Chapter 3 Building Construction Flashcards
Types of Building Construction
Type 1- Fire-resistive Type 2- Noncombustible or limited combustible Type 3- Ordinary Type 4- Heavy Timber Type 5- Wood Frame
Type 1
Fire Resistive
Provides structural integrity during a fire
- Structural members, including walls, columns, beams, floors & Roofs made of noncombustible or limited combustible materials.
- Fire-resitive compartmentation provided by partitions & floors tend to retard the spread of fire.
- Primary Hazard “Contents”
- FF can launch an interior attack with confidence
- Fire can spread by opening in partitions & improperly designed heating & cooling systems.
Type 2
Noncombustible or limited combustible
Similar to type 1. Degree of fire resistance is lower.
- Fire resistance ration on all parts of structure (exterior & interior load bearing walls, building materials.
- No fire resistance rating such as wood “can be used in limited quantities”
- Primary concerns, contents of building, Heat can cause structural supports to fail, Type of roof “Flat built-up roofs. Felts, insulation & tar
Type 3
Ordinary
-Exterior walls & structural members constructed of noncombustible or limited combustible materials.
- Interior members (Walls, Columns, Beams, Floors & Roofs are completely or partially wood.)
- Primary concern- Fire and Smoke spreading through concealed spaces.
Type 4
Heavy Timber
- Exterior & Interior walls & their associated structural members made of noncombustible or limited combustible materials.
-Other Interior structural members, including, Beams, Columns, Arches, Floors & Roofs, are made of solid or laminated wood with no concealed spaces.
(Old factories, Mills, Warehouses, Churches)
*Primary Hazard= Massive amounts of combustible contents, Tremendous amounts of Heat & Exposure protection problems.
Type 5
Wood Frame
-Exterior walls, bearing walls, floors, roofs & supports made completely or partially of wood or other approved materials.
- Commonly typical single-family residence
- Unlimited potential for fire extension with building of origin & to nearby structures
-FF must be alert for fire coming from doors & windows extending to the exterior of the structure.
Load Bearing Wall
Walls that take loads (Party walls)
Most exterior walls are load bearing walls
Party Wall
A load bearing wall that supports two adjacent structures.
Partition Wall
Divides two areas within a structure and is a non-load bearing wall
Wood
Reaction of wood to fire conditions depends on two factors
- Size of Wood
- Moisture content ( Green Wood)
Masonry
Bricks, Stones, Concrete ( Minimally affected by fire & Exposure to high temps)
- Commonly used for Fire Wall assemblies
Cantilever Wall
Free standing fire walls commonly found on large churches & shopping centers
Block Wall
May be load-bearing walls
Most Brick and stones walls are Veneer walls
Veneer Wall
Decorative & usually attached to the outside of some type of load-bearing frame structure.
Bricks
Stones
Blocks
- Rarely show any signs of floss of integrity or serious deterioration
- May Spall or lose small portions of their surface when heated
- May Crack but usually retain most strength & basic structural stability
- Motor between bricks, blocks, & stone are subject to more deterioration