Chapter 1 Flashcards
NFPA 80A
protection from exterior fire exposure
NFPA 1
Uniform Fire Code
NFPA 5000
Building Const. and Safety Code
NFPA 101
Life Safety Code
What’s NFPA code is often adopted by governmental agencies with a specific area of responsibility, such as state health department.
NFPA 101, Life Safety Code
Configuration
General shape or layout of building
Exposure defined by NFPA
When heat from external fire might cause ignition or damage to exposure building
In tactical FIrefighting, exposure is defined as?
Structure or object to which a fire could spread, such as propane tank or pile of lumber
What is an exposed building?
A building threatened by fire
Design deficiencies
Refers to a failure to provide a level of fire safety appropriate to the ultimate use of a building
IBC
International Building Code
What is the companion for International Building Code (IBC)
International Fire Code
UBC
Uniform Building Code
Who published UBC
International Council of Building Officials (ICBO)
Design Build
Single firm takes on both design and construction of building
Gentrification
Process or restoring rundown deteriorated properties for more affluent people.
Fuel load
Amount of fuel present. Maybe available/consumable fuel or total fuel
Exposure
Book definition: Structure or separate part of fire ground to which fire could spread.
Conflagration
Large, uncontrollable fire covering a considerable area and crossing natural barriers such as streets.
What caused some of the first fire codes in the U.S.?
Conflagration / fire communication from building to building
Set back
Distance between street and front of building
Wildland/urban interface
Line, area, or zone where structures and other human development met undeveloped land
Convection
Transfer of heat by movement of heated fluids or gases.
Which direction does convection usually flow
Upward
Thermal radiation
Transmission or transfer of heat energy from one body to another at low temp through intervening spaces through electromagnetic waves
horizontal communication of fire is mainly due to?
Thermal radiation
Spec building
Short or specific building, built without a tenant or known occupant
Building code
Body of law, adopted by states, counties, cities, or governmental bodies to regulate construction, renovation, and building maintenance.
What determines the minimum standard that a building must meet in the interest of community safety and health
Building code
Board of appeals
Group of people with experience in fire prevention, building construction, and code enforcement legally constituted to arbitrate differences in opinion between fire inspectors and building officials.
How many people are usually of the board of appeals
Usually 5-7
How can FF operations be carried out more efficiently and safely
By understanding the principles of fire behavior and its effects on buildings.
What are the two most important ways that determine how to build a building
Time and economics
How does time effect building construction
Materials change an advance due to innovation
How does economic effect building construction
Material costs, labor, and building efficiency
According to chapter 1 of B.C., what is the useful life span of a building
25-100 years or more
What must discussion of B.C. Between FF’s include
Older construction as well as new technology
What alone can present a significant change to firefighting and life safety
A change in occupancy
What do building variables include?
age, fire protection systems, occupancy type, fuel load, type of construction, configuration, and building access and exposures.
What is the first line of defense in a building
Auto fire protection systems, esp. Sprinklers
Very often, change in occupancy is only discovered when?
Fire inspector visits for routine inspection
What are the 5 traditional fire classifications
Fire resistive, noncombustible, masonry/ordinary, heavy timber, and wood frame
What are the 5 contemporary codes numerical designations
Type I, fire resistive Type II, protected noncombustible or noncombustible Type III, exterior protected Type IV, heavy timber Type V, wood frame
Nothing is more fundamental to a building than?
The material which it is constructed
Why are building codes developed
To prevent the spread of fire between buildings
What are the risks for urban, suburb, and wildland/urban interface.
Urban- close proximity
Suburbs-houses are set back and spaced due to codes
Wildland/urban interface-cause by vegetation, building materials (roof and siding), and open vents
Radiation
Horizontal communication mainly due to thermal radiation
How do bodies emit thermal radiation
At rate dependent of their absolute temp
Fire spread is often the result of?
Radiant heat
Flame alone is the determining factor in fire spread from one building to another?
True or False
False
NFPA 80A, describes 3 levels of exposure severity
- Light
- Moderate
- Severe
NFPA 80A, fire severity levels are based on?
