LOFT BUILDINGS

Question 0

Construction features of loft buildings

Answer 0

• High ceilings
• Large un-compartment spaces
• Freight elevators close to the front entrance of the building
• Class 1, 2, 3 or 6 construction

Question 1

The most common type of loft building

Answer 1

Fireproof Lofts

Question 2

The legislative bill know as the Loft Law

Answer 2

Passed in 1982 led the way to establishing these properties as legal multiple dwellings

Question 3

The least common type of loft is the

Answer 3

Mill (Heavy Timber) constructed lofts

Question 4

The newest and most common type of loft is the

Answer 4

• Fireproof Loft

* Many of these buildings are well maintained and have not been altered

Question 5

The Fireproof Loft consists of

Answer 5

• Steel columns
• Steel girders
• Steel beams
• In conjunction with reinforced concrete

Question 6

Cast Iron columns are not designed to withstand an

Answer 6

Eccentric load

Question 7

Cast iron columns are bolted into position. Bolt holes are cast when the columns are made, leading to

Answer 7

Excessively wide holes and connections that have too much play

Question 8

When cast iron columns are properly cast these structural members will withstand a great deal of

Answer 8

Thermal stress. The statement that all cast iron columns exposed to fire will shatter when cooled by a hose line is a myth. However, if an improperly cast column is cooled by a hose line it can contract disproportionately leading to potential failure.

Question 9

When subjected to the heat from a fire for long periods of time, cast iron columns can

Answer 9

Fracture and fail

Question 10

A 1100 degrees Fahrenheit, cast iron loses

Answer 10

• 58% of its original strength
• The strength is cumulative and is never regained
• Iron fibers (like steel) when heated elongate or extend the column.
• A structural cast iron column, however, unable to move will crack

Question 11

Cast iron columns and areas behind squared off cast iron facade fronts are

Answer 11

Hollow. Some early construction techniques utilized these hollow cast iron columns as hot air supply ducts. The void behind these cast iron fronts allows for fire spread similar to a boxed out channel rail. Check for fire extension in the wall on the floor above and below

Question 12

The most dangerous type of fire escapes in loft buildings are the

Answer 12

Vertical fire escapes. They serve each floor level but lack intermediate landings or balconies.

Question 13

Lightweight sheds built to enclose

Answer 13

Depressed courtyards. To provide natural light below grade, the roofs of these sheds were constructed using wire glass. These glass roofs may be tarred or planked mover for security reasons, crafting what appears to be and mistaken for a weight bearing roof. These shed roofs, once removed may provide effective ventilation points for sub level and first floor fires.

Question 14

Segmental arch floors should not be

Answer 14

Breached for fear of causing a general floor collapse spanning a wide area.

Question 15

Wrought iron is equally strong in

Answer 15

Compression and tension. When heated in a fire situation will elongate and lose strength. Both of these characteristics can lead to a collapse

Question 16

A general rule of thumb for the run of original hardwood finished flooring is from

Answer 16

Front to rear of the building. A firefighter lost on a floor can utilize this knowledge to find a front or rear means of egress

Question 17

Fire towers are found on

Answer 17

Both fireproof and non fireproof loft buildings. They are ideal for fire department use as evacuation stairs. They should however, not be utilized as attack stairs since heat and the products of combustion tend to be drawn into them hindering hose line advancement and operation.

Question 18

Steel tension cables or rods with reinforcing plates (Stars)

Answer 18

These reinforcing plates, commonly in the shape of a star can be seen on exterior walls of the building. They were installed during construction by design (indicated by a uniform pattern) or put in post construction (irregular pattern) when floor framing cannot be relied upon to tie-in the opposing walls due to age and deterioration. Steel tension cables or rods can fail at 800 degrees

Question 19

A large piece of granite stone covering the sidewalk to the curb line indicates a

Answer 19

Full sidewalk vault

Question 20

Quoins provide a visual contrast so the the

Answer 20

Width of the building may be discerned

Question 21

A frontage that is _____ feet or less indicates that there are no interior columns

Answer 21

25 feet or less

Question 22

Synthetic walls are

Answer 22

Low level windows that provide excellent openings for access, egress, ventilation and hose stream and foam delivery

Question 23

Where straight run stairs terminate on an upper floor and then a return type stair is found, this indicates

Answer 23

Add-on floor construction

Question 24

Regarding the passenger and freight elevators found in OLDER AND NEWER cast iron loft type structures, they are normally found within the

Answer 24

Area of the front wall of the building

Question 25

Regarding the passenger and freight elevators found in OLDER AND NEWER cast iron loft type structures, which type of elevator (passenger or freight) will have fireman service capabilities

Answer 25

Passenger elevators will (freight will not)

Question 26

Regarding the passenger and freight elevators found in OLDER AND NEWER cast iron loft type structures, can you operate a hose line into the elevator shaft windows?

