Chapter 3 Building Construction

Question 1

As the size of structural members is reduced, what fireground factor is also reduced?

Answer 1

Time

Question 2

What are the four major components of a building construction size-up?

Answer 2

1. Construction styles
2. Construction methods
3. Roof styles
4. Age of the building

Question 3

What are the two major construction styles as outlined in this chapter?

Answer 3

Conventional and

Lightweight construction

Question 4

Brick buildings constructed up until the 1930s are commonly classified as what sort of construction?

Answer 4

Unreinforced masonry construction

Question 5

What are the six most common roof styles?

Answer 5

1. Gable
2. Hip
3. Flat
4. Bridge truss
5. Arch
6. Sawtooth

Question 6

What are the primary hazards of unreinforced masonry construction?

Answer 6

Wall, roof, and floor collapse. Resources must be placed out of the potential collapse zone.

Question 7

What are two hazards of older frame-wood buildings?

Answer 7

Balloon construction and

knob-and-tube wiring

Question 8

What four factors should be considered when evaluating a fascia?

Answer 8

1. Overhang
2. Height
3. Supported or unsupported
4. Height from the roof

Question 9

Steel exposed to fire begins to lose its structural integrity at what temperature?

Answer 9

1000 degrees F

Question 10

For purposes of size-up, buildings can be classified into what general time periods?

Answer 10

Pre- and mid-1930s
1930s-to late 1950s
late 1950s-to present

Question 11

A size-up consist of what 3 distinct parts?

Answer 11

Analysis
Decision
Implementation

Question 12

The type and construction of a building will indicate what? (5)

Answer 12

Rate of burn
Avenues of fire spread
Problems on fire containment
Structural integrity
Time necessary

Question 13

Conventional construction gets its strength from what?

Answer 13

The size of the structural members

Question 14

Lightweight construction gets its strength from what?

Answer 14

Multiple members being in compression or tension.

The strength of one member is dependent on the sum of the other members

Question 15

Bridge truss roofs are on commercial buildings primarily constructed when?

Answer 15

1920s-1940’s

Question 16

Arched roof (bowstring) was constructed primarily during when?

Answer 16

early to mid 1900s

Question 17

Arched roofs usually fail how?

Answer 17

in sections

Question 18

What is a Lamella arched roof?

Answer 18

egg crate, geometric or diamond-patterned roof

Question 19

What does the Tied Truss arched roof use to offer lateral support to the walls of the building?

Answer 19

Metal tie rods

Question 20

What are the hazards of Tied Truss arched roof?

Answer 20

Weak roof
Early failure rate
Collapse without warning

Question 21

What are the 3 primary factors in recognizing wood truss construction?

Answer 21

1. roof shape
2. long unsupported spans
3. occupancy type

Question 22

What components make up the wooden I-beam? (3)

Answer 22

Top chord
bottom chord
stem

Question 23

How are nailing blocks used to strengthen flat roof, wooden I-beam construction?

Answer 23

Placed perpendicular to the top chords and spaced 4 ft on-center

Question 24

What does an Open-Web flat roof construction consist of?

Answer 24

A top and bottom wooden chords cross connected by steel-tube members

Question 25

What 4 major components make up a Panelized flat roof?

Answer 25

1. Beams (wood or metal)
2. Purlins
3. Joists (2x4)
4. Plywood decking (1/2 inch)

Question 26

How far apart can the beams on a panelized flat roof be?

Answer 26

12 to 40 feet apart

Question 27

How far apart are the purlins on a panelized flat roof?

Normally what size are they?

Answer 27

8 ft. on center

4x12 inches

Question 28

What is a Nonstructural lightweight concrete flat roof?

Answer 28

corrugated metal with a 3”-4” mixture of sand, cement, and possibly pea gravel on top.

Question 29

What are the 6 categories that buildings can be divided into?

Answer 29

1. Metal
2. Concrete
3. Masonry
4. frame-stucco
5. frame-wood
6. Curtain

Question 30

Modern high-rise buildings and multi-story office buildings typify what type of construction?

Answer 30

Metal Beam

Question 31

How tall can a Concrete (Tilt-up) building be?

Answer 31

Up to 5 stories high

Question 32

What are the characteristics of pre-1933 masonry construction buildings? (6)

Answer 32

1. Mortar consisting of sand and lime-no cement
2. Lack of rebar
3. Exterior brick walls 13” thick
4. Parapet around roof
5. Floor and Roof joists that are “let” into a cavity
6. Roof and floor joists are “fire-cut”

Question 33

What revisions characterize masonry structures built post-1933? (4)

Answer 33

1. Cement in mortar
2. Rebar in masonry walls
3. Exterior walls at least 9” thick
4. Joists and rafters must be tied in to ext. walls

Question 34

In 1959, what retro-active corrections were required on unreinforced masonry construction buildings? (3)

Answer 34

1. Concrete cap on parapets
2. Parapets not higher than 16”
3. Steel anchor bars or rods installed through ext. walls, rendering “fire-cuts” ineffective

Question 35

In 1971, what 2 retro-active corrections were put in place and designed to prevent exterior walls from collapsing outward?

Answer 35

1. Anchoring walls to floors and roofs

2. Strengthening roof construction

Question 36

What is a “King Row” and why is it used?

Answer 36

a of bricks that are laid on end, every 4th to 7th row of bricks.
Used for additional strength.

Question 37

What is a fascia?

Answer 37

a horizontal member used for cosmetic purposes on the face of a building.

Question 38

What are the most difficult windows to force?

Answer 38

jalousy

Question 39

What is a gusset plate and how far does it penetrate?

Answer 39

18 gauge steel. penetrates 3/8”