Fire load, flame spread rating of walls and finishes of exposing building
Some methods of protecting buildings from exposing fire
Space Suppression systems Self supporting barrier walls Blank walls of noncombustible material Parapets Automatic outside Deluge system Wired glass Fire shutters/dampers Eliminate openings in exterior walls Fire doors
In building engineering, a failure is
When a structural part is no longer capable of performing it’s required function in a satisfactory manner
What could engineering failure include
Depending on what the structure is intended for - Excessive vibration, deflection, noise, or wear
What does building failure mean to FF’s
Structural collapse, broadly building parts no longer performing designed function
Can fire spread between fire rated barriers be seen as a failure
Yes
What are some sources of building failure
Structural collapse
Building systems
Design deficiencies
Is unsatisfactory performance of fire protection systems seen as a building failure
Yes
Collapse of a building under fire conditions is a result of
Loss of structural integrity
The structural integrity of a building under fire conditions is a related to
Fire resistance and combust ability of building materials
Name some specific building systems
HVAC, electrical, plumbing, communications, transportation (elevators/conveyors)
Good design process cannot prevent fire spread
False, planning and provisions can mitigate spread
Where should electrical systems have preventative measures
Fire stops where conduit goes through floors and fire walls, include emergency power back up for pumps and other systems
What is a basic but crucial part of life safety design
Adequate number of exits
How are exits determined
By the number of occupants, subject to building code
Code can only provide “fill in blank” level of protection for most commonly encountered situations
Reasonable
When codes cannot provide an adequate amount of safety, what is best course of action
Fundamentals technical analysis of potential hazards
Fire personnel must understand the sense tail elements of building design and construction to?
In order to predict how the structure, occupants, and contents will be affected and the best course of action
Why are buildings built
Security from physical/social forces
Investments
Cultural desires
Earlier construction was based on materials available, today they are based on?
Aesthetics
Factors considered by designer
Cost Building use Aesthetics Codes Safety Accessibility Climate Soil Infrastructure Owners needs Physical laws of engineering
What drives designs of buildings
Cost
Cutting design cost could lead to
Difficulties in emergencies if inexpensive or inadequate systems fail
Buildings designed for a specific occupancy can become problems when
Renovated for a different use
Model code
Code used by other jurisdictions to save on time money and adds a level of uniformity between jurisdictions
IBC is a successor to 3 other codes
UBC
BOCA
Standard building code
Are jurisdiction free to amend codes to their needs.
Yes
Designers have a fundamental responsibility to
Provide a safe end product
What are some fire safety provisions
Fire resistance Flammability of interior finishes Egress Enclosure of vertical openings Fire protection systems Exposure protection Occupancy separations
What are environmental force provisions
Wind , snow, earth quakes
Some occupant safety considerations
Designs of stairways and walking surfaces Balcony rails Overhead obstacles Electrical wiring Elevator operations
Americans with disabilities act (ADA) was established in what year and why
1990, to include provisions for hearing and vision Impaired, learning and speech impairment, mental health, and neuro-muscular
According to BC, fire alarm station should be a maximum and a minimum of what for wheel chair access
No more than 4 1/2 ft and minimum of of not less than 3 1/2 ft from floor
Area of refuge may be?
Stair case with smoke proof enclosure
Balcony adjacent to a stairway
Protected vestibule
Do all building require areas of refuge
No, buildings with sprinkler may not require areas of refuge depending on local code
Areas of refuge must be equipped with what
2 way communication
What is basic consideration of a fire protection design and what its primary concern
Water, primary concern is e amount of water needed for flow rate and duration of fire protection systems
In all climates, “blank” dictates insulation material
Energy conservation
Green design
Environmental and energy efficient friendly
Energy conservation affects the speed at which FF’s can ?
Ventilate and the rate of combustion in a building
What is important to foundation design
Soil strength, strain resistance, and stability
Soil properties are affected by what factors
Frost action, water content, seismic shock, organic decomposition, and disturbance during construction
What is the physical law of engineering
Design of a building and the loads and forces exerted upon it must be matched to the strength of the materials and structural mechanics
What is a joint venture
Using different firms for design and construction
When fire officials are involved in the design process they can
Address fire safety issues before construction
Why are renovations a concern for FF’s
A building can become weak if improper methods are used
Subdivisions in spaces can creat what hazards for FFs
Maze patterns
Fast track project
Design and construction overlap
When does inspection take place
During and upon completion
What is the primary role of fire inspector in BC
Ensure proper installation and operation of suppression systems. To witness not test
What two reasons should fire prevention maintain test results
- Ensure code was followed
- Facilitate re-inspection and testing over the life of the system. Documentation provides continuity when personnel change
Ways to develop knowledge of construction
Obtain during permit process Pre fire planning GPS and GIS (geographical info system) Construction info, type and occupancy Systems Layout
A building is never closer to falling down then?
During construction or rehab, worst time to respond due to stability and accessibility
Laws of physics governing fire NEVER change but
Building vary greatly
Task of a tactical FF is?
Understand design, construction, and function to carry out operations effectively