Answer 26

Yes, if the fire is in the shaft

Question 27

Regarding the passenger and freight elevators found in OLDER AND NEWER cast iron loft type structures, elevator shaft windows look______to other windows in the front facade. When FACING THE STREET these windows are required to display the sign “Shaftway” across the outer portion of the window

Answer 27

Identical

Question 28

After a fire is knocked down in a Loft building a BC is sent onto the fire floor to supervise overhauling ops and notes the building has segmental arch floors. In this situation it would be correct for the BC to make the following points

Answer 28

• All parts of the floor arch system are in compression
• removal of any tile, not just the keystone, may precipitate the collapse of the entire arch
• These floors should not be breached
• When exposed to fires these floors can spall violently
• A hose stream operated should not be operated onto a segmental arch floor from directly below, use the reach of the stream
• Theses floors can collapse from indiscriminate overhauling on their UNDERSIDE

Question 29

Facts regarding the use of cast iron columns

Answer 29

• Cast iron columns are not designed to withstand an eccentric load
• When properly cast they will withstand a great deal of thermal stress
• There is no one reliable way to know if a column was cast properly
• Columns cast improperly and/or not meeting the acceptable thickness commensurate to the load they are required to support are inherently the weak links in the Loft construction

Question 30

If a cast iron column is exposed to fire then cooled by a hose line will it shatter

Answer 30

No. That’s a myth!

Question 31

At _____ degrees a cast iron column will lose _____% of its strength. This lost strength is cumulative and never regained

Answer 31

1100 degrees

58%

Question 32

When heated. Cast iron column will____. However if the cast iron column is unable to move it will______

Answer 32

Extend

Crack

Question 33

Cast iron columns can

Answer 33

Fracture and fail if subjected to heat from a fire for long periods of time

Question 34

Safety concerns at Loft building fires

Answer 34

• Pediments on loft buildings must be avoided when positioning apparatus ladders
• Avoid striking columns with LCS
• Floor collapse can be initiated by the failure of a single column
• If the structural supports of a gravity tank are questionable, consider draining the tank and diverting water off the roof into a drain pipe
• Roof and floor drains should be cleared of debris by members using hand tools

Question 35

Cast iron is ______in compression and ______in tension

Answer 35

Strong

Weak

Question 36

Wrought iron is______in compression and ______in tension

Answer 36

Strong

Strong

Question 37

Concrete is _____in compression and _______ in tension

Answer 37

Strong

Weak

Question 38

Steel is _______in compression and _________in tension

Answer 38

Strong

Strong

Question 39

Construction features unique to NEWER cast iron loft buildings

Answer 39

• Wrought iron girders, beams and lintels. Wrought iron when heated will elongate and lose strength
• Double columns, an outer shell of cast iron or tile around the inner cast iron column. The space in between MAY be filled with plaster OR left unfilled
• Cellars and sub cellars with fire protected ceilings and enclosed stairs

Question 40

Wrought iron when heated will ______ and _______

Answer 40

Elongate

Lose strength

Question 41

Construction features of Mill Loft type structures

Answer 41

• Heavy timber floors & roof (class 6 construction)
• Scuppers at the roof and floor level at the base of walls to allow for water drainage
• Fire towers which were idea for use as evacuation stairs
• Sand Lime mortar in the brick walls - this mortar is water soluble
• Steel tension cables or rods with reinforcing plates that fail around 800 degrees Fahrenheit
• Sawtooth roofs typically of wood truss designs

Question 42

Battalion Chief tactics at sub cellar fires in a Loft building

Answer 42

• The 1st arriving LCC’s open & remove the deadlight & metal frame over the sidewalk to provide vertical ventilation
• Special called ladder company opened up the synthetic walls to provide vertical ventilation
• The 2nd engine assisted on the 1st line & supplied the sprinkler Siamese
• Called the 1st OV FF to determine if there was a rear entrance that provided better access to the sub cellar area

Question 43

What is the most prevalent fire escape found on Old Cast Iron Loft buildings

Answer 43

Standard

Question 44

Iron window shutters generally installed on the rear and side walls of Older Cast Iron Lofts were mandated by law on loft buildings with plain glass windows situated less than ____feet horizontally from another building or less than _____feet vertically from the roof of an adjoining building

Answer 44

30 feet

50 feet

Question 45

Correct descriptions of Older Cast Iron Lofts and elevator shafts

Answer 45

• Passenger AND freight elevators are normally located within the area of the front wall
• If a loading dock is present the FREIGHT elevators may be found 20 feet inward from the front of the building
• When elevator shafts face the STREET any window serving the shaft is required to display a “shaft way” sign across the outer portion of the window that is clearly visible from the street
• Shaft windows may have boards across their lower portion, placed to serve as a warning of an open shaft. These windows will look IDENTICAL to the other windows in the front facade

Question 46

Segmental arch floors exposed to fire can spall violently and possibly fall when struck by a hose line from below. Use the reach of the hose line and

Answer 46

Do not operate the stream directly overhead

Question 47

Steel tension cables and rods can fail at _______degrees farenheight

Answer 47

800 degrees

Question 48

Segmental Arch Floors found in NEWER Cast Iron Loft buildings as well as some Mill construction were used to span the gap between cast iron or wrought iron I beams. What are the correct descriptions about these arch floors

Answer 48

• All parts of the arch floor system are in compression
• Wrought iron rods run from beam to beam to counter the outward thrust off the arch, which was exerted on the beams
• Segmental arch floors should NOT BE BREACHED for fear of causing a general floor collapse spanning a wide area

Question 49

Fire doors commonly found in pairs on either side of bearing walls in Fire proof Lofts are activated by fusible links and can be placed anywhere throughout the building. In what other types of loft buildings can fire doors be found

Answer 49

Cast Iron and Mill Loft construction

Question 50

Information about cast iron columns

Answer 50

*When subject to heat from a fire for long periods of time cast iron columns can fracture or fail
*At 1100 degrees cast iron loses 58% of its original strength
The strength loss is cumulative and is NEVER regained
*Iron fibers (like steel) when heated elongate or extend the column. *A structural cast iron column unable to move will crack