Strip Shopping Centers Flashcards by Andrew Snell

Strip Shopping Center refers to commercial occupancies that are:

joined by party walls or fire walls
covered by a common roof
occupied by a variety of business
accessed by an individual exterior entrance on the first floor

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Fire Flow Estimate for Strip Shopping Center?

20 GPM per 100sq ft.

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Construction History of Strip Shopping Centers

Most built during the last 30-40 years are noncombustible construction, those built prior to this time are typically ordinary construction

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Cockloft

The are located above the ceiling and below the roof deck, in strip shopping centers it is not unusually to find the cockloft exposed in the rear storage area

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Roof Construction of Strip Shopping Centers Built of Ordinary Construction

roof deck will be tongue and groove boards or plywood sheating, the roof covering is typically “built up” where a bituminous (asphalt-containing) material is laid directly over the wood and covered with roofing felt, then sealed with hot tar, and covered in gravel

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Roof Construction of a Strip Shopping Center of non-combustible construction

roof assemblies supported by steel bar joists, the roof deck may be corrugated metal with a layer of insulation covered by tar paper and roofing tar or a rubber membrane. Below the bar joist in the retail area will be a fire-rated drop ceiling. Lightweight concrete roofs are also common to these structures.

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Will renovated Strip Shopping Centers have rain roofs?

Typically

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Walls found in Strip Shopping Centers-load bearing

holds the weight of the structure and all forces applied

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Walls found in Strip Shopping Centers-non-load bearing

a wall bearing only its own weight

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Walls found in Strip Shopping Centers-fire wall

designed to prevent or slow the horizontal progression of fire from occupancies, built from the floor through the roof structure

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Walls found in Strip Shopping Centers-Veneer

single thickness of a masonry material added to the structure for aesthetic purposes

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Walls found in Strip Shopping Centers-party

load bearing wall separating occupancies not extending above the roof line

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Walls found in Strip Shopping Centers-partition

divides an area within an occupancy not extending above the ceiling

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With tilit-up construction should the roof assembly collapse down into the structure how should we expect the walls to collapse?

outward

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What sides of the structure are parapet walls normally found?

Front and sides, normally not in the back.

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What type of floor assemblies are found in strip shopping centers?

reinforced concrete
dimensional lumber
lightweight wood
steel bar joists

What security device is normally found at the rear doors of Strip Shopping Centers?

drop-in static bar

Strip Shopping Center Fires have many life hazards to firefighters which include:

collapsing roofs, floors and walls
heavy fire loading
maze-like conditions
limited access and egress
complicated security measures
potential for undetected fires in the plenum space
hazardous materials
difficult roof top ventilation
falling facades
high entanglement potential

What are some indicators of possible wall collapse (Strip Shopping Center)

Bulges
Cracks
Smoke seeping

What is a Facade?

An architectural projection that provides weather protection, occupancy identity, decoration and is supported by the building to which it is attached

What is a marquee?

The roof like structure, often bearing a signboard, projecting over an entrance

What areas of Strip Shopping Centers are normally involved in collapse?

Roof structures, and the cantilever facades or marquees

At what temperature will steel twist and expand?

1000 degree, they will twist and expand causing failure or pushing out exterior walls

What are the warning signs of imminent collapse? (Strip Shopping Center)

fire burning for more than 20 minutes in ordinary construction or 10 minutes in lightweight truss construction
smoke or water coming through mortar joints in walls
walls that are sagging or bulging
new cracks showing in exterior walls
heavy floor or roof loads under fire conditions
spongy roof surface due to fire below

Due to the fact that in strip shopping centers the potential for backdrafts are more treacherous and difficult to alleviate what should crews do with well advanced fires? (ref vent)

Prior to roof ventilation, remove glass, delay entry, allow the fire to show itself, and relieve some of the heat before making entry

What is the least damaging method of extinguishing fire in the restaurant hood system that has extending to the duct work?

Discharging multiple CO2 extinguishers into the duct, delay removing the roof-top ventilator until this extinguishment method has been completed

What is a way to reduce horizontal fire spread in a restaurant hood system fire?

Remove the top ventilator cover

Who is responsible for ensuing that the buildings fire protection systems are supplied? (Strip Shopping Center)

Second due engine

If an offensive exterior attack or defensive operations are used for Strip Shopping Centers what is the preferred truck for side A?

Tower Ladder

Where does the Rescue Company position on Strip Shopping Center Fires?

rear

In order to obtain required GPM flow in a Strip Shopping Center what line selection is typically preferred?

Duel 1 3/4 lines

When you have more than one unit involved upon arrival do you consider them exposure Bravo 1, Delta 1...etc?

No, Bravo 1, Delta 1, etc are only used for areas not involved with fire upon arrival, not areas that the fire has already extended to. If an exposure becomes involved with fire it maintains its name as Bravo 1...etc.

How to use PPV to prevent horizontal fire spread in Strip Shopping Centers?

After confirming no extension to exposure B1, D1 place PPV in front of each front door pressurize exposure. If fire has extended move to next exposure where there is no extension and deploy PPV. Both fans must be started at the same time and there can be no vertical ventilation or removal of glass pans in exposures where PPV is to be used.

Should tag lines be used by crews working without a hose line in Strip Shopping Centers?

yes

Does having the ability to access a safe haven on the opposite side of a firewall qualify as a secondary means of egress from the roof?

yes

What roof conditions should be communicated to command?

- location and volume of smoke and fire - exposure concerns - roof loading (i.e. HVAC) - evidence of a cockloft fire - Roof construction hazards (i.e. parapats, changes in roof lines, false fronts, fire walls, etc.)

If the fire has possession of the cockloft what type of ventilation must occur?

Vertical, inspection holes may be used to determine the extent of horizontal fire spread