LOFTS

Question 1

older cast iron lofts 1840-1870’s are how many stories ?

How wide ? How deep ?

Answer 1

7-8 Stories
25’wide
90’ deep
SEC 4.1

Question 2

Older Cast iron Lofts 1840-1870’s usually have how many interior stairs ? Are they enclosed or un-enclosed?

Answer 2

These Structures have one unenclosed
wooden stair, often winding around the elevator shaft or one straight run stair.
Sec 4.1.4

Question 3

In Older Cast Iron Lofts 1840-1870’swhere are the stairs to the cellar located ?

Answer 3

Interior stairs leading to the cellar
may be remote from the main interior stairway and of open, wooden construction
Sec 4.1.4

Question 4

Newer Cast Iron Lofts 1880-1901 are how many stories ? how wide ? how deep ?

Answer 4

8-12 stories

50’ x 90’

Question 5

Newer Cast Iron Lofts 1880-1901 have exterior walls that are fire resistant. How long are they rated for ?

Answer 5

All exterior walls have a minimum 3 hour fire
resistive rating
Sec 4.2.1

Question 6

Newer Cast Iron Lofts 1880-1901 have how many interior staircases?

Answer 6

Generally, there
are two interior stairways located inside enclosed walls having a 2 hour fire
resistive rating

Question 7

When operating at a fire in a loft building a flat slab mushroom type floor may be encountered, what are the construction characteristics of this type of floor?

Answer 7

Steel reinforced concrete floor having no supporting beams except at the building perimeter. The floor rests directly on columns usually built with enlarged capitals.

FFP Lofts glossary page 1

Question 8

Hose headers may be encountered at a loft building,(this is a bonnet with multiple valve outlets utilizing water from the fire pumps. They are generally located on the exterior wall of the building, it can be used as an inlet if the fire pumps are o.o.s. If used as an inlet what must be done?)

Answer 8

A valve located inside the building needs to be manually opened.

FFP Lofts Glossary Page 1

Question 9

Wall mounted hydrants/manifolds may be encountered on exterior of a loft building. How do these work and what is the procedure to utilize these?

Answer 9

Outlets on an exterior wall supplied by either a gravity tank, pressure tank, or other water source for the building. Valves located at the wall hydrant must be opened manually for FDNY hose use.

FFP Lofts Glossary Page 2

Question 10

In older type cast iron lofts where can you expect to find fire escapes when the building fronts on two streets?

Answer 10

Fire escapes will be found in the front and in the rear, as well as the sides( corner buildings)

FFP Lofts Sec 4.1.4

Question 11

In newer cast iron loft type buildings are automatic sprinklers and standpipes present? Are they supplied by the city main?

Answer 11

Automatic sprinkler and standpipe as required by law, are connected to the city water supply leading to a roof gravity tank.

FFP Lofts Sec 4.2.3

Question 12

Where will the fire escapes be found on a newer type cast iron loft building?

Answer 12

Various types of fire escapes can be located on all exterior sides of the building.

FFP Lofts Sec 4.2.3

Question 13

Mill lofts also known as Heavy Timber Lofts range from what heights? How many of their exterior walls are load bearing? And how wide do they range and how deep?

Answer 13

These type range from 4-6 stories in height, all 4 exterior walls are load bearing, range from 100-150 in width and up to 200 feet in depth.

FFP Lofts Sec 4.3.1 4.3.2

Question 14

When operating at an incident in a mill loft where can you expect to find the fire tower stairs or elevators?

Answer 14

Fire tower stairs and elevators are located in the perimeters.

FFP Lofts Sec 4.3.3

Question 15

Fireproof lofts can be expected to be how tall, how wide and how deep?

Answer 15

These buildings range from 10-15 stories in height usually with 50-100 foot widths and range from 75 feet to 200 feet deep but can span an entire block.

FFP Lofts Sec 4.4.1

Question 16

What types of stairs will be encountered in fireproof lofts?

Answer 16

Interior stairs will be enclosed, one or more fire towers may be provided in buildings over 75 feet in height. Fire proof lofts may have an exterior screened stairways leading either to the front or rear of the building.

FFP Lofts 4.4.3

Question 17

In old cast iron lofts where can elevators normally be found…… What if a loading dock is present?

Answer 17

Elevators will normally be located within the area of the front wall. If a loading dock is present, freight elevators may be found 20 feet inward from the front of the building.

FFP Lofts Sec 5.1.2

Question 18

Do freight elevators in old cast iron lofts have fireman service capabilities? A they used in initial operations?

Answer 18

Freight elevators will not be installed with fireman service capabilities. They are not initially used during fire operations due to their proximity to rubbish removal areas which are commonly fire origin areas. After evaluation and approval for use by the IC their use is permitted.

FFP Lofts Sec 5.1.2

Question 19

Gravity tanks can be present in older type cast iron lofts….. Where would the sprinkler and or standpipe Siamese be located if present in order to augment a city main fed gravity tank? Where can section shut off valves be found for these gravity tank systems?

Answer 19

Sprinkler and standpipe Siamese can be found on the front of the building for augmentation purposes. Section shut off valves for gravity tanks can be located inside a gravity tank enclosure, directly below the tank, along the riser inside the building.

FFP Lofts Sec 5.1.8

Question 20

Cast iron columns are designed to withstand an eccentric load

True or false?

Answer 20

False, cast iron columns are not designed to withstand an eccentric load.

FFP Lofts Sec 5.1.10 C

Question 21

When subject to extended heat from a fire cast iron columns can fracture and fail. At 1100 degrees F it will loss how much of its strength? Is this strength loss cumulative and never regained? What is the difference between what happens to cast iron when it is heated and elongates?

Answer 21

58 %
Yes the strength loss is cumulative and never regained
Iron fibers when heated elongate or extend the column however structural cast iron column unable to move will just crack.

FFP Lofts Sec 5.1.10 F

Question 22

Older cast iron lofts can have multiple types of fire escapes what describes a standard fire escape?

Answer 22

3-4 feet wide, have stairway angles of 45, 60, 75* or greater, only egress into the building is through a window.

FFP Lofts Sec 5.1.11

Question 23

What is the significance of straight run stairs present at a loft fire for the engine companies operating?

Answer 23

They must account for enough hose to stretch the entire length of the fire floor if the fire is located in the front of the building on an upper floor.

FFP Lofts Sec 5.1.13

Question 24

If you encounter straight run stairs in a fire in a loft building and on an upper floor the straight run stairs stop and a more common return stairs leads up to even higher floors, what is this an indication of?

Answer 24

This is a result of add1on floor construction.

FFP Lofts Sec 5.1.13