Chapter 5 Flashcards
Interior Finish
Exposed interior surfaces of buildings, including fixed or movable walls and partitions, columns, and ceilings. Commonly refers to finish on walls and ceilings, but not floor coverings. Also known as Interior Lining.
Flame Spread
Movement of a flame away from the ignition source.
Surface-Burning Characteristic
Speed at which flame will spread over the surface of a material.
Compartment
Any enclosed space without internal fire barriers.
Listed
Refers to a device or material that has been tested by any of several testing laboratories (including the Underwriters’ Laboratories Factory Mutual System) and certified as having met minimum criteria.
Intumescent Coating
Coating or paintlike product that expands when exposed to the heat of a fire; creates an insulating barrier that protects the material underneath.
Mastics
Heat resistant construction adhesive that bonds with most materials; can be used as a fire retardant coating.
Criterion-Referenced Testing (CRT)
Measurement of one component’s tested performance against a set standard or criteria, not against similar components or assemblies. Also known as Criterion-Referenced Assessment.
ASTM E-84
Standard test used to measure the surface burning characteristics of various materials. Also known as Steiner Tunnel Test or Tunnel Test.
Steiner Tunnel
Test apparatus used in the determination of flame spread ratings; consists of a horizontal test furnace 25 feet (7.5m) long, 17 1/2 inches (440mm) wide, and 12 inches (300mm) high that isused to observe flame travel. A 5,000 Btu (5000 kJ) flame is produced in the tunnel, and the extent of flame travel across the surface of the test material is observed through ports in the side of the furnace. Used with ASTM E-84.
Flame Spread Rating
(1) Measurement of the propagation of flame on the surface of materials or their assemblies as determined by recognized standard tests. (2) Numerical rating assigned to a material based on the speed and extend to which flame travels over its surface.
Smoke Developed Rating
The measure of the relative visual obscurity created during the testing process by a known material.
NFPA 286
Large scale test used to evaluate the performance of textile wall coverings under fire conditions. Designed to accommodate materials that may not remain in place during ASTM E-84 testing. Also includes the capacity of attaching materials to the ceiling. Newer test, preceded by NFPA 265. Similar to ASTM E-84.
NFPA 265
Large scale test used to evaluate the performance of textile wall coverings under fire conditions. Older test succeeded by NFPA 286. Similar to ASTM E-84
Compartmentation
Series of barriers designed to keep flames, smoke, and heat from spreading between spaces.
Rated Assembly
Assemblies of building components such as doors, walls, roofs, and other structural features that may be, because of the occupancy, required by code to have a minimum fire resistance rating from an independent testing agency. Also known as Labeled Assembly and Fire-Rated.
Shelter in Place
Having occupants remain in a structure or vehicle in order to provide protection from a rapidly approaching hazard, such as a fire or hazardous gas cloud. Opposite of Evacuation. Also known as Protection-in-Place, Defending-in-Place, Sheltering and Taking Refuge.
Fire Wall
Fire-rated wall with a specified degree of fire resistance, built of fire-resistive materials and usually extending from the foundation up to and through the roof of a building, that is designed to limit the spread of a fire within a structure or between adjacent structures.
Fire Flow
The amount of water required to extinguish a fire in a timely manner.
Fire Area
One of a set of sections in a building separated from each other by fire resistant partitions.
Freestanding Walls
Self-supporting fire walls independent of the structure’s frame. Must resist a lateral load of 5 pounds per square foot (0.25 kPa).
Tied Walls
Fire walls connected to a line of columns or steel structural supports with the same degree of fire resistance. Must resist lateral collapse on either side of the structure.
Parapet Wall
Vertical extension of an exterior wall, and sometimes an interior fire wall, above the roofline of a building.
Fire Partition
Fire barrier that extends from one floor to the bottom of the floor above or to the underside of a fire-rated ceiling assembly; provides a lower level of protection than a fire wall.
Curtain Wall
Nonload-bearing exterior wall attached to the outside of a building with a rigid steel frame. Usually the front exterior wall of a building intended to provide a certain appearance.
Nonload-Bearing Wall
Wall, usually interior, that supports only its own weight. These walls can be breached or removed without compromising the structural integrity of the building. Also known as Nonbearing Wall.
Fire Door
Specially constructed, tested, and approved fire-rated assembly designed and installed to prevent fire spread by automatically sealing an opening in a fire wall to block the spread of fire.
Rated Fire Door Assembly
Door, frame, and hardware assembly that has a fire-resistive rating from an independent testing agency.
Overhead Door
Door that opens and closes above a large opening, such as in a warehouse or garage, and is usually of the rolling, hinged-panel, or slab type. Also known as Rolling (Overhead) Door.
Fusible Link
Connecting link device that fuses or melts when exposed to fire temperatures; used to activate individual elements in active and passive fire suppression systems. Benefits include: Inexpensive, rugged, easy to maintain. Disadvantages include: slower to activate than automated systems.
Sliding Door
Door that opens and closes by sliding across its opening, usually on rollers.
Metal-Clad Door
Wood core door protected with galvanized sheet metal steel or other heavy metal exterior. Also know as Kalamein Door.
Tin-Clad Door
Similar to a metal-clad door, except covered with a lighter-gauge metal, often an alloy of tin and lead.
Swinging Door
Door that opens and closes by swinging from one side of its opening, usually on hinges. Also known as Hinged Door.
Hardware
General term for small pieces of equipment made of metal, including ancillary equipment affixed to another medium to aid the use of the primary tool. Fire door hardware includes: door knobs, hinges, and door closure devices.
Door Hold-Open Device
Mechanical device that holds a door open and releases it upon a signal. Mechanism may be a fusible link that releases under fire conditions, or an electromagnet connected to a smoke detector. Also known as Door Holder. Can be used with swinging, sliding or rolling fire door
Door Closer
Mechanical device that closes a door. Also known as Self-Closing Door. Can be used with sliding or swinging fire door
Self-Closing Door
Door equipped with a door closer.
A self closing door is normally closed, and will return to the closed position using a spring hinge when opened and released. Self closing door closers are used for applications including stairwell doors and doors that separate hotels rooms from corridors
Glazing
Glass or thermoplastic panel in a wall or other barrier that allows light to pass through.
Wired Glass
Flat sheet glass containing an embedded wire mesh that increases its resistance to breakage and penetration; installed to increase interior illumination without compromising fire resistance and security. May be transparent or translucent.
Louvers
A series of horizontal slats that are angled to permit easy ventilation in one direction of flow and restricted ventilation in the opposite direction. Louvers are commonly used in applications where the restrictive side blocks sunshine, rain, or products of combustion.
The most significant factor that determines a fuel’s burn rate is
The combination of the fuel and the available oxygen.
Types of fire retardant coatings available include
Intumescent coatings
Mastics
Gas forming paints
Cementitious and mineral fiber coating
Fire doors are the
Most common means for protecting openings through fire rated walls
The 1/2 hour and 1/3 hour doors are primarily used
In smoke barriers and openings to corridors.
Class A
Opening in a fire wall
Class B
Opening in vertical shafts and openings in 2 hour rated partitions
Class C
Openings between rooms and corridors having a fire resistance of 1 hour or less
Class D
Openings in exterior walls subject to severe fire exposure from the outside of a building
Class E
Openings in exterior walls subject to moderate or light exposure from the outside
Fire doors are tested in accordance with the procedures contained in
NFPA 256, Standard methods of fire test of door assemblies; also designated ASTM E-152.
Fire doors that pass testing process are marked with label or plate on the top or on the hinge side of the door that indicates information including
Door type
Hourly rating
Identifying symbol of the testing laboratory
