IFSTA CH 3 Building Construction Flashcards
locally adopted codes regulate construction type based on
intended use (occupancy)
structure size
presence of automatic fire suppression system
Type I construction is
fire-resistive
Type I/Fire-resistive
provides the highest level of protection from the fire spread as well as structural collapse
considered to be the most collapse resistant
Following frames meet the criteria for type 1 construction
reinforced concrete
precast concrete
protected steel
During a fire in a type I structure:
compartments can retain heat, contributing to potential rapid fire development
roofs may be extremely difficult to penetrate
windows may be nonoperating
Type II Construction is
noncombustible
Type II noncombustible
composed of materials that will not contribute to fire development or spread
steel components do not need to be protected for the same length of time or have the same fire-resistance rating as type I
most common form of constructions include metal framing members, metal cladding and concrete-black wall
Type III construction is
ordinary construction
Type III ordinary construction
requires that exterior walls and structural members be constructed of noncombustible or limited combustible materials
interior walls, columns, beams, floors, and roofs are completely or partially constructed of wood
Type III ordinary construction is commonly found in
mercantile, business and residential structures and older schools
Type IV construction is
Heavy Timber
Type IV heavy timber
characterized by the use of large-dimensioned lumbar or laminated wood
are extremely stable and resistant to collapse due to the sheer mass of their structural members
Type IV may contain the following conditions that can affect their behaviour during fire
high concentrated wood can contribute to the intensity of a fire once it starts
collapse of masonry walls can be caused by loss of structural integrity of timbers
Glue-laminated beams
may fail when exposed to fire because the heat may affect the glue holding the laminates together
Type V construction is
Wood frame
Type V wood frame
exterior load-bearing walls are composed entirely of wood
examples of type V construction
single family residences
some multistory apartment buildings
factory built homes
structures that are partially or completely built in a factory and shipped to the location on which they are to be installed
manufactured (mobile) homes
most common factory-built homes
almost completely prefabricated prior to delivery and the least expensive
may be anchored directly to concrete slab or have open crawl space beneath them (later provides an additional source of oxygen during a fire)
reductions in fire loss and residential fatalities can be attributed to construction requirements that included
factory installed smoke detectors and CO alarms
use of flame-retardant materials in interior finishings and around heating/cooking equipment
installation of safer heating and cooking equipment
installation of gypsum board rather than wood paneling in interior finishes
factory-installed fire suppression systems (sprinklers)
modular homes
modular sections can be stacked vertically and connected horizontally in numerous ways
is transported to the site and then attached to a permanent foundation, which may include a full basement
Panelized homes
are assembled on-site from pre-constructed panels made of foam insulation sandwiched between sheets of plywood
pre-cut homes
consist of individual parts that are custom cut and must be assembled on site
hybrid modular structure
includes elements of both the modular design and the panelized design
modular core units such as bathrooms are constructed in factory, moved to the site and assembled
pre constructed panels are then added to the modules to complete the structure
the space between the floor/ceiling or ceiling/roof may contain
duct work or open return air plenum
electrical or communications wiring
water or natural gas pipes
recessed lighting and audio speakers
fiberglass, cellulose, or foam to act as soundproofing
fire wall
may be used to separate two adjoining structures or two occupancy classifications within the same structure to prevent the spread of fire from one to the other
can also divide large structures into smaller portions and contain a fire to a particular portion of the structure
Basement Fires
may be more hazardous than in other compartments because of limited means of ingress/egress and limited ventilation
Stairs
provide access to or egress from different levels of a structure
stairs in commercial and multifamily residential buildings that are a part of the required means of egress must provide protection for the occupants as they travel to safety
protected or enclosed stairs
meeting requirements that are built to resist the spread of fire and smoke
are enclosed with fire-rated construction, usually with either a 1-2 hour rating depending on building height
exterior stairs
may be open to the air or enclosed
enclosed stairs must comply with requirements similar to those of interior protected stairs
unprotected stairs
since they are not enclosed with fire-rated construction, they may serve as a flow path for fire and smoke
roofs primary function is
to protect the structure and its contents from the effects of weather
the shape and construction of the roof is intended to provide drainage, support the weight of accumulation of snow and resist the effects of wind
roof types
flat
