Residential and Commercial Townhouse Manual Flashcards
What has caused an increase of life safety hazard?
Potential of early collapse due to light weight construction
Because a variety of layouts and floor plans, what must be completed upon arrival?
A 360 lap to view as many sides as possible
What are characteristics of a townhouse?
Each occupancy has a separate address and its own entrance.
How many floors do townhouses range from??
Two to four floors in height and may be different in height from front to rear.
What is the definition of a townhouse?
A multi-story dwelling normally attached to several other units.
What is a back to back townhouse?
a townhouse consisting of two or more occupancies under one roof connected by side Charlie wall.
What is a piggyback townhouse?
Two stacked dwellings (one over the other) each with a separate address and entrance. Both share a common floor separated by a fire wall on that floor.
What is an over-under townhouse?
Two stacked dwellings (one over the other), usually with entrances on opposite sides.
What is a row house?
A multi-story building attached to at least two other dwellings which may or may not be separated by firewalls. Typically rowhomes have a common cockloft under a flat roof.
What is a duplex?
Two dwellings under on roof sharing a common wall.
What is a quad?
Four dwellings connected together under on roof with separate addresses.
What is a hybrid building?
A construction style that can be inclusive of various types of townhouse styles under one roof.
What is typical construction of a townhouse?
Lightweight frame using platform frame method (including fire stopping).
What is the typical construction of duplex and rowhomes?
Ordinary construction
What are the two types of roof frames?
Lightweight and wood frame
What is roof decking typically made of?
4’ x 8’ plywood sheathing or particleboard
What is a lightweight roof?
Triangular trusses that rest on the top floor load bearing and non load bearing walls, or parallel chord trusses or plywood I beams forming the peak from the front and rear load bearing walls to a ridge pole.
What is a wood frame roof?
Sawn wood rafters forming the peak from the front and rear load bearing walls to a ridgepole
What are typical roof decking materials on flat roof townhomes?
Gypsum integrated with fiberglass
Many townhomes in the 1980’s have what kind of plywood sheathing roof deck, known to decompose and be very dangerous?
Fire retardant
What are the typical roof styles of townhomes, and what can they occasionally be?
Pitched is typical, sometimes gabled, but can include flat or mansard.
What may be present in some attics?
Water heater and HVAC units. Some may have living spaces
When accessing the attic from the interior, where is the safest place to do so?
Hallways or bathrooms
What are walls typically constructed of? What kind of studs can be found?
2x4 wood studs. Lightweight aluminum studs may be found in non load bearing walls.
What kind of walls found in units with lofts or dormers will contain void spaces or may serve as storage?
Knee walls
What are foundation walls made from?
masonry block or poured reinforced concrete monolithic (cast in place)
Depending on when the townhouse was constructed, firewalls can be?
- Non-existent
- located between each address
- located between every other address
- between occupied living spaces and does not extend into the attics or basements
Firewalls can be constructed of what two types of materials?
Gypsum on both sides of wall studs or masonry
Rooflines may be what at each address to accomplish separating attic space?
Offset
What is the spacing of floor joists, trusses, or beams?
16 to 24 inches
What is the most common style of windows in townhouses?
double-hung, sliding sash
How should casement windows be treated if they are found?
As if they are barred windows and they should be completely removed
What ways do exterior doors swing on residential townhomes?
Inward
What way does the exterior doors on a commercial townhome swing?
Outward
Inward swinging doors typically lead to _____ and _____ while outward swinging doors usually lead to _____ or _____.
Bedrooms and bathrooms
Basement stairs and closets