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Building Construction

Objectives (1 of 3)
Describe the characteristics of the following building materials: masonry, concrete, steel, glass, gypsum board, and wood.

Objectives (2 of 3)
List the characteristics of each of the following types of building construction: fire-resistive construction, noncombustible construction, ordinary construction, heavy timber construction, and wood-frame construction.

Objectives (3 of 3)
Describe how each of the five types of building construction react to fire. Describe the function of each of the following building components: foundations, floors, ceilings, roofs, trusses, walls, doors, windows, interior finishes, and floor coverings.
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Introduction (1 of 2)
Knowing building construction enables fire fighters to:
Predict how a fire will spread Make determinations about structural integrity Recognize warning signs of imminent collapse

Introduction (2 of 2)
Fire risks also depend on occupancy and contents. Occupancy: how a building is used Contents: vary, but usually related to building use

Construction Material Properties and Fire Behavior

Key factors affecting combustibility:
Combustibility Thermal conductivity Loss of strength when heated Rate of thermal expansion

Types of Construction Materials

Masonry Concrete Steel and other metals Glass Gypsum board Wood Plastics
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Masonry

Inherently fireresistive Poor conductor of heat Openings can allow fire to spread. With prolonged exposure to fire, masonry can collapse.
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Concrete
Inherently fire-resistive Poor conductor of heat Strong under compression Weak under tension Can be damaged through exposure to fire
Spalling
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Steel (1 of 2)
Strongest material in common use Strong in both compression and tension Will rust if exposed to air and moisture Not fire-resistive Good conductor of heat

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Steel (2 of 2)
Expands and loses strength when heated Any sign of bending, sagging, or stretching indicates immediate risk of failure.

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Other Metals

Aluminum
Often melts and drips in fires

Copper
Primarily used for piping and wiring

Zinc
Primarily used as a protective coating for metals
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Glass
Noncombustible, but not fire-resistive Ordinary (non-treated) glass will break when exposed to flame.

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Gypsum Board (1 of 2)
Not a strong structural material Used mainly for finishing Very good insulator Limited combustibility
Paper will burn, but gypsum itself will not. Often used as a firestop

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Gypsum Board (2 of 2)
Prolonged exposure to fire will cause failure.
Moisture in the material will evaporate causing deterioration.

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Wood
Most common building material Highly combustible Weakens when heated Fire-retardant chemicals can weaken wood.

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Plastics

Rarely used for structural support Combustibility varies Many plastics release dense, toxic smoke when they burn. Thermoplastic materials melt and drip. Thermoset materials lose strength but will not melt.
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Construction Type Determination

Classification based on combustibility and fire resistance Codes specify construction type required based on:
Height Area Occupancy Location
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Types of Construction
Type I: Fire-Resistive Type II: Noncombustible Type III: Ordinary Type IV: Heavy Timber Type V: Wood Frame

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Type I: Fire-Resistive (1 of 2)
All structural components must be noncombustible. Used for:
Large numbers of people Tall or large area Special occupancies

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Type I: Fire-Resistive (2 of 2)
Building materials should not provide fuel for a fire.
Contents may burn but the building should not.

Steel framing must be protected. Fires can be very hot and hard to ventilate. In extreme conditions Type I buildings can collapse.

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Type II: Noncombustible (1 of 2)

All structural components must be noncombustible. Fire-resistive requirements are less stringent than Type I.

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Type II: Noncombustible (2 of 2)

Structural components contribute little or no fuel. Fire severity is determined by contents. Most common in single-story warehouses or factories

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Type III: Ordinary (1 of 2)

Used in a wide range of buildings Masonry exterior walls support floors and roof. Usually limited to no more than four stories Limited fire resistance requirements
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Type III: Ordinary (2 of 2)

Two separate fire loads:
Construction materials Contents

Fire resistance depends on building age and local building codes. Exterior walls, floors, and roof are connected.
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Type IV: Heavy Timber (1 of 2)

Exterior masonry walls Interior structural elements, floors, and roof of wood

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Type IV: Heavy Timber (2 of 2)

No concealed spaces or voids Used for buildings as tall as eight stories Open spaces suitable for manufacturing and storage New Type IV construction is rare.

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Type V: Wood Frame (1 of 3)

Most common type of construction in use All major components are wood or other combustible materials.
Can rapidly become fully involved Collapse frequently
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Type V: Wood Frame (2 of 3)

Used in buildings of up to four stories Wooden I-beams and trusses
Just strong enough to carry required load No built-in safety margin Collapse early and suddenly

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Type V: Wood Frame (3 of 3)

Balloon-frame construction
Exterior walls assembled with continuous wood studs from the basement to the roof.

