Chapter 14 Building Construction Flashcards
List the five construction classifications
Type I
i. Fire resistive construction
Type II
ii. Noncombustible or limited combustible construction
Type III
iii. Ordinary construction
Type IV
iv. Heavy timber construction
Type V
v. Wood frame construction
What can compromise the ability of fire resistive construction to withstand fire
extension?
Openings made in partitions and by improperly designed and dampered
heating and air conditioning systems
What type of construction requires fire stops?
Balloon frame
List some of the factors that affect wood’s ignition temperature and reactions during
a fire
Density of the wood
Size and form of wood
Moisture content
Rate of preheating
Ignition source.
What is Glue-lam beam?
Glue-lam beams are wooden structural members composed of many
relatively short pieces of lumber glued and laminated together under pressure
to form a long, extremely strong beam.
What is the weakest part of a masonry wall?
The mortar supporting the masonry is usually the weakest part of the wall
What is spalling?
To break off into chips, scales, or slabs from the surface of a material such as
stone, metal, or concrete as a result of a rapid temperature increase
What is the difference between fire load and structural load
The amount of potential fuel available for a fire to burn is called fire load.
Structural loads are forces that work against a structure’s ability to remain
standing.
What is a load bearing member?
Are members designed to support and share the load of the building and its
contents
What are the three types of load that exert internal stresses?
Axial, eccentric and torsional
Why are trusses hazardous in fire conditions?
Because of their decreased mass, trusses tend to fail early in fire conditions,
regardless of whether they are made of wood, steel, or a combination of both.
What is a non-load bearing wall?
A non-load bearing wall is a wall that supports only its own weight
What is a hazard consideration when a building is under Construction, renovation, or demolition
The risk of fire rises sharply for a number of reasons when construction, renovation, or
demolition is being performed on a structure. One contributing factor is the additional
fire load and ignition sources
How large should a collapse zone be
The collapse zone should be equal to one and a half times the
height of the building.
what is the Terminology used for the result of a collapse
Lean-To
Vee-Shaped
A-Frame
Pancake
Cantilever
What are some indicators of building collapse
Cracks or separations in wall, floors, ceilings, and roof structures
Evidence of existing structural instability such as the presence of tie rods and stair
that hold walls together
Loose brick, blocks, or stones falling from buildings
Deteriorated mortar between the mason nary
Walls that appear to be leaning
Structural members that appear to be distorted
Fires beneath floors that support heavy machinery or other extreme weight loads
Prolonged fire exposure to the structural members
Unusual creaks and cracking noises
Structural members pulling away from walls
Excessive weight of building content
Name Types of Flat Roofs
Inverted Roof
Rain Roof
Wooden Deck Roof
Metal Deck Roof
Concrete Roof
Poured Gypsum Roof
Mansard Roofs
What needs to be done when making an opening in a fire wall
When holes are made in firewalls, rated fire doors should be provided. Overhead
rolling or horizontal sliding mechanisms usually operate these doors. The mechanism
is activated by a fusible link or by a heat or smoke detector. Fire doors may or may not
be depended upon. The doors may have been changed from rated doors to non-rated
doors, may be inoperable, or may have been removed
and covered over.
What are some Engineered Wood Materials
Plywood
Spliced Timbers
Glue-lam beams
Planks
Chipboard
Oriented Strand Board (OSB)
Particleboard
Medium Density Fibreboard
What is the weakest part of a masonry wall
The mortar supporting the masonry is usually the weakest part of the wall. The mixture of
cement, lime, sand, and water is often water-soluble, especially in older buildings.
Regardless of age, mortar may be subject to some deterioration when exposed to fire or fire
suppression conditions.
what are the characteristics of glass as a building material
All glass is non-combustible, but it has little fire resistance. Under intense fire conditions,
glass tends to shatter. Glass that has been heated by fire may crack or shatter when the water
stream makes contact. The exceptions are: wired glass, which has mesh inside the glass and
either a 45 or 90 minute fire rating; and fire-rated glass, which is a combination of glass
and plastic with a 45 or 90 minute fire rating.
What is dead load
The weight of the building and any attached fixtures is referred to as the self-weight or dead
load.
What is live load
Any load on a structure, other than dead load, is referred to as a live load. Live load includes
building contents, occupants, and the weight of snow or rain on the roof.
What are Impact, Static, and Repeated Loads
Impact loads are sudden, one-time, short-term bursts of pressure that can produce
very high stresses, especially when applied laterally.
Static loads are gradual or constant pressures applied over the long term.
Repeated loads are pressures applied intermittently over a period of time.
