Chapter 2 - General Building Construction Flashcards
High-rise is defined as a building in which the distance from the ground at the top floor is at least how many feet?
75’
Building’s over how many stories are usually considered high rises.
6
What are the two main differences between commercial and residential high rises?
Floor heights and compartmentalization.
In most modern buildings what are the load-bearing members?
The columns.
What are the three major slab penetrations?
Ventilation shafts
Elevator shafts
Stairwells
What type of wall primary purpose is to prevent the spread of fire?
Demising wall
What is a major factor in forcible entry events or elevator emergencies?
Core wall construction.
What type of wall provides no barrier to fire spread in the plenum above the ceiling?
Partition Walls
In most buildings the damper is what type?
Fusible link
What should firefighters do when a fire is contained within demising walls ?
Remove the ceiling tiles around the demising walls.
Where are main mechanical rooms most often found?
Sublevel or at the top of a building.
What are often of lighter construction than those in the rest of the building?
Walls and roof of the mechanical penthouse.
What is a common name for the second floor of a building?
Mezzanine
What is the best way to have information about floor designations at the time of emergency?
Pre fire planning
What can provide a convenient access point for firefighters particularly if glass is falling at the front entrance?
Loading docks
What are the two common types of residential high rises?
Hotels
Condominiums
What type of residential high rise usually doesn’t have a well-defined core?
Hotels
What is the most significant difference for firefighters between office and residential buildings?
People are in residential buildings 24 hours a day.
What are the two types of constructions for high-rise floors
Poured in place concrete
Lightweight concrete poured onto sheets called metal pans or Q-decks
Where are most slab penetrations enclosed
The core
What is a typical ceiling in an office high rise base called
Suspended ceiling
The danger found in ceiling plenums becomes more acute when considering what
The miles of communication and data cable. (18)
What three areas are demising walls usually limited to
Core walls
Walls enclosing computer rooms.
Walls separating different companies’ spaces on multiple tenant floors
Floors that are made of lightweight metal pan are supported by what two features
Steel i-beams
Steel trusses