Platform-frame construction
Exterior wall studs not continuous.

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Building Components
Foundation Floors and ceilings Roofs Trusses Walls Doors and windows Interior finishes and floor coverings
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Foundation
Ensures building is firmly planted Helps keep all other components connected Weak or shifting foundations can cause collapse.
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Floors and Ceilings (1 of 2)

Fire-Resistive Floors
Floor-ceiling system designed to prevent vertical fire spread If space above ceiling is not partitioned or sprinklered, fire can quickly extend horizontally across a large area.

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Floors and Ceilings (2 of 2)

Wood-Supported Floors
Heavy-timber floors can often contain a fire for an hour or more. Conventional wood flooring burns readily and can fail in as little as 20 minutes. Modern, lightweight wood I-beams and trusses
Little fire resistance
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Roofs
Not designed to be as strong as floors Three primary designs:
Pitched roofs Curved roofs Flat roofs

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Pitched Roofs
Sloped or inclined Can be gable, hip, mansard, gambrel, or lean-to Usually supported by rafters or trusses Require some sort of roof covering
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Curved Roofs
Used for large buildings that require large, open interiors
Supermarkets Warehouses Industrial buildings

Usually supported by bowstring trusses or arches

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Flat Roofs (1 of 2)
Usually found on houses, apartment buildings, warehouses, factories, schools, and hospitals Have a slight slope for drainage Wood support structures use solid wood beams and joists.
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Flat Roofs (2 of 2)
Lightweight construction techniques employ wood I-beams and trusses. Open-web steel trusses (bar joists) often used for support Most coverings highly combustible Ventilation may involve cutting through many layers of roofing.
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Trusses (1 of 2)

Triangular geometry creates a strong, rigid structure. Usually prefabricated wood or steel Three types:
Parallel chord Pitched chord Bowstring
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Trusses (2 of 2)
Parallel chord
Used for flat roofs and floors

Pitched chord
Used for pitched roofs

Bowstring
Used for curved roofs

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Walls
Most visible part of a building Constructed of a variety of materials Walls are:
Load-bearing Nonbearing Specialized

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Load-Bearing Walls
Give structural support Either interior or exterior Support both dead load and live load Damaged wall can result in collapse
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Nonbearing Walls
Support only their own weight Can be breached or removed without compromising structural integrity Either interior or exterior
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Specialized Walls (1 of 2)
Party walls
Common to two properties Almost always load-bearing Often a fire wall

Fire walls
Designed to limit horizontal fire spread Extend from foundation through roof Constructed of fire-resistant materials
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Specialized Walls (2 of 2)
Fire partitions
Interior walls that extend from a floor to underside of floor above

Fire enclosures
Fire-rated assemblies that enclose vertical openings

Curtain walls
Nonbearing exterior walls attached to the outside of a building
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Walls
Solid, load-bearing masonry walls can reach six stories high. Nonbearing masonry walls can reach almost any height. Never assume that exterior walls are masonry.

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Doors
Can be used for entry, exit, light, and ventilation Mostly constructed of wood or metal
Hollow-core wood doors offer little fire resistance. Solid-core doors provide some fire resistance. Metal doors more durable and fireresistant.
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Window Assemblies
Used for light, ventilation, entry, and exit Window type depends on a variety of factors.

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Fire Doors and Fire Windows

(1 of 2)

Constructed to prevent spread of flames, heat, and smoke Must meet NFPA 80 Labeled according to approved-use
Class A Class B Class C Class D Class E

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Fire Doors and Fire Windows

(2 of 2)

Fire windows are used when a window is needed in a required fireresistant wall.

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Interior Finishes and Floor Coverings

Finishes and coverings are exposed interior surfaces of a building. Different interior finish materials contribute in various ways to a building fire.

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Construction or Demolition
Construction or demolition sites pose special problems for fire fighters. Built-in fire protection features are often missing. Fire-resistive enclosures can be missing. Often unoccupied for long periods
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Summary (1 of 2)
Many materials are used in building construction, and each material reacts differently to heat and fire. The five types of building construction each have their own strengths and weaknesses and differing levels of resistance to fire.
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Summary (2 of 2)
Buildings contain a variety of parts or components. Materials used in building components vary.

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