Codes & Design

Question 1

Fire resistance rating

Answer 1

Typically, the length of time an item can withstand a standardized fire resistance test.

Question 2

ATSM E119

Answer 2

Standard test methods for fire tests of building construction and materials, defines test standard methods for walls, ceiling/floor assemblies, columns beam enclosures, and other building elements.

Question 3

NFPA 252

Answer 3

Standard methods of fire tests of door assemblies.

Question 4

NFPA 257

Answer 4

Standard on fire test for window in glass block assemblies.

Question 5

Fire damper

Answer 5

A device installed inducts and air transfer openings that is designed to close automatically on detection of heat, to resist the passage of flame.

Question 6

Smoke damper

Answer 6

A device installed in ducks and air transfer openings that is designed to resist the passage of smoke.

Question 7

Fire partition

Answer 7

A wall assembly with a 1HR fire resistance rating fire petitions must be used in the following designated locations.
- Wall separating dwelling units
- walls separating guest rooms R-1, R-2, & I-1 occupancies.
- walls separating tenant spaces
- Corridor walls
- elevator lobby separation for I-2, I-3, and high-rise buildings.

Question 8

Fire barrier

Answer 8

Vertical or horizontal assembly that is fire-resistance rated and us designed to restrict the spread of fire, confine it to limited areas, and/or afford safe passage for protected egress.

Question 9

Glazing rating ‘W’

Answer 9

Meets wall assembly criteria of ATSM E119

Question 10

Glazing rating ‘OH’

Answer 10

Meets fire window assembly criteria of NFPA 257

Question 11

Glazing rating ‘D’

Answer 11

Meets the fire door assembly criteria of NFPA 252, UL 10B, or UL 10C

Question 12

Glazing rating ‘H’

Answer 12

Meets the fire door assembly hose stream test of NFPA 252, UL 10B, or UL 10C

Question 13

Glazing rating ‘T’

Answer 13

Meets for 30 min the 450°F temperature rise criteria of NFPA 252, UL10B, or UL 10C

Question 14

Fire wall

Answer 14

Fire-resistance-rated wall that is used to separate a single structure into separate construction types or to provide for allowable area increases by creating a single structure into separate buildings even though the yare attached.

Question 15

Smoke barrier

Answer 15

A continuous vertical or horizontal membrane with a minimum fire-resistance rating 1 hour that is designed and constructed to restrict the movement of smoke.

Question 16

Material fire rating

Answer 16

Class A 0 – 25 flame spred index
Class B 26 – 75 flame spred index
Class C 76-200 flame spred index

Question 17

NFPA 286
Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Evaluating Contributions of Wall and Ceiling Interior Finish to Room Fire Growth

Answer 17

During the 40 kW exposure flames may not spread to the ceiling, outer extremity of the sample on the wall/ceiling.
Flashover, as defined in NFPA 286, can’t occur.
The peak heat release rate can’t exceed 800kW.
Total smoke release can’t exceed 1000 m².

Question 18

ATSM E84
Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials

Answer 18

Used to classify materials into A, B, or C designations.

Question 19

Critical radiant flux

Answer 19

The measured amount of radiant energy needed to sustain flame.

Question 20

Class I Material

Answer 20

Critical radiant flex of no less than .45 W/cm². More resistance to flame spread. Required in vertical exits, exit corridors, and hospitals/nursing homes/detention facilities.

Question 21

Class II material

Answer 21

Critical radiant flux of no less than .22 W/cm². Required in Group A, B, E, H, I-4, R-1, R-2, and S occupancies.

Question 22

Accessory Occupancy

Answer 22

A space or room that is ancillary to a main occupancy, but that does not exceed 10% of the florida of this story in which it is located.

Question 23

Incidental Occupancy

Answer 23

Answer it to a main occupancy and has the same classification as the nearest main occupancy, but poses a greater risk than the main occupancy.

Question 24

Fire Zones

Answer 24

The concept of dividing a building into compartments or areas, each of which has its own fire protection measures, such as fire-rated walls, doors, and windows.

Question 25

Fire zone 1

Answer 25

Residential, institutional, educational, small business, retail, & assembly.

Question 26

Fire zone 2

Answer 26

Business & industrial (not high hazard)

Question 27

Fire zone 3

Answer 27

High hazard industrial & storage for high hazard use.

Question 28

The Pill Test

Answer 28

DOC FF-1 (CPSC 16 CFR 1630) and ASTM D2859 are aptly referred to as the “pill test” because the material is exposed to a lit methenamine pill which is placed in the center of the test sample. Flame spread is monitored during the test to see how far the flame travels from the center point where the pill is placed.

Question 29

Public way

Answer 29

Any street alley or similar parcel of land essentially unobstructed from the ground to the sky that is permanently appropriated to the public for public use and has a clear width of no less than 10’.

Question 30

Exit access

Answer 30

The portion of the means of egress that leads to an exit. The exit access is the portion of the building where travel distance is measured and regulated.

Question 31

The exit

Answer 31

Is the portion of egress system that provides a protected path of egress between the exit access and the exit discharge. Exits are fully enclosed and protected from all other interior spaces by fire-resistance-rated construction with protected openings.

Question 32

Exit discharge

Answer 32

The portion of the progress system between the termination of an exit and a public way. Exit discharge areas typically include portions outside the exterior walls such as exterior exit balconies, stairways, and exit courts.

Question 33

Occupant load

Answer 33

The number of people that are building code assumes will occupy a given building or portion of a building. This is based on the occupancy classification.

Question 34

Common path of egress travel

Answer 34

The portion of the exit access travel distance measured from the most remote point of each room area or space to the point where the occupants have separate and distinct access to 2 exits or exit access doorways and can choose which direction to go.

Question 35

Guard/guardrail

Answer 35

Cards are required along open sided walking surfaces. Messaging’s industrial equipment platforms, stairs, ramps and landings. That are more than 30 inches above the floor or grade below.
Exceptions are made for stages & raised platforms.

Question 36

Guardrails

Answer 36

Minimum of 42” with 4” diameter pass-thru below 36”. 50lbf/ft load at the top of the guard in any direction.

Question 37

ASCE/SE17

Answer 37

Standard that defines three different wind exposure categories.
Category B refers to urban and suburban wooded areas.
Category C refers to open terrain such as desert areas.
Category D which refers to flat and unobstructed terrain near large bodies of water.