Garden Apartment

Question 1

1960s-70s apartment construction?

Answer 1

Wood frame with veneer walls and concrete stairwells.

Question 2

1980s-present apartment construction?

Answer 2

Lightweight wood frame construction with wood stairwells

Question 3

Flat roofs have beams that run?

Answer 3

Front to back with no parapets.

Question 4

Floors joist in garden apartments are spaced how far apart?

Answer 4

16”

Question 5

What construction period were casement windows prevalent in?

Answer 5

1940s

Question 6

1940s-50s apartment construction type?

Answer 6

Ordinary construction with masonry wall.

Question 7

What floor is usually laid out differently from the rest in a garden apartment building?

Answer 7

Terrace level

Question 8

What is the typical max height and stories for a garden apartment of ordinary construction?

Answer 8

4 floors/ 50’ high on addressed side of building

Question 9

What are some ways to identify the addition of a new lightweight pitched roof over a pre-existing flat roof?

Answer 9

• Pre-existing knowledge
• Difference in siding at the gable ends of the building
• Building with a pitched roof that has cockloft vents

Question 10

What is the normal floor joist spacing for ordinary construction garden apartments?

Answer 10

16inches on center

Question 11

In the late 70s and early 80s plywood used in roof construction was treated with a chemical to make it fire resistive (FRT–Fire Retardant Treated Plywood). Where in roofs was this typically located and why is it an issue?

Answer 11

• Located near the firewall outward for a distance of 2-4’
• The treatment degrades the wood and flue used to hold the plywood together making it unstable and prone to early failure

Question 12

What are the two types of firewalls in garden apartments?

Answer 12

Gypsum board or masonry

Question 13

What style roof has load bearing walls on all sides?

Answer 13

Hip roof

Question 14

If smoke is issuing from the band board area of an exterior wall what may it indicate?

Answer 14

Fire has breached the truss floor space

Question 15

When did builders begin to eliminate basements from garden apartments?

Answer 15

1980s

Question 16

What is the fire flow rate for garden apartments?

Answer 16

10gpm per 100sqft

Question 17

What three areas in a garden apartment are the primary areas of concern regarding fire travel?

Answer 17

Attic, cockloft and void spaces

Question 18

What are the greatest factors that will drive the tactical deision-making process?

Answer 18

location and extent of the fire

Question 19

What is the only tactic that should delay locating the fire?

Answer 19

Obvious critical rescue

Question 20

How many companies typically operate in one apartment?

Answer 20

2 companies, engine and truck/rescue

Question 21

Where should ladders for rescue and egress should initially be placed?

Answer 21

Front and rear at the fire floor and every floor level above

Question 22

If fire is showing from the bedroom windows where should the crews ladder first?

Answer 22

Balcony, if no balcony the largest window not showing fire

Question 23

If fire is showing from balcony window where should crews ladder first?

Answer 23

Bedroom windows

Question 24

What location does the second engine check when moving into the building (GA fire)?

Answer 24

floor below the location of the 1st engine

Question 25

If the third due engine on a garden apartment can't position in the rear where should they position?

Answer 25

End of the row closest to the involved unit

Question 26

If the second due truck on a garden apartment fire can't position in the rear where should they position?

Answer 26

Side A in front of the uncovered exposure

Question 27

When considering entering through the balcony/terrace door in place of the front door of a garden apartment what should be considered?

Answer 27

- Fire should typically be in the rear bedroom - Fire should typically be on the 1st or 2nd floor apartment - Apartment should be accessible via no more than a 24' ladder - Apartment door to common hallway must be closed - Apartment has a safe balcony or terrace entrance

Question 28

The balcony/ terrace door alternative should not be used if what conditions are present?

Answer 28

- Smoke, heat or fire has already compromised the stairwell | - Balcony is crowded with furniture, bikes or other items

Question 29

In below grade fires in garden apartments what must on scene crews evaluate?

Answer 29

- Is the stairwell already endangered upon arrival? - Can a line be quickly placed into service from the rear? - Will a rear-based attack have any negative effects on firefighters, civilians or the building?

Question 30

Are terrace level apartments required to have a means of egress leading to the exterior?

Answer 30

yes

Question 31

If the entire basement is below grade can there be apartments in the basement?

Answer 31

No, just utility and storage rooms

Question 32

In what construction type will deploying a cellar nozzle for a basement fire be avoided?

Answer 32

light-weight frame construction

Question 33

In platform construction if the roof burns away what happens to the top floor walls?

Answer 33

They will be weakened as the roof as structural support to them

Question 34

An attic fire under a gable roof has a high collapse risk?

Answer 34

No typically the roof will just burn away

Question 35

How deep is the typical garden apartment?

Answer 35

50'

Question 36

On a garden apartment fire where should the first truck position?

Answer 36

Side of the building where fire is showing, or if nothing evident side alpha.

Question 37

Where should the second due truck position on a garden apartment fire?

Answer 37

Opposite the first truck if possible

Question 38

High priority areas to vent in a garden apartment fire?

Answer 38

Fire apartment and apartment above

Question 39

Ideally ventilation will occur from?

Answer 39

The outside

Question 40

After ventilating the fire apartment and apartment above what is the next ventilation priority?

Answer 40

Enclosed stairwell

Question 41

What are your options to ventilate an enclosed stairwell

Answer 41

- Rooftop ventilation over the stairwell - Opening small windows in the stairwell - Through a top floor apartment after it has been cleared of occupants - Through a top floor apartment assisted by PPV

Question 42

What is the most effective way of ventilating an enclosed stairwell?

Answer 42

Cutting a hole in the roof over the stairwell and punching out the ceiling below

Question 43

When using vertical ventilation on a pitched roof for clearing smoke from an enclosed stairwell where should the hole be cut?

Answer 43

Directly over the stairwell and not at the top of the gable

Question 44

When using vertical ventilation on a slate roof for clearing smoke from an enclosed stairwell where should the hole be cut?

Answer 44

Hole may be offset from directly above the stairwell so that dangerous falling slate will not impact FFs or occupants near the entrance below

Question 45

How far from the edge of the roof or eave should a hole be cut to ventilate the enclosed stairwell?

Answer 45

5-8'

Question 46

How do you ventilate the "knee wall" if they are present in a garden apartment?

Answer 46

Opening the area next to the dormer window

Question 47

Garden apartments built during the 60s and 70s have windowsills at what height from the floor?

Answer 47

5'

Question 48

What are the two exceptions to laddering bedroom windows?

Answer 48

If fire is showing from the window or if the ladder would be exposed to flame impingement from below

Question 49

Where would you breach an overhead door to obtain access to the manual release?

Answer 49

Center- 3/4s way up from the bottom

Question 50

When using a master stream on a garden apartment fire how do you work the stream when the fire is advancing vertically?

Answer 50

From the top down to the seat of the fire