Question 43

Consists of three or four sections that rotate in a circular frame; can restrict egress during a fire...

Answer 43

Revolving door

Question 44

Often used to divide large assembly spaces such as conference rooms into smaller spaces...

Answer 44

Folding doors

Question 45

Cannot be used to protect an opening that is part of the means of egress from a building...

Answer 45

Sliding door

Question 46

Consists of a flat face panels the full height and width of the door that are attached to a solid core or hollow door...

Answer 46

Flush door

Question 47

Locally adopted building codes regulate the type of construction based on intended use, structure size and the presence or lack of automatic fire suppression systems...

Answer 47

True

Question 48

Firefighters responding to a fire in Type I constructed structure can expect the structure to remain stable longer than other types of construction.

Answer 48

True

Question 49

A veneer of stucco, brick, or stone constructed over wood framing in a Type V construction provides little additional fire protection or structural support.

Answer 49

True

Question 50

Walls can be easily breached during forcible entry due to the use of light weight construction materials in manufactured homes.

Answer 50

True

Question 51

What may be used to separate occupancy classifications within the same structure to prevent the spread of fire from one to another?

Answer 51

Fire walls

Question 52

Fire in basements may be more hazardous that in other compartments because of the limited means of ingress/egress.

Answer 52

True

Question 53

Which type of stairs are not required to be part of the means of egress system and typically connect no more than two levels?

Answer 53

Access or convenience stairs

Question 54

What should firefighters do to maintain the integrity of a protected stairwell?

Answer 54

Maintain door control

Question 55

What type of roof creates a void that can conceal fire and allow it to burn undetected?

Answer 55

Rain roof

Question 56

What type of door has wings that collapse under pressure to provide an unobstructed opening during an emergency?

Answer 56

Revolving doors

Question 57

What type of door will act as a significant barrier to the fire if it is closed at the time even if it has not been specifically designed as a fire door?

Answer 57

Solid core door

Question 58

What type of fire door is commonly used in stairwell enclosures or corridors that require a fire door?

Answer 58

Swinging doors

Question 59

Which types of window or window feature can create a hazard during a fire because they do not allow for rapid egress?

Answer 59

Security windows or security bars

Question 60

Why is it incorrect to refer to Type I construction as fire proof?

Answer 60

While the structure will not burn, the structure may degrade from the effects of fire.

Question 61

What conditions may Type IV buildings contain that can affect their behaviour during a fire?

Answer 61

The high concentration of wood can contribute to the intensity of a fire once it starts and the collapse of masonry walls can be caused by loss of structural integrity of timber.

Question 62

What dangers can basements pose during fire fighting operations?

Answer 62

Fires in basements can damage floor joists and load bearing walls that support the upper floor and structure. Stairs can provide a flow path for the movement of air, fire gases, smoke throughout the structure. Also low visibility conditions.

Question 63

Why should firefighters not enter the void area in a rain roof to cut a hole in the original roof for vent?

Answer 63

They can become trapped, overcome by heat and smoke in the void, fall through a weakened roof, be caught in an extreme fire condition as heated gas and fresh air mix.

Question 64

Vertical Doors... A door that opens in a vertical plane is known as an overhead door and is often found in industrial occupancies for applications such as... p103

Answer 64

Loading dock doors Garage doors Freight elevator doors Fire doors protecting openings that are not part of the required means of egress

Question 65

What is spalled concrete normally an indicator of?

Answer 65

Spalled concrete usually indicates the expansion of moisture in masonry materials due to the exposure of heat of a fire. The expansion of the causes the material's surface to disintegrate, resulting in explosive pitting or chipping of the material.

Question 66

This type of door ordinarily closes under the force of gravity when a fusible link melts, but motor driven doors are available...

Answer 66

Overheard rolling steel fire doors

Question 67

A fusible link on a swinging fire door depends on the heat from a fire to close, so...

Answer 67

A significant amount of smoke may flow through the door before the door is released.

Question 68

Is hung from an overhead track with rollers or guides similar to those used by a sliding door. Can be used in residential and commercial occupancies to divide large rooms into small rooms. These horizontal doors must meet specific requirements to be tested and listed as a means of egress.

Answer 68

Horizontal fire doors

Question 69

Which type of material is often used in the core of a heavy corrugated steel door?

Answer 69

Styrofoam

Question 70

How are vertical doors (overhead garage style doors) commonly used?

Answer 70

Fire doors protecting openings that are not part of the required means of egress Loading dock doors Garage doors Freight elevator doors

Question 71

Wood trusses are assembled using metal gusset plates that only penetrate about 3/8" into wood.

Answer 71

As wood burns away from the plates during a fire, the plates fall out and are no longer a structural support for the truss.

Question 72

Which type of door has flat face panels that are the full height and width of the door, and are attached to a solid or hollow core door?

Answer 72

A flush door