pitched
arched
Flat roofs
have a slight slope to facilitate drainage
commonly found on commercial, industrial and multifamily residential structures
parapet
portion of the exterior walls of a building that extends above the roof, a low wall at the edge of a roof
pitched roof
among the most common are those elevated in the center along the ridgeline with a roof deck slopes down to the eaves along the rood edges
arched roof
ideal for some types of occupancies because they can span large open areas unsupported by columns, pillars or post
roof construction
roofs are made up of three main components including the roof supporting structure, the roof deck and the roof covering
roof supports
beams and truss assemblies
beams are the sections of lumber located directly under the roof decking
truss types include parallel chords, pitched chords and arched chords
roof decks
is the portion of the roof between the roof supports and the roof covering
components of roof deck
sheathing
roof planks or slabs
purlins
cast-in-place concrete
common type of concrete construction
refers to a concrete that is poured into forms as a liquid and assumes the shape of the form in the position and location it will be used
precast concrete
units are widely used because they can be fabricated off-site and hauled to the construction site ready for use
roof penetrations and openings
include items that provide light, ventilation, access, vapor exhaust or are part of the plumbing or HVAC system
green roofs
involves the use of the roof surface of a building for a rooftop garden
constitute a dead load on the roof structural system, which must be capable of supporting the load
cold roofs
generally found in cold, snowy climates to prevent ice damming and icicle formation at eaves
it is designed to prevent interior heat from escaping into the attic space, thus melting the snow on the roof
Photovoltaic (PV) systems (solar energy)
produces clean and reliable energy useful for many applications
electricity generated creates a significant hazard for FF, even if the power of the building is shut off, the panels retain a significant amount of electricity
rain or snow roofs
are pitched roofs built over older flat roofs
the void in that the rain roof creates can conceal a fire and allow it to burn undetected
roof security
during a fire, the weight of the plates can cause the roof to collapse and can also prevent tactical ventilation
roof mounted equipment
these items can add to the load distributed on the roof, increase collapse hazards and add to the obstruction that can affect ventilation efforts
doors
a tool for fire and flow path control
classified by the way they operate
construction material of a door influences its effectiveness as a fire barrier and the degree to which it can be forced open during an emergency
doors are constructed from
wood, metal or glass
swinging doors
rotates by means of hinges secured to the side jambs of the doorway or on pivot posts supported at the top and bottom
sliding doors
suspended from an overhead track and uses steel or nylon rollers
folding doors
hung from an overhead track with rollers or glides similar to those used by a sliding door
vertical doors
known as an overhead door and is often found in industrial buildings
revolving doors
constructed with 3 or 4 sections or wings that rotate in circular frame
designed to minimize air flow through a door opening to reduce building heating or cooling losses
can prevent the movement of hose or equipment into a building
flush door
consists of flat face panels that are the full height and width of the door
solid-core doors
formed with an interior core of laminated blocks of wood, particleboard or a mineral composition
hollow-core door
constructed with spacers between the face panels to provide lateral support
less expensive and lighter than solid core doors
glass doors
can be either framed or frameless
building codes require glass doors to be made of tempered glass that resists breakage
fire doors
protect openings in fire-rated walls and block the spread of fire within a structure
effective at limiting the spread of fire and total fire damage
most will be constructed of metal and may roll, slide or swing into place when released
overhead rolling steel fire doors
commonly used to protect a fire wall in an industrial occupancy or an opening in a wall separating buildings into fire areas
closes under the force of gravity when a fusible link melts but motor driven doors are available
horizontal sliding fire doors
usually held open by a fusible link, and slide into position along a track either by gravity or by the force of a counterweight
swinging fire doors
commonly used in stairwell enclosures or corridors that require a fire door
has the disadvantage of requiring a clear space around the door to ensure closure
windows
relied on as a means of light, ventilation, access and rescue
consist of a frame, one or more sashes and all necessary hardware to make a complete unit
fixed windows
consists only of a frame and a glazed stationary sash
security windows
security bars or grilles have a negative effect on fire and life safety
they can prevent the escape of trapped occupants or FF and can slow the access time for FF
rolling steel shutters
block interior window openings, such as office windows overlooking a factory floor
Windows (picture)
Purlins
Wood panel doors (picture)
Truss types (photo)
Pitched roof construction (photo)
Roof types photo
Dead load
