Residential and Commercial Townhouses and Rowhouse Manual, 4th Edition, September 2022

Question 1

This is a room or space just below the roof of a building that is often used for storage. This space may be unfinished or finished and may consist of a living space.

Answer 1

Attic

Page v

Question 2

This term refers to a townhouse consisting of two or more occupancies under one roof that are connected by a common wall.

Answer 2

Back-to-back

Page v

Question 3

This is a the material covering the area where the first-floor floor joists meet the exterior wall.

Answer 3

Band Board

Page v

Question 4

This term refers to a void space created between the top-floor ceiling and the building’s roof decking.

Answer 4

Cockloft

Page v

Question 5

This is a structure with two dwellings located under one roof that share a common wall.

Answer 5

Duplex

Page v

Question 6

This refers to the movement of heat and smoke from the higher air pressure within the fire area to all other lower air pressure areas both inside and outside the fire building.

Answer 6

Flow Path

Page v

Question 7

This type of building construction can include various types of townhouse styles (piggyback, back-to-back, and over-under) under one roof.

Answer 7

Hybrid

Page v

Question 8

This is a round or square, thin-walled structural steel column used to support beams or timbers stretching over long spans.

Answer 8

Lally Column

Page v

Question 9

This townhouse style consist of two stacked dwellings (one over the other). These usually involve a 2-level occupancy over 1-level occupancy with entrances on opposite sides, but other floor plan variations may exist.

Answer 9

Over-under

Page v

Question 10

This type of townhouse consist of two stacked dwellings (one over the other), each with a separate address and entrance. These occupancies share a common floor and are separated by a fire wall on that floor.

Answer 10

Piggyback

Page v

Question 11

This type of townhouse involves four connected dwellings under one roof, each with a separate address. It may have entrances on four different sides.

Answer 11

A Quadplex (a.k.a. Quad)

Page v

Question 12

This is one multistory dwelling attached to at least two other dwellings. These dwellings may or may not be separated by firewalls. Typically, dwellings have a common cockloft under one flat roof.

Answer 12

Rowhouse

Page v

Question 13

This is a multistory dwelling normally attached to several other units. Typically, adjacent occupancies have fire-rated floor and wall assembly separation. They most often have an attic with a pitched roof.

Answer 13

Townhouse

Page v

Question 14

This type of townhouse is also called a ____________. It is a 4-story townhouse with two separate addresses and entrances. One address occupies the first two floors, and the second occupy the third and fourth floor.

Answer 14

Two-over-two

Page vi

Question 15

Townhouse design typically utilized _______________ materials and ______ construction method.

Answer 15

wood-framed materials

platform-frame construction

Page 11

Question 16

Wood-framed townhouses build prior to the 1930s may have utilized what type of construction?

Answer 16

Balloon-framed construction

Page 11

Question 17

These roofs utilize triangular trusses that rest on load-bearing and non-load-bearing walls on the top floor.

Alternatively, parallel chord trusses or plywood I-beams form the roof peak that spans from the front and rear load-bearing walls to a ____________.

Answer 17

Lightweight roofs

ridge pole

Page 11

Question 18

These roofs rely on sawn wood rafters that form a the roof peak from the front and rear load-bearing walls to a ridge pole.

Answer 18

Wood frame roofs

Page 11

Question 19

A typical residential townhouse has a low fire load, requiring _____ gpm per ____ sq. ft.

Answer 19

10 GPM

100 sq. ft.

Page 17

Question 20

A commercial townhouse may have a medium fire load, requiring ______ gpm per _____ sq. ft.

Answer 20

20 GPM
100 sq. ft.

Page 17

Question 21

Strategic positions for additional command officers include the following:

Answer 21

Division Supervisor
Group Supervisor
Branch Director
Section Chief

Page 19

Question 22

Primary search operations should focus on ______________.

Answer 22

The area near the fire, as well as bedrooms and means of egress.

Page 19

Question 23

The following townhouse fire situations should cue the IC to request a second alarm:

Answer 23

Known rescues

Fire in two separate occupancies

Fire on more than one level of the townhouse

Fire in the Attic Space

Page 21

Question 24

In most cases, the first-arriving engine company should position at least _______ addresses past the involved unit.

Answer 24

2 Addresses.

Page 21

Question 25

If the truck enters the block from the opposite direction as the engine company, it must stop at least how many addresses short of the involved unit?

Answer 25

2 Addresses short

Page 21

Question 26

The first-arriving unit officer, typically that of the first due engine company, should provide the first due command-level officer the following information in the on-scene report:

Answer 26

Unit identification and side of structure where the apparatus is positioned

Building height (i.e., number of stories above ground)

Occupancy type

A detailed report of evident conditions, to include side of structure where conditions are evident, quadrant location, and conditions description.

Page 21

Question 27

During the size-up, unit officers should complete a 360-degree lap of the structure. The use of a _________________ during this lap can help determine the location and intensity of the fire.

The officer should also use the lap to determine:

Answer 27

Thermal Imaging Camera

Number of above-grade floors in front

Number of above-grade floors in rear

Specific location of fire, if visible

Presence of a basement, conditions present in the basement, and location of basement access.

Floor labeling

Hazards observed

Presence of exposures

Occupant status (if able to obtain)

The need for additional resources

Page 22

Question 28

When fires in townhouses require the deployment of aerial master streams, the first-arriving truck’s turntable should be positioned where?

Where should the second arriving truck position its turntable?

Answer 28

In front of the most threatened exposure

In front of the second most threatened exposure

Page 25

Question 29

When the ICs utilize aerial master streams, what is often the most advantageous nozzle positioning?

Answer 29

At the soffit level, with the hose stream directed parallel to and along the underside of the pitched roof.

Page 25

Question 30

During offensive operations, why should personnel note the amount of runoff flowing out of the building?

Answer 30

As personnel direct large volumes of water into the structure, the weight of the water held in the structure may add stress to fire-compromised components, increasing the potential for collapse.

Page 25

Question 31

Townhouse fires involving attics or cocklofts can occur as a result of several scenarios. What are the 6 scenarios listed in the townhouse manual?

Answer 31

1. Fires in the living area or basement that extended into the structural components and entered the attic via void spaces.
2. Interior fire that vented through a window to expose the vented soffit area.
3. Fire that originated on the dwelling’s exterior involving the siding and exposing the soffit area.
4. Electrical fires that originated from ceiling or exhaust fans or recessed lighting
5. Fire that originated in the attic itself by natural occurrences, such as a lightning strike.
6. Fire resulting from the current or prior work of roofers, plumbers, or painters.

Page 25