Chapter 4- Building and Fire Codes

Question 1

The National Fire Protection Association was first organized in __

Answer 1

1896

Question 2

In addition to building codes, the __ and __ develop fire codes.

Answer 2

ICC, NFPA

Question 3

Generally speaking, unless a building is renovated or modified, __ codes are not applied retroactively.

Answer 3

Building

Question 4

A __ code, in contrast, applies to all structures and conditions within them, including existing hazards that were created even before the adoption of the code.

Answer 4

Fire

Question 5

Fire codes and building codes are updated every __ years by the NFPA and ICC.

Answer 5

3

Question 6

Generally, __ codes specify where systems are to be installed and __ specify how the system is to be designed and installed

Answer 6

Building, Standards

Question 7

Two of the most important test standards are American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) E-119, Standard Test Method for Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials, which is used for testing and assigning hourly ratings to __, __, and __.

Answer 7

Fire walls, Columns, Floors

Question 8

The second test is ASTM E-84, Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials, which tests the flame spread characteristics of __ finishes.

Answer 8

Interior

Question 9

It has been said that __% of a building code deals with fire safety.

Answer 9

75

Question 10

A complex set of regulations deal with egress. The first and foremost consideration is the calculation of the __ load.

Answer 10

Occupant

Question 11

Once the occupant load has been determined the number of __ paths/doors for each room and the entire building must be established.

Answer 11

Exit

Question 12

With the occupant load and number of exit doors/egress paths determined, designers must then provide a __ path of travel to a public way.

Answer 12

Safe

Question 13

This translates into rated corridors (often __ hour) with rated corridor doors (often __ minutes), and rated stairwells (__ hour for stairs up to three stories and __ hours for those four or more stories).

Answer 13

1 hr
20 minutes
1 hr, 2 hrs

Question 14

Travel distance for a building without an automatic fire sprinkler system have a maximum distance of __ feet.

Answer 14

200

Question 15

Exterior emergency __ and __ windows are required for all sleeping rooms in residential occupancies, e.g., hotels, dormitories, apartments, one and two bedroom family dwellings–Group R occupancies below the fourth floor for you to rescue trapped occupants.

Answer 15

Escape, Rescue

Question 16

These windows must be a minimum of 5.7 square feet in area, with a minimum of __ inches in width and __ inches in height.

Answer 16

20, 24

Question 17

Under __ __ __, elevators are recalled to a specific floor lobby of the building by the activation of a smoke detector located in an elevator lobby of a floor. Upon arrival at the first floor, the doors open and allow the occupants to leave. The doors remain open for fire fighters to begin their use of the elevators.

Answer 17

Phase 1 Operation

Question 18

Under __ __ __, a fire fighter selects one of the elevators in a bank to access the upper floors. Fire fighters can then control the elevators using a special key and set of procedures.

Answer 18

Phase 2 Operation

Question 19

Occupant evacuation elevators are intended for the self evacuation of occupants in buildings more than __ feet in height as an alternative to an extra mandated stairwell in the building.

Answer 19

420

Question 20

Fire service elevators are found in new buildings more than __ feet in height.

Answer 20

120

Question 21

In fire service elevators, the lobbies are a minimum of __ square feet in area and must have a class __ hose outlet in the fire rated stairwell immediately adjacent to the lobby.

Answer 21

150
class 1.

Question 22

The door restrictor engages when the elevator cab is located __ inches above or below the landing zone.

Answer 22

18

Question 23

That portion of a means of egress that is separated from all other spaces of a building or structure by construction or equipment as required to provide a protected way of travel to the exit discharge.

Answer 23

Exit

Question 24

That portion of a means of egress that leads to an exit.

Answer 24

Exit access

Question 25

That portion of a means of egress between the termination of an exit and a public way.

Answer 25

Exit discharge

Question 26

A 2 hour fire rated wall typically running from exterior wall to exterior wall on an individual floor of a building, which is used when travel distances to a fire rated stairwell or exit discharge are excessive.

Answer 26

Horizontal exit

Question 27

A source code that is no longer supported or printed

Answer 27

Legacy code

Question 28

Complete regulatory documents that can be adopted by cities and states as they are written.

Answer 28

Model code

Question 29

The number of feet from any point in a building to a rated stairwell or outside.

Answer 29

Travel distance